Roof top tents

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

I am thinking of building a new camper with a twist. I already have a Wandering star Bushmaster that I have had for many years and plan to keep but I am planning a trip to Broome from Perth at Xmas time and plan to take 3 motorbikes with me. The idea is to build a 3 bike trailer and then fit a roof top tent on a frame over the bikes. I am chasing opinions of the various types around particularly the ones on ebay. I want to keep the weight down but am still planning to fit a fridge and some sort of kitchen on the draw bar. Has anyone used these and especially ones to avoid.

Thanks
Wayne

[speedcomm Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close speedcomm]

Re: Roof top tents

Check out www.myswag.org there is a fair bit of info on there.

[Snowy FNQ Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowy FNQ]

Re: Roof top tents

Sparksy,

probably a bit late but I picked up this from E-bay with a weather skirt shipped to FNQ for $979.00.
It's identical to the one on display at a local 4x4 shop, tent is made in South Africa. I have yet to test it out, but we are about to use it on a three week trip. As much as I like to support the local shops, I also like to save some cash and a $700 difference in price for the same thing is just riduculous. They could not hold their quote on tyres either when I went to purchase some the other day, maybe they are trying to price themselves out of the market...... :roll:

Cheers

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

Re: Roof top tents

Looks the goods.
How stable is the section that folds out to the ladder. I was just thinking that maybe with only the weight of a trailer it might "tip"over. Looks good quality Ive seen some that are about 1300mm wide is that enough room for two?

Thanks Wayne

[Snowy FNQ Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowy FNQ]

Re: Roof top tents

Mate, it's as steady as a rock, I was quite surprised, there is zero movement. It's 1400mm wide, it has more room then the 4 man $70 K-Mart tent we have been using for the last 7 years. Just one thing, the Prado racks are about 1400mm apart as well so I may wnd up with fixings on the front and middle racks yet. The vendor (Arco Designs) was good enough to give me two extra fixings for free though so if I can get it attached to all three racks I will be very happy.

The mattress is my only concern at present it's quite firm, which we both like, but it can be replaced quite easily.
We purchased the tent to get better weather protection (then the K-mart tent and tarp set up), and it will be easier then towing a camper. Also like you, it may get mounted on a trailer or ute one day, or if it doesn't work out we can sell it and probably make money if the accessory stores keep ripping people off. Any way the countdowns on till we give it a proper try out, heading to the deep South in six days.

[fishnut Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishnut]

Re: Roof top tents

Sparksy,

What you are thinking about is exactly how I grew up travelling. We used a standard box trailer and made a frame that sat over the top and put a cargill car camper up there. It folded out with a double bed up top and a full stand up tent section too. We even had an annex to zip on for longer stays (with the annex, it was at least as big as most caravans!). It worked brilliantly!!!. The car topper is for a sedan, so the tent part sits on the ground when mounted on a trailer. ie, it can't be mounted on a 4wd. It's the tent bit that makes it so good - better than a 4wd car topper for that reason. Could pull into a campsite and have it set up in about 3 minutes.

Don't know if you can still get something like that. Ours was probably made 30+ years ago

[fishnut Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishnut]

Re: Roof top tents

Ours was a 70s (and Aussie-made) version of this





So, you got me reminiscing... I can't find a Cargill one, but there are Aussie ones. The last one here http://www.shippshape.com.au/packages.htm is mounted on a trailer. Bit pricey, but gives you an idea.

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

Re: Roof top tents

Thanks Snowy and Fishnut
I bought on Monday a roof top tent from Galaxy Outdoor Camping in Malaga. Very similar to the above tent and its suitable for roofracks up to 2m high which should give me about 1400mm clearance for the bikes. Ive started the new trailer and will post pic's as soon as I find the camera. The quality of the 14oz canvas is as good as the canvas I had made from GK trimming for my Wandering Star camper. Should pick it up next week, container from china is apparently on the wharf at Freo.

Wayne

[attachment=0:kmgjn6p8]From Their Website.jpg[/attachment:kmgjn6p8]

[nickchap Member Find all posts View Profile Close nickchap]

Re: Roof top tents

Snowy,

I would like to find out how your ebay special turned out.

Looking at purchasing the same for trip to Cape via NT. ( I don't think my swag will be all that safe!).

Am looking at having coming of the rear of my 120 with Rhino Aero roof racks.

Could be a cheaper option that ARB etc.

Nick

[Snowy FNQ Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowy FNQ]

Re: Roof top tents

Nick,
we spent ten nights in it all up, no real problems, we did provide some entertinment at van parks and camp grounds .

However, the mattress is pretty hard and I never seemed to sleep real well on the first night away anyway, but after that I was fine. Only had a bit of rain so it was not tested really for water proofing, the wets coming on up here soon so I will give it a run, even if it's in the front yard.

One problem we did have was the outer cover ripping (weak as piss, should be canvas), if you put the narrow side (1200mm) to the front of the vehicle, which we had to because of the racks we purchased (tent opens up to the side). The cover is zipped on and won't come off, but there is only the two straps running ACROSS the tent to stop it flapping around. The cover actually ripped on the fold up ladder, which I was none too happy about. $80 at a canvasser in Kingaroy (Crittendens, great blokes) fixed it up and a couple of bungee straps from the strap to the roof rail fixed things up and kept is from flapping around for the rest of the trip.

I am happy with the product, because it was far cheaper than the local retail outlets for exactly the same thing they had on display. I can't say if the TJM (Or whatever) covers are any better, I doubt it, I did see one with a heap of gaffa tape on it the other day. Personally if I was going to spend over two grand on a rooftop tent I would start looking at camper trailers I reckon.
When I'm old and decrepid I will join the caravan set probably .

Cheers

[nickchap Member Find all posts View Profile Close nickchap]

Re: Roof top tents

Snowy,

Thanks for the update.

I would only use the tent a few times. I like a swag but if it rains

I'm 60 + so comfort from the elements is great ( My wife only like 5* so she's not included in trips) :roll:

Will continue the research.

Nick

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Roof top tents

May be a bit late but check out issue 137 of 4WD action mag. Exactly what you're after - bikes underneath with roof top tent on top of frame. It might give you ideas. The DVD has a feature as well.

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

Re: Roof top tents

Thanks
Ill check it out at the newsagent. Still might give me some ideas though. Just about ready to get it licenced. Once thats done I will fit all the camping gear,trying to keep the tare down. Almost finished today the slide out kitchen to fit on the drawbar. Tried fitting the bikes on today, no problem with two but three might be a squeeze. will post pictures soon.

Wayne

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Roof top tents

Look forward to the pics! Might give me some ideas for my camper mods I want to do.

BTW issue 137 is a while back - we're at no 140 now.

[nickchap Member Find all posts View Profile Close nickchap]

Re: Roof top tents

Snowy FNQ

How is the "special" going :?:

Time for me is running out but for $$ I think it looks good

Nick