@@Ians111 Thank you 🙏🏻 Appreciate the feedback. Yeah there’s a lot of options out there. I love my XL so i’d definitely give it the thumbs up, but 100% do your homework 👍🏻
Thanks for the amazing review Chris, massive thumbs up👍🏼 We have just made our first Tentbox purchase this morning using your discount code😊 Can’t wait to receive it and try it out
Yes, we’ve booked for Fort William in May only for 2 nights. Then possibly move on up the west coast to Arisaig for another few nights. Had lots of holidays up that way as a child in a tourer. I’m on my way to making more happy memories 😊
What a great review, and I love how you took the time to go over the whole tent! I'm so glad to see we have a place to buy one here in the US! I have to say I'm starting to think the Tentbox XL is going to be the one! Thank you from across the pond cheers, mate 👍
@@ChocChipTravels Hi, just a quick question, you mentioned to get the tentbox insured, which insurance do you use, or recommend, would it be household, car, or a separate policy? p.s I think our first trip will probably be back up to my old stomping ground, the south west lakes, truly stunning area.
@@markturner8954 I have a separate policy with Club Care with is ran by camping and caravan club. It’s about £100 ish a year for XL i think. Some people put it on their house insurance, some their car insurance, but you’re best to speak to them and make sure it’s okay and there’s no catches
Great video. I have the Lite 2.0 and Living Pod. The LIving Pod is great but a bit of a pain to fold up. If you pop the ladder into the tent, there is a load of room in the pod.
Amazing Ben, congrats… the orange is stunning. Did you manage to get your discount when ordering? Since you’re now dreaming of adventure, where do you fancy going to?
@@ChocChipTravels did indeed thank you very much for that! And the main one is the nc500 but im very new to camping apart for the few trips i had with family as a kid so any reccomendations is more than welcome. Maybe a video idea for you of your favorite areas/spots to camp or wild camp.
@@benmyers3859 That is a good shout, i’ll put one together. I’ve not done the nc500 yet. Plan to do it later this year hopefully. We’re off to Europe in a few weeks time so i’ll be detailing that trip soon enough
The benefit of the hard shell is the footprint of your vehicle. When staying somewhere cheeky there are benefits to being compact rather than taking two spaces
100%. It’s a trade off. For me, having previously had the cargo, i personally prefer the extra room inside the tent over the footprint, but everyone’s needs are individual and this works better for us based on how we travel. There’s definitely no ‘one tent fits all’ for sure. Do you have a roof tent yourself pal?
Hi mate 👋 Love the video and im definitely leaning towards getting the Lite XL. Would be really helpful if you could do an interior setup video explaining what you guys use to charge your phones, how you feed it to the hookup etc
@@ChocChipTravels really good, I can leave it set up and still drive the truck around, bit more flexible when I’m on a site and when I go wild I’ll put it on the truck
This are brilliant. I have only one issue which is why the condensation protector under the mattress not included on the new 2.0 and on xl. To be honest i expected to come with the upgrade after so many complaints. Great video 👍
Thank you 🙏🏻 I’m not sure to be honest. I know it’s included on the new cargo and classic 2.0’s but i’ve had literally zero issues with condensation whereas on my old cargo it was dripping wet on the mornings. Nothing like that now with mine
@@ChocChipTravels i just purchased the Tentbox Lite XL with the living pod attachment and used the code! I just got married and my husband and I decided go on honeymoon camping around Europe! 🚗 🏕️ can’t wait!
@@ChocChipTravels we are starting from the UK (where we are based) and drive to the south of France, then northern Italy and then Germany! Should be fun! We are just waiting on our tentbox to arrive and then we are off!
Excellent video..one question - how does the tent effect fuel economy ?.Would it be practical to remove it after every trip or would that be to much of a hassle ?
Thank you and thanks for watching. Yes, it does impact fuel economy in the same way a roof box would, but i’ll be honest i’ve never studied the numbers of it all. Our truck is our second vehicle and doesn’t get used as much when we’re not camping so i don’t drive it day to day to worry about the daily impact on fuel. I leave mine on all the time. I know some people take them on and off after each trip and others don’t. The removing and putting it back on again isn’t really the issue. it’s quite quick once you get the knack of it and providing you’ve got someone to help you. I guess it’s personal opinion as to whether it’s a hassle or not, but it’s quite easy to do and doesn’t take long. The biggest problem many people have is where to store it once it’s off, but if you have somewhere to keep it then it’s not a problem
Great video. My lite XL is waiting for a spring unboxing - can't wait. Question, the ladder. Does it stay on & attached underneath rain cover or stored separately?? Thanks
Ah fantastic. Can’t wait for this miserable weather to pass to get out more myself. I store the ladder under the cover and attached to the tent. The cover is designed to fit the ladder inside when stored, but there’s nothing wrong with taking it off if you’d prefer. Preference I guess 👍🏻
Great Video. Really informative, appreciate the work. I am trying to decide whether the hard shell cargo + storage on top for bikes etc out weighs the size of the Lite. Does the cargo stand up better to rain and are the bars a useful addition?
