Rooftop Tent for 2012 Hoe

[DRKN57]

Anyone get one that they like? Any tips/tricks are appreciated.

Considering something like this:


https://www.rei.com/product/176676/ikamper-skycamp-20-roof-top-tent


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[Matt_]

Funny, was just telling my buddy today that I planned on buying the skycamp before covid hit. I did a lot of research and landed the same conclusion... its on the list for next winter depending on covid stuff (need my parents back from FL to watch the kiddos so the wife and I can escape once in a while)

 

[DRKN57]

Yup, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time too. I think they’d be a blast, especially during covid. No hotels, no people, just drive and sleep wherever you go.


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[wjburken]

@Tozan has a pretty nice set-up with a 270 roof tent. Here is his build thread.

https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/two-seat-tahoe-overlander-build.111437/

 

[Matt_]

Yup, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time too. I think they’d be a blast, especially during covid. No hotels, no people, just drive and sleep wherever you go.


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Wife and I did a test run and slept inside the Yukon XL. Sealed the deal

 

[Tozan]

If it is one or two people sleeping inside is very easy and with the XL you have even more room than my Tahoe.

I have thought and researched a lot of RTT's and pretty much decided against one. If you insist on a RTT check out OVS roof top tent and be sure to look at their 270 awning with the walls. they are both around the same price except the 270 is a lot more versatile and much bigger then a RTT. OVS is also a third of the cost of the REI unit and in many ways better and with a lot more room.

The pros for me of a RTT... Not really anything... Other than a little more headroom in the tent than inside my Tahoe...

Cons they can be very expensive, you can not just jump in the front seat and drive away like I do sleeping inside. If it is raining when I get there I just crawl in back and go to sleep no need to get wet setting something up... Plus after getting wet you have to open it up at home to dry it out.

Inside sleeping is warmer in winter than a RTT and possibly as cool in summer. If windy a RTT is very noisy and drafty.

They kill about 4 to 6 MPG up there and make a top heavy vehicle even more top heavy. Think of bad MPG all the time if you leave it up there or think of the fun on installing or removing a 100 pound plus RTT when you go camping. With my rig from when I decide to go camping to when I am on the road can take as little as 15 minutes packing whatever clothes or supplies I need.

They stress out the roof rack and the stock rack is not strong enough to mount a RTT to it. Remember if the RTT weighs 100 pounds and a couple and gear sleeping in it weigh another 350 pounds you have exceeded the racks load capacity.

In my opinion a ground tent is a better option because if you need to run get something when camping or want to go drive around you leave the tent behind or if you sleep inside you just drive away...

I could give you more ideas and information if I had a better idea of how many people and where you want to camp.

Personally my rig is for somewhat serious off road camping 100 miles out in the wilderness...

 

[Matt_]

@Tozan any pics of the 270 with walls set up? Of your negatives the only one that applies to me is price. Wife and I would be using it for fair weather overnight mtb trips. My biggest issue sleeping inside was inability to sit up (sucks in the middle of the night when you get a calf cramp.. old guy who mountain bikes problems ). But I'm intrigued by the 270, haven't seen that before and can be used at our team races for shelter too..... tell me more!

 

[Tozan]

I removed second and third row seat and installed a platform in mine. By the way I am 63years old...

This is the 270 with just one side wall and the wall is extended for more shade. You can see my bed in the back folded in half. If you really want more head room and get rid of the seats you will be able to have a lot more head room.

With the side walls it will give you a lot of room. We actually had a campfire inside it that night. The awning only takes about 2 minutes to set up and about 15 minutes to set up the side walls and stake them out.

We store most of our gear under the deck when camping.

 

[Matt_]

Thanks! Our vehicle is primarily used to transport 4 kiddos so eliminating the seats isn't an option, but this awning does spark some other ideas.

 

[wjburken]

Thanks! Our vehicle is primarily used to transport 4 kiddos so eliminating the seats isn't an option, but this awning does spark some other ideas.

Wife and I did a test run and Sealed the deal

Careful there. Seal to many deals and you may have more than 4 kiddos.

 

[Matt_]

Careful there. Seal to many deals and you may have more than 4 kiddos.

