What a coincidence--mine too! But seriously, glad you're enjoying. More to come! I feel fortunate to be in a position right now where I can build exactly what I want from the ground up. I plan on keeping this vehicle for a long, long time, so I'm trying to do everything right the first time around to create my vision.
They do! Rather...they will! Last I spoke to them, they had a paint-match from the factory service planned starting sometime in early 2021. That timeline may be subject to change though.
Question: if you wanted to, would there be any way to mount that tent without the use of a roof rack so the tent can sit lower? Does the smart cap topper include crossbars so that you could do that? Good lucking JT btw.
Thanks! The RSI does not come with any crossbars, however I believe they do offer their own set on their site. I'm sure there are some other low profile crossbars that would work as well. If you can find the proper adapters to mount the feet in the tracks, and as long as you clear the roof vent, I see no reason why it couldn't be mounted lower.
Disadvantages to what? If you mean the Jeep, well...with gas prices as they are, it certainly doesn't excel at economy. But no one buys a Jeep for the economy! If you're talking about the rooftop setup, I really haven't found many. The cap adds incredible utility, the skycamp mini is a *perfect* fit for over the bed, and the frontrunner rack supports the load very well. It's like the setup is custom made for this Jeep with the way that it fits and functions. I can't really find a bad thing to say about it overall.
great description. why go with the ikamper? problem with the shooting location is the wind that blows across the mic. why did you go off the side of the bed instead of off the rear or over the truck?
Thanks Justin. Yeah, you're right. Sorry about that. I may be upgrading before too long, and getting a small external mic that should help with the wind noise. It seems GoPros are very susceptible to wind. As far as the mounting, iKamper only supports left or right side opening (when mounted in the intended orientation). From what I've seen, most people with these tents at or above roof level mount it facing forward (right side deployment) and people with it mounted below roof level, such as on a short bed rack, mount it facing backward (left side deployment), primarily for aerodynamic purposes. I suppose you *could* mount the tent sideways, but it'd be awkward while driving. Also, I'd eventually like a 270 degree awning, so a rear entry isn't a great option for me anyway. I went with this particular tent because its the perfect size for me (both stowed and deployed), weight (about 70 pounds less than my old one, I can solo mount this one barehanded fairly easily), and ease of set up/tear down. I had my old CVT soft shell tent for 3-4 years, and it still took me more than twice as long to deploy and stow as this one does, despite only having a month or so of experience with it.
Did you have to take apart the roof tracks to add the crossbars / platform. If so how do you get access to adding additional hardware for other components ?
I'm not sure I fully understand the question. Are you referring to the roof tracks on the SmartCap? If so, it was hassle free as the hardware simply slides right into the track. The feet of the Frontrunner rack mount to that, and then those feet bolt to the bottom of the Frontrunner rack. I have had no issues adding any components to the rack or the shell since installed. Does that answer your question? If not, let me know.
@@TerraOutdoors well I was about to mount the pioneer platform from rhino rack and the hardware for mounting on the smart cap had 3 bolts per leg on its instructions that also included the hardware. With the smart cap track there are only 4 nuts. I wanted to know how to get additional nuts innate smart cap track and if the sides of the track had to be opened
Correct! Those are the ones. Frontrunner recommended them, because I told them I wanted as flat of a front to rear platform as possible. The 60-70mm feet did the trick. Unadjusted, they are just barely below the front rack.
Appreciate it! I'm not nearly as concerned about the aesthetics honestly, but I do get what you're saying. I think these tents look killer on half racks. I wanted a rack that would match the height of the one that I'd be putting over the cab though (it appears in later videos on my channel), so that I could have a level, continuous platform, for large loads, kayaks, etc. It also leaves ample space beneath the rack in case I decide to mount something between the cap and the rack. With that in mind, after taking measurements and planning it out, the tall rack ended up being the most functional option!
@@TerraOutdoors maybe I was a little premature. I get et your concept though .. when I saw the later video of the completed rack it definitely solidified the look from the earlier video. Appreciate your posting and look forward to seeing more trips .. lol
If I had had crossbars, I could have. They were an option, but I knew I wanted to go the rack route. I wouldn't have been able to mount any of my lights, or use the rack for storage when the tent isn't mounted, which is the main reason I went with the rack over the crossbars.
Nope. It's interesting, but I really have no need--especially for the price. I already have a fully collapsible/compact kitchen setup, so that'd be a bit overkill for me. If it were $1,000 cheaper, I'd probably have considered it though...haha.
