Roof Top Tents [Archive] - Expedition Portal

pangaea

11-03-2005, 04:23 PM

Wil,

Hopefully some other roof top tent owners will chime in here, but I'll try to give my honest opinon, not as a vendor, but as a consumer. Prior to selling roof tents, I had used a few different brands, and in all I'd say that I've used about a dozen different brands of tents out there over the years. I'll give you my take on the different ones, both pros and cons:

Lofty Shelters
Pros: I like the idea of a plastic derived travel case. If made right, its more weather proof and durable than the PVC covers on most other tents out there. Materials and craftsmanship seems relatively decent.

Cons: Because the entire tent raises up vertically, rather than opening like a book (like most other tents) it takes up a larger footprint on the rack. This is problematic only if you need to store other gear on the rack.

Personaly, l'm not a fan of the design of their Maggiolinas. It feels a bit small and closed in when open. I have one friend who equated it to sleeping in a coffin.

Hannibal Tents
Pros: Good design (same basic design as the Eezi-awn). Cool diamond plate ladders. Full u-zip windows seal up tent well. Comes with maintenance kit. U-zip on travel cover is great for keeping out weather, but a pain to zip sometimes.

Cons: u-zip windows can cause the zippers to snag or teeth to separate. Quality control issues with materials and craftsmanship (As a vendor, I saw a few of them with thin spots in canvas where rain would seep in, and some minor stitching issues)

Oasis
Pros: Interesting design. Nylon "hammock" flooring removes marine ply and mattress from equation, greatly decreasing the weight of the tent.

Cons: Ladder design is a bit kludgy, it kind of seems like a normal step ladder added to the package. Nylon material is not as nice as that found in most African tents. A bit over priced in my opinion.

Bottom Line: a decent tent for the occassional camper, but probably not a good option for serious expedition work.

Technitop
Pros: Clamshell design uses injection molded plastic. All the advantages of the Maggiolina, without the disadvantages. Great design, and good materials. Telescoping sides provide build in shelter when opening the doors

Cons: I feel like the hardware used inside of the tent is a bit lightweight for expedition duty. The telescoping poles could probably have been engineered for more HD use. But, Graham subjected a pair of them to HD overland use across Africa, so my concerns may be unfounded.

Bottom line: I mention this tent, because while it isn't officially available in the US yet, it should be starting next year. Overall, this would be my second choice for a roof top tent.

Howling Moon
Pros: tried and true classic roof top tent design. Decent materials. Aluminum flooring makes for a lighter weight tent.

Cons: Aluminum flooring means it sleeps colder than wood which has a better insulation properties. I've used these in Africa and had problems with the zippers tearing loose from the tent. Granted, these are rental tents in Africa, which is probably extreme use and abuse

Bottom Line: Decent tent. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. No official importer that I know of, but I see them pop up here in the states from time to time.

Eezi-Awn
Pros: Great craftsmanship and materials. Good reputation among overlanders in South Africa. Travel cover is easy to take on and put off. Ladder design allows it to telescope in and out, making for easy storage. Extra vents at top of tent for added ventilation. Good mounting system to rack, so no drilling into tent is required. Straight zipped doors make the zippers more reliable.

Cons: If not put on properly, the travel cover will expose part of the canvas of the tent, allowing it to wick in a storm. One model, the AluTop, while a cool design is pretty heavy (about 130 lbs) and a bit expensive. Straight zipped doors require a bit more care to make sure they're sealed properly (see note above for trade off).

Bottom Line: My first choice of a roof top tent. We actually started importing them for sale because I honestly thought it was the best of the bunch.

-------

I hope that helps you out. As I mentioned above, I do sell these things for a living which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. I get to see far more tents come and go then most people, so I get to see problems that may pop up over the long term production of these products.

On the other hand, I'm a bit of a cynic, and I always tend to take the POV of a salesman with a bit of a grain of salt.

:arabia:

pangaea

11-03-2005, 04:33 PM

A couple of things to consider about your specific needs: What is your budget? How are you going to use the tent? Where are you going to use the tent? How often are you going to use the tent?

Once you get past the sting of the price tag, you'll likely be happy with any of them. For the most part, they're all good tents. Some of them are just more gooder. :D

60seriesguy

11-03-2005, 05:37 PM

Another thing to add. Because of the sheer initial expense, it's important to focus on longevity (for amortization). These aren't like your usual tents, if properly installed, taken care of and maintained, you can expect to get decades out of them, barring any catastrophic damage.

I bought a Mares rooftop tent from Venezuela five years ago, initially expecting to install it on my roof rack. One trip and that idea was off, I thought the tent was heavy, threw off my COG, and access felt awkward to me. So I installed it on my trailer and have never regretted it. The Mares is basically a derivation of the old Brown & Church and Tent-Top (German-made) tents of the 70s and 80s, adapted for the Venezuelan market. The materials are good but the fit and finish is not the best, they definitely sacrificed on weight to make it long-lasting and comfortable. It's got the best mosquito netting of any rooftop tent I've seen, but there's some features that I feel needed minor improvement (Most of which I've already made). The price was unbeatable, it was 1/3 of what the above tents go for, but getting them out of Venezuela is practically impossible (I've tried a couple of times to organize group buys, but the logistics are hard to handle for someone in my line of work).

mountainpete

11-03-2005, 05:59 PM

Cons: Ladder design is a bit kludgy, it kind of seems like a normal step ladder added to the package.

Nathan - I had to look it up:

Kludgy
n. Slang
1. A system, especially a computer system, that is constituted of poorly matched elements or of elements originally intended for other applications.
2. A clumsy or inelegant solution to a problem.

I like that word! Must use in the future...

:arabia:

Pete

gjackson

11-03-2005, 07:13 PM

Mainly to elaborate on what Nathan said:

Technitop makes a very good tent. I too thought that the hardware was a bit lightweight when I first got it, but after 9 months of continuous use, I had no problems with any of the hardware in the technitop. The only problem I have had was a hole got worn in the cover. This is the cover that goes over the tent when folded. The hole does allow water to get in, and I have to patch it asap. Only other comments are use related: zippers are usually the first things to go on a tent, so taking care of them is a must. I've seen zippers go on Howling Moon, Technitop and Ezi-Awn tents, and is usually because of lack of lubrication (bees wax works very well). Also, the Technitop could use to have a bit more volume when folded. This is a drawback of the clamshell design. We can't store a double sleeping bag, a blanket and 4 full sized pillows in the tent when folded. Usually 2 of the pillows have to come out. The Ezi Awn non-clamshell design allows for more bedding storage. Also, the older Technitop tents have very small windows, but this has been corrected on the new ones.

We travelled with some people in Africa who had been using 2 Ezi Awns for 18 months. Only problem they had was a zipper giving up and the velcro at the bottom of the flyscreen door giving up as well. They loved the tents and had no complaints.

I agree with Nathan on Howling Moon tents. They are fine, don't love 'em, don't hate 'em. Well, I actually do hate them when I'm trying to get the cover zipped on. That is a very difficult task, and the zippers are under a lot of stress as they go around 90 degree corners. Very important to keep those lubed well, because they are exposed to the elements all the time, and get very dry and stiff and full of dirt.

On the plus side, there is nothing quite like sitting in your roof top tent and watching hyenas troll through camp by moonlight. Great stuff! :D

cheers

pangaea

11-03-2005, 08:22 PM

Graham brings up another reason for why I don't care for the Maggiolinas: As mentioned above, on most vehicles, installing that particular tent takes up the entire roof.

