Family Size RTT *with* a T-top?

[R_Lefebvre]

Just wondering if I'm missing anything as I've been looking around and not finding what I'm looking for. I'm wondering if anybody is making a LARGE RTT that you can get a T-top, or at the very least a skirt for a lower room?

I have me, my wife, one 3 year old, and another one planned, so we need a large space. But I'd also like the convenience of having an enclosed area for changing, and maybe a potti.

I like the apparent quality of the Eezi-Awns, but the largest you can get a T-top is the 1600. Are there any skirts or anything available for the 2200? The platform is large enough that really all that would be needed would be a "shower skirt", though I realize the ladder would not provide direct access which would also be nice.

I really like the Globetrotter setup, as this is intended to go on a trailer, but at 80x60 it's just too small I think.

On a side note... Are the ladders on RTT's load bearing? Are they holding up the tent, or is the tent overhang held up by stretching the tent on the other side?

Oh yeah, lastly, are there any dealers of RTT in Canada? Wondering if there any way to avoid the HORROR of cross-boarder shipping.

[Martyn]

Just wondering if I'm missing anything as I've been looking around and not finding what I'm looking for. I'm wondering if anybody is making a LARGE RTT that you can get a T-top, or at the very least a skirt for a lower room?

I have me, my wife, one 3 year old, and another one planned, so we need a large space. But I'd also like the convenience of having an enclosed area for changing, and maybe a potti.

I like the apparent quality of the Eezi-Awns, but the largest you can get a T-top is the 1600. Are there any skirts or anything available for the 2200? The platform is large enough that really all that would be needed would be a "shower skirt", though I realize the ladder would not provide direct access which would also be nice.

I really like the Globetrotter setup, as this is intended to go on a trailer, but at 80x60 it's just too small I think.

On a side note... Are the ladders on RTT's load bearing? Are they holding up the tent, or is the tent overhang held up by stretching the tent on the other side?

Support for the overhang on the tent is through the two stainless steel hinges, the interlocking base extrusion, and the ladder.

I don't know of any larger T Top style tent bigger than 1600.

If you wanted a family tent with a skirt it could be special ordered.

[pskhaat]

though I realize the ladder would not provide direct access which would also be nice.

The 2200 has two ladders. :)


Are the ladders on RTT's load bearing? Are they holding up the tent, or is the tent overhang held up by stretching the tent on the other side?

Both, but yes the ladders are indeed load bearing.

[R_Lefebvre]

If you wanted a family tent with a skirt it could be special ordered.

Sounds expensive, and it would be more like a shower skirt, leaving the ladder exposed?

Regardless, I think I've come up with the perfect solution. I've been struggling with all these requirements for a while, but I had an epiphany in the shower this morning.

The trailer will look a lot like a Conqueror. The large fold down panel on the passenger side will be the kitchen area, with an awning over it. I'll probably use a 1600 T-top, opening to the driver's side. The large fold down panel on the driver's side will open up and hold flat and will be the kids sleeping area. They'll have a space maybe 48x48 that will be their own, this space will partially be on top of the fold down door, and partially IN the trailer. We'll be sleeping up above in the tent. Their space will be sheltered by the skirts from the T-top. It will also solve the problem of them being too high above the ground.

Make sense?

Is the lower section of the T-top completely weather proof and pretty much bug proof?

[Martyn]

Sounds expensive, and it would be more like a shower skirt, leaving the ladder exposed?

Regardless, I think I've come up with the perfect solution. I've been struggling with all these requirements for a while, but I had an epiphany in the shower this morning.

The trailer will look a lot like a Conqueror. The large fold down panel on the passenger side will be the kitchen area, with an awning over it. I'll probably use a 1600 T-top, opening to the driver's side. The large fold down panel on the driver's side will open up and hold flat and will be the kids sleeping area. They'll have a space maybe 48x48 that will be their own, this space will partially be on top of the fold down door, and partially IN the trailer. We'll be sleeping up above in the tent. Their space will be sheltered by the skirts from the T-top. It will also solve the problem of them being too high above the ground.

Make sense?

Is the lower section of the T-top completely weather proof and pretty much bug proof?

The T Top does not have a sewn in ground sheet, apart from that it's fairly tight.

[R_Lefebvre]

The T Top does not have a sewn in ground sheet, apart from that it's fairly tight.

That's probably ok I think. Should still keep most of the bugs out. Either that, or get a tent guy to make a little zip up awning thing over the fold down door.

Do the side panels just drape on the ground? How long are the panels? If the trailer were shorter than the panels, they'd just have a significant length draping on the ground?

[Martyn]

That's probably ok I think. Should still keep most of the bugs out. Either that, or get a tent guy to make a little zip up awning thing over the fold down door.

