Can a Nomad Live in a Roof-Top Tent?
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- In this video, we learn all about CVT Tents and look at the pros and cons of living in one. Only you can know if it would work for your life and circumstances, but hopefully, in this video, you have enough information to begin to reach some conclusions.
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Thanks for watching!
I think Bob is showing us alternative solutions so people can decide what might work for them. I looked at rooftop tents for my SUV, and they have a lot of advantages over a regular tent. I camp in the desert so being off the ground means no snakes or crawling things. It also means you don't have to find rock free ground to pitch the tent. There are downsides of course, just like RVs, trailers, and vans. The Felix the Cat magic van hasn't been invented yet, so it is still about compromise for most of us . HNY!
Totally agree, it’s another type of solution, all are far from perfect. I have a few options in my toy box and the rooftop tent is the most flexible and agile when mounted to a 4x4, can’t get my Motorhome to half the places I’ve overnighted in the 4x4. 👍
My main concern with them, having camped extensively in the Mojave over the last 30 years, would the wind. Anybody whose done much desert camping knows its not uncommon for 50mph winds to come up late at night out of no where. What’s been your experience? I’d be afraid they just wouldn’t hold up.
Jonathan Hansen ditto for the midwestern prairies and farmlands.
Jonathan Hansen Hi Jonathan, not sure about this brand of tents, mine that is very similar has been wind tested to 73mph. I haven’t experienced any winds at those speeds yet but if I’m honest I am expecting/anticipating it would be uncomfortably noisy over 40, even with ear plugs and I would be better to sleep in the car. 🚘 I’ll see if there are any reports on some of the European overlanding forums.
@@jonathanhansen3709 They hold up just fine. I have seen some videos where they speak to it. Of course they will flap a bit at higher wind speeds but no issues falling apart or collapsing. I bought one a couple months ago but have not had the high winds yet.
That is so interesting. I didn't know that this was a thing. (I have a small car) Thank you Bob for continuously opening the world to others
I'm 5'11 and have decent strength and wouldn't touch this because of how difficult it looks for setup and break down. Anytime you work overhead it requires more from you physically. Definitely for younger more agile campers or nomads.
Truth
@Craigs architecture and video that's nothing, I'll climb up and down all day with a mobility disorder, but set up and take down- falling, shoulder issues, no way.
I accept these are not for everyone. My rooftop tent came with two hand straps connected to the main structure, to help when getting down. For me (55) it has been safer that getting down from my motorhome raised cabin bed 😂
@@adventure40s That's a really good point. Thanks for sharing.
@@adventure40s Haha. I gotcha those things can be dangerous too.... I used to have to climb in an out of the top rack (bed) when I was in the Navy on-board ship... Cant do that very gracefully anymore either. Oh well.
that's good for young nomads. for seniors? i dont know about that.
There are some seniors that are as good as new.
Like many things, depends on mobility. We're coming up on 58 and 62 and love our Mt Shasta tent that we've had 2+ years. We foresee a time when the ladder won't work for us anymore but figure that's still at least 10 years or so down the road.
@@crystalm8365 keep up the hard work, stay moving to keep moving that's what I always say :)
Not everything is for everybody. what a revelation.
Bob, you make the world a better place! Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Would have loved to have seen this inside of the tents and what they looked liked folded away
Yeah me too
Go to the web site. Plenty to see there. Also many videos on UA-cam for this tent.
What is the advantage of this vs a regular tent? To me it seems less convenient , when you want to go somewhere you have to pack it up vs being able to just drive off.
If you're a big strong man it takes my son less than five minutes, he's a fan over setting up even the pop-up tents we used to use, plus the bed is very comfortable, also, safety off the ground- he kept a golf club in there and felt mightily safe
The advantage of a roof tent is to get a good night’s sleep the pitch doesn’t need to be flat, free from rocks, grassy..... etc. If the pitch is slopping just level your vehicle then deploy, no guidelines normally required. To make things easier I use a 2 step ladder to make deployment and packing away a 5 min job for 1. 👍
I think the hard top tents are quick and easy to put up. Although a little less spacious.
Agreed, as a soft top owner hardtop tents with gas struts are far easier to deploy.
