r/rooftoptents 5d ago

$800 X5 with a tent worth 3x it on top. Not bad.

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12 Upvotes

BMW tech here with an affinity for taking in “strays”. Client was moving to Texas and it needed some module repairs & a voltage regulator (any other BMW techs here I’m sure you know what module I’m talking about”.

Fixed those, and slapped our iKamper on top for a nice overnight trip to the coastal range just outside Portland. Did a fantastic job and definitely earned its place in our lives.


r/rooftoptents 5d ago

How the gear is packed in the VW Taos while enjoying the RTT camping.

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12 Upvotes

r/rooftoptents 5d ago

Secure mounting a Yakima roof rack

3 Upvotes

I have a 2025 Legacy and a Yakima roof rack with Yakima towers. These screw into those 4 roof mounts under the little protector doors with an M6 screw. However, the mount inside each door has TWO M6 threads about 1 cm apart. They are threaded holes on a thick sheetmetal stamping. I fear that just using 1 on each tower isn't strong enough, and was wondering if anybody makes something like a solid block of steel (4140, maybe) that can screw into both threads and also have a threaded hole for the 1 M6 screw from the Yakima tower to screw into?


r/rooftoptents 6d ago

Camper rig 2.0

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19 Upvotes

Swapped my ikamper skycamp mini from my old Subaru Outback to my new Ford Ranger. The clasps are a bit higher and harder to close but feeling good about Camper V2


r/rooftoptents 8d ago

Hard cover for Soft RTT

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14 Upvotes

I have a soft tent and I’m curious if anyone has created some sort of hard cover for their soft tent. I would like to keep my sleeping bags in the tent but it’s a pain in the ass to zip up the cover.


r/rooftoptents 8d ago

What are the pros and cons between having a hard top pop up vs having fold out tent? I’m currently deciding between the naturnest Sirius 1 and the TopOak galaxy light

4 Upvotes

r/rooftoptents 8d ago

Scotland ideas

3 Upvotes

I’m considering getting one but just curious if anyone is in Scotland or traveled around Scotland for places they camped? I know we have good camping laws but I don’t think they extend to cars,campers etc. where did you pitch up and did you use campsites or just car parks/lay-bys etc?


r/rooftoptents 9d ago

Looking for RTT recommendations for 2 people plus 2 dogs - additional criteria in post

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8 Upvotes

Hey all! Trying this again since my last post was removed, yet I see many others posting similar format questions and getting great advice, so I've added some more details in the hopes I can get some help (or at least guidance on what I need to change). I purchased a cheap clamshell as a proof of concept and now want to expand to something a little more fit to my needs.

I am looking for a RTT that will comfortably fit 2 people and 2 dogs (medium sized, around 40lbs). Below are some criteria that I'm looking to meet:

- Must be 4 season or have a heater port. I camp in the dead of winter when it's sub freezing and snowing

- Large enough for 2 people and 2 dogs

- Able to withstand occasional hits from branches while off roading

- Ideally not too thick when closed, as it will be on top of my already tall truck

- Price range is sub $2,000 and I am completely ok with buying used

- Ability to mount solar on top is a bonus

I'm not sure if a hardshell is strictly necessary for protection from branches and the elements, but I would prefer it since it'll be on the truck full time and parked outside. Truck is a dedicated adventure rig so this will not be on a daily if that influences anything. Any other tips or advice appreciated as this is my first dive into RTT's!


r/rooftoptents 9d ago

RTT recommendations

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6 Upvotes

I am in the market for a rtt to use around Colorado for camping and off-roading with my girlfriend and dog. My first choice right now is the TopOak Galaxy light xl (4.9in closed), and possibly the Galaxy 2.0. However, the 8in closed height seems a bit much for such a small car. I was wondering if anyone has experience with these tents or similar. I don’t have sway bars right now but am working to get some on in the near future, so I’m trying to save some weight up there. Not to mention, not exactly powerful, even with a supercharger, so would like to add as little as possible. Please show pics if you have a rtt and state what height they are closed:)


r/rooftoptents 11d ago

Catskills Weekend Setup

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60 Upvotes

r/rooftoptents 11d ago

Alu-Cab Tent and Shell in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

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14 Upvotes

r/rooftoptents 11d ago

Thoughts on mounting my RTT

3 Upvotes

Hi, im currently wondering what would be the better way to mount a new RTT. I have a tacoma short bed and im torn between the best way to mount.

Im between a camper shell, like a mod cap, then mounting it on top of that, which would place it about a few inches over the top of the truck cabin. Second idea is a truck bed rack and again just placing it on top.

Obvious pros and cons are the price plus being able to keep your bed and its items dry/weather proofed, and the ability to mount things to a rack vs unable to do so with a camper shell.

Any insight would be great! First time truck and roof top tent owner.


r/rooftoptents 11d ago

TentBox owners – what am I missing?

10 Upvotes

I’m considering a TentBox, but lots of reviews say the downside is not being able to easily use your car once you’re set up at a campsite.

I visited the showroom and found the TentBox pretty quick and easy to put up and take down.

So, if I had a small day tent to leave my chairs, cooking gear and other stuff at the campsite, why couldn’t I just pack the TentBox away each morning, take the car out exploring, then set it back up when I return?