Do the side panels just drape on the ground? How long are the panels? If the trailer were shorter than the panels, they'd just have a significant length draping on the ground?

Well that returns us to the issue of using a T Top on a trailer. It's not an ideal situation as it's at chest height. The tent portion that goes over the ladder is supported by a solid horizontal hoop. The walls are 2 meters long (78.75") or 2.2 meters long (86.6"). The walls are designed to be dropped down of the top of a vehicle.

[R_Lefebvre]

Yes, I knew they were designed to be higher, guess I should point out the trailer will be quite tall. The intent is to have the top of the RTT at about the same level as the top of my lifted Disco, so we're pushing 7 feet. That means the base of the tent will be about 6 feet. Maybe 5 1/2 feet minimum.

[Martyn]

Yes, I knew they were designed to be higher, guess I should point out the trailer will be quite tall. The intent is to have the top of the RTT at about the same level as the top of my lifted Disco, so we're pushing 7 feet. That means the base of the tent will be about 6 feet. Maybe 5 1/2 feet minimum.

166 lbs of tent at 6 feet.

Your trailer design is going to be interesting.

[R_Lefebvre]

How would it be much different than a truck with that up top? There will be weight down low, and I don't think the dimensions are much different than the Conqueror. It's 5 1/4 feet tall.

I supposed I could drop it to 1.5m, and go with a Globetrotter. I'm kind of undecided between the two approaches. I kinda like that the Globetrotter isn't folding, so all that complexity is gone. Does the Globetrotter have any of the places where bugs can get in like the other tents? ie: at the hinge closure, the doors, etc. How well is the lower section closed in compared to the T-tops?

If the trailer was 1.5m, exactly, and you parked in an area where the ground was gently sloping away, would you run out of fabric, or is there a little extra?

Any other significant differences from the T-top in construction or materials?

I do like that the Globetrotter would allow a quick easy peek at the kids below and probably a more stable feeling. However, it does seem to be 16" shorter which is a bit of a detriment.

Oh, and with either tent setup, can they be mounted directly to a metal surface, or do they have to be on some sort of rack so the bottom of the floor can "breathe"? If they need an air gap, would 1" square tube laid across in 4 places and welded directly to the sheetmetal work?

[Martyn]

How would it be much different than a truck with that up top? There will be weight down low, and I don't think the dimensions are much different than the Conqueror. It's 5 1/4 feet tall.

I supposed I could drop it to 1.5m, and go with a Globetrotter. I'm kind of undecided between the two approaches. I kinda like that the Globetrotter isn't folding, so all that complexity is gone. Does the Globetrotter have any of the places where bugs can get in like the other tents? ie: at the hinge closure, the doors, etc. How well is the lower section closed in compared to the T-tops?

If the trailer was 1.5m, exactly, and you parked in an area where the ground was gently sloping away, would you run out of fabric, or is there a little extra?

Any other significant differences from the T-top in construction or materials?

I do like that the Globetrotter would allow a quick easy peek at the kids below and probably a more stable feeling. However, it does seem to be 16" shorter which is a bit of a detriment.

The center of mass of a trailer is move upward much more than that of a truck when a tent is placed on it. A trailer lacks the mass of the engine and drive train.

The Globetrotter can be mounted as high as the 59" mark, although it can be less.

The Conqueror is a South African design, it was made for being pulled across the Veld, Kalahari, or washboard. Trailer owners in North America tend to have to deal with more adverse conditions that push the trailer more to the limits of stability.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/dayoldbread/cofm.jpg

[swanyo]

That's probably ok I think. Should still keep most of the bugs out. Either that, or get a tent guy to make a little zip up awning thing over the fold down door.

Do the side panels just drape on the ground? How long are the panels? If the trailer were shorter than the panels, they'd just have a significant length draping on the ground?

I have the 1600 t-top on an AT Horizon trailer and it works for me. I just roll up the excess canvas. I had thought of trimming off the extra but decided against it, incase I want to put it on top of the jeep one day. After ducking to get inside there is plenty of head room for changing and for a potty. My wife and kids all under 5ft don't have any issues. They are very happy with the added privacy. I do wish I could get the canvas door set higher so that I wouldn't have to duck down so much, also I would think about adding some anchor points higher up the canvas to pin to the ground. Right now I just put boxes and luggage to hold the sides in place but if you have any wind it doesn't hold well.

[R_Lefebvre]

The Conqueror is a South African design, it was made for being pulled across the Veld, Kalahari, or washboard. Trailer owners in North America tend to have to deal with more adverse conditions that push the trailer more to the limits of stability.

I think that's because they have different goals when they head out. They journey to get to a destination. Sometimes NA's destination is the journey. We go out looking for trouble. We build up our trucks to overcome an obstacle, then go looking for bigger obstacles to challenge the truck. Then we build it some more, until it gets to the point it's not really road worthy, and/or we start breaking more parts. We build until we run out of money for hi-po parts, or run out of money after breaking overstessed stock components.

