Car-top-tent pros/cons?

[HarryT]

I see that Car-Top-Tent Products has a tent for $650 (shipping included).
Does anyone have an opinion of this tent?

Harry
SC

[hoser]

Check these two threads...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4235
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4360

[DaktariEd]

Not exactly an opinion on that particular tent, but "you get what you pay for" is an accurate truism.
If at all possible I'd suggest getting a look at various makes and models to copmpare for yourself.

Just my 2 centavos...
:sombrero:

[robski]

I bought one when they have this for sale last year, and I think I paid $425 shipped. This was the last model before the new, and improve model coming out. There was a long tread on another forum (ih8mud)about the pros and con about this product. For the price, its not bad at all except the ladder design. I regret selling my ctt up to now because I have no room at my new place at that time. I'm planning to get the newer model since that's all I can afford to spent on a roof tent, and besides we do go outdoor maybe 2 to 3 times a year.

[RunninRubicon]

Two weeks ago I was at Anza Borrego State Park in SoCal and stayed 10 days in the out-back here and there in the park. One most remarkable night I must share with you all. I drove to the top of Pinion Mountain pass on the grapevine trail out of Burrego Springs. The altitude was only 4800ft but that night a big storm was due so I put on the tie-downs that Car-Top-Tents provides and staked them into the ground expecting maybe 20-30mph winds. That night the winds blew over 50 mph according to the weatherman the next morning and it sleeted on me as well. I keep a remote thermostat in my tent to monitor the temp in my frig and the temp in the tent. When I awoke by the sleet striking my tent sides which I thought was sand, I reviewed what the temps were. Inside my frig was 37 degrees...OK. Inside the tent..36! The wind-chill froze the water into puddles on the top on my tent. I raised my hand to elevate the tent's top to spill the water (I thought) off the side. To my surprize it was frozen solid and slid off with a bang! I lite my tent heater (a Ceramic Mr Heater-certified safe in a tent) hanging from the middle bar in my tent and in minutes I was warm (75#) inside and dry. When daylight came I got out to see my campsite and found myself alone. Evidently my nearest fellow tent camper (the only other people on the mountain) had packed and left in the night. My tent did'nt pull a tie-down out of the ground and never leaked abit! I have to say it certainly got a good test and pasted with an "A+." It's ease in erecting and striking were simple. I leave my sleeping bag (a NorthFace double-wide) in the tent with my pillow and it folds easily down. Sure beats sleeping on wet ground with running water going here and there. I found mountain lion tracks marching through my campsite and the thought of being above the animal gave me some peace...though after the fact.
I thought I would share this with you who are thinking about a tent purchase.

[Boston Mangler]

I will be selling one of these shortly!

$350 PICK UP ONLY in San Diego! Used 4 times!

Dont Even Ask Me To Ship It! :D

:safari-rig:

Here is my review of it: http://www.yankeetoys.org/mangler/ctt.htm

[adventureduo]

I bought the previous blowout model too. It's great for the money. Of course it needs improvements... .. but for the price, you can't say too much.

It all depends how much you want to spend.

[Rhode Trip]

I see that Car-Top-Tent Products has a tent for $650 (shipping included).
Does anyone have an opinion of this tent?

Harry
SC

This is the new, improved version apparently. Has someone purchased one of these? "expedition series" Aluminum floor, different ladder it looks like.
I'm having these guys http://www.outlandertrailers.com/index.htm build me a trailer and they quoted me $550 to add this tent. I don't really need it. Should I go for it?

[RunninRubicon]

This is the new, improved version apparently. Has someone purchased one of these? "expedition series" Aluminum floor, different ladder it looks like.
I'm having these guys http://www.outlandertrailers.com/index.htm build me a trailer and they quoted me $550 to add this tent. I don't really need it. Should I go for it?
I have the one you see in your message. Aluminum floor. Very stout. Ladder still needs work though functions well enough. If you need one-the price is right.

[kcowyo]

I will be selling one of these shortly!


That was quick! Hope you have something even better in mind.

The one problem I see with mounting a CTT onto the top of a trailer box is when you need to access the box after the tent is set up. How easy will that be?

For instance with Desertdude's Maggiolina on his trailer, he is able to open the box on his trailer even with the tent open. With a CTT, I don't know if that's possible and in all likelihood, after the tent is set up there will be something you'll need out of the box.

Maybe other owners will comment if that would work...?

[Rhode Trip]

That was quick! Hope you have something even better in mind.

The one problem I see with mounting a CTT onto the top of a trailer box is when you need to access the box after the tent is set up. How easy will that be?

For instance with Desertdude's Maggiolina on his trailer, he is able to open the box on his trailer even with the tent open. With a CTT, I don't know if that's possible and in all likelihood, after the tent is set up there will be something you'll need out of the box.

Maybe other owners will comment if that would work...?

The outlander solution is a structural rack with a rear opening box. This is a smaller version of the trailer they are building for me
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i261/rhodetrip/outlander.jpg

[PhulesAU]

IF you are the size of a Bear, I would NOT recommend one. Gravity will not be your friend in several ways. ( Don't ask) there are no pictures for evidence.:mad:

[Boston Mangler]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i261/rhodetrip/outlander.jpg

Thats a nice little rig right there!

