[Closed] Any roof tent users?

I like a gadget as much as the next man, and I do quite like the look of those roof tents, but I dont know why.
If your putting a tent up its got to be easier on the ground, they are really expensive and if you get up for a midnight pee you have to negotiate a ladder. If you want to stay clear of the lions and tigers and bears then fine but we dont have many of those.

Would a pop roof not be similar cost, particularly if you're doing a bit of an interior work?

Cheapest is an awning.

I'd consider one if space is at a premium inside the van - it's very different to camping on the ground.

Much simpler too. Park up, flip a couple of latches, push up and your tent is ready to go. Attach the ladder, job done.

Off the ground, bedding etc all left in there.

Would a pop roof not be similar cost, particularly if you’re doing a bit of an interior work?

Cheapest is an awning.

If your putting a tent up its got to be easier on the ground,

I think it’s a great idea; a pop top roof for a transit is generally lot more expensive than for a VW transporter, and your options are quite limited (I had one fitted to my Custom L1H1 last year and couldn’t find one anywhere near as cheap as for a transporter).

With regards awnings and pop up tents. They’re ok when you’re on a site but whilst travelling on the continent (particularly France) you wouldn’t be able to make use of the many Aire Service et Staionnement camping car. They’re often too small and on tarmac or gravel. A roof tent would work perfectly and is at least £1k cheaper than one of the cheapest pop top roof.

In retrospect, I think I would have been better off just fitting roof bars and a tent to my T5 than going with the pop top option.

A good roof tent is about 4k. The pop top was about 5, I think.

Not so much because of cost, but time. Also the fact you can place the roof tent on your next motor.

Never used one, mind.

Always consider the rocky and stony ground when camping. Having your own smooth surface to put a mat on is top marks. Plus it allows camping practicably anywhere, as you need considerably less room.

Go roof top and Defender 110. And true, it does stop you from being eaten.

I had one of the rigid shell ones on a 4x4 for a couple of years. It was great. I bolted an awning to the side and had a tent style awning on the back of the car. Worked well.

Also depends how long/what time of year you'll be spending in it, and if you prefer to be completely closed in away from the outside with it's noises etc.

What's the rules in Scotland when it comes to parking up a motorhome/car or van with a roof tent? Can you find a quiet parking spot on a side road somewhere and park up for the night?

The rigid top ones look quite good. Much like have a pop top in terms of sleeping but without the advantage of being able to stand up in the van. But you can keep the tent and move it to the next can, take it off when just using the van as a day van around home. Leave the bed made maybe?

Not exactly stealth for sleeping but neither is pop top.

Bigger van would win overall and possibly to be wreath with but less good so if it's a car replacement at home. Depends on your compromise. No personal experience just some musing on the subject.

https://www.tent-box.com/product/tentbox-classic/

£2k for a hard shell model, surely that's got to be cheaper than a pop roof conversion?

The van could then be fitted with kitchen, storage, proper seating area, and mtb storage of course.

I'd then get an awning, roll out one for the side of the van would be perfect for some extra seating/workshop area in rain.

I'm starting to convince myself here...

Weirdly popped into my head watching a YouTube last week ... I mainly want a Van as a van and a place to lock bikes overnight so wasting space on bedding and a permanent kitchen etc. isn't appealing.

Loving this. Tent box light is only £995 & has more sleeping space. However is a bigger footprint as folds out over the side of the car. Plus I'd worry about some comedian nicking the ladder in the middle of the night. Particularly as it looks like it may play a structural role..

Just remembered this video:

Love the cheap option 😀

The ones which fold out over the side might be a bit limiting if you have to park in a small space, plus no hard shell.

Also worth watching, syd & macky - 2 pro enduro racers who live in a van with a roof tent. It's the US so a different climate, but they also have 2 dirt bikes in the back of their van!!

https://youtu.be/8bboT9hGmBU

Windy night in a roof tent.

No thanks.

A pop up tent gives a much more versatile option.

My nephew picked one up off Fb market place. It looks great. Was thinking it would be ideal on the top of the pickup for a bit of a Highlands Tour next year. Awning on the side couple of simple drawers in the back of the pickup with the cooker.

Windy night in a roof tent.

I was wondering what it's like being 2 metres high in a roof tent but then it's not much different to a pop top.

Personally if it was me I'd buy a bigger, newer van like @trail_rat has. Fixed beds, fixed garage, head room, reliability. Especially if your handy enough to do some of the work yourself. And if you don't like it, you can sell it and make some money at the moment.

its not reallly easier than a tent though is it.

You need to find a flat level bit that you can actually get your van to?

How often are you in a situation where the only place to camp is tarmac in the UK, really? Milton Keynes for a weekend mibbe?.

Expensive, wind exposed, daft looking things.

I had a Howling Moon roof tent, extension room and awning on my 110 Defender when we used to do a bit of travelling. It got on my wick as it took a bit of faff unzipping the cover, pulling it open, adding the ladder extension, popping the 6 window metal arm things in place. The extension room was equally faff.

Well made bit of kit but prices have gone mental on them - I sold ours for not much less than I paid for it.

I have a LWB hi top van with an Ebersacher nowadays, pull over and jump in the back. Far better. RTT are for warm calm balmy nights in rocky/sandy African plains, not wet windy UK. Plus you get camping anoraks coming over talking to you when you have a RTT

I have a hard shell roof tent mounted on a SWB Tourneo Custom. It’s not the ideal solution as a camper, day van, people carrier or carrying loads, but by adding or removing the RTT, different rows of seats and the internal bed platform I’ve made, it can be made to do all of the above. I bought mine from here about 4 years ago and it’s still in great nick and gets plenty of use: Adventurehire

A pop-top would be better for convenience and access from inside the van, but they cost a load more. An LWB hightop transit would be a better stealth camper, (and probably the best option for the OP) but ours is also a family vehicle, so height barriers, fuel efficiency, etc aren’t issues if I take the RTT off. If I go for a trip on my own, it’s great to sleep up top and have bikes/boards/camping gear inside the van.

With the RTT on and a bed platform inside, which works with the rear seats, we’ve done a couple of 3-week continental road trips as a family of four, along with bikes, body boards, camping gear, etc. It’s quicker to put up or take down than the inflatable Decathlon awning we have to go alongside it. It also deals with the wet/wind fine, as it has zip-off storm sides/flysheet. We were in Pembrokeshire last weekend and it was a lot quieter in the wind and rain than in the awning! (Not as good as sleeping inside the van though...)

The only downsides we’ve had are- 1) it’s heavy to lift on, needs 2 at least to lift on. 2) if it’s windy, we have to tie the straps up, as they flap on the hard shell and make noise all night. (Takes 3 minutes with a bungee cord) 3) I seem to spend a lot of time walking round in the roof of the van when opening or closing it- some strategically placed strips of chequerplate and/or helitape are a good idea.

The one thing that can’t be avoided is climbing down the ladder to pee in the night. Drink whisky instead of beer...