If you have a full length roof rack, and a folding tent design like most of the models out there, the remainder of the rack can function as sort of a front porch. Nice if you camp next to a watering hole or similar situation. Just roll out of bed and do some game viewing in your PJs. :lurk:

flyingwil

11-04-2005, 01:17 AM

:luxhello: Great Feed Back :exclaim: Any links to the Howling Moon rack? I found one on Google, but it was a dead link. I am in awe of Scott's set up, and dont want to exactly copy it, but I might have to copy the Eezi-Awn option. Seems like they are the best solution for me. However, I want to explore all options before I pick one.

Thanks,
Wil

pangaea

11-04-2005, 03:28 AM

Wil,

Their website is:

http://www.howlingmoon.co.za/

flyingwil

11-04-2005, 04:02 AM

Eezi-Awn
Pros: Great craftsmanship and materials. Good reputation among overlanders in South Africa. Travel cover is easy to take on and put off. Ladder design allows it to telescope in and out, making for easy storage. Extra vents at top of tent for added ventilation. Good mounting system to rack, so no drilling into tent is required. Straight zipped doors make the zippers more reliable.

Cons: If not put on properly, the travel cover will expose part of the canvas of the tent, allowing it to wick in a storm. One model, the AluTop, while a cool design is pretty heavy (about 130 lbs) and a bit expensive. Straight zipped doors require a bit more care to make sure they're sealed properly (see note above for trade off).

Bottom Line: My first choice of a roof top tent. We actually started importing them for sale because I honestly thought it was the best of the bunch.

Nathan-

On the Eezi-Awn, I read on a few AU boards that they have an opening near the bottom of the door that could allow bugs in, and the common fix is Velcro. Is this true? I am excited to be able to check some out at the gathering next week. Hopefully Scott and Pasquale will have theirs along and hopefully they'll let me scope them out as long as remember to wipe up the drool when I am done.

Thanks,
Wil

P.S. How much is shipping on one of these (for example the 1200)? I live in 85212 if that helps.

+ d

11-04-2005, 04:52 AM

:Wow1: that's bigger than my house!

http://www.howlingmoon.co.za/images/trailer4lg.jpg

pangaea

11-04-2005, 10:28 PM

On the Eezi-Awn, I read on a few AU boards that they have an opening near the bottom of the door that could allow bugs in, and the common fix is Velcro. Is this true? I am excited to be able to check some out at the gathering next week. Hopefully Scott and Pasquale will have theirs along and hopefully they'll let me scope them out as long as remember to wipe up the drool when I am done.

P.S. How much is shipping on one of these (for example the 1200)? I live in 85212 if that helps.

That's true, the doors have straight zippers. But the Eezi-Awns that we've brought into the US all have the velcro installed at the factory at the bottom of the inside door.

As I was saying in my pros and cons above, the straight zipper design isn't as good at sealing the tent (you have to make sure that you press the velcro in place. But it makes the zippers last longer and hold up better.

pangaea

11-04-2005, 10:30 PM

Almost forgot, shipping to Mesa would run about $120 on a 1200 or 1400 tent.

Scott Brady

11-16-2005, 06:11 AM

Having used my Eezi-Awn 1200 for three nights this weekend, I could not be happier. It stayed mounted solid, was easy to deploy, and took little effort to pack up. I slept great!

The key for me was the compact size when folded. It allows the tent to be mounted in addition to a Deflecta-Shield tool box. That is a major advantage when using the double cab trucks.

Hltoppr

11-16-2005, 02:54 PM

I had the opportunity to check out the EA on EWs rig this weekend, and compare it to my Hannibal.

The places where the EA is better than the Hannibal IMO:

1. Straight zippers on the doors....not an issue until it gets chilly and the canvas shrinks, but much easier than going around corners on the Han. when cold,

2. Rain Fly Attachment....good quality buckles on the EA. Velcro on the H. I think this would withstand winds better. FWIW...during a strong wind, I don't even bother with my rain fly.

3. Rain Fly Construction....heavy canvas covered with PVC. The H is just treated nylon.

4. Ladder....EA is attached to the bottom and slides up as one unit. H has only one piece attached, while the other two pieces slide into place when you put the ladder together.

5. Top vents...EA has vents on the side of the tent, separate from the windows.

6. Wear pads on the inside of the cover...keeps your ladder from rubbing holes in the cover during a long, bumpy ride...H doesn't do a very good job of these, although I've just put some closed cell foam under the cover...

Where the H has some "better" designs than the EA (IMO...):

1. Full zipper around the bottom of the cover on the H, where the EA has a ratchet system to tighten the cover. Zipper will most likely seal out more dust from the tent.

2. Better sealing on the doors. (See #1 on the EA benefits) EA probably a bit more drafty....Not a problem for me, per se, but my wife hates cold drafts, and many times we're camping at 9,000 feet plus....thus....her discomfort would become my problem... :rolleyes:

Generally, it seems that the EA people took an older H tent and improved on many of the minor issues, changing the design slightly. Both the H and EA are made of quality materials, and mine has held up to quite a bit of hard use, with only some small wear spots.

Now....DesertDude & DesertGirl's Magnolina (DaktariEd has one too...) tents are another story all together...

Here's a pic of the Hannibal in use, for those of you who might want to compare.

Probably my best two mods have been the roof tent and refrigerator!

-H-

cshontz

11-16-2005, 05:23 PM

How does the Eezi-Awn mount to a vehicle? ... or more specifically, how would it mount on my Cherokee? Does anyone have pictures of what the mounting system looks like?

I'm somewhat intrigued. I wasn't going to put anything on the roof of my Cherokee, but a roof-top tent might inspire me to travel and spend the night at places that I wouldn't have considered previously. I'm just kind of curious at this point.

flyingwil

11-17-2005, 12:13 AM

What Tent is this? Howling Moon, right?
http://coloradoron.com/images/pinzi01.jpg

Hltoppr

11-17-2005, 02:52 PM

pangaea

11-17-2005, 04:48 PM

What Tent is this? Howling Moon, right?

Not sure what kind of tent that is. Definitely not a recent Howling Moon. Here's a shot of a '03 model Howling Moon. All of the Howling Moons that I've seen and/or used have the red pinstriping along the edges of the canvas.

http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/images/africa03images/024rooftoptents.jpg

pangaea

11-17-2005, 04:54 PM

Generally, it seems that the EA people took an older H tent and improved on many of the minor issues, changing the design slightly. Both the H and EA are made of quality materials, and mine has held up to quite a bit of hard use, with only some small wear spots.

Oddly enough, it appears to have been the other way around: Eezi-Awn have been making these tents for years (almost 20 IIRC), while the Hannibal tent seems to have been based very heavily on the Eezi-Awn design. I got to use one of the prototype Hannibal tents a few years ago, and it looked like they had simply bolted an EA ladder on to it.

However, there's quite a bit of copying in that industry, althought I believe its referred to more delicately as "cross polination". There's only so many ways to design that style of tent.

DaktariEd

11-17-2005, 06:33 PM

I'm pretty happy with my Maggiolina Airland. :D

http://www.geocities.com/daktaried/photos/Camp_7521b.jpg http://www.geocities.com/daktaried/WhtMtn3.jpg

It is very well constructed, waterproof, and seals up nicely. On a larger vehicle it is almost unnoticeable when traveling, but on my FJ40, I notice it!

After this last weekend's Expedition Portal Trophy Event, though, I am looking at options to move the tent off the roof and onto a trailer. The 150 pounds up on the roof definitely changes the handling characteristics of the vehicle. I could feel a lot more sway on curves/turns and the effect of crosswinds a bit more.

I'd like to mount it on a trailer so it actually will ride below the roofline of the FJ40 when in tow.