To be fair, I was referring to the overall "setup" in the title, not the specific "set up" of the tent haha. But thanks for that! I'm sure someone will appreciate it. I may actually add some times in the description myself in order to help people navigate.
Nice video. I'm also around 6''-4", how much extra room would you say you have while laying on the mattress? I've been looking at other hard shell tents, but they don't offer quite as much mattress length as the ikamper.
Thanks for checking it out! The iKamper does have a pretty unique design. I dig it, as it seems like the best of both worlds between a hard and soft tent. If I lay directly in line with the mattress, I'd say I have an extra 3 inches or so of usable head/foot room. Not a ton, but I still don't feel cramped at all. If I lay at even a slight angle, there is plenty of space on the diagonal. iKamper advertises about 82.5" (210cm) of sleep length. I haven't actually measured the mattress, but I'm *assuming* they're counting the entire length of the mattress, which isn't very realistic considering the head space tapers to a sort of wedge with the roof. Unless you have a tiny head, you're not going to be able to utilize that full length. Either way, I have plenty of room and find the tent to be very comfortable so far. I imagine it would be for up to two people under 6'5" - 6'6", and maybe a dog or small child.
Yeah, mine sounds like a different setup, but the mounting feet should be the same. To interface Frontrunner products with RSI rails, you'll need to contact Frontrunner. They have ones that are made especially for the width of the RSI rails. Last I checked, they still weren't on their site, but the part number is RRAC921. The feet are sold in pairs of 2, so I needed 2 sets for my installation. I recommend using the chat feature on their website. They're incredibly helpful. Alternatively, you could grind down the ones that you have to fit.
@@TerraOutdoors Yes, I asked the gentleman about that potential problem since I saw it on Cement Tacoma’s channel. He assured me it was specifically designed to fit the RSI but it didn’t. I’m going to call them tomorrow and see how we can resolve this. Grinding is an option but I want to avoid that. Thanks for your help!
Yup, roughly 92" to the high point of the tent. I say roughly because I measured from the ground looking up at the measuring tape. I've yet to climb up to get a precise measurement at eye level. No lift. Stock Rubicon suspension right now, on 35" Nitro Ridge Grapplers run at around 31 psi street pressure I purchased the tent straight through iKamper. Hope that helps. Happy New Year!
@@TerraOutdoors awesome. Yeah. I got the RLD topper. Same tent. I’m at 85.5” right now on stock 33”. Looking at a 2.5” lift and 37’s. Just so much belly rub and tow receiver scratching. Did north part of Switzerland trail today and got high centered in the little water hole. Love your videos and walk through. That RSI cap is so much cleaner than the RLD. I’m In boulder. Love to go wheeling this summer!
@@aarongerman7857 I'm in Denver right now on vacation, but I'm heading back home tomorrow morning. I try to get out to CO whenever I can! I turned the drive out here in to a 3 day trip through backcountry Arkansas on the Trans-America Trail and had a blast. I'm hoping to have my trip video up within the next couple of weeks. I will eventually be going with a 2.5" lift, but I'm undecided on whether or not I need to step up to 37s. The 35s seem to be more than adequate for how I use my rig. 37s would definitely give it that extra edge, but I'd also lose some economy, road manners, and would have to regear. Unless I really find 35s as a limiting factor on a future trip, I likely won't even consider moving to 37s until I wear out the 35s.
@@TerraOutdoors awesome. Looking forward to the video of that trail. Yeah. All the rocks out here. And did some Moab. 37’s seemingly necessary. But yeah. Have to re-gear get new drive shafts. New chromoly axle shafts min. Those big ass wheels and tires just create all the issues. Cool man. Looking to see the setup with the drawers and the solar panels.!
The thickness of the tent itself is 12.94" closed, per the manufacturer. On my rig, from the ground to the top of the closed tent, I measured it at about 92" - 93". I call it an even 8 feet tall for clearance purposes.
The money you have invested. 😬😲🤑. Rig looks great. You have a great voice. If this doesn’t work out cult leader? How much was some of this stuff. Great info keep it up👍
Haha. I've been told that I have a voice for radio before, but I have to say I've never heard cult leader. I do plan on keeping this vehicle until the wheels fall off, so I want it dialed in. I have spent a fair bit, but I wait for steep sales on 90% of the things that I buy. I also do all of my own work, so I save on labor costs. This is also pretty much my only costly hobby, so that frees up some "expendable" income. A lot of the accessories have been carried over from previous vehicles over the past 4 years or so too, so that helps. Thanks for the kind words. More updates to come!
I wasn't actually camped here. This is just a quiet place that I like to go to take pictures and video. It's just a small dirt access road between farmer's fields. Honestly it wouldn't make a bad spot though for a quick overnight getaway!