Thank you 🙏🏻 So yes i’ve had both tents and I did love my cargo. For me, the extra space has been a big plus (for us) but there were positives to the cargo, for example being able to attach an awning directly to the tent was a big positive over the Lite models. i personally didn’t use the cargo for storage on top with the bars but if you plan to use it for that it’s a big advantage and makes things a lot easier. Rain wise it doesn’t make a difference really, they both hold up the same but for me, an advantage for the lite models is that the rain fly cover hangs over all the windows and doors, meaning you can leave the doors open while it rains and it will run off the rainfly but not into the tent. With the cargo, you’ve only got that on the rear door as there are no porches on the side. I feel the XL feels bigger inside, not just in terms of dimensions but just space. It doesn’t feel as cramped, but again that’s a preference thing and the advantages of the cargo which you’ve mentioned may outweigh the extra space of the XL. Will it just be the two of you sleeping in there?
Mate this is a class review. Helped me loads. Tent box looks like a decent company but I can’t get away from the ‘Thule Approach” in comparison before I make my mind up. It just looks mint. To be honest the whole market needs improving in my opinion. Got a few months to decide but only thing I think about these is that the materials look a bit basic. I would love to be proved wrong. I’m gonna be staying outdoors a lot in the coming winter for a few months and need proper gore tex tent and seals that last. There’s not much online anywhere that covers how good the actual body of the price you’re paying for is. If for example you bought a top end walking jacket. There would be a multitude of claims about the integrity of the materials. I want a roof tent that’s like an arcteryx or nanamica jacket but good value and light. But It seems that the main selling points are the looks and price. Make me spend my money and give me something that’s proper top end. Else for three grand I can chuck it into a camper van and rent it out when I’m not using it.
@chocchiptravels Thanks for the video! Great insight into what will be coming soon - very excited! Spotted your iPad in the end b-roll... How did you mount it to the ceiling of the tent?
Hi mate, great review and instantly subscribed. I was wondering whether you had a link or name for the products you use to mount your iPad to the tent? Thanks in advance!
Thank you. Appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙏🏻 I sure do. There’s some links in the description to the various products i use, but here’s the link to the ipad mount. Just be sure to order the exercise bike version 👍🏻 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BN1PKDGT/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_JT959443QEAVKCF3ZCFP?linkCode=ml1&tag=chocchiptrave-21
@@ChocChipTravels thanks for the quick reply. The two options seem to both be iPad holders it’s just one is for a mic stand and the other is for an exercise bike?
Yes a couple of times recently it’s been hot. We tent to keep the two end doors open (with fly nets shut) for airflow during the day, but keep the skylights and sun facing side door closed to block the sunlight coming in. That helps. When it cools down later, just let it cool down and then shut your outer doors. For those times when it’s hot overnight, you could always leave the side outdoors open to create some airflow, but we’ve also used a clip on usb fan and just attach it to the inner bars. Works a treat. Also find leaving the outer rainfly cover on helps protect it from the tent and shelters the doors a little more
Hi Chris, when you say that you can't store beding inside while packed, can you keep the foam mattress in there? Just not sleeping bags etc. Great review by the way.
Hey! Thank you. So yes you can keep the included tentbox mattress in there, but since I made the review video, i’ve bought a 2” thick mattress topper that stays in there full time too, so my feeling is that a thin duvet or something like the tentbox down blanket would be fine in there. Pillows would still struggle though
Good question. So people often mix the “official” terminology up but you’ve got the awning and the living pod and they are two separate things. The living pod attaches to the tent over the doorway and ladder and it’s like a room. The ladder is contained inside so the idea is if the weather was bad and you had a portable toilet, you wouldn’t need to go outside in the rain. I’ll be doing a review on this very soon but for now you can find the living pod on the Tentbox website under accessories. The awning (or universal awning) is a roll out awning that mounts on the other side of your vehicle from the ladder. It rolls out and comes with legs and cross bars to keep it in place. There’s actually a review video on my channel of the universal awning so you can see how that works. The living pod is better used if you’re a campsite for a few days kinda camper, whereas if you’re a single night and move along kind of camper then the universal awning might be better. The reason i say that is the living pod is a little more faffy to setup, so the awning would be better for one nighters. In terms of seeing a living pod set up, i don’t know as it’s not as quick as setting up the tent, but you can find imagery on the tentbox website. Does that help?
