Smittybilt overlander XL roof top tent

[snoranger]

I picked up a smittybilt roof top tent 2 weeks ago. I finally got a frame and some time to mount it.
I havent had it out camping, but I set it up in the yard to test it out. So far it seems like a decent tent for the price. I've never owned one before to compare it too, but I can't see how some of these are worth $2000 more than what I payed for this one.

(I know it's not on a Ranger, but if I mounted it on my lowered Ranger it would kind defeat the "roof top" part of roof top tent.)

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Is it like an awning over the ladder?

Looks pretty cool.

 

[snoranger]

Is it like an awning over the ladder?

Looks pretty cool.

Yes it is, I believe they call it a vestibule. Here's a better angle.

They also make an annex that attaches to the bottom of the vestibule and goes to the ground. It's got a zip-on floor and adds another "room". I haven't bought an annex... yet.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That vestibule would be a nice addition. A place to stand up and change clothes... keep some things dry... etc.

I can see one of those in my future... but probably mounted on top of a purpose built camping trailer.

 

[snoranger]

That vestibule would be a nice addition. A place to stand up and change clothes... keep some things dry... etc.

I can see one of those in my future... but probably mounted on top of a purpose built camping trailer.

I plan on getting the annex eventually. Right now I'm buying the necessities, that's kind of a luxury.

I would love to have this on a camping trailer, but we're not allowed to pull doubles in NJ. For now, the tent will stay on the truck and the quad and SxS go on the trailer. I am thinking about building a rack on my trailer to mount this over my quad.

 

[Ranger850]

That would be SWEET

 

[Uncle Gump]

That would be the way to go... would leave the truck free to run to town or whatever.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That would be the way to go... would leave the truck free to run to town or whatever.

That is my biggest glitch with a RTT. With my ground tent I can set it up, unload all the camping gear into it... and then drive to the other side of the lake and go fishing or get ice cream or whatever.

The RTT on a trailer would eliminate that but would be more headache for overlanding type stuff (if you do that)

 

[snoranger]

I really had to think about it before I bought it, I knew it would limit the use of my truck while camping. But it should work for what I have planned. I have a 9 year old, and everything revolves around her.
1) Overnight fishing trips on the beach... I see no need to take the truck anywhere once we're parked, and there's usually at least 2-3 trucks in our group.
2) Weekends of riding the quad and SxS.... Our favorite place to ride is 3.5-4 hours away. They have a campground with showers onsite. I can just leave the truck set up and we take the quad/SxS.
3) Weekend camping trips at a campground... My buddy has a 36' camper and a year round campsite rental. Our kids love hanging out together. We normally just hang out there all day and drive home at night. Now we can stay for the weekend.

We don't plan on doing anything longer than a weekend trip. If you didn't bring it, you can live without it for a weekend. I don't drink, so no unexpected beer runs.

We can stop for ice cream on the ride home.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Looks great!

I'd like to have one for TRS-2. Iv'e considered a RTT and a camper shell (truck cap). The RTT allows you to load the bed with things, and have a place to sleep above it. If I was going to go somewhere on vacation, camp, and sight see, I'd use a ground tent so I could still use my truck. A RTT is more for when you're going somewhere, and plan to stay in that spot while you're there. Not set up, and then go sight seeing.

 

[snoranger]

Looks great!

I'd like to have one for TRS-2. Iv'e considered a RTT and a camper shell (truck cap). The RTT allows you to load the bed with things, and have a place to sleep above it. If I was going to go somewhere on vacation, camp, and sight see, I'd use a ground tent so I could still use my truck. A RTT is more for when you're going somewhere, and plan to stay in that spot while you're there. Not set up, and then go sight seeing.

Did you get your RTT for the "Loan Ranger" yet?

 

[Jim Oaks]

Did you get your RTT for the "Loan Ranger" yet?

The "Loan Ranger". <---- I like it

No, on the 4th I got a message that said "The tent has been ordered, and should be on its way to Texas shortly!"

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I really had to think about it before I bought it, I knew it would limit the use of my truck while camping. But it should work for what I have planned. I have a 9 year old, and everything revolves around her.
1) Overnight fishing trips on the beach... I see no need to take the truck anywhere once we're parked, and there's usually at least 2-3 trucks in our group.
2) Weekends of riding the quad and SxS.... Our favorite place to ride is 3.5-4 hours away. They have a campground with showers onsite. I can just leave the truck set up and we take the quad/SxS.
3) Weekend camping trips at a campground... My buddy has a 36' camper and a year round campsite rental. Our kids love hanging out together. We normally just hang out there all day and drive home at night. Now we can stay for the weekend.

We don't plan on doing anything longer than a weekend trip. If you didn't bring it, you can live without it for a weekend. I don't drink, so no unexpected beer runs.

We can stop for ice cream on the ride home.

Its one of those things where there really is no perfect setup for everybody. For me the trailer would work better than the truck because it is nice to have the truck to get around where I go camping.

 

[snoranger]

I've come up with an idea to mount lights under the rack crossbars. I didn't want to drill any holes in the rack. (Jim, this may interest you).

This is what the rack looks like:

Underside of crossbars

Side view. The slot in the bottom is 3/4" wide and 1/4" tall.

I picked up 2 length of aluminum flat stock 3/4" x 1/8" x 4'. I drilled and tapped them for some LED lights I had left over from a previous project.

1 light installed. (Stainless steel screws, I hate rust.)

4 lights in each bar.

I have to finish the wiring, then just slide these into the crossbars and tighten the screws.
The lights will be up under the crossbar, with the aluminum strip inside the crossbar. The screws and wires will go through the slot in the bar. When I tighten the screws it will pull the aluminum and lights together and hold everything in place.
The wiring goes up through the aluminum into the 1/8" gap. It will run over to one side and I'll wire it into the factory bed lights.

 

[snoranger]

If Ford ever builds the new Bronco (see rant below) I may have to look into something like this:

It looks like someone now makes a hitch mount / free standing base for the RTTs. If I didn't already have the RTT, I'd just buy a ground tent. Since I already have one... why not. It would allow me to drop the tent as a "base camp" and use the truck without packing up. It supposed to be officially debuted at the Overland Expo West.


Rant on:
Ford... get your shit together and show us what the new Bronco is going to look like. Give us some details already. I bet there are a lot of people who would have held off buying something if the Bronco lives up to the hype, but everyone Ive talked to about it got sick of waiting and gave up. You can only string people along for so long before they just say "F you" and move on.