Anybody installing roof top tent on their ascent?

27046 Views 40 Replies 21 Participants Last post by packout, Oct 12, 2019

djk51387

Discussion Starter · Aug 20, 2018

I'm planning on purchasing an ascent soon with the intent of installing a roof top tent to go camping regularly! Super excited.

I'm interested in seeing if anybody else has similar plans and what tent brand and cross bars they'll be using to install.
Would love to see actual pictures of roof top tents that people have already installed.
Any other ideas, thoughts, suggestions for roof top tenting on a ascent would be appreciated as well!

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

Stillmotion

· #2 · Aug 20, 2018

I plan on it. I have Yakima corebars which can support 220lbs. I would like to go with the Tepui Autana XL Ruggedized which says it weighs in at 240, but per Tepui that 240 includes the removable annex. Without it, it weighs 220. If I don’t go XL (4 person) I will go with the 3 person version.

I am waiting for Moosejaw to get the 3 person back in stock. Moosejaw offers 20% off to first responders and teachers. That’s a huge discount on an expensove item like these tents. You have to create an Id.me account for the discount.

Reactions: 1

FourMoBro

· #3 · Aug 20, 2018

while i like the idea of a rooftop tent, i am looking into the rooftop trailer tents. If I go to the beach to camp, but then want to drive around, I don't want to setup/teardown/setup/teardown all the time.

From more basic....
https://www.gofsr.com/trailers/
https://cascadiatents.com/shop/cvt-trailer/

To more ammenities...
Home - Turtleback Trailers
https://www.patriotcampers.com.au/

Subiesailor

· #4 · Aug 20, 2018

I just discovered that Taxa makes a rtt trailer now.
Called the Wooly Bear
Looks interesting

https://taxaoutdoors.com/ultra-light-trailers/woollybear-adventure-trailer/

buton

· #5 · Aug 20, 2018

Those trailers look very nice for sure.

Stillmotion

· #6 · Aug 20, 2018

FourMoBro said:
while i like the idea of a rooftop tent, i am looking into the rooftop trailer tents. If I go to the beach to camp, but then want to drive around, I don't want to setup/teardown/setup/teardown all the time.

From more basic....
https://www.gofsr.com/trailers/
https://cascadiatents.com/shop/cvt-trailer/

To more ammenities...
Home - Turtleback Trailers
https://www.patriotcampers.com.au/

If only I wasn’t pulling ATVs with me that would work for me as well. I entertained trying to build a loft on the trailer to support a tent, but I think so long as it’s only the tent up top, rear down and set up will only take 10 minutes. I can leave the result of the camp setup I’d assume.

But the tear down aspect was a concern for me too.

djk51387

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 20, 2018

FourMoBro said:
while i like the idea of a rooftop tent, i am looking into the rooftop trailer tents. If I go to the beach to camp, but then want to drive around, I don't want to setup/teardown/setup/teardown all the time.

From more basic....
https://www.gofsr.com/trailers/
https://cascadiatents.com/shop/cvt-trailer/

To more ammenities...
Home - Turtleback Trailers
https://www.patriotcampers.com.au/

I was considering the idea of trailer tent as well mainly for the ease in detaching it when I need to use the car for regular daily use like driving to work,etc. But they're incredibly expensive. My thought is that if you were to get one of the hardshell tents from james baroud for around $4k, setup and breakdown time would be minimal--likely 5-10min at best. No need to haul around a trailer... are there any other benefits of having a trailer tent as opposed to roof top tent?

Subiesailor

· #8 · Aug 20, 2018

The kitchen gear is all on the trailer.

Another route is simply going Jumping Jack trailer. Your ATV hauler and tent trailer all in one. The negative the Jumping Jack means unloading the ATVs for tent use.

I have a mini version of the classic Jumping Jack 4x6. Its great but

Positives lots of gear hauling ability, plus utility trailer mode ie dump runs etc.
Big tent
Built like a brick crapper

Negatives all our gear is out in the open on long trips with overnight hotel stays its stinks unloading unsecured gear.

It takes time to unload, setup and vis versa Tear down and load up.

RTTs are great for trips where your only doing a night or two in one location or even only a few hours nap then back on the road. Extended stays they start to be a pain when you need to use the car.

The RTT mounted on a trailer more or less gives you the best of both fast setup/tear down and flexibility with the car being able to be used without messing with the rtt.

See less See more

Litemike

· #9 · Aug 20, 2018

Whats wrong with a "on the ground" tent?

Subiesailor

· #10 · Aug 20, 2018

I do ground tents but the wife is over it. Our Life Time tent trailer original one ie mini Jumping Jack was the cheapest $1800 costco deal with enough other uses besides Camping it was an easy decision for off ground sleeping.

It does home renovation, furniture hauling, yard debri dump runs etc the rest of the yr. I’m not sure I could have a camping only trailer sitting for months un used it wouldn’t make sense.

A simple 4x6 with a rack for a rtt so it can do camping mode and hauling stuff mode would make sense for many people with houses and projects etc.