VoluntaryismIsTheAnswer I don’t understand the safety issue because most wildlife can get in there is they want to...including bears, mountain lions, and wolves. Bad humans also would see you as a real target, just the same as sleeping on the ground. So please explain the safety you feel ...it seems kinda like a false sense.
Hah! If I had that tent plus the annex room, I could put the kids up top for the night and take away the ladder! No worries -- I'd know exactly where they were all night long. ;-)
Great unless they had to pee???
@@1mourningdove54 eeuuww
Bev True my first thought as well! Unless they have a way to use a coffee can like I used to carry on camping trips! I don’t like going outside a tent at night for the very reason another person mentioned about snakes and creepy creatures at night especially if you are close to a river where snakes are known to come out for their water! I have run into snakes as a kid and I have a terrible fear of them! Especially rattle snakes all curled up and ready to strike! Fortunately my dad always kept me safe and he would protect me!
Why didn't you go into the tent. It doesn't look very stable to me.
Plenty stable, I have the Mt Rainier. With myself, my wife and our dog it is more solid than the Lance camper that I used to have.
Would have been nice if the salesman actually did a demo of putting it up and taking it down. After all, actions speak louder than words. Also easy to say, always harder to do demos!
Very nice but if it rains or snows you are packing up wet like it or not.
You have to take it home and dry it out before you put it away. They MUST be put away dry.
Yes but on a one week wet trip it gets difficult
@@jsso2845 Yessss. For sure. I spent a two week vacation camping in the rain one time. OMG. I solved the problem by tying tarps all over my tent, chair, table, etc. and sitting under it all. Sure wasn't the best week but i still got my time away.
Why this is advantageous
Like a hammock above water pooling and flowing.
Can use under tent for cots for kids or a potty break and shower.
I have a tent trailer to do these short trips ( like fishing
You don't need to register you don't need to disconnect your car, it's not easy to steal like hooking up to a bumper hitch and making haste. And I especially liked the truck bed unit, do they make one for a 3/4 ton Dodge. That way I can haul a fishing boat.
Not for me, but very cool.
What I want to know, though, is how these things get set up and broken down, especially those bigger ones and the one with the mattress. Do they always remain on top of the vehicle? If they stay up, what effect do they have on the maneuverability of the vehicle, and gas mileage?
Takes us less than 10 minutes to set up or take down. We estimate our tent costs us about a mile per gallon so prefer to take it off between uses. We removed the pad and put in an inflatable mattress with real bedding so can deflate it and store it all in the tent. Then when we re-inflate it, the bed is already made. No problem with maneuverability.
You have the www at your fingertips, right? Do a UA-cam search and find out.
I live in my Mitsubishi merage, a tiny car because I cant afford not to... $2200... that's three months SSI... nice info but not really an option to the majority of us out here.
Keep an eye out for used, it's cheaper than a van or trailer
The Smittybilt "Overlander" rooftop tent costs $900, and is very close in design.
@@ZZZardoz762 sweet, thanks
"$2200... that's three months SSI... nice info but not really an option to the majority of us out here." -- T&T
Yeah...but it sure beats buying a WAY more expensive van or RV, doesn't it. ;-)
-- BR
@@billredding2000 ah, nope, I could stand and sleep in a $2200 van. Happy happyhappy!
I appreciate being given all of these options. Thanks Bob.
Too rich for my blood.
Then you may want to avoid looking at the better-made/quality tents in the top drawer (if you will), like Tepui -- especially one of their "ruggedized" models (my choice). Makes the "base" CVT for $1K+ look VERY affordable.
As with most things, it's all relative...
-- BR
Thanks for showing these. It shows an alternative for people they can look for. I really like that it's Made in the USA.
This looks like a major hassle to set up. Why not just have a nice regular tent at half the cost.
Not stealthy.
No it is not lol but it straddles a fine line nonetheless, it's a nix for Walmart but there was no trouble at casinos
Go Lightly, true it isn't stealthy. Many people spend time in the desert or forest and do not need to worry about stealth. Being able to use a tent on rocky ground has big advantages. Not for everyone but it is for some. HNY.
It is more for young weekend tent car campers who don’t want to be on the ground and rained out.