Ed

cshontz

11-18-2005, 03:05 AM

The EA has really nice aluminum rails with sliding/moveable hardware to mount to the roof rack (drill a hole, put mounting bolt through, attach nut....) the Hannibal requires drilling holes through the base wood of the tent to mount it on the rack...

Add that to my EA is better than the H list....

-H-

Sorry, I'm not quite sure I follow. :(

If I understand correctly, to install the EA tent platform, I'd need to drill holes in the factory roof rails? ... not drill into the roof itself, correct? So the tent platform bridges the factory roof rack rails, rests on top of them, and is bolted down to them?

In any case, I greatly appreciate your info. Thanks! :)

Hltoppr

11-18-2005, 03:58 PM

Yes, you generally have the idea, but the factory roof racks are probably not rated for the weight of a rooftop tent. Most factory rack ratings are around 65-120lbs. evenly distributed...my Han. alone weighs 115lbs.

Most roof tents are made to be mounted on flat crossbars, such as the Hannibal roof racks. You can modify this by using U bolts around Yakima/Thule bars, which are usually rated for 165lbs. dynamic (moving) load. For my first rack (and my lightweight rack) I use 4 Yakima 72" load bars with 8 "A" Towers. The tent is mounted to two crossbars using U bolts, and a third crossbar is underneath the center of the tent to provide extra support. This setup works really well.

-H-

Bartek

11-20-2005, 07:33 PM

I am looking into roof top tents, as opposed to a expedition trailer. However, I am having a hard time finding information on tents obtainable in US. Most sites I have found are not located in the US and do not export. There are numberous manufactures, but limited resellers in the US. I thought I might start this thread to help us explore options of roof top tents.

I have found a few (Hopefully you have more), but would like pro's and con's on each one.

Lofty Shelters (http://www.loftyshelters.com/)
Eezi-Awn (http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/eeziawn/index.html)
Hannibal (http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/hannibal/index.html)
Oasis (http://www.everythingsuv.com/oasis_tents_main-esuv.asp)

From what I could find these are the only options here in the US.

I will be putting this tent on my Double Cab Tacoma, but I think it would benifitial to all members to keep this thread non vehicle specific.

What are your inputs / comments / experiences?

Thanks,
Wil

Hi,
I am new here. Sorry if I make some technical mistakes.Those forums are still mysterious to me..
I do sell EEZI and FRONT RUNNER equipment and if you want some exact info please ask.
The subjects of forum talks seem ok:-)
all the best for all of forum members
Bartek

60seriesguy

11-21-2005, 01:46 AM

BajaXplorer

01-25-2006, 07:17 PM

I have been looking at roof top tents with the interest of maybe mounting one on my trailer. There is one question that keeps coming to mind that all of you who have them could answer for me. How is the foldout half of a rooftop tent supported. I can't believe it is just the hinge and tent canvas. Pictures of them unfolded to twice their width has the half that flips out extended out into the air with no visible means of support. It appears that the greater part of your weight rests on the supported half once your in lying down, but what about the unsupported part when you crawl across from the ladder. Between my wife and I we probably weigh in at about 400 lbs so you see where I am coming from.
BX

Scott Brady

01-25-2006, 08:52 PM

On the Eezi-Awn (and most clamshell designs), the folded out section is supported by the ladder. My ladder has a hole, which takes a tent stake to prevent kick-out.

60seriesguy

01-25-2006, 09:43 PM

On my MARES tent, the opening clamshell of the tent is supported by the ladder, but the way I mounted it to the flat steel lid on my trailer, it's the lid itself that supports it. Works really well and doesn't put a lot of strain on the ladder itself.

BMAN

01-26-2006, 03:55 AM

Nathan-

On the Eezi-Awn, I read on a few AU boards that they have an opening near the bottom of the door that could allow bugs in, and the common fix is Velcro. Is this true? I am excited to be able to check some out at the gathering next week. Hopefully Scott and Pasquale will have theirs along and hopefully they'll let me scope them out as long as remember to wipe up the drool when I am done.

Thanks,
Wil

P.S. How much is shipping on one of these (for example the 1200)? I live in 85212 if that helps.

HIJACK ON! I also live in 85212 and own a Mombasa from www.Car-top-tent.com

You're more than welcome to swing buy and we'll set her up for you to take a look at. I have not done any overnights in her yet but am planning a few trips a bit later in the year to put it through the paces. My first impression is that the material seems very lightweight Good or bad I do not know yet but I picked this tent up as a demo model and noticed a small worn through spot from what seemed like a bad mounting job at one point (Nothing a small patch won't fix up.

Scott Brady

01-26-2006, 04:03 AM

BMAN,

Bringing it to the Climb and Crawl? That will be a great place for people to check it out :D

BajaXplorer

01-26-2006, 01:03 PM

BMan
I am in 85213 and would like to see it if you are having a "show and tell."

Scott,
What's a climb and crawl?

BX

Scott Brady

01-26-2006, 02:24 PM

Scott,
What's a climb and crawl?

BX

BX,

Here is some info on the trip: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=692

BMAN

01-26-2006, 03:37 PM

BMAN,

Bringing it to the Climb and Crawl? That will be a great place for people to check it out :D

That's the idea. I will also have it out at the TTORA AZRocks event in March. I mounted it over the bed of the Taco (prerunner) so that I'll be able to use it as a base for the whole weekend and still do some crawling over that weekend. I may have to come up with a mount system for the 40 for climb and crawl, assuming the 60 isn't done by then. Hopefully it will be though!

BMAN

01-26-2006, 09:38 PM

BMan
I am in 85213 and would like to see it if you are having a "show and tell."

Scott,
What's a climb and crawl?

BX

BX-

Any time! You gonna be around this weekend?

Wil, I just noticed you are running a Dcab. Mine is set up to be mounted Just over the Dcab bed. you'll deffinately want to check it out before you make a decision. This tent is longer than the bed and needs a little thought when mounting. LMK and we'll get together for a show and tell.

flyingwil

01-26-2006, 09:54 PM

BX-

Any time! You gonna be around this weekend?

Wil, I just noticed you are running a Dcab. Mine is set up to be mounted Just over the Dcab bed. you'll deffinately want to check it out before you make a decision. This tent is longer than the bed and needs a little thought when mounting. LMK and we'll get together for a show and tell.

Nice... Where exactly are you!? I need to check it out! We live in Mesquite Canyon on the corners of Ellsworth and Guadalupe.

Shoot me an e-mail by clicking on my name above... and well meet up!

Wil

BajaXplorer

01-28-2006, 11:29 PM

BMAN

01-30-2006, 01:17 AM

BMan & Wil
Been entertaining company and missed these posts until now. Yes, I am around this weekend did you and Wil hook up yet? If not, maybe the three of us could tomorrow afternoon (Sunday). I can be reached ay 480.610.1417.
BTW, my plan is for mounting on my M101 trailer with optional mounting on my roof rack at times.
BX

Damn now I feel bad. I was here all weekend working on the 60 series and didn't bother to come in to check the net until now (Sunday night). Either one of you guys can give me a call at 602-763-0529 and we can hook up for some show and tell. I usually get home around 6 so evenings aren't great but they're not out of the question. This Saturday afternoon should be alright after about 3pm. Or even Sunday. I'm not much of a football watcher but I'll prolly be kickin around here watching the game anyway. Interuptions will not be frowned upon.;)

Let me know!

BajaXplorer

01-30-2006, 01:09 PM

BMan
I will be working the Parker 425 race this weekend for BITD, but should be home a little after noon on Sunday. Maybe we can get Wil and I over to see your tent setup that afternoon.
BX

BMAN

01-30-2006, 07:09 PM

Cool by me! Give me a shout when you're back on our side of the world.

