Well, once the operation on my back was done, I was out of hospital in 12 days. A week later, I was riding my treadly around. 5 days later, I packed up my mighty Mazda and bolted for Queensland. 4,670 in six and a half days. Had a lovely lady to catch up with. The surgeon, Stephen Ellis, told me to rest up for 3 months. I smiled, and told him, "Stuff that, mate".
Anyway, I want to buy one of those roof top tents. I'm not too flush with a quid, especially after all the hospital bills.
So, if you have one in reasonably good nick, and you live not far from the lovely little town of DAYBRO, please let me know.
You can go through the usual "channels" or ring me on 0408099478
They don't appear second-hand very often and you'll probably be looking at $500 or more for those that do.
I bought mine from e-bay about four years ago for $750. It is Chinese made but of good quality and robust. It has withstood very high winds and heavy rain on many occasions, I have spent, perhaps, 100 or more nights in it.
But with Chinese products one never knows which factory it came from.
Darche make a quality Australian one but it's around $1700.
ARB and the like sell RTTs for significant cost but I understand they are similar/identical to my Chinese $750 one.
They are easy to erect but harder to take down. A small set of steps is well worthwhile for the take-down. *NEVER EVER* force the zips; if they won't close then you have done something wrong.
They are not much fun when you need a pee at 3am.
Be very, very careful when coming down the ladder half asleep at 3am, if you slip the result will be very bad.
On mine, water pools on the canvas above the ladder - I'm told it doesn't on the Darche. It's not a big issue.
You cannot leave bedding in them unless it's thin, you won't be able to leave pillows.
Don't buy the tent thing they sell for the ladder area - much more trouble than it's worth. Using a piece of 6mm dowel wrap a tarp around it and slide it into the channel the tent thing would have used then either peg it directly to the ground or run it horizontal with a couple of tent poles to make a tarp shelter.
The supplied foam mattress soon compacts - an eggshell thingie from Target/BigW etc helps.
They weigh about 50kg so ensure both your roof rack and vehicle can carry this weight when driving - shock loads.
When static with you inside it will be carrying about 140kg (your weight will vary to mine) - again ensure both rack and roof are up to this. Also keep in mind that as you crawl about in the tent it is quite common to have all your 90kg weight via your knees over just one of the four roof rack supports - that single support may not like that. I would be reluctant to put two people in a RTT especially if they were *really* good friends :)
You do notice an extra 50kg load well above the centre of gravity especially when serious 4WDing. Also overhanging tree branches can cause expensive damage.
Packing up wet is a pain in the bottom. Before you need to so do visit Bunnings and buy a plastic sheet used to cover floors when painting walls/ceilings, about $3. Keep this in the RTT and if you have to pack up wet spread it over all bedding mattress area before collapsing the tent. Re-erect the tent ASAP to dry it.
Once the tent is up the vehicle is unusable so better hope there is enough firewood locally.
RTTs have good and bad points but, mainly, I prefer mine to a ground tent.
brickies said
04:04 PM Jul 16, 2017
Good chance you will soon be visiting Stephen Ellis again soon , A bad back going against doctors orders and wanting to climb up and down a roof top camper .
pipes said
04:12 PM Jul 16, 2017
Thanks for the info.
No, I won't be back to the surgeon.
Pipes.
Starters on them are fair prices. OR buy a 7x5 trailer, and fit one of the Tents yourself.
Buy second hand?.
Flog the Mazda and buy a zip door camper.
Believe me. No Matter HOW confident you are.
IF you don't look after your back for a good while AFTER surgery.
You'll F--k it up and take yrs to fix. Or not at all.
I'm 75. Seen a few successful repairs, and some like you. Still struggling after yrs.
GIVE it time. or you will be sorry.
I'm an EX runner. now.
Raced those 6 man OUTRIGGER canoes till 68 yrs old.
Then started tearing shoulder and stomach ligaments.
It DOES catch up. and I was covered in muscles believe me.
after not looking after my Flat.. feet, the last 20 yrs. I'm in process of wearing these foot stabilisers. FOR THE REST ON MY LIFE.
She's right. I'm tough. Never happen to me. YEA.....
Be sensible mate. It DOES..
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 16th of July 2017 07:44:17 PM
Eaglemax said
12:44 AM Jul 18, 2017
32 years ago I purchased a 7x5 garden trailer with above frame and canvas top. Put a false floor in it with mattress on top of floor. Under floor had pull out draw for awning and poles. Ordered it with zip roll up windows. Water tank under. Worked great.
