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Which hard shell rooftent? Which hard shell rooftent?
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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #16  
Old 16 Nov 2008
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Tents to tyres
Hi Bronze,
I was idly going through your links and saw that you are running Grabber AT2 tyres... I would be really interested in feedback on them as we buy a lot of tyres and I just confirmed 50 of these tyres! We were using Maxxis 751 as a general fleet tyre and found them very good, hard wearing (but not on heavily loaded pick-ups) and quiet. We couldn't get the Maxxis so went for the General Tyre option. The General certainly looks more off road biased than the Maxxis, but that doesn't mean it will wear any better...
Would be cool if you had any feedback on them thanks,
gil
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  #17  
Old 18 Nov 2008
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I've done less than 10,000 miles on them so can't really comment on how they wear (they're looking pretty unworn so far though).

They do look quite off-road biased but they're actually better on road than the OE wranglers and much better off. They're cheap too...
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  #18  
Old 20 Nov 2008
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Thanks Bronze. After an afternoon in the rainforest in a downpour I can definately confirm they are better than 751 Maxxis, and in fact for a AT in the mud not bad at all! Holes for ice studs as well...
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  #19  
Old 16 Jul 2009
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Fold-out questions but may as well put it here to save space.
Having once had perhaps the only rooftent to fold out onto the roof, I wonder what the rationales are for having a fold-out over the back or the side.

Also, is it rare that bedding can fit in on a fold out, ready to go as on a Magg or Columbus while still making it easy to close, or does it depend on the mattress, etc.

Thanks for your ideas.

Ch
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  #20  
Old 16 Jul 2009
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Fold out - saves roof rack space, provides shade/rain cover over the back door if you mount it that way, also allows the use of a 'shower skirt' for privacy/rain cover, but never seen one in use, too much hassle and bulky to store is a common comment.

Imho you should mount a tent over the back door or over the bonnet (think South Africans like this method to avoid Rhino's etc scratching themselves against the ladder in the night etc) as tents that fold out over the side create problems when you only have a narrow camping area (not unusual when you are camping in a hotels car park etc etc).

Over the back door it also adds to the illusion of security as somebody or thing would have to climb up the rickety ladder to get ya, as opposed to standing easily on the bonnet etc

(Awnings should generally be mounted on the passenger side whilst we are at it.....
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  #21  
Old 19 Jul 2009
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roof tents
I've had 3 Hannibal folding tents, 1 Eezi Awn, and one Columbus carbon fibre.

Opening over the back door is better as you can just about unpack the tent from ground level without climbing on the bonnet. Undo the cover and use the ladder as a lever to open the tent. After trying both methods the vehicle seemed to move around less at night with the tent opening over the rear.

Darrin's right, it's great for shade if you're cooking off the back door, and is a simpler footprint if ground space is tight. Opening over the back can be a problem for some cars with tailgates, eg 100 series Cruiser or pickups with hardtops.

I've always left the bedding inside the tent. 13.5 duvet + 2 pillows. No problem in a folding tent or a Maggi.

Shower skirts are good if you need shelter in foul/cold weather, (great on our Arctic Circle trip) but they're a pita to pack away when wet. There's a lot of bulky, heavy, wet canvas.

However, I'm liking my current method most. 2.1mx1.5m Memory foam matress in the back of my Troopy. 5star!

Happy trails,

Jojo
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  #22  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roamingyak.org View Post
(Awnings should generally be mounted on the passenger side whilst we are at it.....
Ok, I'll bite (and I may have had a G&T or two), why?

Nick.
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  #23  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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with reference to the OP Maggiolina every time I have a Topline and it is excellent. After faffing about with a folding Safari Equip RTT Im so glad I made the swtich. Feel like I have 1/2 a caravan on the roof with its whiteness but nevermind. Maybe I should get a Carbon one...

JoJo how are you getting on with the CF version? I REALLY fancy one, but its a lot of £££ right now, maybe something for the future. Give me a shout if you ever feel like selling it.

Nick, most rear doors open out/swing out to the right. so on a RHD vehicle it makes sense to have the awning on the opposite side where you can walk around to access the (open) boot/back.

You dont have to do this, but its the most commonly adopted approach.

G
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  #24  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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Originally Posted by Griffdowg View Post
Nick, most rear doors open out/swing out to the right. so on a RHD vehicle it makes sense to have the awning on the opposite side where you can walk around to access the (open) boot/back.

You dont have to do this, but its the most commonly adopted approach.
G
Yip - you can sit under the shade in your deck chair (with complimentary G&T) and be able to see your back door when it is open, or at least the approach to it. So it would be hard for somebody to sneak in an grab something as you would see them approach etc

If the awning was on the other side it would be quite easy for somebody to walk up and help themselves (unless you want to close/open the door every time etc)

Also, when you want to access the front of the vehicle it is generally easier to do so from the passenger side which does not have the foot pedals and steering wheel in the way.

But hang it off the front bumper if you wish - its all fine! ;-)
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  #25  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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Sorry to maybe drift even further off topic but I was wondering about roo-tents and roaf loadings. I just got the Maggio-doodad catalogue in the post and there's a pick of one of their Columbus Smalls on the top of a Renault Twingo!!



SMALL CAR - BIG TENT

Now my Twingo handbook says no more than 70 kilos on the roof, and that's me without even starting on a roof tent. Is that a cautious safety thing? or is it 70 kilos when driving but more when stopped? I have laid on the roof before and I didn't break the glass sunroof.

And why are awnings etc still seemingly made out of heavy canvas-like stuff when the rest of us are using nice lightweight nylon etc for our tents, even the HUGE family ones?

And finally, has anyone ever made their own roof-tent/awnings? Or seen anything online for tips/hints?

Sorry to the OP for enlarging the topic, but this looks like a mine of people who actually know about these things.
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  #26  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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Perhaps better to copy your questions to a new post and delete this one - It's nice to maintain a little posting discipline for readers that stumble along later... ;-)
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  #27  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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Originally Posted by roamingyak.org View Post
Perhaps better to copy your questions to a new post and delete this one - It's nice to maintain a little posting discipline for readers that stumble along later... ;-)
Well often I would, but as Chris hadn't (and he's a mod) I thought I'd stay here, and as Columbus tents have already been talked about on this thread, it's only a slight drift away really.
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  #28  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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"it's only a slight drift away really" - not really, but as nobody will make me a mod I can only make suggestions ;-)

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  #29  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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Stuff
Hi all,

G - sold the Carbon Fibre Columbus I'm afraid, best roof tent I've ever had.

Alexlebrit - roof load is probably OK. Ratings normally relate to dynamic loading when driving the car as opposed to the static load when you're in the tent at night.

Happt trails,

Jojo
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  #30  
Old 13 Aug 2009
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Ref Chris's question - I think most roof tents can fit the bedding in, but depending on the design of the tent frame and the thickness of the mattress, you can end up with a bit of a wedge shape going on when you fold it over.
My Autocamp will fold with a couple of sleeping bags in, but much more than that and it doesn't fold totally flat. Which bugs me.

I got round this by using self inflating mattresses last few times out - lighter, flatter and more comfortable to be honest, though not as wide as the foam mattresses I took out.

This has now been superceeded by a Range Rover ambulance though No more climbing!
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