Mike S

01-31-2006, 05:17 PM

I have just registered to participate on this website. Some of you know me from the IH8MUD site. My partner and I own AutoHomeUSA, North American importers of AutoHome roof top tents - www.autohomeus.com Keeping this in mind, I have a couple of comments to add to this thread...

1. Selecting a tent depends only partially on the type of vehicle you drive. HOW and WHERE you plan on using the tent is equally important. Hard shell and all-fabric tents each have their place - strengths and weaknesses. We have sold hundreds of roof top tents, and advised people on selection and fitting to their vehicles. We do our best not to sell tents that are unsuitable for their intended purpose, or that would be unsafe on the intended vehicle. We have provided tents for use on many types of vehicles - from VWs and Audis to G Wagons, Pinzses, and Hummers. We have provided tents to people from Alaska and Hawaii to Guatemala, Costa Rica and even Trinidad.

2. It is also important to consider the source of the tent. As mentioned at the beginning of this thread, many tents have very spotty distribution, availablity and after sales support. We have decided to make rooftop tents the core of our business, with presales, availability and delivery, warranty and spare parts support for the North American market. We have West and East Coast warehouses, and keep over 100 tents in stock for immediate delivery. The best tent in the world is no good if you can't get it on your truck.

3. Roof top tents are often a sort of cottage industry. Be sure that you buy from a manufacturer who will be there when you need them. We reviewed many manufacturers and products before choosing to work with AutoHome (Zifer) of Italy. They have been in business since 1958, and roof top tents are their only business. There are other manufacturers - notably in South Africa and Australia - who have also been in business for a while.

3. We find that there are some key factors in the selection of a tent.

- Durability / quality - will the tent perform as promised? Materials, design and construction are very important. Will it last 20 or more years? Can you get service and/or parts if needed?

- Ease of use - how much you use the tent depends largely on how easy it is to use. This extends to mounting and de-mounting the tent, type of mounting system required, etc.

- Comfort is the final test. If the tent is cold, too hot, lacking a correct matteress, if it leaks, or is not properly ventilated, it will not work for you.

AutoHome tents are available in three basic models - the Maggiolina, Colombus and OverLand. The Maggiolina and Colombus are hardshell tents (fiberglass and a new, lightweight carbon fiber model), the OverLand is an advanced all-fabric tent. These basic models come in several sizes and with variations to suit market requirements. They are not the cheapest tent that you can buy, but are high quality.

If this sounds like an advertisment, it is... sort of. But these concerns are the legitimate concerns of hundreds of people who call and e-mail looking for the right equipment for their trips and expeditions.

Sorry for the long post, but after reading the entire discussion, I felt that I should present current information and post based on our experience in the business over the past six years.

Mike

Scott Brady

01-31-2006, 05:37 PM

Mike,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for the detailed post. We have several members here that own your tents.

:camping:

Scott Brady

01-31-2006, 05:46 PM

I wrote up this review a few days ago on Mud, and wanted to share it here as well. Mike's post reminded me:

I just travelled in Baja with Robin (and his wife) from New Cruiser (great people!). It gave me the opportunity to inspect their Technitop unit and discuss with them their successes, etc.

Overall, they are very happy, and with hundreds of nights in the unit, they would know.

He did mention that the clamshell does leak some, and that the cover allows water ingress from underneath. So it might not be a better solution for wet weather. He also mentioned having problems with the fiberglass window and awning poles. Under extreme winds they have shattered.

We had heavy winds one night in Baja Sur (near San Evaristo) and all tents did well.

Robin also mentioned that in extreme wind, the sides can collapse. That is one of the unique design features of the Technitop, as it allows a little more interior room by making the side walls telescope outwards. I guess the telescoping feature can collapse under stiff winds (but does not cause damage).

On my Eezi-awn, the unit is very stout, and has some of the best fit and finish I have found. The ladder is also the highest quality and best designed by a wide margin.

The one think I have not been the most happy with is the cover. It does not quite seal around the roof side when closed (the side of the tent that comes down and closes against the bottom). Fortunately (and probably by design), that is the side of the tent with the best protection (rain fly, etc.). All other sides are sealed ok. The top also becomes a bit of a pain after a few weeks because the surface gets very dirty (dust, mud, etc.). I started using my on-board shower to clean it a few times a week, which improved the situation.

The tent mounting configuration of the Eezi-Awn is also the most robust I have found.

At the end of the day though, go with the tent that has the features you most desire, as they are all of great quality (Eezi-Awn, Technitop and Autohome)

But, here is my short list of my opinions on the models:

Autohome Maggolina:
Good-
Lowest profile when stored
Easiest to store closed
Bedding stored inside and ready to sleep
Best ergonomics

Not so Good-
Mounting hardware and design not sufficient for extreme overlanding (3/16 bolts IIRC and galvanized top clamps)
Shell rattles, wearing tent material when closed
Material thin and allows light to enter, door position makes it harder to enjoy the view.

Eezi-Awn:
Good-
Best overall build and quality (heaviest fabric, strongest ladder, etc.)
Dark inside when light outside
Rattle free and super strong mounting. tongue and groove when open increases support and prevents flex.
Best mattress (dual density)

Not so Good-
Cover does not seal as well as others
Mounting to vehicle takes time, with slide groove mount (glad it just stays on the truck)
Netting holes are too big for no-see-ums, will need to sew in additional screening for Alaska trip.

Technitop:
Good-
Most room inside for footprint
Most rainfly coverage
Big side windows

Not so Good-
Pole design (fiberglass)
Hard plastic shell adds weight, but does not increase durability/weather resistance. Still requires second cover to seal properly.
High wind performance (poles snap, rainfly noise, sides collapse)

Scott Brady

01-31-2006, 05:48 PM

Another question was asked regarding high wind performance, to which I responded:

"In the most extreme conditions, I would recommend the Eezi Awn.

Here is why:

1. Can be set-up with one side windward, rainfly and door at an angle against the tent. You can see this arrangement in this image. It allows the wind to hit an angled side, as opposed to a vertical side, reducing the sail effect.
2. If no rain is anticipated, you can even remove the rainfly, which is the greatest source of noise.
3. All windows can be closed tight, reducing wind pockets.
4. Window bows are spring steel, CAD plated
5. Like mountaineering tents, the Eezi-Awn has internal tension lines that can be connected, pulling the tent sides in tight against the bows.
6. The bows and brackets are massive, and made of steel and aluminum as opposed to plastic or fiberglass. All bows and tent supports are round tube, which is much stronger than flat stock.

My configuration also benefits from how I mounted the tent, which is below the cab. This allows me to point the drivers side front corner into the prevailing wind and allow the air to foil up the windshield and miss most of the tent surface.

I will also say that the Autohome Columbus might be an interesting high wind solution as well. Just face the angle to the wind. The only question would be how strong the internal support structure is. I have not seen one of these in person."

gjackson

02-01-2006, 04:54 AM

As a person who has used a technitop for a while I thought I'd add my 2c to Scott's evaluation above.

The hard shell on the technitop does not keep water out. You do need to have the additional cover that the tent comes with. Nice thing is that the additional cover collects the dust and grime and is easy to take off, so you can stay pretty clean while erecting the tent even in very dirty environs. The only problem I've had with the second cover is that it developed a hole in one corner, and now water gets in. This was after sustained use, and was due to a rough edge on a metal support rod. I knew the rod would wear a hole in the cover, but I never got around to smoothing it off.

The technitop can be *very* noisy in extreme wind. I have never had the sides collapse, which is strange given that I usually face the truck into the wind, so the collapsable side is into the wind. That helps with the noise. I have never had the poles shatter either.