Anyway, that's not really my goal. My usage is more along the lines of how they use the trucks in Africa so the Conqueror makes a lot of sense to me.

[Martyn]

I think that's because they have different goals when they head out. They journey to get to a destination. Sometimes NA's destination is the journey. We go out looking for trouble. We build up our trucks to overcome an obstacle, then go looking for bigger obstacles to challenge the truck. Then we build it some more, until it gets to the point it's not really road worthy, and/or we start breaking more parts. We build until we run out of money for hi-po parts, or run out of money after breaking overstessed stock components.

Anyway, that's not really my goal. My usage is more along the lines of how they use the trucks in Africa so the Conqueror makes a lot of sense to me.

I think of it more as tight rocky terrain and the need for higher ground clearance. Open savannahs allow for wider trailers with less ground clearance.

[R_Lefebvre]

The Conqueror Conquest has the same track as my truck, and probably more ground clearance. I'm basically looking for the ability to carry more cargo and have more space, at the detriment of some off-road ability. If it can do a 2.5-3 trail, I'll be happy. I don't need to do a 3.5 with a trailer.

I considered making something like a Conqueror Commander, and would have but it seems like a bit too big of a project.

Martyn, could you please answer some of my other EA specific technical questions?

[Martyn]

Martyn, could you please answer some of my other EA specific technical questions?

Sorry I thought I'd answered them all.

The materials used for the Globetrotter are identical to the other Eezi Awn tents.

Did I miss anything else?

[R_Lefebvre]

Can they be mounted directly to a roof surface, or do they need some kind of airgap, and then how much? 1"? More?

And uh, does the Globetrotter have any of the same problems where insects can find their way in through the hinge flaps or under the door?

[Martyn]

Can they be mounted directly to a roof surface, or do they need some kind of airgap, and then how much? 1"? More?

And uh, does the Globetrotter have any of the same problems where insects can find their way in through the hinge flaps or under the door?

Well, there is an aluminum extrusion on the base for attachment. Off hand I don't know exactly how deep it is, maybe 1.25". There is a picture of it here http://www.adventuretrailers.com/accessories.html#tentmount

Normally you mount to cross bars, but you could attach it by drilling straight through your lid. I've never done it that way.

The hinge flaps have a velcro closure, and the mozi netting for the door has velcro to attach it to the lip on the base. My experience has been that if I take the time to make sure everything is set up correctly insects are no problem.

[Tom B]

Just wondering if I'm missing anything as I've been looking around and not finding what I'm looking for. I'm wondering if anybody is making a LARGE RTT that you can get a T-top, or at the very least a skirt for a lower room?

I have me, my wife, one 3 year old, and another one planned, so we need a large space. But I'd also like the convenience of having an enclosed area for changing, and maybe a potti.

I like the apparent quality of the Eezi-Awns, but the largest you can get a T-top is the 1600. Are there any skirts or anything available for the 2200? The platform is large enough that really all that would be needed would be a "shower skirt", though I realize the ladder would not provide direct access which would also be nice.

I really like the Globetrotter setup, as this is intended to go on a trailer, but at 80x60 it's just too small I think.



Both Eezi-Awn (2200) and Howling Moon (2400) make RTT's with fully enclosed annex rooms. Paul at Equipt (www.equipt1.com) recently started listing 1800 and 2200 Eezi-Awn T-Tops on his website. I purchased a 1600 EA T-Top from him (top-notch customer service), and my wife and I couldn't be happier - especially the wife. We are getting to close to the point where we want to sell the 1600 and purchase the 2200 since the kids like camping and they are growing up.

The 1600 T-Top weighs 160lbs and the 2200 T-Top weighs around 210lbs. Everyone has their own COG risk preference, but I would personally be hesitant about putting a 2200 on top of a D2.

[R_Lefebvre]

Both Eezi-Awn (2200) and Howling Moon (2400) make RTT's with fully enclosed annex rooms. Paul at Equipt (www.equipt1.com) recently started listing 1800 and 2200 Eezi-Awn T-Tops on his website. I purchased a 1600 EA T-Top from him (top-notch customer service), and my wife and I couldn't be happier - especially the wife. We are getting to close to the point where we want to sell the 1600 and purchase the 2200 since the kids like camping and they are growing up.

The 1600 T-Top weighs 160lbs and the 2200 T-Top weighs around 210lbs. Everyone has their own COG risk preference, but I would personally be hesitant about putting a 2200 on top of a D2.

Martyn: Thanks.

Tom, thanks for the tip about the 2200 T-Top. I wouldn't put that much weight on top of a D2 either. Whatever I get is going on a trailer.