Nemesis099

· #11 · Aug 20, 2018

Litemike said:
Whats wrong with a "on the ground" tent?

I don't think there is anything wrong with an normal tent. I think having one on the roof can make it easier to setup and take down when doing camping and driving trips. Also with the tent on the roof you have a bit more storage in the vehicle but the biggest reason is probably comfort. I can't tell you how many times I have slept on roots or rocks and didn't sleep well. This would leave a smooth surface that is consistent for a mattress.

While I would love to get one for our camping trips I don't see that happening anytime soon. But I always look at these just to see what is out there.

Reactions: 1

Litemike

· #12 · Aug 20, 2018

Nemesis099 said:
I don't think there is anything wrong with an normal tent. I think having one on the roof can make it easier to setup and take down when doing camping and driving trips. Also with the tent on the roof you have a bit more storage in the vehicle but the biggest reason is probably comfort. I can't tell you how many times I have slept on roots or rocks and didn't sleep well. This would leave a smooth surface that is consistent for a mattress.

While I would love to get one for our camping trips I don't see that happening anytime soon. But I always look at these just to see what is out there.

Ok, checked some of these out - pretty cushy bottom that and just fold open. Kinda cool. I understand the roof of the vehicle can hold the weight of the vehicle upside down, but can the roof rails hold a 200lbs tent, and 1-3 175lbs people? And their stuff?

Subiesailor

· #13 · Aug 20, 2018

The Subarus list static load and travel load. Travel load pending bars used seems to vary between 150-200lbs. I’ m sure there are bars rated higher.

Static load meaning people sawing logs in the tent car parked is somewhere around 700lbs

zegilbert

· #14 · Aug 20, 2018

Litemike said:
I understand the roof of the vehicle can hold the weight of the vehicle upside down, but can the roof rails hold a 200lbs tent, and 1-3 175lbs people? And their stuff?

Fwiw, the roof rack guy at REI told me that the rack load ratings are more due to tip hazard, weight distribution on the vehicle while moving (vs. camping on top of a stationary vehicle, etc.) First I'd heard this. Makes sense, from a physics perspective, but of course there are still limits to what the rails and cross-bars can support.

Subiesailor

· #15 · Aug 20, 2018

Interesting comment on the tip ie higher cg point. I met a lady a while back rents an office next to a friends office space. Her private company one gal company is a crash analyst. She has a huge pet peve for the big roof boxes and RTT. Especially on high center of gravity vehicles like Jeeps, 4runners she told me she handled lots of lawsuits involving over weight roof racks causing roll overs. She was pretty interesting to talk to. It all came ip because she saw my Outback with my narrow roof box. Told me to keep it light but it wasn’t a big issue on the Outback due to its low cg. But Tall heavy SUVs she said its a big problem and growing. She really likes the spare tire on the roof people. I’d guess that she nearly has convulsions when she sees those. LOL

Reactions: 2

tariktik

· #16 · Aug 20, 2018

Roof tents might be the way I can convince my family to go camping. :smile:

I did a search and there are 6-person roof tents. Just don't know if the Ascent can handle that much load on a roof.

Would anyone have details on how much roof load the Ascent can handle? Also, my Ascent has a moon roof so I am not sure if that is also a factor on load limits.

Dandy

· #17 · Aug 20, 2018

For those of you looking for a trailer to put a roof top tent on, check out Space Trailers
https://www.spacetrailers.com/features/

We have owned one since 2011 and it has been one of the best purchases we have made. We use it for bikes, SUPs, camping gear (we don't currently have an RTT, don't think it would work well with dogs), hauling yard wast to compost, picking up things from the home improvement store...

It has been a great trailer. With the clam shell lid, it keeps things dry. Only in a STORM did we get a slight bit of water in the inside front. I am assuming from the driving rain we drove in.

Looks like they have a partnership with "CVT" for rooftop tents
https://www.spacetrailers.com/product/space-trailers-roof-top-tent-trailer/

Todd and his brothers are great. They are made in MN and I believe a family member (possibly one of the brothers) runs a location in CO.

Reactions: 1

Stillmotion

· #18 · Aug 21, 2018

From cars101:

Roof rack rails with tie down rope holes.
Optional aero crossbars have a 150lb capacity.
If vehicle is NOT moving, 750 lb weight directly on the rails is possible (like people sleeping in a car top tent) but only if the car is parked and not moving.

Reactions: 2

Litemike

· #19 · Aug 21, 2018

Saw one on an Outback last night - good-bye gas mileage! That thing was huge!

PINHAULER

· #20 · Aug 21, 2018

roof tent for your ASCENT anyone?

I've been looking at some roof tent options for the Ascent.
Has anyone here had any experience with rail mounted tents on this particular model yet?

I'd really love a SKYCAMP from iKamper
https://www.ikamper.com/

I'm struggling to find any data on the Ascent's roof load ratings and such.
We're a family of four (two small kids) so I want to make sure before investing in one of these.

Reactions: 1

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