As far as mounting goes, the technitop has an internal steel frame, and to mount you have to drill through the frame and put bolts through. Works well in my experience, except that water can get under the tent and rust the bolts. Not too big a deal if you are aware of the issue.

One problem I have run into, but not on my tent is that the zippers can fail if they are not lubricated. I think this is true of all roof top tents with zippers. If they get dusty and are used continuously, they can fail pretty quickly. I use bees wax on the zippers, and that really helps.

cheers

Scott Brady

02-01-2006, 02:11 PM

Great feedback Graham. Thanks

The experiences with the Technitop were relayed from Robin with newcruiser.ca

OverlandZJ

02-04-2006, 12:19 PM

2. It is also important to consider the source of the tent. As mentioned at the beginning of this thread, many tents have very spotty distribution, availablity and after sales support. We have decided to make rooftop tents the core of our business, with presales, availability and delivery, warranty and spare parts support for the North American market. We have West and East Coast warehouses, and keep over 100 tents in stock for immediate delivery.

Mike

Mike, where on the East Coast is this warehouse located? If at all possible i'd like to see an Overland model setup. I'v been following this thread with great interest and plan to purchase a rooftop tent in the near future.

I'm currently considering the EA, Hannibal and AutoHome products.

Thanks

Mike S

02-04-2006, 04:46 PM

Mike, where on the East Coast is this warehouse located? If at all possible i'd like to see an Overland model setup. I'v been following this thread with great interest and plan to purchase a rooftop tent in the near future.

Thanks

John,

Our warehouse in Newark, NJ and is strictly a warehouse and delivery point, not a showroom. We do have some customers who do not mind showing their tents to prospective customers. If you e-mail us with contact info and location, I will see if I can find a customer or dealer near you. E-mail is info@autohomeus.com or phone us at 888-852-2359

I know that it is difficult to buy something sight unseen. To ensure that customers get what they are expecting, AutoHomeUSA offers a 'no questions asked' return policy. If you buy the tent, you may return it for any reason, or no reason, within 30 days of purchase. You need only pay shipping. Believe me, I don't make any money on this - since the returned tent would be sold as 'used'. Since we started business we have had only one tent returned. The buyer changed his expedition plans.

We also provide a 5 year warranty on materials and workmanship.

Mike

zimm

02-05-2006, 06:04 PM

good to know! all other things being equal form a semi-informed buyers standpoint (informed, having tested them), this pretty much moves you to the top of my list.

paulj

02-08-2006, 06:06 AM

Here's a picture of a roof top tent that I saw on a van in a British Columbia provincial park. I suspect there is a mattress in the overhanging lid, and that it is accessible from inside the van. If so, it is like the Wildernest campertop that I had on my S10 pickup.

paulj

Scott Brady

02-08-2006, 01:37 PM

Wow, very nice find Paul. That just might do the trick for alot of the guys.

By any chance, did you see a brand of the roof? It looks much newer than the van.

paulj

02-08-2006, 05:34 PM

No I didn't get in close enough to see any brand names. I walked by early in the morning before anyone was up.

When I had the Wildernest on my pickup, I had my share of visitors, asking 'does it open up inside?' etc.

If you aren't familiar with the Wildernest, here's a good picture:
http://forums.vmag.com/RVTentCampers/messages/1371.html
http://www.stuver.com/wildernest.html
The distinctive bobtail back end was used to fit a 6' long sleeping area on top of a 6' long pickup bed. The versions for 8' pickups had a more conventional appearance.

They are no longer in production, but if you can find a used one in good condition (i.e. stored in dry conditions, garage in Colorado, So Cal, etc), and it fits your pickup, check it out. Outside parking in the Pacific NW eventually damaged mine.

Maybe I should elaborate on ways moisture can be a problem with a vehicle mounted tent:

- leakage through seams, and around the tent-frame joint while in use
- packing a tent while still wet (hard to avoid this on wet traveling days)
- leakage around the gaskets when the tent is closed up
- damage to those gaskets with use
- condensation inside the packed tent during damp weather.

Mildew does not damage nylon fabric directly, but can stain it, and damage the waterproof coatings. Wet warm storage is the worst. Wet storage can also damage structural components - the frame, hinges, and support cables. These were all problems that I encountered with the Wildernest. They may be less of a problem with a roof top tent, especially if it can be stored inside between trips.

Also if using such a tent in an area where rain is common, consider using a rain fly that can be stored, and dried, separately from the main tent body. With the Wildernest, I eventually started throwing a large poly tarp over the whole thing if I expected much rain. I had to tie it to bamboo poles to make it manageable.

paulj

cshontz

02-10-2006, 02:55 PM

I was flipping through an ARB 2006 wall calendar yesterday, and happened upon this picture. (always carry digicam) :D

http://static.flickr.com/28/97921191_a846b60e44.jpg

The tent is branded "ARB Touring", and I don't recall it being mentioned here. I'm assuming ARB just put their label on someone else's tent, but I'm not savvy enough to recognize the original manufacturer.

As a result of some quick Googling, I found this pdf:
http://www.arbusa.com/New_Product_Advices/Touring.pdf

This pdf also has an informative blurb on the product:
http://www.4wdlinks.com.au/4wheelingSA/4WheelingSAwinter2005%2001-10.pdf

Do you guys have more info or opinions on this tent?

Mike S

02-10-2006, 03:57 PM

I have not seen the ARB tent so I cannot comment on quality. Nice looking tent, average size.

1.4m X 2.4m X 1.3m = 55" X 94" X 52" Weight is Pilbara, 124 lbs., Simpson 132 Lbs. Downside is, like the old Hannibal units, it seems to require an ARB rack system for mounting. This adds weight and cost. Seems to have a nice mattress for a folding fabric tent - 2.5" thick. I believe that it is probably an ARB branded tent built by one of the Australian makers.

It is my understanding (not confirmed with ARB) that they are not importing this tent to the US market. If this is true, WHY? My guess is that they are concerned about:

1. Dynamic roof top load limits on vehicles sold in the US. They are LOWER in the US than most places. The typical ExVehicle sold in the USA (Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Landcruiser) is dynamic load limited to 165 lbs. on the roof. The ARB tent is 125 or 132 lbs. Add the ARB roof rack (75 to 100lbs.?), so the total is well over the 165 lb. limit. In addition, they show space for cargo on the new product advisory. Add a couple of gas cans... The total load will be far over the allowable dynamic load limits for anything but a Hummer H1 (which is 400 lbs.).

2. Lawyers, see above. The risk of litigation would easily negate any possible gains from sales.

3. There is a 10% duty on tents imported to the US from non-NAFTA countries. Freight is fairly costly. Not a huge consideration, but it adds to the cost. There is a limit of tolerance for cost on fabric tents (all tents, actually) in the US market. At some point many people will opt for the less expensive (and less comfortable) solution of pitching a tent on the ground.

That's my take on what's going on with this product vis-a-vis the US market.

