Roof top campers

Nelly · Guru

Roof top campers

macka17 · Guru

From what I've read in 4wd mag's girl.
Go for the canvas not Synthetic ones. and also the ones with supporting ladder.
Some just lean.

DON'T go on price hey.

I also have a one man "tent." Which is NOT a tent.
It is made up of the plastic base "bucket" so keep ants\snakes\damp out.
reinforced surrounds, and Material is Midgie proof material.
NOT solid tent material.

I just take a 8x6tarp and few occies and pegs for weather inclement.

When fly's and Heat etc make you uncomfortable Inside anything in Tropics.
It's real nice believe me.

NOT in croc territory though. Unless on car roof bars\mesh on mattress.

Mate here has a Toyota (yukkk) ute dual with tent on top of canopy.
With slides under.
They hold a aluminium oblong angle frame with mesh insert and cross pieces.
Which slides forward over cab. With two drop down legs to bullbar.
Side window on tent converted to zipper to floor on that side.
He can use tent if wanting cover. And when stinking hot. Sticky etc.

The mesh tent is real nice. and out of reach of handbags.
Think I paid around $45\50 for it.

Got it here.

"MOZZIE DOME tm" Screen shelter. "DOME 11" (try google.)

Will just open and air on back deck.

kiwijims · Guru

G'day Nelly, my personal thoughts on roof-top campers are " Forget them"

We were staying in a caravan park up in Derby a few years back, when a middle aged couple came in and started to set up one of these Roof Top campers.

They started to set it up around mid afternoon, they were still at it after dark, walking around with a torch in one hand and poles in the other,

Finally finished, they sat down and they both looked completely shot, then to go to bed, they had to climb a ladder. !!!

To our surprise they were up at first light and packed everything up in half the time, then on their way.

I often wondered if that Roof top camper was on the market as soon as they returned home,

It's not my idea of having a holiday, would have been far easier getting a small camper trailer, up in a couple of minutes and finished .

That's only my thoughts, some people might like them ????

K.J.

macka17 · Guru

Cost and tow veh could come into it too KJ

$14\1600 comp to starting at $4.6k and going up.

My last trip was 600 dirt bike. Tarp and coupla pegs.

Right round Aust and 47yrs old.

Depends on persons involved.

-- Edited by macka17 on Wednesday 11th of January 2017 02:35:40 PM

-- Edited by macka17 on Wednesday 11th of January 2017 02:37:29 PM

Bushpie · Guru

Had one for 8 years on the top of trusty Toyota........loved it ....so easy to set up and pack up....made especially for the vehicle . It flipped up and over with a room on the off side for some respectable privacy. Had an optional extra with larger mattress size and slept like a log every nigth we used it.

Lasted well ...canvas ......kids have it now on top of a trailer ......
I reckon it would be ideal for the Canning Stockroute.

But have a couple of practice runs setting up ........dont just take off with knowing how to get things sorted.

Enjoy

Explorer · Guru

Nelly wrote:
Hello all - Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year and that you can get out there and do a lot of travelling. I maybe going on a trip on the Canning Stock Route with a few friends. Just wondering if any of you had any ideas about roof top campers. What to look for etc. Thank you in advance.

Nelly Hi,

Having travelled the CSR twice in a tent I think the RTT would be a great option. Most of the modern RTT are quick & easy to set up & a bit of practice at home & a weekend or two away should sort any shortfalls out. The very cheap synthetic material ones that don,t breathe have a problem with condensation, particularly a problem in cold weather (as it will be when You are on the CSR). An important feature would be the fall of the roof line, a steepish roof line will give good run off & water shouldn,t "pond".

Most are around 65kg plus the roof hardware to attach to would bring most vehicles to their roof load capacity, which needs to be considered when planning a trip like that. IMO a RTT or a free standing tent on the CSR is a far better option than a camper trailer.

If You do go enjoy Tis a great trip & well worth the effort ( If You like Desert/remote travel ).

Mike.

trouto · Senior Member

4WD Supacenter.com.au
They have good RTT and also big swags
Everything I have got from them is great
Quick delivery ( depending on were you live)
Well worth a visit to there web site
Enjoy the CSR it's a good trip with the right group
Enjoy

jab160 · Senior Member

had one for yrs......loved it, easy as to setup and packup. "shipshape" was ours.

Moonraker · Senior Member

We spent a week in a borrowed RTT a friend bought off ebay for $700 a few years back he has used it a lot. It was great, easy to put up and down no problems. The mattress could have been a bit thicker for a heavy weight like me though. It rained hard all one night but the tent stayed dry inside then dried out outside quickly in the morning so no hanging about waiting for it to dry enough to pack down.
The only thing I would prefered is one which has the tent coming down to the ground around the ladder especially good for getting dressed if others around or in a camp site, much easier standing up
If you can get up the ladder OK I would recommend them. Most 4x4 shops sell good quality but even the ebay one we used was good enough.
Have a great trip

-- Edited by Moonraker on Thursday 12th of January 2017 11:12:26 AM

Desert Dweller · Guru

We think that they're pretty good gadgets, from the many that we've seen.
Be careful climbing around up high though.
We heard a sickening thump next to us at Mt Elliot National Park QLD campground one day.
A bloke had fallen from up high & had to be taken to Townsville with suspected spinal injuries.
Camping has many adaptations, all of them enjoyable.
We have a caravan, an off-road camper trailer & tents for when we use our 17ft boat.

jab160 · Senior Member

mooney.......they all have a range of options avail, example......fully enclosed ground floor.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

1967, Mini with home built roof top tent, exploring around Alice on the way home to Adelaide from Darwin where we went for our honeymoon.
I would get another in a flash!

1967 Darwin 5 014.jpg

Cheers,

Peter

jab160 · Senior Member

Pete........thats gold,

RosieW · Guru

We just got a swag from them (HUGE double). Plan to upgrade to an RTT in the next 12 months. Right now we are getting the big canopy/dog box done, as well as a 30-second awning. That will free us up a bit, and when we have a bit more cashola, we'll get an RTT.

trouto wrote:
4WD Supacenter.com.au
They have good RTT and also big swags
Everything I have got from them is great
Quick delivery ( depending on were you live)
Well worth a visit to there web site
Enjoy the CSR it's a good trip with the right group
Enjoy