[ohhhgeee]

I've had the new Tepui roof top tent mounted on my Forester for awhile now and have used it a few times too. Very happy with it so far! It takes just a few minutes to open up and about twice as long to fold it back up, but I am getting faster each time I do it. There are possibly a few things that could be better and some things I will improve as I see fit. Overall, it is a great tent and a good value.

The Forester drives fine with the tent, maybe even better with some extra weight which defies logic, but the dash rattles more (?). I have not driven it far enough to get a good idea on mpg loss. I'm sure there will be some loss but so far doesn't seem horrible.

The 2.5" mattress is comfortable enough for us. Nice views up top and good air flow with 4 windows/screens and just plain cool being up off the ground…...Like a tree house on wheels.

To alleviate one known problem, I've added a 24"W x 40"L piece of 6061 T6 .050" aluminum underneath the ladder. This was to prevent the ladder from denting (or worse) the thin platform skin. Using 3m outdoor tape to stick it down I was able to catch three ribs (12" OC) and then taped across the ends. Now the ladder has something a bit stronger to rest on while driving down the road.

I still need to add a battery powered LED light inside, a hanging gear loft shelf for shoes underneath the ladder outside and maybe a shelf inside too.

The decision to use my already owned Sub oem aero bars under the tent was not so good. One bar at the sliding plastic clamp joint already shows signs of fatigue and is sagging. Ordered some Thule crossroad bars to replace them.
***After closer inspection, I found that the slightly sagging clamp joint was actually loose! So, tightened it up all is well. Still plan to change out to the new Thule bars and feel that they are a bit stronger since the bars are sitting on top of the rails.*

Here are a few pics :smile2:

Is that the Kukenam tent? I'm going to do a really long road trip to TX and was planning on taking it with me to avoid hotel costs. Wondering if you had any updates on MPG. I'll take a few pictures when I load it up, I have 58" Yakima round bars.

 

[desert_forester]

Is that the Kukenam tent? I'm going to do a really long road trip to TX and was planning on taking it with me to avoid hotel costs. Wondering if you had any updates on MPG. I'll take a few pictures when I load it up, I have 58" Yakima round bars.

I have the smallest tent, "Ayer" model. The frontal windage is roughly 42" x 11" + ladder, a bit smaller than your Kukenam. No, I still have not taken a trip far enough to get a good idea on the mpg diff. I'm sure it will take a couple mpg hit? I mounted it on the new Thule bars a couple of days ago and test drove it up to 75 mph, it was quiet and couldn't really tell it was up there. I will be building the wind deflector for the front of the tent soon!
We love our Tepui tent and will be taking it to Puerto Peñasco (200mi RT) the first of January. I'd like to see your pics when you have it mounted.

 

[ohhhgeee]

I have the smallest tent, "Ayer" model. The frontal windage is roughly 42" x 11" + ladder, a bit smaller than your Kukenam. No, I still have not taken a trip far enough to get a good idea on the mpg diff. I'm sure it will take a couple mpg hit? I mounted it on the new Thule bars a couple of days ago and test drove it up to 75 mph, it was quiet and couldn't really tell it was up there. I will be building the wind deflector for the front of the tent soon!
We love our Tepui tent and will be taking it to Puerto Peñasco (200mi RT) the first of January. I'd like to see your pics when you have it mounted.

I have a Yakima wind deflector installed already but adding an additional one to the front of the tent would def help. Nothing a few zip ties can't fix. Have fun in Rocky Point, i haven't been there in so long. I used to go when it was a small little village. I hear that place is a full blown resort town now. I'm from southern AZ also. I'm only in CA until I retire from the Air Force (only 5 yrs to go). I'll probably be moving back to Tucson.

 

[desert_forester]

Puerto Peñasco & MPG

Finally made a trip down to Puerto Peñasco on the Sea of Cortez for a couple of days. Sleeping in the Tepui tent was great! It was plenty warm, comfortable and we had a good time.

MPG: It was a bit over 200 mi RT highway, 25 mi city and then we drove out to El Pinacate (pic) 45 mi of gravel roads with loose sand and washboards. Overall, 30.4 mpg indicated and actual is usually .8 to 1.0 under. Very happy camper with the mpg considering the tent being on top.
:smile2:

 

[desert_forester]

More mpg reports

Made two more short trips with the tent on my Forester.

1) Over to Tucson, about 280mi RT. Windy heading over and ended up with 29.3 average.
2) Up to Phoenix w/tent and also towing a 4 x 8 trailer, about 240mi. Windy again heading up there and averaged 27.5.

The tent does take a small chunk out of the mpg as expected, about the same for the trailer. It will be interesting to see if a wind deflector will help with the mpg, when I get it built.

 

[bashfulbernie]

The gas mileage penalty will be phenomenal.
CR and everyone else who has tested roof carriers of that size measures a penalty of over 5 mpg.
They actually measure it, not just look at the car computer.

The gas mileage of a trailer with a smaller profile than the towing car is small, and about the same penalty of the equivalent weight carried inside the car.

CR actually compared both small trailers and roof carriers in the same test.
There is a day and night difference between a roof carrier and a small trailer, and every proper test has shown that.

 

[desert_forester]

The gas mileage penalty will be phenomenal.


Noticeable and measurable, Yes.
"Phenomenal"……(very remarkable; extraordinary)….Hardly!