Mike

Rich

02-12-2006, 09:56 AM

Will,
Maybe I can help shed a little insight on this subject. It seems we are bringing in brands and such when we should be talking about design and what you plan to do with the tent and whatconditions you plan to encounter, and maybe and a little what your budget is. Let me give you some thoughts.
If you are looking at a rooftent, it means you generally are going into rugged conditions, most all rooftents are four season, they have to be. I've found that a rooftent will allow me to go places and do things I wouldn't be able to do without one. I prefer a rooftent over something like a Westphalia because they can be moved to many vehicles and tend to be designed for one purpose, to protect you from the elements and allow you get a good night's sleep. If you can't sleep, you are worthless for an expedition, and its no fun, comfort is critical.
Cold weather, this is where a rooftent comes into its own. Smaller tents tend to be more comfortable, think alpine tents. less area to heat up, low roofline to keep the heat down low. Insulation is critical, the hard shelled tents are great here, fiberglass is excellent because it can be made into insulating composites. ABS plastic and metals don't insulate, so probably not the best material. Even fiberglass needs added insulation because water will condense inside the roof and drip on you or worse, condense under your mattress and you sleep in a puddle. The outside fabrics have to be engineered to let out a lot of moisture to keep you dry but still keep out the rain and not allow water to condense, Goretex, Airtex or something like this is what you are looking for. Waterproof fabric is not good when you have the tent closed up and cotton canvas can wick.
Hot weather, again, a rooftent excells. Trying to sleep when everything is 90 degrees is ugly. The nice thing is air cools off first, the ground may be 85 and radiating heat but the air up high will be much cooler. Also, up high you get a breeze. Look for a tent that opens up well, windows or doors on all sides to catch the wind. There are a couple tents that are triangular and are designed to actually direct the wind. One other neat feature of rooftents is that they will shade your vehicle's roof during the day keeping you much cooler when you are driving. When it rains in tropics or sub-tropics, it really rains, unbelieveable, I've seen over four inches an hour. Again, you need breathable fabric because you will be closed up when this happens, high winds usually accompanies.
The folding tents are good when you need a big tent, or one that will fold up small. Again, look for strong breathable fabric, the fabrics need to be much thicker because they take more abuse. The ridge poles need to be insulated for condensation and if you can get one with a winter hood for cold conditions, it is a plus. Check the ladder system, some of the ones on expedition tents are designed for dirt and slide on pavement, not good.
Weight, expedition tents tend to be heavy. Probably the best rooftent in the world is designed in Italy but made in Germany. Incredible design but you can't get it here in the US, weighs over 250 pounds. Light is good, rooftents help, because you pack your light fluffy stuff like bedding up high. I like the rugged African expedition look with the integrated expedition basket but don't think it is practical here in the US. You first have to mount the basket, 75 - 135 pounds, then the rooftent, 100 -150 pounds. You can seriously overload your vehicle. Land Rover Discovery has a specification for 165 pounds on the roof, but their engineers recommend 140-145 pounds. Look for rooftents with an integrated subframe so they can use sport bars like the ones for Thule ski racks. My rooftent weighs about 115 pounds and is mounted on Thule bars but we have had five people up there without a problem. I don't notice the tent's up there.
Summary, think about what you plan to do, and rather than get a tent because someone says, Oh, brand X is good, sweat the details and you will be really happy you got a rooftent. I've had several and used them in Europe and North America, from Alpine snow blizzards to tropical heat, none of them have let me down.

Cheers,
Rich

strap22

02-12-2006, 11:32 AM

I just bought a a Car-Top-Tent and I am looking forward to trying it. It was not the one I really wanted but it was a agreat buy and the are headquatered in Arlington, Tx. I plan on putting it on a Custom trailer. If anyone has one and can tell me the pros/cons of this tent please post up.

cruiseroutfit

02-12-2006, 06:36 PM

I was flipping through an ARB 2006 wall calendar yesterday, and happened upon this picture. (always carry digicam) :D...

I have spoke with ARB USA several times about the Touring Tent, they don't anticipate it making it to the US unless a "special order" of them is placed. Pricing was reasonable... in Australia. ;)

They actually referred me to the Oasis Roof tops tents...

cshontz

02-13-2006, 09:44 PM

I like the Oasis tent concept. While it isn't necessarily a harsh environment tent, I really like the light weight, and something like that seems like it would be great for weekend outings.

I don't really like how tall it stands on top of the vehicle when it is folded up. I'd want something with a much lower profile for off-road travel. Its hard to judge without seeing it in person.

http://static.flickr.com/41/79477550_fb8f204860.jpg

http://www.oasis-tents.com/Oasis_Gallery/images/JeepZJclosed_jpg.jpg

Edit: Held on by wire ties? :p

flyingwil

02-13-2006, 10:02 PM

I have spoke with ARB USA several times about the Touring Tent, they don't anticipate it making it to the US unless a "special order" of them is placed. Pricing was reasonable... in Australia. ;)

They actually referred me to the Oasis Roof tops tents...

Kurt- They told me the same too...not in the US. I wonder why?

Probably the best rooftent in the world is designed in Italy but made in Germany. Incredible design but you can't get it here in the US, weighs over 250 pounds.

Rich- What tent are you refering to?

cruiseroutfit

02-13-2006, 11:56 PM

Kurt- They told me the same too...not in the US. I wonder why?

Shipping is very cost prohibitive, when you take a fairly expensive product, and add the cost of shipping (though ARB brings containers over every month), it just isn't worth it to them. They will bring anything over special order, but that gets expensive and takes time. If they started getting orders (not random requests??) they may start bringing them over. They have brought in alot of different things over the years and stopped stocking them for one reason or another (Long range tanks, roof racks, etc).

pangaea

02-14-2006, 12:21 AM

Shipping is very cost prohibitive, when you take a fairly expensive product, and add the cost of shipping (though ARB brings containers over every month), it just isn't worth it to them. They will bring anything over special order, but that gets expensive and takes time. If they started getting orders (not random requests??) they may start bringing them over. They have brought in alot of different things over the years and stopped stocking them for one reason or another (Long range tanks, roof racks, etc).

I think that you hit the nail on the head with that. This is pure speculation on my part, but here goes anyway: Air Lockers are a huge part of ARBs sales numbers. They're small, and they probably have a decent profit margin. Think of the space that a typical roof top tent or roof rack takes up in a container. Now, imagine how many air lockers you can ship over in that same amount of space. You might make $150 on the tent or rack, but you can also make $150 on EACH of those air lockers.... </speculation>

I actually spoke with the guys at ARB recently, about the roof top tents. It seems as though they are considering bringing them in, but it would be either as special order, or in extremely small quantities. However, the thing that disappointed me the most was the price point. It looks like the street price on the two tents they offer would be about $2400 and $2600 for the two sizes.

Personally, I'd love to see those tents come over here, because it looks like a well made unit. But at that price, I think that they'll price themselves out of the market...

cruiseroutfit

02-14-2006, 01:05 AM

I think that you hit the nail on the head with that. This is pure speculation on my part, but here goes anyway: Air Lockers are a huge part of ARBs sales numbers. They're small, and they probably have a decent profit margin. Think of the space that a typical roof top tent or roof rack takes up in a container. Now, imagine how many air lockers you can ship over in that same amount of space. You might make $150 on the tent or rack, but you can also make $150 on EACH of those air lockers.... </speculation>
...

Reading my mind... :ylsmoke:

Air Lockers have to be one of their biggest markups as they make them in house, whereas I presume the tent it is a rebadge (or similar deal) such as some of their suspension, accessories, etc.

Kindve odd I make less on the Air Lockers than other things though... I guess I'm not shipping them in containers though :D

60seriesguy

02-14-2006, 12:03 PM

I'm in the process of pricing a bulk shipment of MARES expedition tents from Venezuela (La Guaira to Houston in a 20' ocean-going container) and between duties and freight, you're adding almost $300 *per tent* to the cost. I'm still hoping to be competitive, but all of a sudden what looked like a slam dunk venture is not even close to that.

That said, I don't see how ARB could sell many units for $2,500, that seems way above the market price line and demand for roof top tents isn't exactly fierce.

pangaea

02-14-2006, 06:09 PM

Reading my mind... :ylsmoke:

Air Lockers have to be one of their biggest markups as they make them in house, whereas I presume the tent it is a rebadge (or similar deal) such as some of their suspension, accessories, etc.

