Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
Roof tent pros and cons...
Since getting my Disco I've been toying with the idea of a roof tent. My wife is steadfastly against the idea, but lets leave her out of this for now.
I have a few questions that I'm hoping can be answered by the group before I go any further...
1. Are they really worth it? At £1000 + for a new tent, do you really feel you've got your monies worth?
2. Practicality - Its not something I want on the car all the time. How easy are they to install and remove? How badly does it affect fuel consumption? Also, does it restrict where you can park, ie car parks etc.
3. Comfort and usability - What's it like being up on top of the car? What's the quality of the tents like? Is it a pain climbing up an down during the night?
Any comments will be greatly appreciated.
20th Oct 2020 11:32 pm
jamez79
Member Since: 03 Sep 2018
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 595
I haven't got one. However, I do like the idea of them and the look of the disco parked up with the roof tent up...
The bit that puts me off, other than the price, is you can't go anywhere without first dismantling the tent.
We camp a fair bit in the UK and I reckon all our gear totals less than the price of a roof tent. We can setup and then drive off and explore without having to pack the tent away.
That alone is enough to put me off them. I guess they're great for a one night stay somewhere as long as you have everything with you that you'll need. I'd just kip in the car with the seats down and save the cash.
21st Oct 2020 3:00 am
stew 46
Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 10148
I think they look the part but that as far as it goes for me , there a pain to get in and out and not great in the dark if you need a pee at 3am , getting your dirty boots off in it is a pain , and as you say it’s got to be packed up to drive down the road , BUT IF YOUR OUT IN THE BUSH AND NEED TO BE OFF THE GROUND THERE GREAT but not sure we need that in the uk
RV5 all the way -------------------------------------------------
if you cant hold on dont let go , it ill come in handy for something even if you never use it.
D3 SE 05,
110 s wagon 300 tdi SOLD
h top transit
crew cab transit
transit connect
ausa dumper, muck truck .
peljob 2.5 digger
06 L 200 crew cab
21st Oct 2020 6:23 am
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1738
^^^ as above - great on expeditions where being off the ground is a must but in UK/Europe probably not so much
this is my set up (this was a rough test set up and ive still not a had a chance to use it all properly yet )
Off Trek awning £180 new
Coleman tent £75 new off ebay
Coleman Windbreak £25 off ebay
takes about 15 mins to set up on my own, and the awning can be collapsed quickly for day trips leaving the rest in place
2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
21st Oct 2020 6:38 am
John P
Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1286
It really depends on what you intend to do. As above if you are just camping in one place then they are a pain, as you are restricted to what you can do. Every time you want to use the car you then you have to take it down.
But if you plan to do overlanding, then that's a different story. We started out with an RV4, and did the usual camping, and then got into overlanding. With overlanding, you're typically travelling, and not camping in one place. Also you tend to be out for longer periods of time so weather plays a part. We soon went with a roof tent, after pulling into camp sites when it was chucking with rain, and the ground was so saturated, we couldn't pitch our RV4. Also with wild camping, finding level ground for the RV4 proved difficult. We were out in Morocco and Portugal, and some of the camp sites were on solid ground, so driving tent pegs in would be difficult. (But there are is always a work around.) Some people did have ground tents.
As for fuel consumption, I'm running STT Pro's, and when fully laden with all our overlanding gear, roof tent, foxwing etc, I get around 23mpg. I have a D3.
My wife loves the roof tent, and she helps put it up and take it down. It can be done by one person, but is better with two. We find it very comfortable, and getting up and down the ladder is not a problem.
If I was just camping in and around UK/Europe, I would go with a RV4 or something similar. If you are going to overland, then I would consider a roof tent.
21st Oct 2020 7:39 am
AdamRandall
Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
I'll be honest, its not looking like its worth the money at all. I may have to concede that my wife is correct on this one
Oz Tent all the way. RV4 or RV5 - add an awning if you want extra space under cover. Have done a couple of trips across UK/France/Belgium/Holland/Germany/Austria and back again where we were with folk with roof tents - we were never on the same campsite for more than 2 nights in nearly 3 weeks of travelling and even then we were setting up camp with the Oztent in the same time or less than it took for those with roof tents to get theirs set up.