I was hoping to see someone actually climb up into one of those on a small car. Doesn't happen. Don't really believe it would be something many people would want.
I had a rooftop tent. They are fabulous
So I've seen this in campgrounds and must ask why? On roof why and how is this better? Lack of ground space or what? Don't understand.
I live in Massachusetts and I have seen one of these on a car while camping...very cool! 👍👍👍👍👍
Great video thanks for sharing, awesome information, you guys over there at cheaprvliving are they best and tou are changing lives, thank you, safw travles and god bless to you all love ya Nancy
Show us vw entrance
So how are these better than ordinary tents on the ground?? Unless you are in a flood zone??
If it's to keep away from bears, any bear could snag one of those down like a piece of tissue paper.
I know! When the salesman said "Oh, these are used by people for living/camping in Alaska." I was like "No friggin' way!"
Robin Crook LOL, even a couple of hungry wolves could get in there.
I saw lots of hard shell tents on rental vehicles in Iceland. Good way to travel and camp. Tourism is big there.
These are also popular in Australia, too. I like the fact that you don't have to find smooth ground to pitch the tent.
most definitely an option, but for those with mobility issues it may be a hard sell! Great Vid Bob!
I carry a 5ft step ladder so I can close mine and it’s still very difficult to pack up
Just a huge opportunity to have a second sleeping option and be able to get that fresh air and extra sleeping area or an option to sleep outside under the stars .but on a car that's a huge advantage to save a lot of money.
How to get the dog up there ?
So cool. This would be great - I would use the annex for a bathroom.
Awesome Gadgets😁 really neat idea just seems steep for the un practicle🙃 If I had 3 grand to spend on a nomadic home it sure wouldn't be a tent on a rack of any kind. ✌Happy new year kind sir😊
We love our roof top tent. We found one a bit cheaper and love it. At 57 we’re still climbing like banjees 😜
Where u get it I want the details. I’m trying to get one
Interesting, but not for me...I'll leave these to the young and nimble!
A wise decision 😄 ~old lady who learned the expensive way, but for the record, 'tall and strong' is more important than 'young and nimble', it really is a leverage and upper body strength issue more than climbing, which is just a matter of being mindful of your steps.
HAHA. They work for young, thin, and limber nomads.
Very creative. When I was younger I'd have considered one.
The price points seem reasonable. I am flabbergasted when I see companies try to sell these for 5k+.
I and a friend mounted one of these on a harbor freight 4x8 trailer he carries all his gear and tows it with a Subaru Forester and does swap meets for a living
One draw back can't stand up in sleeping area , we built a rack that goes up and down for lower addition
this is SOOOO COOOL!! Thanks Bob!
They have awesome stuff on their website too, portable fire pit in its own canvas bag $289 ...
There's some people who live out of RTTs even here in rainy Central Europe. Check out the FB group 'Dachzeltnomaden'. It's a (really big) German group, but you can post in English.
Please explain how much travel space these use. If on a car will it occupy all available space in the trunk and back seat?
No they sit on roof bars. They don't use any trunk space
It's a thermally insulated laminated floor hinged in the middle, sits on roof bars. My tent weighs 50kg (112 lbs) my roofbars are rated at 100kg, weights are for travel air pressure rather than when parked up when you can have 200kg plus in the tent when deployed as weight is spread.
These are nice tents, if your young and strong. I can't imagine an elderly person going up and down or even setting it up. With all that money, I would rather buy a teardrop, if it's just for sleeping, which these tents are for. Happy New Year everyone!
Yeah for the money a teardrop would be a better option for someone in a small car who perhaps does want to sell it. With the added bonus of being able to go into town in their car without having to pack down the tent.
Ok so I'm sold in these but to claim they are 4 season is a bit far
Unless your a back packer with snow gear . And tents in heavy snow
Are difficult to maintain and now your tent is off the ground making that maintenance problematic
The sales pitch if honest should be extended 3 season tent for average person and winter capable with effort
Four seasons easily if you go south 😁
Over priced
Bob this is great!! This video is yet another example of the endless options for folks like us. Rooftop tents may not be for everyone but what is... You always are willing to ask, do and share with us!!! Thank you sincerely!!!! Fox 🦊
What a great solution for those that can't afford or don't want to buy an RV or van. Thanks, Bob.