 

[fike]

Rooftop tents are an incredibly great way to travel. I took my 2010 Forester on an 8,000-mile roadtrip across the county last fall and loved sleeping in my ridiculously expensive Maggiolina rooftop tent. When I was at Yellowstone I didn't have to worry about the buffalo coming through the campground trampling me. It was cozy and warm inside. When I arrived at a campsite at 10:00 pm, I popped it up and crawled inside to sleep--five minutes from driving to sleeping. You can store some of your gear in the tent when it is closed. I kept my sleeping bag, pillows, and some sleeping clothes inside so that I didn't need to go rooting around in the dark for gear.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trailpixie/15804545221/

From the inside:

 

[desert_forester]

Rooftop tents are an incredibly great way to travel. I took my 2010 Forester on an 8,000-mile roadtrip across the county last fall and loved sleeping in my ridiculously expensive Maggiolina rooftop tent. When I was at Yellowstone I didn't have to worry about the buffalo coming through the campground trampling me. It was cozy and warm inside. When I arrived at a campsite at 10:00 pm, I popped it up and crawled inside to sleep--five minutes from driving to sleeping. You can store some of your gear in the tent when it is closed. I kept my sleeping bag, pillows, and some sleeping clothes inside so that I didn't need to go rooting around in the dark for gear.

Very nice set up, fike. Fantastic flickr photos, looks like a great trip!

We love sleeping in our roof top tent (RTT) too. A person needs to actually try a roof top tent once to fully appreciate how great it is to sleep up off the ground in comfort. For me, other big feature of a RTT vs sleeping inside a car/pu is that it is not necessary to move and reorganize everything inside the car twice daily to be able to lay down (x2 w/nap:grin2.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[jdog]

Some great pictures of adventures from you folks!!!!!!! Beautiful country out there. I appreciate you all sharing those.....Your roof tops are so cool, may I can get one in the future as well..

 

[campisi]

There's a RTT that's been for sale on CL here in the Bay Area (actually in Carmel which is about 1 1/2 hours south of me) for a few months. It looks to be an Autohome, probably a small Airland. Ad doesn't say. Guy's asking $1800 ... I should probably give him a call and go see it. Here's the link if anyone's interested:

Roof top tent

Jdog, you're right in the middle of the best road tripping in the country! I wish I lived closer to Utah/Northern Arizona.

 

[sinbad]

Wow, what a concept. Not for me at my point in life, but my outdoors adventurer son would like this for the week at Burning Man or a camping weekend in the mountains. Looks like either a Forester or Impreza would be a good base vehicle without suffering with truck fuel mileage.

 

[Cookie_Monster]

Rear attached tent?????

Was in Florida in Nov/Dec

Got a black friday deal on one of these to attach to rear of my '14 XT
Napier 86000 - Hatchbacks Blue/Grey Napier Sportz Dome to Go Tent - Universal Camping Tents

Intend building my own DIY sleeping platform and shallow cooking/sink/storage unit inspired by the amdro boot jump, not for sitting in tho...
Amdro Alternative Camper Conversions


Will be taking setup for wknds away MTB and visiting Isles off West coast of Scotland, like the Islay Whisky Festival in May....

Camping « Kintra Farm, Islay Holiday Cottages, B and B, Camping

Anyone used the Napier Sports tents, look good quality.

Will post pics back in the spring, snow and ice here at the moment!

 

[Cookie_Monster]

For longer trips Ive also got a couple of windbreaks + One of these tarps
Adventure Tarp

For the odd single night on my own, no need for tent, I hope to just park up late on quiet offroad track and leave early am enroute to proper campsite.

 

[Inactive_65667]

Rooftop tents are an incredibly great way to travel. I took my 2010 Forester on an 8,000-mile roadtrip across the county last fall and loved sleeping in my ridiculously expensive Maggiolina rooftop tent. When I was at Yellowstone I didn't have to worry about the buffalo coming through the campground trampling me. It was cozy and warm inside. When I arrived at a campsite at 10:00 pm, I popped it up and crawled inside to sleep--five minutes from driving to sleeping. You can store some of your gear in the tent when it is closed. I kept my sleeping bag, pillows, and some sleeping clothes inside so that I didn't need to go rooting around in the dark for gear.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trailpixie/15804545221/

From the inside:

what size/model Maggiolina rooftop tent did you get?

 

[fike]

what size/model Maggiolina rooftop tent did you get?

I got the small Maggiolina Airtop. It is fabulous as a solo rooftop tent. When my wife comes, it is a bit cramped, but still tons better than sleeping down in the food chain.

 

[08jgarcia]

I'm seriously looking into a RTT for my Forester. Love the autohome Columbus variant but can't afford it so looking at the Ayer. Does anyone have a dog that uses their RTT as well? I'm in the beginning planning phase but there are 92" pet ramps that I wonder if it would work. It would be steep but with added traction I wonder if it would work. My other thought was if I get a 24" or so platform to stand on I might be able to lift her in. Hard to visualize though. We travel for a dog sport and this would be great vs a regular tent as I wouldn't have to find an actual camp ground or could use an RV only type. Thanks

 

[Kevin]

G'day & Welcome!

Teach her to climb a ladder! :grin2:

 

[evanswartz]

Hi. Just joined the group. We are looking for rooftop tent or a mini camper for our Forrester. Any recommendations?

 

[2.5x_sleeper]

@evanswartz I see you're new to the forum, so welcome to the forum from Oregon!

Your thread has been merged with this existing thread on the same subject.

Bobby...

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]