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Roof Tents

Matthew1955

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Aug 20, 2017
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wales
Not sure I am posting this in the section if not mods please move.
I am totally new to the idea of green laning and weekend trips away without a hotel involved and have started looking at Roof tents,so I have a couple of questions.
Firstly is there a huge drop in MPG when using such tents and secondly are there any that members could reccommend or more importantly I should avoid and the reasons for their views.
I did quite like the look if these two

The Maggiolina Airlander
https://www.boab.biz/acatalog/AUTOHOME_MAGGIOLINA_ROOF_TOP_TENTS.html

The Tent box

https://www.tent-box.com/uk/?product=tentbox/
 
I guess Maggi's are dearer for a reason and are a popular choice on here. There hasn't been much feedback on the cheaper ones.

There isn't a great drop in MPG as you drive accordingly but there is some wind noise to consider.
 
The downside of the hard shell type is it's just the bed, if it's p'ing down you have no inside space that isn't bed. No roof top tent can be driven away from so you have to pack away to go into town in the car if on a campsite.

Pros are better aerodynamics than a pram hood type, very quick deployment and no faffing with a cover. Bedding can stay put I believe and fold down is very quick too. If it's wet, putting it up or away will be less of a problem but the sides will probably still benefit from being dried. Some are electrically operated.

Pram hood types offer more in the way of extra space and enclosed ladder etc but take longer to deploy and pack away. We got ours down to half an hour from fully deployed to fully packed and could probably do it quicker if more practiced. That's in the dry, dry tent, with awning and porta loo. :)
 
I only have experience of two types of roof top tents.

The first being the Eezi-awn/Howling Moon type.
EeziAwn.gif

These are large, heavy and robust. The trouble is they are cumbersome to erect, and very difficult to put away if you're on your own, have a bad back, not tall, etc.

I've just bought an electrically deployable and collapsible tent rather than use of of those described above. More details available here:
https://www.landcruiserclub.net/com...oof-tent-something-a-little-different.148562/

The shell type tents look lovely and are usually very well made, robust, easy to erect and collapse. They are very expensive though. This has 3 days left, is located in Spain and is sat at £840!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAGGIOLIN...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

There are a few new brands to the market with some interesting propositions.

http://www.ikamper.com/

https://tepuitents.com/collections/roof-top-tents/products/white-lightning-hard-shell

https://www.blackfinrooftent.com/products/blackfin-camper-box-roof-top-tent
 
We did scotland with a fold over type. Never again!

The air top are brilliant. I expect the ogher you posted will be the cheap copy and will show that in a couple of years owning it. Buy once and be happy with it. Personally the air tops are up there. Also james baroud seem to be good.
 
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Its similar to my outback tent. Full aluminum shell. Very robust and you can walk ontop of the tent.
 
Its similar to my outback tent. Full aluminum shell. Very robust and you can walk ontop of the tent.
Hi Karl,

nice! I believe that Big Country is a merge of various South African providers and the tent I mentioned was originally offered by African Outback. I also saw them listed as technitop, not sure if this rings a bell?

Anyhow, are you happy with it? Where did you get it from?

Thanks!
 
I love my James baroud dicovery.
time to erect : unclip 2 clips and the gas struts lift the tent up. so it takes the time to walk from one side of the car to the other = <1 minute.
time to collapse : attach 1 elstic cord on 2 hooks at the inside. push the tent down, fold the protruding tent inside the shell, fasten 2 clips = 2-3 minutes. sleeping bags and pyama, torch...can stay inside the tent.
I recently had a look at the alu cab expedition tent. great finishing and very robust : http://www.alu-cab.co.za/standard-products/expedition-tent
 
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I bought it second hand off a couple called lizzie buss who travel in a landrover.
Its a great tent but its getting old now so needs some tlc. It had 5 years on thd road with the privious owners so its well used but it still has plenty of life in it.

We also have the ostrich awning. I have a feeling thats big country. Well well made nice bits of kit.
 
off topic I know but if you have a moment check out lizzybus.com . Seriously impressive adventuring.

As for roof tents - we've spent a lot of time in a Hannibal. There great. can set-up and put away in 5 minutes. However - if you're in UK or anywhere windy steer well clear!!!!!
 
off topic I know but if you have a moment check out lizzybus.com . Seriously impressive adventuring.

As for roof tents - we've spent a lot of time in a Hannibal. There great. can set-up and put away in 5 minutes. However - if you're in UK or anywhere windy steer well clear!!!!!

We had the fold down type tents similar to those in the middle of Namibia during a dust storm. The tents were trying to fold in on themselves. Quite unnerving, especially when the ladder gives way.
 
Thats my tent. Main reason for buying it was the fact if was alloy and i wouldnt damage it laning.
Im thinking of either getting it coppied and made slighty bigger or just having new material or i may try waterproofing it first.

IMG_6084.JPG
 
Still looking good!

So after many use you are still happy with this tent, I am thinking about ordering one from Big Country ( current price is 26000 ZAR - 1700 EUR without shipping) and would love to hear your opinion!

PS: Sorry for the noise on this post!
 
Still looking good!

So after many use you are still happy with this tent, I am thinking about ordering one from Big Country ( current price is 26000 ZAR - 1700 EUR without shipping) and would love to hear your opinion!

PS: Sorry for the noise on this post!

100% Happy with it.
It has been slept in most nights for the previous owners tips and is still fully usable now. I personally dont think many tents will get the full ln use that this has had.
Its great for two people but a bit of a push for us and the two dogs as well. Lol

One negative. With it being so thin.You dont gst much room for bedding up in there when its packed away.
 
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