I’m buying a 2019 Navara and plan to buy this. Do you have this mounted over the front roof rail and the rear roof rail or both on the front? It’s’ hard to see on the video!
Hello. So just a heads up that you can’t attach the tent to both the front cab and the rear canopy at the same time. It’s because the front and rear move differently. You could either snap your roof bars, tent, vehicle or worse so definitely don’t attach to both. I’ve got mine attached to the front cab using two roof bars. I also have a third bar on the rear canopy but it’s not attached to that rear bar, only resting on it. To be honest, with the Lite models you don’t need the rear bar. I only use one because i had it but the two bars on the cab would be fine. If you went for a classic or cargo you may benefit from a rear bar (as those tent models are longer) but the Lite’s are shorter and fit fine over the navara cab without too much overhang front and back. Does that make sense?
Great review. I've got a Cargo that we love but thinking of switching to this for the extra space. What I like about the Cargo is the 'black out' that its design gives you. How light is this tent inside in the mornings? Also how does the mattress compare in thickness and comfort? Thanks.
Hello! Thanks for watching 👋🏻 So the tentbox is very dark in the morning if you go for the slate grey. The orange isn’t as dark so you’d notice this more. The green is apparently quite dark too but i can’t say from personal experience. With the slate grey, i’d say the lite is just as dark as the cargo in my opinion. Mattress wise, which version of the cargo do you have? Is it the newer version with the vents above the side doors? Or the older version (without the vents)? My cargo was the older version and the mattress is much better on the XL compared to my older cargo, but it might be similar to the newer cargo. I’m not sure on that. Since making this video, i’ve actually purchased a topper for the mattress from Dunelm Mill and it’s changed the game. Much, much comfier and the topper folds up inside the tent too which is great
@@ChocChipTravels Hi, I'm finally getting round to buying the topper. How have you got on with the one you bought, would you recommend it and which size did you go for? Thanks
No fitted sheet in the video i’m afraid but we have since started using a super king non fitted sheet which tucks all the way under the tentbox mattress 👍🏻
@@ChocChipTravels trying to decide, like the quickness of the cargo, but like the size of the XL Lite..I’ve seen the cargo at a local demonstrator but not seen the the XL yet..
@@ChocChipTravels thanks for your reply… when I’ve decided I’ll let you know? Just one question , you mentioned condensation in the cargo? Was it bad ?
@@sidparkin2219 It wasn’t dripping wet but it was wet to touch, however mine was the older version of the cargo. The ventilation is much better on the new one that’s out now 👍🏻
Hi, I have a 2021 Nissan Navara bud rather than a hard top have a roller shutter. I see that you have installed your XL partially resting on a third bar at the rear off the hardtop. Is this essential or could I get away with just two bars on the main roof..? Trying to work out if this is make or break between the XL and 2.0. Thanks :)
Hey! In my opinion, the rear bar is not essential. I only really have it because of when I had my cargo, so I’m only using it because it’s there. There will be a little bit more overhang on the XL (compared with the 2.0, but it will be fine. Since I made this video, I’ve actually moved the tent forward a bit so it’s barely touching the rear bar now. The main reason I needed the rear bar with the cargo was because the tent was so long and the amount of overhang meant it was creaking a little when moving around near the ends of the tent when inside, whereas with the lite models, the length is coming off the side of the vehicle so the weight is better distributed for the Navara. Does that make sense?
@@rohanmay-smith9342 I don’t want to say “I would” but I will say “i did” haha. Don’t forget to use my new code (in the description) as well mate. Grab yourself a discount. Any other questions just give me a shout 👍🏻
Hey Chris, have you mounted the tent box Xl over the cab and the canopy roof bars or just over the cab. Have a ford ranger and just wondered as similar set up
Hello mate. So it’s mounted and attached to two bars on the cab, which is taking the main bulk of the weight and then just resting on a single bar on the canopy with minimal overhang… but not attached to the rear bar, just resting. You can’t attach to both the cab and the canopy at the same time. I just added the single bar on the rear canopy mainly just to reduce movement, but it’s not essential. Having the extra bar just takes a little bit of the creaking out of it when you’re up there moving around, but it’s very solid without it and like I say, it’s not essential
I’m not sure that’s there’s a standard solution tbh. The poles are more rigid on the 2.0 and XL to provide a more secure fit for the rain fly cover. It’s because the poles are more rigid that there is this problem. One way would be to raise the tent higher on the roof bars using some sort of risers, but again, i’m not sure how this could work. Another solution would be if the awning could be further away from the tent (while still pointing up), but the awning brackets prevent this. It’s not an oversight i don’t think. Just an unfortunate combination creating a problem
Just read the long list of 1 star reviews online about this tin-pot company before buying.. I wish I had before clicking the payment button. an absolute shambles of a company, the staff can't even use a phone or keyboard to reply back to your messages. When they do it's just excuse after excuse. It's that much of a tin-pot company they don't have a telephone number that works, only messaging service that they don't reply too. Expect to wait over a week for delivery when they claim it's "in stock". In stock to them is on a boat somewhere from China. It's a budget company with a budget product run on a shoe-string budget, with staff that just laugh at you when they have your money. I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy, in fact il be warning everyone I know and everyone I come across to Avoid Avoid AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE.!.