He didn't talk about weight and car roof requirements .... also I don't understand these annexes ... wish we could have seen the mechanism, like a demo opening and shutting, didn't care to elaborate on support systems and cross bars
I think we found a winner! Thank you for this video This will work perfect for me! ♥️🥰🥰
I have one on a ram 3500, and I have a 2500 GMC Savana converted for camping. I've taken both setups cross country and the van is hands down a better setup.
Wow!!
I thnk they are pretty damnd cool but I wouldn't want to try to live in one. great for camping though for sure. they are PRICY that's the only draw back but so much nicer than a ground tent.
Wondering if a heat lamp bulb could be fashioned to be used as a source of heat in certain vehicles? And if they could be powered by one of those portable power banks? Perhaps on a timer.
I have a RTT they are really bad for fuel economy . They are easy to open but to close them up and put the cover on is very difficult especially if your vehicle is high. If you really want a RTT get a hard shell they are much easy to close
The comments are brutal for what looks to be a decent product. Far better then sleeping on the ground or in a car. I thought the guy did a good job presenting the product. There are far worse ideas out there.
It was these types of tents I was interested in for use with a Tundra with a topper...., and that led me to Bob Wells. That was 5 years ago!!! Sent me down a rabbit hole of looking at options for long term camping/boondocking. Which down another rabbit hole of possibly doing it full time. :)
@@spydermama9513 If I had a Tundra I'd have one of those tents on it.
Just Traveling I just have to disagree. It’s not a whole lot better. Maybe for someone with a ton of expendable money. But for living in, safety, wildlife issues, wind, moisture issues, mobility issues, packing it up, keeping it dry,....nope, not worth it for most folks. Buy an older van and live in that. At least you don’t have to unpack that all the time and a pet can comfortable live in it too.
@@occipitalneuralgia2339 If I had a car or a truck with a short bed, I'd be looking at the roof top tent. Because, sleeping where you can't stretch out isn't a good thing. Of course a van is better than a tent.
Remove a fan from your vans roof and make it a door to one of these tents on top of your van deck. Turn a van into a 3 or 4 bedroom tiny home. Lol, even advertise the extra room on air B&B. Make a bit of extra cash. . .
I love these but like the hard sided tents for long term use. Bundutec makes a really nice one but it is pricey too. Middle of the night bathroom visits are the biggest deterrent to me.
Putting a tent on top of a mini Cooper 😬 seems like a lot of weight to put on the roof of such a small car. Plus the weight of the person. I would need to see it to believe it.. 🤔
Most useful video in a while. Want something like this for my pickup.
What's the camera you are carrying? How about a video on your camera gear.
I have known about these for a while but had no idea they could attach to such small cars.
this video is intense! ;-)
I've seen on cars rents on roofs .
Vans can you make them for all types of cars?
I have a YJ Jeep, I will install a tent and use it as a home like yours
It's an interesting idea and I can certainly see advantages for longer term travel over a ground pitch tent. As to a solution for year round nomad living though I think it falls far short of other options Bob has shown us.
A regular ground tent can be terribly cold and noisy especially in wind. I wonder if these would fare even worse. But, if you are set on doing a tent, then I guess these would have nice advantages and you could always crawl back into your vehicle when weather is too cold and/or it is too noisy.
Nice looking tents... I have a special/unique rooftop tent for my Traveling Cat to live in whenever we stop at places.
Cat?
@@celticwarrior777 -- Yes; Tabitha, my cat, travels with me. The special rooftop cat tent keeps her off the ground, and lets her enjoy hanging out in the open air.
@@zoommikerobinson3315 Great idea! Do yo have pictures someplace you would be willing to share? I would be interested in something similar for my cat. Thank you!!
@@thisorthat7626 -- ...no pictures. But, I just posted a short video. This tent is nice in that it is mobile...easily carried and set-up anyplace...not just a vehicle.
@@zoommikerobinson3315 so she goes in there so she doesn't run off?
But, don't show us what the inside of the tent looks like.
Week end maybe ?? Not for full time !! Never
Looks exactly like the smittybilt tent hmm.
