An opinion on rooftop tents
 

I am looking at a James Baroud Grand Raid.

Has anyone had any experience with these: things to be wary of, known weaknesses, flaws, gripes?

And any praise to be sung too! When it performed better than expected, parts that have lasted well etc.

Finally, what is the effect on the drive quality of the vehicle?

Try to travel light. A RTT is a nice solution to sleep, but dont add a lot more above. If you plan to drive offroad - take care of the lowered cargo rating!

https://vanlife.4x4tripping.com/2021...-top-tent.html

I dont know the RTT Brand itself, but maybe someone else can give you a hint.

Surfy

They weigh about 65kg.

The vehicle is a Ford Transit to off-roading will be dirt tracks, some mild trails etc. Nothing more than that. So already it's quite a big vehicle. And being a commercial vehicle it's designed to carry stuff up there too, albeit not too much.

Digging it out of sand near a beach last summer was enough to put me off, although I could experiment with knobblier tires, I suppose.

Simpoly a note to say that today I drove my van back with a used but very tidy Grand Raid hard shell roof tent on its roof.

Hadn't planned on the expense, but rather pleased to have taken the leap: feels like I've invested in future memories with my partner, with my kids.

Nice....

Roof top tent warning
 

Generally don't perform well if wet and cold, nearly impossible to pack down.
DAMHIK

Peter

Why is that?

Since it's a Transit, I have to ask why you're thinking of a RTT?

Our perception is that they add weight, increase CoG, hence affect handling (highway and "offroad"), make it more difficult to get under low overhang (anything from parking garages in cities to overhanging tree branches), increase wind resistance hence fuel consumption, take time to put up and take down - we've travelled with others who've had a RTT and it takes a lot longer than our set up which is a bed inside. The expensive ones are more efficient, but are ..... more expensive.

If you're a big group in the Transit then I can see the point; if not...?