[Boston Mangler]

they quoted me $550 to add this tent. I don't really need it. Should I go for it?

I think you answered your own question! :D

[RunninRubicon]

That was quick! Hope you have something even better in mind.

The one problem I see with mounting a CTT onto the top of a trailer box is when you need to access the box after the tent is set up. How easy will that be?

For instance with Desertdude's Maggiolina on his trailer, he is able to open the box on his trailer even with the tent open. With a CTT, I don't know if that's possible and in all likelihood, after the tent is set up there will be something you'll need out of the box.

Maybe other owners will comment if that would work...?
I open the top of my trailer w/o issue. Of course the ground straps are not being utilized at that time either. I am content with it. I am 73" tall and weigh 275. It's a steady eddy for me! But then again, I only use it to sleep in!@#$*!!

[DaktariEd]

I have a Maggiollina on my Horizon trailer.
Opening the box with the tent open is no problem.
Two 100# air struts (lifts? whatever you call them) work wonders!
I just avoid leaving things sitting in the "doorway" so they don't slide out. Most things inside move very little.

:sombrero:

I'll see if I can find some photos...

[PhulesAU]

6'6" 330# and all I did was rollover ( I Swear):smileeek:

[Rezarf <><]

I have seen a lot of CTT that can be used on a trailer lid and still be accessed with the tent opened on top. You will want the hinge for the trailer lid to be under the hinge side of the tent.

FWIW, this is one of the best reasons for a good tailgate and slide out doors in my humble opinion.

Rezarf <><

[Bongo Boy]

The whole tent-vehicle integration thing is totally new to me, so forgive my ignorance...

What's the basic idea behind have the sleeping quarters up high in the first place? I assumed, the first time I saw this (about 3 weeks ago) that this was something unique to African plains or something, and an effort to protect the occupants from...something (uh...cats that were unable to jump 5 ft, I guess :D).

Anyway, I'd like to know why the tents are being place up so high. The obvious drawback is first, getting into and out of the tent. The not-so-obvious drawback is that 40-70 mph wind gusts wouldn't be too subtle with that much frontal area exposed that high above cg.

No one has had a problem with this?

I don't get how you'd survive a night in any mountain camp site sticking this high up off the ground, or in any site by the Great Lakes, out on the high plains desert, or basically anywhere that wasn't deep in the woods. Whazzup?

My FIRST choice would be to sleep under the car...in a tent that was 14" high situated under my transfer case. My LAST choice would be...put the tent up there on top of the car. Man, I'm not getting it!

[gjackson]

Bongo,

Actually the tents work pretty well in wind. Can be very loud, but they are all pretty strong and can take 'high' wind. I'm not talking tornados and hurricanes here, which I wouldn't want to be camping in anyway!

For me comfort and ease of use are the most attractive things about RTTs. You can keep your bedding inside and it takes (literally) 2 minutes to set up. You also have a flat, dry platform to sleep on no matter the ground. And cats (even big ones) usually don't bother cars (or tents on top of them) but they have been known to bother people in ground tents and people under cars!

The downside is that RTTs are expensive. But having used many in many places, I would go with anything else (except maybe a Unicat).

cheers

[RunninRubicon]

Having spent the majority of my life camping here and there, I have to comment on the use of car-top-tents.(pardon the brand name here). The most remarkable aspect about having a tent off the ground are two fold as I see it.
1.) I don't miss sleeping on a dry mattress, free from rocks wearing a hole in the floor of my tent. The aspect of drying out after a rain or snow is much improved as well.
2.) No more visits by the local wildlife. No skunks, no racoons, and especially no snakes. Still they visit my campsite, but they are not prone to visit me up high.
3...one to grow on) I can put my tent up in a parking lot, a guys driveway, a rocky knoll. Most anywhere my Jeep can put my trailer, and that's most anywhere I dare to go.

[Bongo Boy]

Okay this makes sense. I don't suppose there's any reason to believe wind is any worse, really, only 5 ft higher off the ground. Plus, come to think of it, I must look an awful lot like a delicious corn dog to most large meat-eaters, all rolled-up under the car like that. :)

I just now realized a car-top or trailer-top tent would allow me to do the one thing I'd desperately like to do with a tent: level it. I'm too old to be waking up each morning, my body wadded into a ball in the low corner of the tent.

[Rezarf <><]

My FIRST choice would be to sleep under the car...in a tent that was 14" high situated under my transfer case. My LAST choice would be...put the tent up there on top of the car. Man, I'm not getting it!

Seriously, I too live in this great state and I see several advantages that you might not have considered yet.

First off, under my fj40... which I can sit Indian style under the bed area, would have to be one sweet spot of campground to convience me to sleep under my rig. A tent 14" high would be more like a bivy sack... you know how nice is it if you get held up by a good snow storm to be able to play cards with a friend and lounge around.

Inclimate weather also usually means water in the form of snow, rain,hail, or even run off in the high country... all of which get my gear muddy as poop.

That said, I can stop at any spot I like, and in less than two minutes be high, dry, level, and on a queen sized mattress with all the trimmings like pillows and comforters and... my wife! I don't think she would go for diving under the rig in bad weather... or ever!

Honestly, they are a cool item, but not necessary. I still go for my 4 season when I think it could get really rough out, or I stay home... man I am getting old.

Rezarf <><