This shell isn't equipped for that. No shell on the market is, to my knowledge. Outside of something fully custom (with something similar already built in), you need some type of rack or crossbar to support the tent. That aside, I knew I wanted a platform the length of the vehicle (my over the cab rack wasn't installed at the time of this video but I knew it was coming--see newest build video for update) for long loads (kayaks, 2x4s, etc). Also, I mount my awning to the rear of the rack. Lastly, the rack is the mounting point for numerous lights and helps hide/route my rooftop wiring. My rooftop setup was a work in progress at this point, but I knew exactly where I was taking it when I installed this. I wouldn't own a vehicle without some type of rack. Especially a truck with a topper or shell. They're insanely useful.
![SilentFamily with Friends: Perfect Summer Night - Camping with Their Dog [Relaxing, ASMR, iKamper]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/H3-WgbebuX4/mqdefault.jpg)
It's another "Goodin". I'm enjoying watching the build as it comes along. "Keep on Jeepin"...
I'm putting the front roof rack on as I type this (well, technically I'm taking a break), so look forward to another build update soon!
Best looking overland set up I have seen yet.....
Thanks! I've still got a bit more to do, but the majority of the boxes are checked off!
Nice setup!!! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the build!!!
Thanks! You and me both!
Want to see you take it on the trails
I'm right there with you.
I have a week long trip planned over Christmas, so I'll definitely have some footage after the holidays.
I appreciate your,
"no bullshit" presentation.
Haha, glad you enjoyed it! I think the video was long enough as-is without bullshitting.
Wow looks really sweet build so far. Cannot wait to see more.
Thanks! Definitely more to come.
Looking at your set up it’s exactly how I’d like it. Nice!
Sounds like you have good tastes!
But seriously, the setup has been working out great. I highly recommend it!
Awesome build! Exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks! It's a work in progress but I think it's really come along!
My dream setup 😍
What a coincidence--mine too! But seriously, glad you're enjoying. More to come!
I feel fortunate to be in a position right now where I can build exactly what I want from the ground up. I plan on keeping this vehicle for a long, long time, so I'm trying to do everything right the first time around to create my vision.
Merry Christmas.
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!
Awesome jeep gladiator
Appreciate it!
Definitely like the RSI cap. Provides max, secure gear storage and easy access via side windows. Wonder if RSI color matches 🤔
They do! Rather...they will! Last I spoke to them, they had a paint-match from the factory service planned starting sometime in early 2021. That timeline may be subject to change though.
Another good review. Lookin good!
Thanks Ed!
Question: if you wanted to, would there be any way to mount that tent without the use of a roof rack so the tent can sit lower? Does the smart cap topper include crossbars so that you could do that? Good lucking JT btw.
Thanks!
The RSI does not come with any crossbars, however I believe they do offer their own set on their site. I'm sure there are some other low profile crossbars that would work as well. If you can find the proper adapters to mount the feet in the tracks, and as long as you clear the roof vent, I see no reason why it couldn't be mounted lower.
This is a lovely jeep! Love the colour. Are the any disadvantages to it?
Disadvantages to what? If you mean the Jeep, well...with gas prices as they are, it certainly doesn't excel at economy. But no one buys a Jeep for the economy!
If you're talking about the rooftop setup, I really haven't found many. The cap adds incredible utility, the skycamp mini is a *perfect* fit for over the bed, and the frontrunner rack supports the load very well. It's like the setup is custom made for this Jeep with the way that it fits and functions. I can't really find a bad thing to say about it overall.
great description. why go with the ikamper? problem with the shooting location is the wind that blows across the mic. why did you go off the side of the bed instead of off the rear or over the truck?
Thanks Justin.
Yeah, you're right. Sorry about that. I may be upgrading before too long, and getting a small external mic that should help with the wind noise. It seems GoPros are very susceptible to wind.
As far as the mounting, iKamper only supports left or right side opening (when mounted in the intended orientation). From what I've seen, most people with these tents at or above roof level mount it facing forward (right side deployment) and people with it mounted below roof level, such as on a short bed rack, mount it facing backward (left side deployment), primarily for aerodynamic purposes. I suppose you *could* mount the tent sideways, but it'd be awkward while driving. Also, I'd eventually like a 270 degree awning, so a rear entry isn't a great option for me anyway.
I went with this particular tent because its the perfect size for me (both stowed and deployed), weight (about 70 pounds less than my old one, I can solo mount this one barehanded fairly easily), and ease of set up/tear down. I had my old CVT soft shell tent for 3-4 years, and it still took me more than twice as long to deploy and stow as this one does, despite only having a month or so of experience with it.
