Roof Top Tent Necessities

Ok all you experienced Roof Top Tenters I would like to ask a favour. First I will tell you I just ordered my RTT and I am looking forward to using it this spring, summer and fall.

I am wondering if you can help me out with what other items are needed to make the experience better. I have been camping with a nice pull behind trailer for quite a few years now but I call that GLAMPING. LOL!! Its like a rolling home. Pretty nice. I am looking at getting into some more remote areas and doing a little fishing. What items are a must to bring along and what items are a luxury. I need to start purchasing my items for our first trip in a few more months.

The RTT will be going on one of two trucks. I have a 2005 Tacoma DCSB that I will be using for the really remote areas but my daily driving truck is a 2013 Ram 1500. We might go the Island this summer and take the Ram. Pulling a trailer across our ferries is brutally expensive.

Any tips or ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

A small roll of carpet to land on when you jump out to , hang out or throw your shoes on. A small led light & some bungee cords to tie down the hatches if the weather gets interesting.

 

Your RTT should come with tie-downs and grommets built in for all of the doors/windows. You just push the t-peg through the grommet in the awnings and it's wind-secure. The metal rods do an excellent job (I tested mine in 60mph winds and they didn't bend or give out).

My favorite additions are:

• 0 degree Teton 2-person sleeping bag - fits perfect in the RTT, and you can even fold the tent up with the sleeping bag still inside. Sleeps 2 comfortably, and it's warm as hell. If you're summer camping and don't need that much insulation, it makes a great sleep-on pad.
• Lighting system - I bought a 16' string of small LEDs and fed them through some semi-clear poly tubing from the hardware store, and zip tied them into the tent frame top rail. Folds up with the tent, too. I just take the 3 AAA's out of the controller between trips so they don't leak/corrode. A hanging LED lantern would work fine, too.
• I waterproofed mine with tent waterproofer. Took 7 cans to get it done right. They say you don't need to, but I had a 36 hour rain downpour one trip and I had some soak-through (slightly). So, after waterproofing, I don't need to worry about it. They are pretty airtight, so I just keep 2 opposing windows unzipped a couple inches for plenty of airflow to prevent condensation.
• Ratchet strap to attach from the open end of the tent (one of the eyelets that hold both sides closed with the velcro strap), and run it to your rim, sliders, frame, whatever - and tighten until taut but not overtightened. This strap keeps the tent open so it doesn't fold back up on you when the big wind comes. Yes, this has happened to a few folks.

I like the carpet idea at the bottom of the ladder. Wipe off your shoes before going up the ladder to keep your tent clean. I usually just climb up, turn around and sit above the ladder, and whack my shoes together to clean them. The carpet idea would also prevent the rubber/plastic ladder feet from eventually cutting through and opening into 2 big holes (like mine did) when used on hard ground. Now my ladder feet are just open holes, and they grab mud and clumpy sand, which then goes all over the tent when it's folded up. Yuck. I just need to get new heavy duty feet for the ladder, or I'm going to fab up some aluminum closed-end caps for the feet and screw them on from the sides.

I'm looking to add an extra 2" foam queen sized pad to mine, just for super luxury. It will fold up with the current pad in my tent, but I can't leave the big sleeping bag up there anymore. Not a big deal. I'm a big guy, so sometimes the pad that comes with the RTT feels a little firm. But, I always sleep like the dead in the RTT no matter what.

 

Thanks guys. Thats great for me to start with. I really appreciate it.

 

I always bring 4 2x10's with me (about 1.5 ft long each) so I can get the truck nice and level wherever I park. If I don't end up needing them...firewood!

 

I'm guessing you've found this thread, but if not...

RTT Owners Thread

 

Yeah that's a great idea. You'll want to park your vehicle as flat as possible so you're not head-down in the RTT or rolling to one side because you're not level. Carrying a couple 2x4's or 2x6's is a great way to get level when the ground just isn't. A couple of those wheel ramps work great, because then you can inch the truck into perfect position on them. Big hassle though. You'll get good at picking out flat pieces of ground eventually.

 

Yes I did see it. Lots to go over there.

 

I'm going to change up the carpet recommendations a little and say fake grass mat instead. Much easier to clean, and very light. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Green-6-ft-x-8-ft-Artificial-Grass-Rug-T85-9000-6X8-BM/202274592.

 

I use the fake grass mini golf type mat for mine and hold it down with the ladder. Also put some LEDs, a 12v fan and 12v socket in mine that run off my house battery.

 

An attractive (and attracted) camping partner.

 

I'm fat and old now. Those days are behind me. I will have the wife and kids with me. That will have to do!!! Lol.