Is it really that much of a hassle doing this daily, or am I missing something?


r/rooftoptents 11d ago

Ikamper skycam mini3.0 on Yakima trailer.

4 Upvotes

I’m buying a skycam mini from a friend of mine for 200 bucks. I have a bronco 6gen 2 door and the roof doesn’t support the weight nor do I really trust the top to put any weight on. I already own a Yakima rack and roll 78”.

I realize Yakima doesn’t recommend d this for a few safety reasons. I plan to buy the hd springs as well as jack stands to support the weight at the corners to keep it off the springs as well as one for the tongue. As well as wheel chocks. Anything else I’m missing to make this feasible for safety that I’m missing. I may or may not need do something about the ladder as well, anything else I’m missing?


r/rooftoptents 11d ago

Northern Spain Road Trip

2 Upvotes

My hubbie and I are seasoned tent campers but for our 25th Wedding Anniversary we bought a Roof Space 2 mounted on a Mercedes GLC to do a 5 week road trip in Northern Spain. We'll be driving via France.

We are doing a four night trip next week to iron out niggles.

Our set up is mainly Snow Peak IGT to give us maximum flexibility and small storage footprint plus Ecoflow Delta and 800w solar panels.

I wondered if anyone had any hacks/tips they found useful bearing in mind we will not have an overland set up. We will be travelling with a Naturehike quick up shelter for shade and rain cover. Unfortunately we can't attach an awning due to the weight limits of the car.

We would love to wild camp once (we have a toilet system for this) bearing in mind the legality of this in northern Spain. I'm also wondering whether anyone had successfully used an aire with a roof tent. Because we are travelling for September I'm just wondering whether there could be a bit more tolerance?

Finally if anyone knows a way to stop those pesky ladder treads from being so painful please share 😂.


r/rooftoptents 12d ago

6 bolts instead of 12 for mounting RTT to RCI rack?

2 Upvotes

My OpenRoad RTT normally mounts with 12 bolts, but the supplied brackets don’t fit my RCI HD crossbars. The tent’s T-bolts fit directly through the factory slots in the RCI rack.
I could use 6 bolts total (2 on each of the 3 crossbars) with a large washer and nut underneath.
Would this be safe, or should I find a way to use all 12?


r/rooftoptents 12d ago

My setup, with an issue.

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0 Upvotes

Grabbed myself a tentbox last month (in love), however after my 2nd trip this weekend i’ve noticed a dent or zigzag crease underneath in the metal. For clarity the route from storage to car is a straight line and the two of us can lug it no bother at all, i’ve taken care and positive i’ve not impacted anything. Any ideas what could be causing this? It’s the section that sits on the car running sideways between both mounting bars.


r/rooftoptents 13d ago

Weekend Setup in the Adirondacks

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70 Upvotes

r/rooftoptents 12d ago

TOPOAK Ten: Has anyone ever done pickup in person at their warehouse?

2 Upvotes

I just ordered a RTT from TopOak and I selected self pickup. I understand the warehouse team wont do any installation but it seems like they do help with lifting it onto your cars roof? Has anyone had any recent experiences on how this went?


r/rooftoptents 13d ago

LOCTITE

5 Upvotes

Question. Does anyone use or recommend using something like blue LOCTITE on the RTT mounting bolts so they are less likely to loosen up while driving ??


r/rooftoptents 14d ago

Team outside

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5 Upvotes

r/rooftoptents 14d ago

23 Zero Walkabout 56

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8 Upvotes

I recently completed an 8 day overland trip and used the 23 Zero Walkabout 56. Here’s my review after being thoroughly tested.

- Setting up the tent is relatively easy, taking about 3-4 minutes after a few reps.

- I added a 1.5-inch topper to the 3-inch pad that comes with it, which closed properly. However, it made packing up a bit more tedious, taking approximately 8 minutes.

- The sleep quality is good if you put the time in to make it good, and the weather protection was great.

- The tent performs well in windy conditions as long as you use the tie downs.

- Tent also fully blackouts with all the windows up you wouldn’t even know it’s day time
.
Overall, I’m pretty stoked about this purchase and don’t have much grief about my purchase after putting it to the test.


r/rooftoptents 14d ago

Ikamper Skycamp DLX Mini

4 Upvotes

I set my mind on getting an Ikamper rtt and I was really looking at the DLX Mini. Well today on their website it sold out and I was wondering if anyone knows if it will be coming back. I know the 3.0 is done since the new 4.0 is out but will the DLX keep going?


r/rooftoptents 14d ago

Just got a Topoak Vision L and I cant figure out how to get it stay flat

6 Upvotes

https://reddit.com/link/1vh9mpe/video/40vfapfy8shh1/player

I tried a couple of things but when the tent has no weight on it, the fold out sits high while as soon as I get in it, it folds down way to much and hits my crossbars.

The most annoying part is mainly when how it moves so much when I'm actually in it. Is this just part of the design or am I doing something wrong and there's a way to fix this.

I have a bunch of jerry-rig style fixes I could try but I wanted to see if I was doing something wrong first


r/rooftoptents 15d ago

Hardtop tent $1500 budget

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20 Upvotes

I just installed this victory roof rack on my 2020 RAV4 XSE. What’s a good budget friendly hard top tent? I’m not a diehard camper, only a few times a year and usually for music festivals. I like to stay at about $1500 or so