JERRY_SANCHEZ Posted October 24, 2005 Posted October 24, 2005 http://www.car-top-tent.com/ Has anyone ever use this? Just wondering if this is a silly item for car campers or a good way to spend the night at the trailhead.... Quote
archenemy Posted October 24, 2005 Posted October 24, 2005 Sure, except mine was called a "pop-top" by VW Quote
Couloir Posted October 24, 2005 Posted October 24, 2005 I'm hard pressed to think that a roof-top rack system is designed to hold "two adults and two children." That's what possibly 500 lbs.? Plus gear?? And the tent itself weighs 118 lbs. That's a lot of weight for your gutters or roof top. Quote
Geek_the_Greek Posted October 24, 2005 Posted October 24, 2005 In South Africa in 2000 this type of thing was all the rage on top of Land Rovers. Every self-respecting Rhodie camper had some sort of off-the-ground tend on their vehicle to keep them off the ground and away from the scorpions and other nasties. But I agree with Couloir that you might crush your Honda or Subaru pretty quickly with a couple of people and one of these. Maybe only on vehicles with a roll bar? Quote
layton Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 what? a roadside ditch isn't good enough for you? rent a damn hotel room at the 4 seasons mr. fancy french man. Quote
Dru Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 If you have one of those Yakima lock boxes you can make like a vampire and sleep in the coffin all night... Quote
layton Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 If you have one of those Yakima lock boxes you can make like a vampire and sleep in the coffin all night... THAT is a fantastic idea, Dru! Quote
mattp Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 My brother had a home-made version of something like that on top of his Saab many years ago and while I'm sure those you show here are easier to set up and easier to get in and out of, the thing was kind of a nuisance. Getting up and down from the top of the car was clumsy and of course you had stability issues if you moved around inside very actively. Also, it felt leass secure than sleeping on the ground, and was less private. It was also more visible where you were trying to keep a less obvious profile, an dit was more exposed to wind when that was an issue. On the plus side, of course, you didn't have to set the thing up in mud and snow and it wasn't as prone to flooding. On balance I'd just get a car top carrier and a simple tent unless you have a reason to want to avoid sleeping on the ground. Quote
JayB Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 (edited) I have a demo-model/prototype device on the back of my truck that allows me to sleep comforably, and high-off the ground in any weather - very resistant to wind and rain, and set-up time is zero. It's also bolted to the frame and made of fiberglass so packability is an issue, but... Looks like the ultimate solution-in-search-of-a-problem unless you're camping in a pit-of scorpions or something. Edited October 25, 2005 by JayB Quote
archenemy Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 I'm hard pressed to think that a roof-top rack system is designed to hold "two adults and two children." That's what possibly 500 lbs.? Plus gear?? And the tent itself weighs 118 lbs. That's a lot of weight for your gutters or roof top. Dude, this is America. It could be 1000 lbs. Quote
markharf Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 These are common in Africa, usually atop Land Rovers and Land Cruisers. As pointed out, they're reported nice when worried about insects and snakes—also, thieving baboons, lions (don't bother arguing about this; I'm just repeating what I was told), and other vermin, including fellow humans. On the downside, they're expensive and of questionable value in high winds. Having had my own ground-level tent invaded at various times by many of the above—no lions—I can understand the appeal for those with money to burn. Quote
Dru Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 Oh yeah, putting your 118 lb. tent on top of your car is SOOOOO going to deter "human vermin". Anybody with the $$$ to spend on one must be wealthy ergo becomes a more tempting target. Quote
cj001f Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 Oh yeah, putting your 118 lb. tent on top of your car is SOOOOO going to deter "human vermin". Anybody with the $$$ to spend on one must be wealthy ergo becomes a more tempting target. Dru- Anybody who's got a car in Africa is wealthy enough to be a target Quote
Dru Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 In which case it won't matter whether you are camped next to it, or on top of it. Quote
cj001f Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 In which case it won't matter whether you are camped next to it, or on top of it. Quote
markharf Posted October 26, 2005 Posted October 26, 2005 Just reporting what I've seen and been told. P'raps things work differently within your world-construct. Quote
rockermike Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Looks a bit much to me. But I'm contemplating giving up my full size van (sweet for camping) and getting a small Forester or something. But then where do you sleep at 1:30 in the morning in the snow after a long drive to the mountains? How about 3 or 4 Yakima cross bars with sheet of plywood on top. Not much wind resistance there. Then throw a Bibler tent on top when in need of sleep? Anyway that's my plan. Quote
JoshK Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 This is quite possibly one of the stupidest thing I have ever seen. Quote
magellan Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 I thought this was about fastest times from car-to-tent.. Quote
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