huskyfargo
Adventurer
If you were in Arkansas, my RTT is for sale. I love it, but it's just not practical with 3 labs. I have a changing room and enclosed entry, but I think it would be much better to go with the quick setup of an OZ tent.
RTT vs Ground Tent to outfit your Expedition Trailer
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cruiseroutfit
Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
Bring the dog over too, can she climb ladders?
Believe it or not our German Shepherd can climb the ladder all the way to the top but we have to push or drag her up over the breakover as she can't grip the mattress with her front paws. Still dogs are a pain inside a RTT as you can't just open the door and let them loose when they hear stuff at night. Right on & interested. If your interested in demo'ing a fridge before you purchase I have a few different rental options here:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/rental_gear.html
(don't currently rent the 60 qt but would entertain converting a stock one to a rental if you were interested in renting)
Also, local member dmc has a killer deal on a 60 qt (older ARB = Engel) right now, might be too early for you but the deal is worth snatching up if you can make it happen:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...B-64qt-Fridge-and-Eezi-Awn-1400-Series-3-tent
(the 64 qt is big but they are a solid unit if you have the room such as a trailer, we sold that fridge to Dave many years ago and its been well cared for and well proven all over North & South America)
cruiseroutfit
Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
That brings up a good point. If your dog is fine sleeping on the ground below the tent, the annex is a nice way to make a secure and water-tight sleeping quarters for the pet (or the kids
). It still has the issues with egress but its likely a better solution than hauling the dog into the tent. Doesn't work for us as our shepherd is a very protective animal and will literally only sleep with my wife in sight.
huskyfargo
Adventurer
Exactly...my dogs don't do well when they can't see me. They make noise all night.That brings up a good point. If your dog is fine sleeping on the ground below the tent, the annex is a nice way to make a secure and water-tight sleeping quarters for the pet (or the kids
Borrego60
Rendezvous Conspiracy
I like the RTT, Had my tent in 40-50mph winds,noisy but stayed put on the horizon trailer,little movement side to side but faired very well. Dome tent would had been shredded. Perfect height for feeding a bear. Just kidding. Tent was an EEZ AWN series III.
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Titanpat57
Expedition Leader
How is this a choice?
Sleep one night at 6'-7' feet off the ground, and I'll help you sell your ground tent.
I don't know.....
Maybe it's thats old "tree house" syndryom coming back..
Sleep one night at 6'-7' feet off the ground, and I'll help you sell your ground tent.
I don't know.....
Maybe it's thats old "tree house" syndryom coming back..
Few reasons for me to have a Kodiak (Springbar knock-off) over a dedicated RTT.
1. Investment cost versus actual use. You wouldn't have the same issue I do as you travel more miles on dirt than most do on pavement.
2. Wife crawling out of bed in the middle of the night to tinkle.
3. My trailer isn't a dedicated trail trailer. It's a multi-purpose POS. I use it to haul stuff to the landfill, home improvement materials home, and camping gear with me on excursions. I decided having to load an RTT onto the trailer each time I wanted to go camping would be a PITA. Maybe if I had a pickup I might change my mind here.
4. Setup isn't all that difficult with a Springbar or the like. Yes, finding level ground isn't always easy, but I can set up our Kodiak in 5 minutes by myself.
5. Although equipping a ground tent does increase the setup time from 5 minutes to around 15 minutes, how often am I unable to sacrifice the additional 10 minutes.
In the end though, it all boiled down to the fact that the majority of the time I go out I have my family with me. An RTT just isn't capable without the add-on for a family. And at that point, what is the point? It's all personal though, and for us, an RTT didn't rank as high as a ground tent did. Maybe our priorities will change as we gain in age. But for now, a Kodiak tent, an air mattress, and a battery operated pump will suffice.
BTW, side note....Doing the PET winter run this year? I'm gone a lot on business, but I still want to join if you go.
Chad
1. Investment cost versus actual use. You wouldn't have the same issue I do as you travel more miles on dirt than most do on pavement.
2. Wife crawling out of bed in the middle of the night to tinkle.
3. My trailer isn't a dedicated trail trailer. It's a multi-purpose POS. I use it to haul stuff to the landfill, home improvement materials home, and camping gear with me on excursions. I decided having to load an RTT onto the trailer each time I wanted to go camping would be a PITA. Maybe if I had a pickup I might change my mind here.
4. Setup isn't all that difficult with a Springbar or the like. Yes, finding level ground isn't always easy, but I can set up our Kodiak in 5 minutes by myself.
5. Although equipping a ground tent does increase the setup time from 5 minutes to around 15 minutes, how often am I unable to sacrifice the additional 10 minutes.