The laps of the Nurburgring were particularly amusing for those with a tent on the roof....
Once you find yourself on a site for more than 2 nights, the ability to just drive off for the day and leave your camp set up behind you makes it a no brainer.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
21st Oct 2020 4:08 pm
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
Had quite a few, i love them but they can be a pain as many have mentioned.
Also had RV5, but went back to RTs
Mine now sits on a trailer
Click image to enlarge
Some of my other ones
Click image to enlarge
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And now an opportunity to to share my favourite RT photo
Click image to enlarge
Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
21st Oct 2020 4:47 pm
AdamRandall
Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
The Oz Tent looks awesome. I’ve already found a few second hand ones on fleabay for reasonable money.
Realistically for what I’m likely to use it for it seems like a better option that a roof tent.
Thanks for the responses (and the pictures, they all look great!)
21st Oct 2020 7:45 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15269
Another camping alternative is with a LR day tent.
My set up includes: a day tent, an annexe tent positioned at rear of day tent (for portaloo, storage etc) and D3/4 thermal window blinds.
I also have a kayak that when transporting, will be used as a roof box.
You sleep on a single/double mattress in the Disco (with tailgate closed for warmth/security), during the day the sleeping stuff can be stored in the annexe tent.
Beauty of this set up is you can drive away in the Disco for days out, returning later and connecting back up to the tent.
However, due to Covid and being in "builders lockdown" (due to an extension build), I've not had the chance to use the set-up yet.
Examples of my set-up (most images aren't of my set up).
The day tent
You wouldn't have got much in my old Pyranha i232 I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
21st Oct 2020 9:27 pm
MintyHit
Member Since: 25 Jul 2017
Location: Bradford on Avon
Posts: 234
Iguana wrote:
Had quite a few, i love them but they can be a pain as many have mentioned.
How are they for winter camping? I am considering taking mine our in the snow this winter if I get the chance.
Click image to enlarge
To the OP:
Pros:
Quick to setup
Warm & comfortable
Fantastic morning views
Great in the rain if you have an awning as well.
Cons:
Unusable in high wind
Noisy in and fappy in a moderate wind
I guess MPG? My V8 only does about 17 - 20 anyway.
Last edited by MintyHit on 22nd Oct 2020 11:44 am. Edited 1 time in total
22nd Oct 2020 9:04 am
stew 46
Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 10148
RV 5 and all our bits takes around 30 mins to set up before I can crack a cider open
-------------------------------------------------
if you cant hold on dont let go , it ill come in handy for something even if you never use it.
D3 SE 05,
110 s wagon 300 tdi SOLD
h top transit
crew cab transit
transit connect
ausa dumper, muck truck .
peljob 2.5 digger
06 L 200 crew cab
22nd Oct 2020 11:31 am
Ben4
Member Since: 28 Apr 2017
Location: Buckinghamshire
Posts: 938
Tent off the back.
Awning off the side.
Decent sized memory foam mattress inside. Great with the boot open at night as I can stick my feet out! If you get a bit cold then just shut the top bit.
During the day just shut the boot, lock the car and walk / drive away.
If you’ve got electric hook up the you can have a heater in the tent bit which is a nice touch!
Sleeping inside is considerably warmer that how I used to do it!
formerly Disco3Ben
2016 D4, Santorini Black
2007 D3, Black - sold
22nd Oct 2020 10:00 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
And don't forget you can joint two Oztents together too, with a big log burner inthe middle for the complete Shangri-La experience
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
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, there a pain to get in and out and not great in the dark if you need a pee at 3am , getting your dirty boots off in it is a pain , and as you say it’s got to be packed up to drive down the road , BUT IF YOUR OUT IN THE BUSH AND NEED TO BE OFF THE GROUND THERE GREAT but not sure we need that in the uk 
)