Sorry to hear you’ve had problems. All I can say is that my experience with them has always been great without any problems and I know others who have had a flawless experience too 👍🏻
We’re planning to get this for our winter camping trip in a few months. Your review was incredibly detailed and helpful-many thanks!
@@LongDreamLife365 Aw thank you 🙏🏻
Unimpeded 😂 Thanks for the video. Just considering one of these bad boys for a visit to Ireland next year. We are a family of 4.
@@paulwoolnough3445 *in my best Palpatine voice* … “Do it!!” 😂
Really great review and some amazing footage im considering all brands now but I admire your in depth review
@@Ians111 Thank you 🙏🏻 Appreciate the feedback. Yeah there’s a lot of options out there. I love my XL so i’d definitely give it the thumbs up, but 100% do your homework 👍🏻
Thanks for this review! Giving only a "like" to this vid feels like there's not enough appreciation for your time.
Thanks a lot!
Well the comment together with the like is more than enough 😊
Thanks for the amazing review Chris, massive thumbs up👍🏼 We have just made our first Tentbox purchase this morning using your discount code😊 Can’t wait to receive it and try it out
Hey Angela, oh that's amazing. So happy the video could help :-) Have you got any places in mind that you'd like to visit with your new tent?
Yes, we’ve booked for Fort William in May only for 2 nights. Then possibly move on up the west coast to Arisaig for another few nights. Had lots of holidays up that way as a child in a tourer. I’m on my way to making more happy memories 😊
We wasted 30 minutes trying to find out where the X strap went! Thank you so much x
@@workingmumsneedgin6505 Haha, yes add yourself to the long list of many. Glad you got sorted 👍🏻
Ordered one, used your code . You convinced me!
Oh fantastic! Enjoy it pal and thanks for letting me know 👍🏻
What a great review, and I love how you took the time to go over the whole tent! I'm so glad to see we have a place to buy one here in the US! I have to say I'm starting to think the Tentbox XL is going to be the one! Thank you from across the pond cheers, mate 👍
Amazing, i’m glad I could help 😊 Purely my curiosity here, but where abouts are you based?
Thank you for this review! Ordered my tentbox xl and used your code for a nice £50 off!👍😀
Yes!! Amazing news, congratulations 🎉 Where you off to first in it? So many possibilities 🤗
Great review! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and findings fantastic channel!
Thank you… and thanks for watching 😊
Just made the leap, and bought the tentbox lite XL, can't wait to get going, the world's our oyster now.
Thank you for the discount 👍
That’s amazing pal, congrats. The big question is… where are you off to first?
@@ChocChipTravels Hi, just a quick question, you mentioned to get the tentbox insured, which insurance do you use, or recommend, would it be household, car, or a separate policy?
p.s I think our first trip will probably be back up to my old stomping ground, the south west lakes, truly stunning area.
@@markturner8954 I have a separate policy with Club Care with is ran by camping and caravan club. It’s about £100 ish a year for XL i think.
Some people put it on their house insurance, some their car insurance, but you’re best to speak to them and make sure it’s okay and there’s no catches
That was a really handy review to watch, thank you. Looking forward to seeing a review on the xl living pod to help decide if that’s worth a purchase
Thank you. Yep it’ll be out in about a month or so. Looking forward to seeing how it is after all the hype 👍🏻
Great video. I have the Lite 2.0 and Living Pod. The LIving Pod is great but a bit of a pain to fold up. If you pop the ladder into the tent, there is a load of room in the pod.
@@bolllochead thank you. Yeah i’ve found that helps a lot with space 😊
Great review Chris, thanks for sharing. Phoned Tentbox today, hopefully incoming soon!
