Official Roof top Tent show off

silverback04

Recognized Member
Jan 9, 2017
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well i got a really great deal on a Smittybilt tent so i got it installed yesterday on my ARB roof rack. Review will be coming soon, for now here are some pics of the install.





 

cddallara

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Dec 30, 2016
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I like that rack but I don't have the patience for a soft tent like that.
A friend has a hard shell roof top tent I may pick up this summer if I can convince the wife that camping is fun, even with 4 kids.
 
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Jim Smola

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I like that rack but I don't have the patience for a soft tent like that.
A friend has a hard shell roof top tent I may pick up this summer if I can convince the wife that camping is fun, even with 4 kids.

I really like the idea of the hard shell ones as well. Your buddy should sell it to me. ;)
 

Soy-Quoia

Familiar Member
Jan 8, 2017
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Minnesota
I love the idea of a RTT. When I say love, I mean LOVE! However, for the space, I can not justify the cost. I have a family of 5. If I want to be able to fit all of us, I need to spend around the GDP of a small country! They are handy but I'm going to have to just suffer through setting up my 10x10 tent until I can find the perfect tiny popup camper to build into a trail worthy camper.

All that being said, I'm curious to see your long term assessment of the Smittybilt. I have read a review on just about every mainstream brand of RTT but am yet to read a long term repot of the Smittybilt. I have alway been pretty satisfied with Smitty products. (I'm running a Smitty winch on my Soy.)

Keep us posted!
 
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silverback04

Recognized Member
Jan 9, 2017
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I love the idea of a RTT. When I say love, I mean LOVE! However, for the space, I can not justify the cost. I have a family of 5. If I want to be able to fit all of us, I need to spend around the GDP of a small country! They are handy but I'm going to have to just suffer through setting up my 10x10 tent until I can find the perfect tiny popup camper to build into a trail worthy camper.

All that being said, I'm curious to see your long term assessment of the Smittybilt. I have read a review on just about every mainstream brand of RTT but am yet to read a long term repot of the Smittybilt. I have alway been pretty satisfied with Smitty products. (I'm running a Smitty winch on my Soy.)

Keep us posted!
yes in your case id just buy a camper lol, i want to get the experience with the roof top tent for a while, but i see myself getting or building an offroad trailer and mounting the RTT on top.
 
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mnwanders

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Feb 9, 2017
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I just got the CVT Denali. I've only spent one night in it so far, but I foresee five people fitting tight, and four people very easily. That's not including throwing some cots down in the annex room (which I have not used yet).
b475598f90cf3b78ec58ea48adef60ee.jpg
461d4db5d899a7e1788cb97839b4e5d5.jpg



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Jim Smola

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Dec 28, 2016
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I just got the CVT Denali. I've only spent one night in it so far, but I foresee five people fitting tight, and four people very easily. That's not including throwing some cots down in the annex room (which I have not used yet).
b475598f90cf3b78ec58ea48adef60ee.jpg
461d4db5d899a7e1788cb97839b4e5d5.jpg



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Wow that is an impressive tent. So you must notice the weight up top while driving? How does that feel?
 

mnwanders

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Feb 9, 2017
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Wow that is an impressive tent. So you must notice the weight up top while driving? How does that feel?

I wouldn't say that it is very noticeable to normal driving around town. You can feel a little more body roll going around corners and maybe a little more drag while getting up to highway speed, but other than that, I don't even notice it. I should add that my Sequoia is 100% stock at this point. I will upgrade the suspension and tires in the future, but right now I just wanted to spend money to get the family outside.

I will say that what I do notice is all the weird looks I get because RTTs are not all that well-known here in the Midwest.


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Jim Smola

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I wouldn't say that it is very noticeable to normal driving around town. You can feel a little more body roll going around corners and maybe a little more drag while getting up to highway speed, but other than that, I don't even notice it. I should add that my Sequoia is 100% stock at this point. I will upgrade the suspension and tires in the future, but right now I just wanted to spend money to get the family outside.

I will say that what I do notice is all the weird looks I get because RTTs are not all that well-known here in the Midwest.


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Very well done.
Let us know if you need any help in the future with your suspension
 

Big Tree

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Jun 28, 2017
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Still a work in progress..but here is what I'm building...I need to finish machining the tool and sew the fabric..but the weather is good and the outdoors is calling.
 

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Abseiltim

New Member
Feb 5, 2019
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Hi new here. Just got my 2002 Sequoia this week. How did you mount the tent? On the side rails?
Thanks
 

mnwanders

New Member
Feb 9, 2017
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That specific tent needs three cross bars to bear the weight. So I mounted three yakima round crossbars to the factory rack. It worked fine when I had it up there. The biggest frustration I had was opening and closing the tent everyday so we now have a small teardrop-type camper and mounted the tent on that.
 

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