G'day!
Well, once the operation on my back was done, I was out of hospital in 12 days. A week later, I was riding my treadly around. 5 days later, I packed up my mighty Mazda and bolted for Queensland. 4,670 in six and a half days. Had a lovely lady to catch up with. The surgeon, Stephen Ellis, told me to rest up for 3 months. I smiled, and told him, "Stuff that, mate".
Anyway, I want to buy one of those roof top tents. I'm not too flush with a quid, especially after all the hospital bills.
So, if you have one in reasonably good nick, and you live not far from the lovely little town of DAYBRO, please let me know.
You can go through the usual "channels" or ring me on 0408099478
Regards.
Pipes.
Dave
They don't appear second-hand very often and you'll probably be
looking at $500 or more for those that do.
I bought mine from e-bay about four years ago for $750. It is Chinese
made but of good quality and robust. It has withstood very high winds
and heavy rain on many occasions, I have spent, perhaps, 100 or more
nights in it.
This one, at $600, looks identical to mine:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BRAND-NEW-ROOF-TOP-TENT-3-1M-X-1-4M-RIPSTOP-CANVAS-INCLUDING-ANNEX-/263082576221?hash=item3d40f1895d:g:PpkAAOSwd3dZZE4Z
But with Chinese products one never knows which factory it came from.
Darche make a quality Australian one but it's around $1700.
ARB and the like sell RTTs for significant cost but I understand they
are similar/identical to my Chinese $750 one.
They are easy to erect but harder to take down. A small set of steps
is well worthwhile for the take-down. *NEVER EVER* force the zips; if
they won't close then you have done something wrong.
They are not much fun when you need a pee at 3am.
Be very, very careful when coming down the ladder half asleep at 3am,
if you slip the result will be very bad.
On mine, water pools on the canvas above the ladder - I'm told it
doesn't on the Darche. It's not a big issue.
You cannot leave bedding in them unless it's thin, you won't be able
to leave pillows.
Don't buy the tent thing they sell for the ladder area - much more
trouble than it's worth. Using a piece of 6mm dowel wrap a tarp
around it and slide it into the channel the tent thing would have
used then either peg it directly to the ground or run it horizontal
with a couple of tent poles to make a tarp shelter.
The supplied foam mattress soon compacts - an eggshell thingie from
Target/BigW etc helps.
They weigh about 50kg so ensure both your roof rack and vehicle can
carry this weight when driving - shock loads.
When static with you inside it will be carrying about 140kg (your
weight will vary to mine) - again ensure both rack and roof are up to
this. Also keep in mind that as you crawl about in the tent it is
quite common to have all your 90kg weight via your knees over just
one of the four roof rack supports - that single support may not like
that. I would be reluctant to put two people in a RTT especially if
they were *really* good friends :)
You do notice an extra 50kg load well above the centre of gravity
especially when serious 4WDing. Also overhanging tree branches can
cause expensive damage.
Packing up wet is a pain in the bottom. Before you need to so do
visit Bunnings and buy a plastic sheet used to cover floors when
painting walls/ceilings, about $3. Keep this in the RTT and if you
have to pack up wet spread it over all bedding mattress area before
collapsing the tent. Re-erect the tent ASAP to dry it.
Once the tent is up the vehicle is unusable so better hope there is
enough firewood locally.
RTTs have good and bad points but, mainly, I prefer mine to a ground
tent.
No, I won't be back to the surgeon.
Pipes.
You could also look at these guys:
https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/products/rooftop-tents.html
Think I'd be looking at a basic Camper trlr.
Starters on them are fair prices. OR buy a 7x5 trailer,
and fit one of the Tents yourself.
Buy second hand?.
Flog the Mazda and buy a zip door camper.
Believe me.
No Matter HOW confident you are.
IF you don't look after your back for a good while AFTER surgery.
You'll F--k it up and take yrs to fix. Or not at all.
I'm 75. Seen a few successful repairs, and some like you.
Still struggling after yrs.
GIVE it time. or you will be sorry.
I'm an EX runner. now.
Raced those 6 man OUTRIGGER canoes till 68 yrs old.
Then started tearing shoulder and stomach ligaments.
It DOES catch up. and I was covered in muscles believe me.
after not looking after my Flat.. feet, the last 20 yrs.
I'm in process of wearing these foot stabilisers.
FOR THE REST ON MY LIFE.
She's right. I'm tough. Never happen to me.
YEA.....
Be sensible mate. It DOES..
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 16th of July 2017 07:44:17 PM