Did you have to take apart the roof tracks to add the crossbars / platform. If so how do you get access to adding additional hardware for other components ?
I'm not sure I fully understand the question. Are you referring to the roof tracks on the SmartCap? If so, it was hassle free as the hardware simply slides right into the track. The feet of the Frontrunner rack mount to that, and then those feet bolt to the bottom of the Frontrunner rack. I have had no issues adding any components to the rack or the shell since installed.
Does that answer your question? If not, let me know.
@@TerraOutdoors well I was about to mount the pioneer platform from rhino rack and the hardware for mounting on the smart cap had 3 bolts per leg on its instructions that also included the hardware. With the smart cap track there are only 4 nuts. I wanted to know how to get additional nuts innate smart cap track and if the sides of the track had to be opened
Hi there! You said you used the high legs/feet for the front runner roof racks. Are they the 60-70mm feet?
Correct! Those are the ones. Frontrunner recommended them, because I told them I wanted as flat of a front to rear platform as possible. The 60-70mm feet did the trick. Unadjusted, they are just barely below the front rack.
Rig looking great .. i really like the cap … I think the tent would look a little better on a lower rack .. my 2 cents !
Appreciate it!
I'm not nearly as concerned about the aesthetics honestly, but I do get what you're saying. I think these tents look killer on half racks. I wanted a rack that would match the height of the one that I'd be putting over the cab though (it appears in later videos on my channel), so that I could have a level, continuous platform, for large loads, kayaks, etc. It also leaves ample space beneath the rack in case I decide to mount something between the cap and the rack. With that in mind, after taking measurements and planning it out, the tall rack ended up being the most functional option!
@@TerraOutdoors maybe I was a little premature. I get et your concept though .. when I saw the later video of the completed rack it definitely solidified the look from the earlier video. Appreciate your posting and look forward to seeing more trips .. lol
Does your gullwing door open without hitting when the tent is open? Seems like it would!
It does (did). No issues! I actually have a new tent and awning setup now, and there are no issues with that one either.
Could you have mounted the tent directly to the cross bars?
If I had had crossbars, I could have. They were an option, but I knew I wanted to go the rack route. I wouldn't have been able to mount any of my lights, or use the rack for storage when the tent isn't mounted, which is the main reason I went with the rack over the crossbars.
Are you going to get the kitchen attachment for the rsi
Nope. It's interesting, but I really have no need--especially for the price. I already have a fully collapsible/compact kitchen setup, so that'd be a bit overkill for me. If it were $1,000 cheaper, I'd probably have considered it though...haha.
@3:43
To be fair, I was referring to the overall "setup" in the title, not the specific "set up" of the tent haha. But thanks for that! I'm sure someone will appreciate it. I may actually add some times in the description myself in order to help people navigate.
Nice video. I'm also around 6''-4", how much extra room would you say you have while laying on the mattress? I've been looking at other hard shell tents, but they don't offer quite as much mattress length as the ikamper.
Thanks for checking it out!
The iKamper does have a pretty unique design. I dig it, as it seems like the best of both worlds between a hard and soft tent. If I lay directly in line with the mattress, I'd say I have an extra 3 inches or so of usable head/foot room. Not a ton, but I still don't feel cramped at all. If I lay at even a slight angle, there is plenty of space on the diagonal. iKamper advertises about 82.5" (210cm) of sleep length. I haven't actually measured the mattress, but I'm *assuming* they're counting the entire length of the mattress, which isn't very realistic considering the head space tapers to a sort of wedge with the roof. Unless you have a tiny head, you're not going to be able to utilize that full length.
Either way, I have plenty of room and find the tent to be very comfortable so far. I imagine it would be for up to two people under 6'5" - 6'6", and maybe a dog or small child.
@@TerraOutdoors excellent, thanks for the detailed response. Sub'd and looking forward to the rest of the build. Good luck with it.
Roofnest Falcon XL - They are the only ones to make a long version for us tall people
What’s the size of the frontrunner rack did you use for the smartcap?
I went with the 1425mm(W) X 1358mm(L) rack, with the 60mm-70mm (tall) foot kit.
I bought the Frontrunner slim 2 but the Steel bar with the studs didn’t slid into the RSI rails. Did you have any problem with that?
Never mind I just realized you have a different set up.