In the end though, it all boiled down to the fact that the majority of the time I go out I have my family with me. An RTT just isn't capable without the add-on for a family. And at that point, what is the point? It's all personal though, and for us, an RTT didn't rank as high as a ground tent did. Maybe our priorities will change as we gain in age. But for now, a Kodiak tent, an air mattress, and a battery operated pump will suffice.
BTW, side note....Doing the PET winter run this year? I'm gone a lot on business, but I still want to join if you go.
Chad
NorCalLC
Adventurer
This has been a discussion of ours for some time now, and I'm still on the fence for a clear choice. I grew up using wall tents and teepees. We had wood stoves in the tents and it was always so nice and warm. We heated water and cooked on them as well. I had recently been thinking I would go this route but they take way too long to setup.
I like the idea of using a wood stove and wondered if it could work in a Oz Tent? I love the general looks and features of the Oz Tents but, I'm not totally sold on the quality. We saw them first hand at pismo and things looked a little cheap in places. A quick deploy tent with a portable light weight wood stove would be cool.
We have 2 cattle dogs that also will not sleep away from us so that takes up a bit more room as well. And money is always something to consider. I don't want to make 2 to three purchases before I get it right, just not sure.
I like the idea of using a wood stove and wondered if it could work in a Oz Tent? I love the general looks and features of the Oz Tents but, I'm not totally sold on the quality. We saw them first hand at pismo and things looked a little cheap in places. A quick deploy tent with a portable light weight wood stove would be cool.
We have 2 cattle dogs that also will not sleep away from us so that takes up a bit more room as well. And money is always something to consider. I don't want to make 2 to three purchases before I get it right, just not sure.
Although that's plausable most years, I've only managed to muster slightly over a 1,000 miles this year in the dirt. My PITA backyard project was extremely under estimated.
If I do the PET this tear it will ne a last moment adventure do to am epic snow storm. Ley's face it the trip of 2004 will go down umtested as the best trip ever. Pm me your # and I'll ensure to include you. ( lost all numbers on last phone swap)
brentbba
Explorer
Another good thread on RTT vs ground. For me, cost was an issue. I don't get out that often and with a trailer who's bars sit 60" off the ground the ARB type tents with the approx 3' opening to the annex below just wasn't much room to stand up and the area under the tent wouldn't be tall enough for anything but sitting down or storing gear out from the elements. Getting older, standing up in the tent was an important factor for me. Getting up in the middle of the night was important too! Dedicated trailer type tents were super expensive, running $3-4,000! I ended up with the 10x10 version Springbar. Fantastic tent. A little to large for just me and heavy, coming in at 62 lbs. Wish I'd gone for the smaller 7x10 version, but so be it. Convenience of the RTT would have been great, but I just couldn't justify the $$ for what I really wanted, so I went ground.
RttH
Member
Our decision to purchase a RTT was led by my wife. Attending the 2009 Overland Expo in Prescott my wife stated after seeing all the RTT's that she would gladly camp more if we had something like those RTT's! At the 2009 Expo there was considerable wind and I took note as to how all the different tents faired in the gusty conditions. All tents (ground and RTT) did just fine, but I noted the Maggiolina appeared to be the most stable appearing of all. We live and travel mostly in the west, and rocky uneven terrain and wind is normal, so we went with the Maggiolina Extreme. We have enjoyed it and the initial expense has more than paid for itself over staying in a hotel. I am a minimalist when it comes to backpacking, but the added luxury has been nice!
Here are the negatives for me....my truck is 82 inches tall and it takes 4 tall guys to load it each spring and unload each fall. I could leave it on but it seems silly having a 3-car garage and only one car inside during Colorado winters. The other bigger issue that I find most bothersome is the fact that I need to break camp just to drive anywhere. In a recent trip to Banff, Canada, we definitley got our excersize as we didn't want to keep breaking camp to go into town so we hiked 4-5 miles each day into and out. The Maggiolina opens and closes quickly but the constant folding of awning and packing up gear got old, so we stayed in shape this way!
There is no wrong answer, it all depends on ones situation. As a side note...I have considered (and will look at) the Oztents.
Here are the negatives for me....my truck is 82 inches tall and it takes 4 tall guys to load it each spring and unload each fall. I could leave it on but it seems silly having a 3-car garage and only one car inside during Colorado winters. The other bigger issue that I find most bothersome is the fact that I need to break camp just to drive anywhere. In a recent trip to Banff, Canada, we definitley got our excersize as we didn't want to keep breaking camp to go into town so we hiked 4-5 miles each day into and out. The Maggiolina opens and closes quickly but the constant folding of awning and packing up gear got old, so we stayed in shape this way!
There is no wrong answer, it all depends on ones situation. As a side note...I have considered (and will look at) the Oztents.
brentbba
Explorer
My son uses one of these Hannibal tents on his trayback, he loves it.
Which Hannibal tent is this?