I had one but couldn't lift my pitbull up into it.
So much for stealth camping lol
This might be the COOLEST way for nomads to live!!!
My son got over a lot of his shyness on the road from people who just couldn't believe how COOL it was, lol. Universally admired, get used to it 😄
@@seymourrivers6169 I think it would be fun
Awesome way to stay above the venomous or wild animals while camping.
josmo fy exactly.
@@josmoify Sorry, Im in Austrlalia. They are very popular here and we don't have those animals.
So expensive though...
Great work💼💼
My BIL just bought a tepu on the used market. 1,800.00 with a vestibule. I'll be going out with him to check it out. Not for stealth camping, but definitely a great alternative.
Thanks Bob, for the video. Bought a Tepui Autuna 3 Ruggedized RTT a couple of months ago. Comparable to the CVT, minus the LED lights & USB ports. Don't have a real good feel for it yet, but it has been very good so far. One thing to note is I built my own roof rack. There's a Tepui page where one of the company owners breaks down the materials. Unistrut is the main componant. This will save a ton of cash.
Thanks for sharing this info, Bob. We've had our rooftop tent 2.5 years and love it. We don't live in it but have done a few extended road trips. We're working on making it more comfortable in inclement weather as consecutive rainy days combined with lower temps made for a somewhat cold, damp sleep during our Olympic NP trip in Oct. Can't be stealthy, true, but we prefer being off the beaten path so that isn't a concern for us at this point. Our main pros so far: quick, easy set up and take down; roomy and comfortable; no crawling/sleeping on the ground; no insects/reptiles/dirt in tent. Highly recommend.
Amazing deal...c’mon.Way way too expensive almost 3 times aa much as smittybilt.
I gotta admit, when i first watch this, i thought for sure this was some kinda prank... A tent on a car.. really. Man, you learn something new every day.
Really like the fiberglass one, two minutes to open and the future 'upgrades' including new material and solar panel options. Am a senior so the future solar panels sound great, but do all the tents come with a 'downstairs' annex?
Would like to see the annexes with the option of extra add on tents, specifically for bathroom and dressing, maybe shower areas.
I want one!
Im a big guy and the quality one i ordered was plenty sturdy, good insulation, great viewing. However, as a tent, some condensate issues, dogs hated being lifted into it, and noises outside kept me up. Also tracking in dirt, or you have to bare feet that ladder... sold it, got a truck and camper
They are cool but not for me. They could be useful on a trailer though with some sort of pull out kitchen. Also less height to climb. I think I would still prefer a teardrop though.
Cool
Bob, I thought for sure you photo shopped that tent in your thumbnail
Great idea though
how do you set it up and how long does it take to set it up? Also, do these cost a lot of money?
Strange hearing my name on a CheapRVliving video. Lol
Would not be easy to escape out if necessary with that tent out. Yikes.
Strange to see you in an urban environment.
I would rather have room for solar and a tent on the ground. I think its a great idea
do they ship to Ireland as well?
1st like...says no views
Too Hot then Too Cold.
Brrrr no thanks no in air at least off ground from snakes. Imagine if it topped car over climbing in 😂😂
The ladder acts as a stand so it does not lever off your rack
@@tmad5358 aw does it.
I was looking at some of these for when my husband and I do road trips
Wind resistance on the highway will be the big issue in the little cars also gas mileage will decrease in any car. Nice set up tho.
You don't leave the tent up while driving 😂
Ha ha I mean when you bring it down it’s stick up about 16 inches.
Baja R. M. I expected the same (maybe -25%) would be the case before buying my rooftop tent ( UK), but have been pleasantly surprised. After 2000 miles I’ve noticed no massive difference in mpg if I keep to around 60-65mph. The tent is fitted to a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 auto, I get 39mpg (4.54 litres vs 3.785) on the motorway (equivalent to 32 mpg per US gallon highway), I averaged about 40mpg @ 60-65 without the tent so very happy.
@@adventure40s that is excellent information! Thank you for sharing your experience. HNY!
PasadenaSue I would add over 65mph the economy will probably drop off significantly unless going downhill 😜😀
One thing missing, THE COST?