Kindve odd I make less on the Air Lockers than other things though... I guess I'm not shipping them in containers though :D

Definitely one of the lower margin items out there for retailers, but I'd guess since its a unique product in the marketplace, ARB has built in a nice little profit for themselves (in addition to the aforementioned in-house manufacturing).

BajaXplorer

02-21-2006, 03:24 PM

I have requested Eezi Awn tent weight information from Pangaea on 8 Feb & 15 Feb and have had no response to my emails to date.
The emails were sent to sales@pangaea-expeditions.com which I obtained from the Pangaea website.
Can someone from Pangaea tell me if this email address is not correct.
BX

flyingwil

02-21-2006, 05:50 PM

BajaXplorer

02-21-2006, 06:22 PM

I appreciate the info. I had asked about the 1.4 which I assume is the elite you mention. The other I wanted to know is the Alu 2 aluminum cased model. Would you know it's weight?
BX

flyingwil

02-21-2006, 07:02 PM

I appreciate the info. I had asked about the 1.4 which I assume is the elite you mention. The other I wanted to know is the Alu 2 aluminum cased model. Would you know it's weight?
BX

the alutop is around 135lbs, a heavy guy!

BajaXplorer

02-21-2006, 09:13 PM

It's a little heavier (not to mention pricier), but I sure would like to mount one on my M101 trailer. Looks like it really closes up against the elements the best. I'm seriously considering it at only 15 or so more lbs.
BX

Ramdough

05-15-2006, 07:58 PM

Here is my install of a Technitop. (http://www.ramdough.com/Taco/Roof%20Rack%20Install/RoofRackInstall.htm)

I like the tent allot. I need to reinforce the cover as it is starting to wear through.

I agree that the extension tubes are a little weak looking. I am always carefull that I don't over tighten them. I am afraid that the platic tightening "nut" will crack.

In high winds, I removed the fiberglass poles and rolled up the rain fly.

I was afraid that they would break or the rain fly would rip.

LUISJG

08-02-2006, 05:34 AM

for a good inexpensive tent.
try this,,, its not a maggiolina or an australian tent but its good for me.

http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/showthread.php?t=79710

Mike S

08-02-2006, 05:26 PM

A word or two of caution.

Tents that are made of coated or 'waterproof' materials will not breathe well, and are subject to condensation as the outside temperature cools below the dew point. Even in desert climates, the water vapor inside the tent will condense on walls and on naked metal poles and fittings.

Balancing breathability and water resistance is a Yin and Yang thing, even (especially) in rainy weather, the tent must breathe. When you look at buying a tent, please consider this important factor.

The other major factor to consider is wind conditions. The bigger the tent, and the larger the awnings, the more 'sail effect' you will have. So bigger tents must be stronger, and this means heavier frame and materials.

Mike S

blupaddler

10-25-2006, 01:51 PM

Ramdough

10-25-2006, 05:23 PM

This is how I mounted my Technitop... (http://www.ramdough.com/Taco/Roof%20Rack%20Install/RoofRackInstall.htm)

I mounted it to a Yakima rack. This only one way to do it, there are allot of ways you could do it for your self.

sleeoffroad

10-25-2006, 07:23 PM

LUISJG

10-26-2006, 01:13 AM

THose look preety good ;)

xcmountain80

11-05-2006, 08:45 PM

O.k.

Help me figure out this mounting thing.

It sounds like the Technitop has to be drilled to be mounted.
Does the Eeze Awn need to be drilled too? Or how would one go about mounting it to Yakima racks?

Thanks in advance.
Trying to figure out if I need one of these things.

:yikes:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/xcmountain/OCT%20trip/PA020495.jpg

I rebuilt a Hannibal tent that I purchased second hand. I drilled throught the floor, so that is could attach via u-bolts to my Yakima cross bars. I opted for an additional cross bar for load distribution worked very well.

Aaron

Charger92

11-07-2006, 04:30 PM

I just wanted to post some updated information. African Outback purchased Technitop Tents in South Africa some time ago. We are the distributor for Technitop tents in the US and will be carrying the tents as well as spares in the future. Some of the concerns of the old tents are addressed in the new designs.

Here is a link to the pages of the brochure. They are not on our site yet since we do not have landed cost calculated yet, but we are shipping a container in Nov 06 for delivery, hopyefully before Christomas. We do have tents, awnings, shower curtains and other parts coming in the container.

Just thought you guys might want to know.

Links. Sorry files are rather big, but working on that.
http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/images/african_outback/technitop_1.pdf
http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/images/african_outback/technitop_2.pdf

Sleeoffroad is where I purchased my Technitop from. Christo is the person I dealt with and I was very impressed with the service. The tent came nicely packaged, no dings, scratchs, or parts missing etc. He and I had talked on the phone a few times with all my questions ansewered and he catered to my shipping request since I live in Canada. I will definitly be ordering more goodies from him.

My wife and I did a bit of reaserch when we started to look at RTT's. Over the period of 2yrs we had tried a friends Hannibal RRT and did not like the slope of the roof at your head when you lay down. The wood floor would not be my first pick for a floor since I live in a very moist part of the country.
The other thing was the side windows. The over hang blocks the outter view and I noticed just as much moisture on the inside with the windows open and one door as a regular ground tent.
We checked out an Ezi Awn at a 4wd event, someone had one at a booth. In the wind the fly was blowing around on the ends and the side window was leaned over. When they packed up I stuck around, the fighting they had to put it away and with the cover over it after was not looking like fun. With a similar design to the Hannibal we kind of put those aside and kept looking.
We had tried an old Technitop. In the heat of the summer the side windows were again small like the other 2 or the view was limited and we were thinking that all RTT's must have this simmilar design. We did like the slope away from your head when you sleep and it felt more roomy in it. The 2 layer poly floor is very durable, water will not harm it either and if you want you could drill a hole in the inside and fill it with foam peanuts for winter travel. If you do not leave the end doors open along with the sidewindows in the heat, it gets hot.
I have a 4seasons convertable Sierra designs ground tent. If I did leave the doors closed with only a slight opening it would have condensation over night too. The thing with the ground tent, mine has 2 big sky vents, with them open and doors half up it is very breazy. This is what I was looking for in a RTT but with all the benifits of an RTT.
I had seen on the web the Magnolia but did not want my whole roof taken up. Also looking at it if you do not have some sort of fly over the door in the rain it would get wet inside, kind of like some other designs of RTT. Can't say for sure but it looks like it could.
I had heard that Technitop did a roof vent and really wanted to see this so I emailed the company. They had sent me some photos and I really liked the big airy side windows and moon roof. They gave me Christo Slee from Sleeoffrod as a contact. Just to make sure that is what we wanted I talked to a guy that use to run Offroad Academy and got a low down on the tents. You can see some pic's here of the originals. The shop has closed but he was very nice to shed some info. One thing he told me was he sat in the door way with no ladder for support (225lbs), hanging off the back of his rig and the hinge holds up just fine. He wanted to test it for sales purpose and compare to others.
http://www.offroadacademy.com/
or here
http://www.offroadacademy.com/gear.php
The second generation had larger windows then the first and now the 3rd generation even bigger along with the moon roof.
There was also an old one being sold near by so I went to take a look at it just to be sure of my first experiance. It was in very nice shape but the pictures of the new one had my name on it.
So I gave Slee a call and placed an order. He had a container that was being packed and there were a couple being put on. I placed my order for part payment to hold one and he ball parked the cost of it as shipping could vary with brokrage on the shippment. The rest was just the waiting time for the boat.
I see now they have a full shower/change area that extends past the door.
I have an older change area that fits on since the design had not changed for the attachment of it. It had not sold from Offroad Academy before they closed and he gave me a deal on it. I will have to weigh the differance in getting the new larger one that covers the door though.