That’s amazing mate. Keep me posted with your adventures on insta 👍🏻
@@ChocChipTravels Just followed you man, look forward to the adventures! Cheers again for sharing the videos - helped me make the decision! 👍
@@stussyman8 You’re very welcome. Glad it helped. Did you remember to grab your discount when you ordered?
Just ordered the xl in orange absolutly love the colour and cant wait for the adventures im gnna have in it
Amazing Ben, congrats… the orange is stunning. Did you manage to get your discount when ordering?
Since you’re now dreaming of adventure, where do you fancy going to?
@@ChocChipTravels did indeed thank you very much for that! And the main one is the nc500 but im very new to camping apart for the few trips i had with family as a kid so any reccomendations is more than welcome. Maybe a video idea for you of your favorite areas/spots to camp or wild camp.
@@benmyers3859 That is a good shout, i’ll put one together. I’ve not done the nc500 yet. Plan to do it later this year hopefully. We’re off to Europe in a few weeks time so i’ll be detailing that trip soon enough
The benefit of the hard shell is the footprint of your vehicle. When staying somewhere cheeky there are benefits to being compact rather than taking two spaces
100%. It’s a trade off. For me, having previously had the cargo, i personally prefer the extra room inside the tent over the footprint, but everyone’s needs are individual and this works better for us based on how we travel. There’s definitely no ‘one tent fits all’ for sure.
Do you have a roof tent yourself pal?
@@ChocChipTravels yeah. Have a Ventura over the bed of a hilux. The fold out v fold up makes a few spots more difficult.
Just ordered one and also the awning can’t wait for it to come
Ah amazing, congrats. Which colour did you go for?
@@ChocChipTravels we went for the grey saw other colours but the grey was soo nice
@@diannecollins5600 Yeah I love our grey. Enjoy it!! 😊
Hi mate 👋 Love the video and im definitely leaning towards getting the Lite XL.
Would be really helpful if you could do an interior setup video explaining what you guys use to charge your phones, how you feed it to the hookup etc
Thank you. Yeah i can do that. I’m doing some filming next week so i’ll add that to the list.
Also, kudos on your username 👌🏻😊
I’ve got the xl and put it on my penman army trailer, ordered the living pod too, can’t wait, great video thanks
Ah fantastic. How do you find the trailer?
@@ChocChipTravels really good, I can leave it set up and still drive the truck around, bit more flexible when I’m on a site and when I go wild I’ll put it on the truck
@@seanodonoghue9005 yeah i like the idea of a trailer for that reason
Any pic's of it on the trailer? Thanks
@@bikercamper8714 I don’t have a trailer personally pal but there’s a lot of photos of them on trailers in the tentbox group on Facebook 👍🏻
This are brilliant. I have only one issue which is why the condensation protector under the mattress not included on the new 2.0 and on xl. To be honest i expected to come with the upgrade after so many complaints. Great video 👍
Thank you 🙏🏻 I’m not sure to be honest. I know it’s included on the new cargo and classic 2.0’s but i’ve had literally zero issues with condensation whereas on my old cargo it was dripping wet on the mornings. Nothing like that now with mine
Fantastic video, thank you for a great review!
Thank you 🙏🏻 Had it temped you?
Very informative, Thanks for the info!!
You’re very welcome. Thanks for watching 😊
What’s your thoughts? You thinking about buying one for yourself?
@@ChocChipTravels i just purchased the Tentbox Lite XL with the living pod attachment and used the code! I just got married and my husband and I decided go on honeymoon camping around Europe! 🚗 🏕️ can’t wait!
@@Titaeaa1 Oh amazing congratulations to you both (on the wedding and the tentbox)!! 🎉
Which destinations you thinking about for your trip?
@@ChocChipTravels we are starting from the UK (where we are based) and drive to the south of France, then northern Italy and then Germany! Should be fun! We are just waiting on our tentbox to arrive and then we are off!
@@Titaeaa1 Sounds amazing. Have fun 😊
Excellent video..one question - how does the tent effect fuel economy ?.Would it be practical to remove it after every trip or would that be to much of a hassle ?
Thank you and thanks for watching.
Yes, it does impact fuel economy in the same way a roof box would, but i’ll be honest i’ve never studied the numbers of it all. Our truck is our second vehicle and doesn’t get used as much when we’re not camping so i don’t drive it day to day to worry about the daily impact on fuel. I leave mine on all the time.
I know some people take them on and off after each trip and others don’t. The removing and putting it back on again isn’t really the issue. it’s quite quick once you get the knack of it and providing you’ve got someone to help you.
