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29 Aug 2006
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Family roof tent recommendations
Hi,
I am looking for recommendations for a roof tent to accomodate a family of 5 - two adults and three children (6.5, 5.5, 1.5).
I have been looking at the offerings from Eezi-Awn, Howling Moon, Hannibal and they all seem to offer similar things, but it would be useful to get the views/experience from the crowd here.
Our first trip will be to Morocco in the spring, and if that goes well we would be looking to do further trips to N.Africa, as well as possible trips to places like Iceland, and Eastern Europe.
I appreciate these things aren't cheap, so want to make sure that I get one that will last.
Any pointers would be appreciated.
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Julian Voelcker
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29 Aug 2006
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For that many people, why not buy a ground tent?
Far cheaper, much lighter and easier with kids?
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29 Aug 2006
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Julian,
Have you seen the double up Overcamp tent from Autohome? For five people it may still be a bit cramped. I think Darren's advice about a ground tend it not a bad idea.
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Roman (UK)
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double up
If you're stuck on the idea of roof living, and have a largish rack, it might be better to get two tents opening fore and aft. Although that's a fair bit of weight on the roof.
Eezi awns are well-made, but they aint cheap.
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29 Aug 2006
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Hi Roman,
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Roman
Have you seen the double up Overcamp tent from Autohome? For five people it may still be a bit cramped.
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Not come across them before, but provide some interesting options. Not really keen on all sharing the same tent so the option of having two up there is interesting.
Do you know anyone who has used them?
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Julian Voelcker
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by JulianVoelcker
Hi Roman,
Do you know anyone who has used them?
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Hi Julian,
No I don't have any experience with these tents. I suppose, like Darrin mentioned, they must be a pain to set up in windy conditions, only in this case the pain is double :-)
Maybe contrary to what you want it to be, Morocco is not in the middle of nowhere, you can find many auberges and campsites to stay for the night - hence the type of tent is not a safety issue.
If you camp near a village (in Morocco you are virtually always near a village), more often than not you will be surrounded by inquisitive visitors, so rooftop or ground makes littel difference here. If safety happens to be an issue, it is because your "hosts" decide you're being disrespectful - attidutes are more important than the type of tent.
Deep in the Sahara, there are hardly any safety issues, so where and how you sleep is even less of a problem.
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Roman (UK)
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Having spent months in the back of my 110 on a home made bed as well as ground tents in still and sand storm conditions I prefer the car interior anyday. Wind can keep you awake, as well as noisy campsites, particularly where there are barking dogs. In Djanet some of our party were in roof tents and complained bitterly about the incessant barking dogs, and their tents flapping in night time winds. I could barely here any of this inside, and yes ear plugs are an excellent idea. Use swimming types if available, much better than the traveller ones.
Roof tents are heavy, expensive and upset your C of G. Ground tents are for me at least a mega pain to set up and pack up, especially if windy. As mentioned before, in Morocco, even in the desert there are auberges so if you know where they are and reckon you can get to them in time, that's probably the thing to do.
Andrew.
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29 Aug 2006
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by roamingyak.org
For that many people, why not buy a ground tent?
Far cheaper, much lighter and easier with kids?
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Yes, I know, but then you have the issue of trying to find flat smooth camp sites.
Also the wife likes the 'security' aspect of sleeping together on the roof and I like the idea that it will be easy to throw up at the end of the day.
It's one thing having to setup camp and put up a tent for your average traveller, but when you have three tired children to feed and deal with at the same time, every second counts.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by JulianVoelcker
Yes, I know, but then you have the issue of trying to find flat smooth camp sites.
Also the wife likes the 'security' aspect of sleeping together on the roof and I like the idea that it will be easy to throw up at the end of the day.
It's one thing having to setup camp and put up a tent for your average traveller, but when you have three tired children to feed and deal with at the same time, every second counts.
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No problem with flat places in Morocco where your going, plus the same goes for parking the LC with tents on top.
Rooftents do actually take a while to setup as well, depending on the design, and in high winds (like in the desert) they can flap wildly - enough so that you can't get to sleep without ear plugs, but I doubt young girls will put up with it.