Yeah, mine sounds like a different setup, but the mounting feet should be the same. To interface Frontrunner products with RSI rails, you'll need to contact Frontrunner. They have ones that are made especially for the width of the RSI rails. Last I checked, they still weren't on their site, but the part number is RRAC921. The feet are sold in pairs of 2, so I needed 2 sets for my installation. I recommend using the chat feature on their website. They're incredibly helpful.
Alternatively, you could grind down the ones that you have to fit.
@@TerraOutdoors Yes, I asked the gentleman about that potential problem since I saw it on Cement Tacoma’s channel. He assured me it was specifically designed to fit the RSI but it didn’t. I’m going to call them tomorrow and see how we can resolve this. Grinding is an option but I want to avoid that. Thanks for your help!
92" you have a lift? 37" tires? where did you get the tent from? Altitude Industries? thanks!
Yup, roughly 92" to the high point of the tent. I say roughly because I measured from the ground looking up at the measuring tape. I've yet to climb up to get a precise measurement at eye level.
No lift. Stock Rubicon suspension right now, on 35" Nitro Ridge Grapplers run at around 31 psi street pressure
I purchased the tent straight through iKamper.
Hope that helps. Happy New Year!
@@TerraOutdoors awesome. Yeah. I got the RLD topper. Same tent. I’m at 85.5” right now on stock 33”. Looking at a 2.5” lift and 37’s. Just so much belly rub and tow receiver scratching. Did north part of Switzerland trail today and got high centered in the little water hole. Love your videos and walk through. That RSI cap is so much cleaner than the RLD. I’m In boulder. Love to go wheeling this summer!
@@aarongerman7857 I'm in Denver right now on vacation, but I'm heading back home tomorrow morning. I try to get out to CO whenever I can! I turned the drive out here in to a 3 day trip through backcountry Arkansas on the Trans-America Trail and had a blast. I'm hoping to have my trip video up within the next couple of weeks.
I will eventually be going with a 2.5" lift, but I'm undecided on whether or not I need to step up to 37s. The 35s seem to be more than adequate for how I use my rig. 37s would definitely give it that extra edge, but I'd also lose some economy, road manners, and would have to regear.
Unless I really find 35s as a limiting factor on a future trip, I likely won't even consider moving to 37s until I wear out the 35s.
@@TerraOutdoors awesome. Looking forward to the video of that trail. Yeah. All the rocks out here. And did some Moab. 37’s seemingly necessary. But yeah. Have to re-gear get new drive shafts. New chromoly axle shafts min. Those big ass wheels and tires just create all the issues. Cool man. Looking to see the setup with the drawers and the solar panels.!
How tall is it to the top of the tent closed up? Thanks
The thickness of the tent itself is 12.94" closed, per the manufacturer.
On my rig, from the ground to the top of the closed tent, I measured it at about 92" - 93". I call it an even 8 feet tall for clearance purposes.
✌️✌️✌️✌️
Haha back at you man! ✌
The money you have invested. 😬😲🤑. Rig looks great. You have a great voice. If this doesn’t work out cult leader? How much was some of this stuff. Great info keep it up👍
Haha. I've been told that I have a voice for radio before, but I have to say I've never heard cult leader.
I do plan on keeping this vehicle until the wheels fall off, so I want it dialed in. I have spent a fair bit, but I wait for steep sales on 90% of the things that I buy. I also do all of my own work, so I save on labor costs. This is also pretty much my only costly hobby, so that frees up some "expendable" income. A lot of the accessories have been carried over from previous vehicles over the past 4 years or so too, so that helps.
Thanks for the kind words. More updates to come!
are you camping on a farm?
I wasn't actually camped here. This is just a quiet place that I like to go to take pictures and video. It's just a small dirt access road between farmer's fields. Honestly it wouldn't make a bad spot though for a quick overnight getaway!
Why did you spend the money on the rack, then toss the tent up there. Just skip the rack!!!
This shell isn't equipped for that. No shell on the market is, to my knowledge. Outside of something fully custom (with something similar already built in), you need some type of rack or crossbar to support the tent.
That aside, I knew I wanted a platform the length of the vehicle (my over the cab rack wasn't installed at the time of this video but I knew it was coming--see newest build video for update) for long loads (kayaks, 2x4s, etc). Also, I mount my awning to the rear of the rack. Lastly, the rack is the mounting point for numerous lights and helps hide/route my rooftop wiring. My rooftop setup was a work in progress at this point, but I knew exactly where I was taking it when I installed this.
I wouldn't own a vehicle without some type of rack. Especially a truck with a topper or shell. They're insanely useful.
Low profile crossbars to keep the height and price down!
You have Instagram?
I do! @ElevateExpeditions.