I guess it’s personal opinion as to whether it’s a hassle or not, but it’s quite easy to do and doesn’t take long.
The biggest problem many people have is where to store it once it’s off, but if you have somewhere to keep it then it’s not a problem
Great video. My lite XL is waiting for a spring unboxing - can't wait. Question, the ladder. Does it stay on & attached underneath rain cover or stored separately?? Thanks
Ah fantastic. Can’t wait for this miserable weather to pass to get out more myself.
I store the ladder under the cover and attached to the tent. The cover is designed to fit the ladder inside when stored, but there’s nothing wrong with taking it off if you’d prefer. Preference I guess 👍🏻
Great info cheers 👍
Great Video. Really informative, appreciate the work.
I am trying to decide whether the hard shell cargo + storage on top for bikes etc out weighs the size of the Lite.
Does the cargo stand up better to rain and are the bars a useful addition?
Thank you 🙏🏻 So yes i’ve had both tents and I did love my cargo. For me, the extra space has been a big plus (for us) but there were positives to the cargo, for example being able to attach an awning directly to the tent was a big positive over the Lite models. i personally didn’t use the cargo for storage on top with the bars but if you plan to use it for that it’s a big advantage and makes things a lot easier.
Rain wise it doesn’t make a difference really, they both hold up the same but for me, an advantage for the lite models is that the rain fly cover hangs over all the windows and doors, meaning you can leave the doors open while it rains and it will run off the rainfly but not into the tent. With the cargo, you’ve only got that on the rear door as there are no porches on the side.
I feel the XL feels bigger inside, not just in terms of dimensions but just space. It doesn’t feel as cramped, but again that’s a preference thing and the advantages of the cargo which you’ve mentioned may outweigh the extra space of the XL.
Will it just be the two of you sleeping in there?
Mate this is a class review. Helped me loads. Tent box looks like a decent company but I can’t get away from the ‘Thule Approach” in comparison before I make my mind up. It just looks mint. To be honest the whole market needs improving in my opinion. Got a few months to decide but only thing I think about these is that the materials look a bit basic. I would love to be proved wrong. I’m gonna be staying outdoors a lot in the coming winter for a few months and need proper gore tex tent and seals that last. There’s not much online anywhere that covers how good the actual body of the price you’re paying for is. If for example you bought a top end walking jacket. There would be a multitude of claims about the integrity of the materials. I want a roof tent that’s like an arcteryx or nanamica jacket but good value and light. But It seems that the main selling points are the looks and price.
Make me spend my money and give me something that’s proper top end. Else for three grand I can chuck it into a camper van and rent it out when I’m not using it.
@chocchiptravels Thanks for the video! Great insight into what will be coming soon - very excited! Spotted your iPad in the end b-roll... How did you mount it to the ceiling of the tent?
Thank you, much appreciated. It’s this ipad holder here. Just clamps to the internal bars 👍🏻
amzn.to/46BX9Un
Hi mate, great review and instantly subscribed. I was wondering whether you had a link or name for the products you use to mount your iPad to the tent? Thanks in advance!
Thank you. Appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙏🏻
I sure do. There’s some links in the description to the various products i use, but here’s the link to the ipad mount. Just be sure to order the exercise bike version 👍🏻
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BN1PKDGT/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_JT959443QEAVKCF3ZCFP?linkCode=ml1&tag=chocchiptrave-21
@@ChocChipTravels thanks for the quick reply. The two options seem to both be iPad holders it’s just one is for a mic stand and the other is for an exercise bike?
@@calwtsn Yeah i got the exercise bike one for the attachment grip. Which tent model do you have?
Thanks for the great review! Do you have any experiences with sleeping in it in hot weather, does it keep the heat out well?
Yes a couple of times recently it’s been hot. We tent to keep the two end doors open (with fly nets shut) for airflow during the day, but keep the skylights and sun facing side door closed to block the sunlight coming in. That helps. When it cools down later, just let it cool down and then shut your outer doors.
For those times when it’s hot overnight, you could always leave the side outdoors open to create some airflow, but we’ve also used a clip on usb fan and just attach it to the inner bars. Works a treat.
Also find leaving the outer rainfly cover on helps protect it from the tent and shelters the doors a little more
Hi Chris, when you say that you can't store beding inside while packed, can you keep the foam mattress in there? Just not sleeping bags etc.
Great review by the way.
Hey! Thank you. So yes you can keep the included tentbox mattress in there, but since I made the review video, i’ve bought a 2” thick mattress topper that stays in there full time too, so my feeling is that a thin duvet or something like the tentbox down blanket would be fine in there. Pillows would still struggle though
When people are talking about the awning.. is this the annex thing? Where can I see one set up and the annex??