In 6 months in Morocco I only used my tent about 4 times - always nicer to sleep inside the vehicle in my case, and when a storm did blow in I was up at 4am trying to put the tent down in gale force winds with lashings of sand. A ground tent parked next to the vehicle would have been fine.
With the price difference, you could get a lot of nights in nice, cheap hotels. Your call, but unless your using it for extended use they really are expensive and heavy. Maybe just hire one?
Clearly your wife's questioning of your ability to protect her is something you'll have to work out between yourselves!
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29 Aug 2006
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by roamingyak.org
No problem with flat places in Morocco where your going, plus the same goes for parking the LC with tents on top.
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OK, flat may not be the best way of looking at it - ideally for ground tent you need level and smooth (not rocky) ground - how common is that in Morocco?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by roamingyak.org
Rooftents do actually take a while to setup as well, depending on the design
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Appreciate that, would only really aim of an easy on - that's the whole point of them.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by roamingyak.org
and in high winds (like in the desert) they can flap wildly - enough so that you can't get to sleep without ear plugs, but I doubt young girls will put up with it.
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Surely that would be a problem whether on the ground or on the car. OK, you can camp on the leeward side of your car, but it's not going to help that much.
Have made a note to pack ear plugs ;-)
Quote:
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Originally Posted by roamingyak.org
With the price difference, you could get a lot of nights in nice, cheap hotels. Your call, but unless your using it for extended use they really are expensive and heavy. Maybe just hire one?
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Yes, I know they are expensive, but once we have it it will give us more motivation to use it more often.
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Originally Posted by roamingyak.org
Maybe just hire one?
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Not considered that - do you know who hires them?
One compromise alternative I have considered is building a platform on the roof rack using hinged composite sheets that are light, but strong that can be opened up and then find a ground tent to fit on top giving the best of both worlds. Two 8' x 4' sheets would give you a platform for a tent bigger than what is currently available from the likes of Hannibal and EeziAwn.
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- "smooth (not rocky) ground - how common is that in Morocco?"
Assuming you will mostly be in campsites with 3 kids, it won't be a problem - it's sometimes just straight concrete, but any good mattress will provide a comfy sleep - just make sure the ground sheet is good quality and securely attached.
- "you can camp on the leeward side of your car, but it's not going to help that much"
You'd be surprised - your are up quite high and really get a battering - my tent seems to amplify the noise - always seems worse inside than it does outside. Down on the ground you are much more protected (by the vehicle, campsite walls, dunes etc)
- "do you know who hires them?"
No sorry.
- "One compromise alternative I have considered is building a platform on the roof rack using hinged composite sheets that are light, but strong that can be opened up and then find a ground tent to fit on top giving the best of both worlds. Two 8' x 4' sheets would give you a platform for a tent bigger than what is currently available from the likes of Hannibal and EeziAwn"
An excellent idea I think. Any two door tent that fits of a roofrack and a piece of wood will be fine and heaps cheaper. Show us some pictures!
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2 Sep 2006
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We have just faced the same dilema when planning for a family of four. We have opted for an Oztent (Ground Tent). Fantastic bit of kit and half the price of a rooftop. It is very strong and only takes 3 minutes to errect. Cannot recommend it enough. Because we like space (the wife likes a king-sized bed) we have actually brought 2, which can be joined to form 1 huge tent. See www.oztent.com for distribution (BOAB in the UK). Good Luck.
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Oztent
Saw the oztent at the last Land Rover show...they do look super quick to erect, but how sturdy are they and how heavy?
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Oztent
If you're looking for UK prices, give Nene Overland in Peterbrough a call - they seem to import most varieties and if you ask for TJ (I think that was his name) he'll be able to give you the pros and cons as well as prices.
They have a website just on tents: http://www.rooftent.co.uk/
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Julian,
My comment
"Although I dismissed all of the Howling Moon/Hannibal etc as they had lots of dangly bits, front awnings, side flaps etc, which look awful when not put up properly, having seen lots at Billing this year I wish I had kept my money until I had looked at more options."
did not come across properly, I missed a few words.
Once I had seen the Hannibal/Howling Moon's etc, erected properly at Billing I think I would have looked more closely at the pro's and con's of them and made a good choice from those available.
Kevin.
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