Installed A New Rooftop Tent

B MIller

This is the brand new iKamper Blue Dot Voyager Solo. Only 130 pounds!

Looks great. Is there a ladder that flips down?

Pretty Very sure my old ass is not climbing up into a roof top tent, then down and back up a coupla times a night to piss. For you young 'uns, cool deal...

PSUTE

Pretty Very sure my old ass is not climbing up into a roof top tent, then down and back up a coupla times a night to piss. For you young 'uns, cool deal...

Right there with ya!

PSUTE

Pretty Very sure my old ass is not climbing up into a roof top tent, then down and back up a coupla times a night to piss. For you young 'uns, cool deal...

I use a bottle in the tent for pee. Problem solved!

PSUTE

Pretty Very sure my old ass is not climbing up into a roof top tent, then down and back up a coupla times a night to piss. For you young 'uns, cool deal...

THIS

TK1215

Looks great. Is there a ladder that flips down?

It comes with the ladder, but the tent is designed to be off to one side as to make room for a kayak, bike, or awning to run along the side. I have it centered. I'm working on a solution for the ladder to mount. I'll probably just fabricate something. But for now, it's pretty easy to just climb up and hop in.

Wait...just found the solution:
Front Runner

B MIller

This is the brand new iKamper Blue Dot Voyager Solo. Only 130 pounds!

Looks great any particular reason you chose the IKamper? I'm looking as well and there seem to be a lot of really nice choices.

I'm sure one of the reasons was the weight. Did Ford up the roof top rating to accommodate a roof top tent? Is 130 lbs still over the rating, as it used to be 110 lbs, right?

If you start with the static/dynamic load rating and then minus your own weight, weight of mattress and bedding, flashlight, dog, wife, there isn't a lot of room. Most RTT are more than 130 lbs. For me, my SO and dog, we'd be at the limit, sleeping naked, without a mattress or sleeping bag.

LR48

Looks great any particular reason you chose the IKamper? I'm looking as well and there seem to be a lot of really nice choices.

After having several RTT's in the past, I was able to create a punch list of specs it had to meet. Last year I was in a ground tent after selling my old RTT because it was too heavy and made the vehicle drive poorly. I was going to stick with a ground tent until this one was announced. Here's the punch list I had:

• Under 135 pounds (this one is about 130)
• Ability to store bedding in the tent (this one you can with the air mattress option)
• Low profile (only 6" high)
• No overhang over the outside of the vehicle (This is the solo version, since I'm alone) with my son we ground tent
• Wedge style for fast easy set up and take down
• Long enough for me (I'm 6'4")

The only issue is, this tent is designed to be off to one side of a roof. This allows room for kayaks, bikes, ect to be placed beside the tent on the roof. Since I centered the tent on the roof of the Bronco, there's no way to hook the ladder on without fabricating something. I found you can easy climb up the back and jump in. I did purchase the Front Runner Spare Tire Steps. That should solve the problem. Since I'm only up there to sleep, it's not a big deal and I no longer have to carry a ladder.

The advantages of a RTT are great for what I do. I'm not "camping" I'm going out in the desert exploring old homesteads. Normally about 2-3 nights at a time. Moving to new spots each day. The RTT is nice because it's a 5 minute set up and take down of camp. Plus, it's often muddy or snowing. This keeps my tent off the ground. Even when it's hot and dry, it's a dusty mess picking up and storing a ground tent. This solves many issues. BUT they are only good for me if they hit those items on the punch list. Otherwise, it's a pain.

Oh...in regards to peeing in the middle of the night. Most folks I know (and myself) keep an empty Gatorade bottle up there.

Hope this helps!

B MIller

After having several RTT's in the past, I was able to create a punch list of specs it had to meet. Last year I was in a ground tent after selling my old RTT because it was too heavy and made the vehicle drive poorly. I was going to stick with a ground tent until this one was announced. Here's the punch list I had:

• Under 135 pounds (this one is about 130)
• Ability to store bedding in the tent (this one you can with the air mattress option)
• Low profile (only 6" high)
• No overhang over the outside of the vehicle (This is the solo version, since I'm alone) with my son we ground tent
• Wedge style for fast easy set up and take down
• Long enough for me (I'm 6'4")

The only issue is, this tent is designed to be off to one side of a roof. This allows room for kayaks, bikes, ect to be placed beside the tent on the roof. Since I centered the tent on the roof of the Bronco, there's no way to hook the ladder on without fabricating something. I found you can easy climb up the back and jump in. I did purchase the Front Runner Spare Tire Steps. That should solve the problem. Since I'm only up there to sleep, it's not a big deal and I no longer have to carry a ladder.

The advantages of a RTT are great for what I do. I'm not "camping" I'm going out in the desert exploring old homesteads. Normally about 2-3 nights at a time. Moving to new spots each day. The RTT is nice because it's a 5 minute set up and take down of camp. Plus, it's often muddy or snowing. This keeps my tent off the ground. Even when it's hot and dry, it's a dusty mess picking up and storing a ground tent. This solves many issues. BUT they are only good for me if they hit those items on the punch list. Otherwise, it's a pain.

Oh...in regards to peeing in the middle of the night. Most folks I know (and myself) keep an empty Gatorade bottle up there.

Hope this helps!

Thanks great information and I like the check list. I've ground camped for years and frankly I like the idea of being up high and of course the Gatorade bottle. Since I do off road the weight and CG are always a concern but having watched several videos of Broncos with top tents they seem to do just fine in the rough. I really appreciate your input.

Looks good. I'm also researching root top tents. I'm leaning to the 23zero armadillo x2.

B MIller

The advantages of a RTT are great for what I do. I'm not "camping" I'm going out in the desert exploring old homesteads. Normally about 2-3 nights at a time. Moving to new spots each day. The RTT is nice because it's a 5 minute set up and take down of camp.

What do you do at these old homesteads? Do you have a YouTube channel?

This is great. Can you please tell me how to mount a hotel room with room service and king bed to the roof? Wife is very interested in this mod.

B MIller

Oh...in regards to peeing in the middle of the night. Most folks I know (and myself) keep an empty Gatorade bottle up there.

Hope this helps!

word of advice make sure you are not using the lemon lime Gatorade bottle. You might get it confused. 😂

At least take the label off.

SlashRacer

What do you do at these old homesteads? Do you have a YouTube channel?

I do and am going to start filming my trips this year. Right now the channel is just Bronco stuff, but plan on adding my adventures. Oh, here's the video on the tent:

Sulley

This is great. Can you please tell me how to mount a hotel room with room service and king bed to the roof? Wife is very interested in this mod.

Don’t forget full bath with shower🤣

B MIller

I do and am going to start filming my trips this year. Right now the channel is just Bronco stuff, but plan on adding my adventures. Oh, here's the video on the tent:

Are you just exploring the old homesteads? Looking for lost treasure with a metal detector?

SlashRacer

Are you just exploring the old homesteads? Looking for lost treasure with a metal detector?

I just enjoy being in the Oregon Desert. I normally find interesting things on Gaia and plan routes to explore them. Normally 1-2 nights. Not treasure, but finding cool history of the original homesteaders in Oregon. I do carry a metal detector for finding little cool things. My season normally starts around late June. That's when I'll start filming.