Good question. So people often mix the “official” terminology up but you’ve got the awning and the living pod and they are two separate things.
The living pod attaches to the tent over the doorway and ladder and it’s like a room. The ladder is contained inside so the idea is if the weather was bad and you had a portable toilet, you wouldn’t need to go outside in the rain. I’ll be doing a review on this very soon but for now you can find the living pod on the Tentbox website under accessories.
The awning (or universal awning) is a roll out awning that mounts on the other side of your vehicle from the ladder. It rolls out and comes with legs and cross bars to keep it in place. There’s actually a review video on my channel of the universal awning so you can see how that works.
The living pod is better used if you’re a campsite for a few days kinda camper, whereas if you’re a single night and move along kind of camper then the universal awning might be better. The reason i say that is the living pod is a little more faffy to setup, so the awning would be better for one nighters.
In terms of seeing a living pod set up, i don’t know as it’s not as quick as setting up the tent, but you can find imagery on the tentbox website.
Does that help?
I’m buying a 2019 Navara and plan to buy this. Do you have this mounted over the front roof rail and the rear roof rail or both on the front? It’s’ hard to see on the video!
Hello. So just a heads up that you can’t attach the tent to both the front cab and the rear canopy at the same time. It’s because the front and rear move differently. You could either snap your roof bars, tent, vehicle or worse so definitely don’t attach to both.
I’ve got mine attached to the front cab using two roof bars. I also have a third bar on the rear canopy but it’s not attached to that rear bar, only resting on it.
To be honest, with the Lite models you don’t need the rear bar. I only use one because i had it but the two bars on the cab would be fine.
If you went for a classic or cargo you may benefit from a rear bar (as those tent models are longer) but the Lite’s are shorter and fit fine over the navara cab without too much overhang front and back.
Does that make sense?
Great review. I've got a Cargo that we love but thinking of switching to this for the extra space. What I like about the Cargo is the 'black out' that its design gives you. How light is this tent inside in the mornings? Also how does the mattress compare in thickness and comfort? Thanks.
Hello! Thanks for watching 👋🏻 So the tentbox is very dark in the morning if you go for the slate grey. The orange isn’t as dark so you’d notice this more. The green is apparently quite dark too but i can’t say from personal experience. With the slate grey, i’d say the lite is just as dark as the cargo in my opinion.
Mattress wise, which version of the cargo do you have? Is it the newer version with the vents above the side doors? Or the older version (without the vents)?
My cargo was the older version and the mattress is much better on the XL compared to my older cargo, but it might be similar to the newer cargo. I’m not sure on that.
Since making this video, i’ve actually purchased a topper for the mattress from Dunelm Mill and it’s changed the game. Much, much comfier and the topper folds up inside the tent too which is great
@@ChocChipTravels Thanks for the info. Not sure which cargo I have but a topper is a great idea.
@@jmerey This is the topper we’ve bought pal
www.dunelm.com/product/cooler-than-memory-foam-mattress-topper-1000182063
@@ChocChipTravels Hi, I'm finally getting round to buying the topper. How have you got on with the one you bought, would you recommend it and which size did you go for? Thanks
@@jmerey Yeah it’s great pal. Very comfortable. We bought the superking size for our XL
Is your Nissan Pathfinder CVT or Manual ?
I’ve got a navara pickup buddy, just to avoid any confusion 👍🏻 It’s a manual though
Hi what cross bars weight do you need for this tent
The tent itself weighs 62kgs, so anything that’s rated for higher than that. I use Cruz Aero bars if that helps
hi, did I see a fitted sheet on your mattress? if so would you share more info please??
No fitted sheet in the video i’m afraid but we have since started using a super king non fitted sheet which tucks all the way under the tentbox mattress 👍🏻
I can see my old set up at ullswater :)
What you rocking now?
I went from lite 1 with annex to the classic. I’m the silver merc. I was in front of you :)
@@Tentbox_wanderer Well a belated “nice to meet you” then 😊
Haha. Yeah you too. I saw you filming lol :)
Great video… oooo decisions… Cargo or XL Lite🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Ooo, it’s a tough one. Where you at with it at the moment?
@@ChocChipTravels trying to decide, like the quickness of the cargo, but like the size of the XL Lite..I’ve seen the cargo at a local demonstrator but not seen the the XL yet..
@@sidparkin2219 I think that’s pretty much the toss up… size vs speed. Depends what’s most important to you I guess 👍🏻
@@ChocChipTravels thanks for your reply… when I’ve decided I’ll let you know? Just one question , you mentioned condensation in the cargo? Was it bad ?