Oh trust me I already took care of that! If we have another kid, SHE has a lot of explaining to do

 

[DRKN57]

I removed second and third row seat and installed a platform in mine. By the way I am 63years old...

This is the 270 with just one side wall and the wall is extended for more shade. You can see my bed in the back folded in half. If you really want more head room and get rid of the seats you will be able to have a lot more head room.

View attachment 252966

With the side walls it will give you a lot of room. We actually had a campfire inside it that night. The awning only takes about 2 minutes to set up and about 15 minutes to set up the side walls and stake them out.

View attachment 252967

We store most of our gear under the deck when camping.
View attachment 252968

All great points, thank you! I have so many questions but will start with this: if you’re sleeping inside the vehicle and it’s raining, do you still crack the windows? What’s your routine for getting airflow? Also, always wondered if it was dead of winter and super cold (or I guess summer/heat) is it safe to leave the truck running and heat (or AC) going over night while sleeping?


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[Matt_]

All great points, thank you! I have so many questions but will start with this: if you’re sleeping inside the vehicle and it’s raining, do you still crack the windows? What’s your routine for getting airflow?

One thing I was thinking, with the 270 awning you can have the windows open on the side with the awning, as well as the back hatch and have plenty of airflow, while still being protected from the rain. Battery powered camping fans can also help.

It got colder than expected the last time I used the truck to camp in. I started the truck once during the night to run the heat for about 5 minutes and that was all we needed to make it comfortable all night. I wouldn't leave it running while sleeping, not really necessary.

I just need to measure the sleeping distance behind the 2nd row with it flipped up/forward. Removing the 3rd row is easy... so if there's enough room, I may pull the trigger on this awning. It's a win-win since it is still very useful if I end up getting a RTT, and I can use it at my mtb races for shade/changing/etc.

 

[Tozan]

All great points, thank you! I have so many questions but will start with this: if you’re sleeping inside the vehicle and it’s raining, do you still crack the windows? What’s your routine for getting airflow? Also, always wondered if it was dead of winter and super cold (or I guess summer/heat) is it safe to leave the truck running and heat (or AC) going over night while sleeping?


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For rain I have window ventvisors so you can open them at least 3 inches without any rain getting in. I always keep the front side windows open at least an inch in winter and whatever is comfortable in summer (I also have homemade bug screens) Summer it might be 98 degrees today but it drops into the 70's or even lower at nite. If it gets hotter than that I normally stay home or head up into the mountains.


Winter camping, sleeping inside is still warmer than sleeping in a tent... But, I have 10mm thick insulation in all the doors and roof and my windows also have an inch of insulation except for the top 3 inches of the front windows. (see my build) I would not leave the motor running over night but, I have been guilty when temps dropped into single digits to turn on a small little buddy heater for a little while to warm things up.

I have been thinking of getting a diesel heater that runs outside and I will plumb it to blow fresh warm air in one of the windows and leave one window cracked for the stale air to go out.

Feel free to ask questions and check out my build threads.

I have one on this site the link is in my signature below.

A more complete build thread is on the Overland Bound site

 

[DRKN57]

For rain I have window ventvisors so you can open them at least 3 inches without any rain getting in. I always keep the front side windows open at least an in in winter and whatever is comfortable in summer (I also have homemade bug screens) Summer it might be 98 degrees today but it drops into the 70's or even lower at nite. If it gets hotter than that I normally stay home or head up into the mountains.


Winter camping, sleeping inside is still warmer than sleeping in a tent... But, I have 10mm thick insulation in all the doors and roof and my windows also have an inch of insulation except for the top 3 inches of the front windows. (see my build) I would not leave the motor running over night but, I have been guilty when temps dropped into single digits to turn on a small little buddy heater for a little while to warm things up.

I have been thinking of getting a diesel heater that runs outside and I will plumb it to blow fresh warm air in one of the windows and leave one window cracked for the stale air to go out.

Feel free to ask questions and check out my build threads.

I have one on this site the link is in my signature below.

A more complete build thread is on the Overland Bound site

Wow, thank you so much for all this info. Custom made big screens and insulation in doors and roof is very creative! So glad I found you! I’ll checkout your build threads. Thanks!


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