Only cons I have with it is:
1. The ladder is 2 pieces, tubes that fit in the end of the other. This only gives you one length when fully extended and if your rig is tall or short you have to cut the pipe to get the right length. Not a problem if you only keep it on one rig. If you lift the rig or put it on a different rig down the road it will have to be cut or lengthened again. Mine Is a bit short so I made a block for the base. It works good but I will be lifting this spring.
I will be getting a telescopic ladder so I can use it at any height and even use it away from the tent if need be.
2. Like the other tents, the mesh of the windows and doors let no-see-ums in. My buddy had the same problem with the Hannibal and the 4wd guy said he experanced the same thing with his Ezi-awn.
I guess they don't have them in Africa and don't need the fine fine mesh. The heavy mosquito screen is very heay though.
We are just going to tack stitch a fine mesh on the inside of the windows and doors to eliminate them biting. We have only had them once in the time that we used it but that was enough. Winter project.

Other than that it is very easy to set up, very durable materials, nice and airy, Easy to pack up and extremely comfort able.
Me likey alot.

Scott Brady

11-07-2006, 05:12 PM

Congrats on the Technitop. Do you know the weight? Are they still using the fiberglass window and awning poles?

Looking forward to seeing it mounted to your rig.

Charger92

11-07-2006, 05:50 PM

Congrats on the Technitop. Do you know the weight? Are they still using the fiberglass window and awning poles?

Looking forward to seeing it mounted to your rig.

Thanks, We have had it for almost a year now and used it about 17 times so far.
The weight as per it standing on the bathroom scale sideways was 132lbs.
This is with the aluminum T-channel and T bolts that now come attached to the floor for easy mounting.
The poles are still fiberglass but I do carry an aluminum sleeve for a repair if I need.
If I find they fail I will just get all aluminum Easton poles.
I also plan on perminantly putting some led lights inside the tent and a poarch light led at the ladder area of the penthouse.

My friends have this on the back of there SUV and when ever we go out it's always the westwing and penthouse setup.
http://napierenterprises.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=32

As for pics on the rig I have more at home but seem to be logged on more at work so I'm limited to what I can post for now. Here are a few.

Ramdough

11-09-2006, 02:39 AM

:smileeek: :smileeek: :smileeek: WOW, the new Technitop is really cool. I wish I would have waited for the larger windows and moonroof.

Cool stuff!!!!

Beowulf

02-23-2007, 06:25 PM

Here is a big discussion ont RTT over on a landi forum.

http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/index.php?topic=348283.0

Beowulf

02-28-2007, 05:51 PM

Open Sky Tents

http://www.bushranger.com.au/rooftop_tents.php

Mr. Swagman
http://www.mrswagman.com.au/rooftoptents/tent_design.shtml

Another tent:

http://www.bonteboktents.co.za/rooftop.htm

One more:

http://www.oppositelock.com.au/redes...58&itemID=RT80

They list it as the OL Featherlite.

cpg

03-12-2007, 06:39 AM

Another question was asked regarding high wind performance, to which I responded:

"In the most extreme conditions, I would recommend the Eezi Awn.

I will also say that the Autohome Columbus might be an interesting high wind solution as well. Just face the angle to the wind. The only question would be how strong the internal support structure is. I have not seen one of these in person."

I have had the Columbus in extreme wind on the Sea of Cortez and the Mojave desert point your feet to the wind and I do not think there is a better tent for high wind.

kodiak1232003

04-08-2007, 12:26 PM

Autohome Maggolina:
Good-
Lowest profile when stored
Easiest to store closed
Bedding stored inside and ready to sleep
Best ergonomics

Not so Good-
Mounting hardware and design not sufficient for extreme overlanding (3/16 bolts IIRC and galvanized top clamps)
Shell rattles, wearing tent material when closed
Material thin and allows light to enter, door position makes it harder to enjoy the view.

i agree on the goods...:26_7_2:

as for the not so goods...

i've travelled for over 2500 miles (one trip) with our maggiolina. rough terrain, highway speeeds, etc. no problems with the mounting hardware.:camping: ours has the older square u-bolt setup though, might be different now. we've had ours for five years now, and our tent material is not worn from "shell rattling"....:confused:....do the newer maggiolina's have the two front latch, one rear latch set up? .......if so, its still like our older one and we didn't experience rattling.

the material does let in some light, but its much better than say... a traditional tent. i guess one could wear eye covers if there was a big problem....lol.... but we tended to sleep in till about 8 or 9 in the morning in ours (6am sunrise) without having it bother us....

as for the people not liking it cuz it takes the whole roof, definitely true. though, i would say that most who use them, put them on an suv or pickup, so storage doesn't seem to be an issue. :confused: i personally like that they cover the roof for the simple reason that completely shades the vehicle. on long drives, we've travelled through very hot areas, without having to run the a/c, because the temp. never increased due to the metal roof radiating heat into the pass. compartment. very nice, important side effect in our travels.

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great discussion, by the way. :)

kodiak1232003

04-08-2007, 12:33 PM

I have had the Columbus in extreme wind on the Sea of Cortez and the Mojave desert point your feet to the wind and I do not think there is a better tent for high wind.

maggiolina in VERY high wind area....(glacier national park)

our rig gently rocked us to sleep. no flapping, no nothing. nice.:clapsmile

Mike S

04-08-2007, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by expeditionswest

Autohome Maggolina:
Good-
Lowest profile when stored
Easiest to store closed
Bedding stored inside and ready to sleep
Best ergonomics

Not so Good-
Mounting hardware and design not sufficient for extreme overlanding (3/16 bolts IIRC and galvanized top clamps)
Shell rattles, wearing tent material when closed
Material thin and allows light to enter, door position makes it harder to enjoy the view.

To the 'Not so Good' comments that Scott has made...

Mounting hardware - AutoHome mounting hardware has been proven for years in the most extreme conditions on five continents. We have now sold well over 700 AutoHome tents in North America, and there has never been a single mounting hardware failure - or ANY reported problems. Desert Dude (Pasquale) has done some pretty extreme overlanding with his Maggilina with no problems. Gary Kardum took his tent over the Rubicon trail (twice, so far) on top of his F45 trayback and had nothing but good thanns to report. I suppose that if you wanted an over-engineered solution, you could simply use the same mounting plates (1/8" thick steel) and substitute larger diameter bolts - but is is not necessary.

The Maggiolina shells employ three adjustable stainless draw latches. If they are adjusted to draw the latch properly the shells do NOT rattle. Nor do they admit dust or water while driving.

Light transmission - the design provides for some light to come through the Dralon fabric that is used on the Maggiolina. It is not excessive. There is no need for Bat Cave interior lighting levels in a tent - in fact, when you are in the tent, you might like to have a LITTLE light so that you can find your socks in the morning. All Maggiolina models have a 12V electric light for use at night.

Door position and the 'view' - all the Maggiolinas that we sell have two large doors that open completely and are out of the way of the view when secured. In addition, there are triangular windows in each end of the tent. The Columbus Variant model has THREE doors - one on each side and a large door at the rear - with a window.

As for the issue of wind tolerance, the Maggiolina is better in the wind than any other tent, and does not present a large sail area. The structure is extremely strong. I have slept in my Maggiolina in winds well in excess of 50 MPH with no problems at all.

We guarantee customer satisfaction - with 30 day return privledges for any reason. We offer a 5 year warranty. We stock spare parts and can usually ship them within a day of receiving a request. We stand behind our product 100%, and will do everything possible to ensure customer satisfaction with the product and our service.

These are not traditional canvas ground tents adapted for use on the roof of a vehicle. They are the finest roof top shelters in the world, continuously manufactured and evolved since 1958.