@@sidparkin2219 It wasn’t dripping wet but it was wet to touch, however mine was the older version of the cargo. The ventilation is much better on the new one that’s out now 👍🏻
Hi, I have a 2021 Nissan Navara bud rather than a hard top have a roller shutter. I see that you have installed your XL partially resting on a third bar at the rear off the hardtop. Is this essential or could I get away with just two bars on the main roof..? Trying to work out if this is make or break between the XL and 2.0. Thanks :)
Hey! In my opinion, the rear bar is not essential. I only really have it because of when I had my cargo, so I’m only using it because it’s there.
There will be a little bit more overhang on the XL (compared with the 2.0, but it will be fine.
Since I made this video, I’ve actually moved the tent forward a bit so it’s barely touching the rear bar now.
The main reason I needed the rear bar with the cargo was because the tent was so long and the amount of overhang meant it was creaking a little when moving around near the ends of the tent when inside, whereas with the lite models, the length is coming off the side of the vehicle so the weight is better distributed for the Navara.
Does that make sense?
Thanks so much for the response! It sounds like we should take the plunge and go for the XL then :D
@@rohanmay-smith9342 I don’t want to say “I would” but I will say “i did” haha. Don’t forget to use my new code (in the description) as well mate. Grab yourself a discount.
Any other questions just give me a shout 👍🏻
Whats the Max weight capacity for the XL?
Nevermind I got it. I should have finished the video.😅
@@jasonsellers7156 Haha no problem. Too excited is what you were 😊😊
Hey Chris, have you mounted the tent box Xl over the cab and the canopy roof bars or just over the cab. Have a ford ranger and just wondered as similar set up
Hello mate. So it’s mounted and attached to two bars on the cab, which is taking the main bulk of the weight and then just resting on a single bar on the canopy with minimal overhang… but not attached to the rear bar, just resting. You can’t attach to both the cab and the canopy at the same time.
I just added the single bar on the rear canopy mainly just to reduce movement, but it’s not essential. Having the extra bar just takes a little bit of the creaking out of it when you’re up there moving around, but it’s very solid without it and like I say, it’s not essential
Can’t see the discount code.
Hey 😊 It should be in the description but here’s the link to view my code:
chocolate-chip.co.uk/tb
Hi Chris discount code is not working
Yeah they just changed it yesterday so i’m in the process of updating everything. It’s now ‘ChocChipTravels’ 😊
This awning thing is dragging. Why can’t tentbox sort a solution?
I’m not sure that’s there’s a standard solution tbh. The poles are more rigid on the 2.0 and XL to provide a more secure fit for the rain fly cover. It’s because the poles are more rigid that there is this problem.
One way would be to raise the tent higher on the roof bars using some sort of risers, but again, i’m not sure how this could work.
Another solution would be if the awning could be further away from the tent (while still pointing up), but the awning brackets prevent this.
It’s not an oversight i don’t think. Just an unfortunate combination creating a problem
hi thanks for your reply. is there an awning fitting video around do you know?
@@marcburns8912 I don’t know. I was that stressed trying to fit mine that i didn’t film it 😂
@@ChocChipTravels thanks for reply. I get mine tomorrow, little sceptical about the awning though, prob leave it off until something gets sorted.
What if you use your car as a car and your tent as a tent?
What if you use your Car as a tent and your tent as a car
Out of interest, where'd you get your sleeping bag?
Go Outdoors mate. Link below for you 👍🏻
www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15983515/pod-the-beast-sleeping-pod-15983515
Far better roof tent brands on the market
So many adverts
Yeah, that’s UA-cam doing that unfortunately 😔
Just read the long list of 1 star reviews online about this tin-pot company before buying.. I wish I had before clicking the payment button. an absolute shambles of a company, the staff can't even use a phone or keyboard to reply back to your messages. When they do it's just excuse after excuse. It's that much of a tin-pot company they don't have a telephone number that works, only messaging service that they don't reply too.
Expect to wait over a week for delivery when they claim it's "in stock". In stock to them is on a boat somewhere from China.
It's a budget company with a budget product run on a shoe-string budget, with staff that just laugh at you when they have your money. I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy, in fact il be warning everyone I know and everyone I come across to Avoid Avoid AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE.!.
Sorry to hear you’ve had problems. All I can say is that my experience with them has always been great without any problems and I know others who have had a flawless experience too 👍🏻
Do you get any condensation on the xl ?
No, none at all so far. I’ll make an updated video next year once we’ve done some winter camping