The Nomadic Life

[deano]

I have a friend who has a Tepui. Family of four up there on top of a Subie. It's awesome. I want one for my Econoline.

[caleb]

This has always struck me as the practical version of a 4x4 offroadable van life vehicle.

How are you liking it?

[funcrusher]

I have a friend who has a Tepui. Family of four up there on top of a Subie. It's awesome. I want one for my Econoline.

i have a neighbor with a tepui...nice for sure...but he says it is a beast to get on the roof...he had to buy a folding table as a midway stop for lifting it onto the roof...and requires 2 adults

my problem is i have a 3.5" lifted jeep with 35" wheels...and the roof rack is another 3-4" high...

[Saab2000]

i have a neighbor with a tepui...nice for sure...but he says it is a beast to get on the roof...he had to buy a folding table as a midway stop for lifting it onto the roof...and requires 2 adults

my problem is i have a 3.5" lifted jeep with 35" wheels...and the roof rack is another 3-4" high...

That's also not nothing. I live alone and don't have a crew of helpers, so getting it on and off of my car is not a trivial matter. And it could be enough to sway the decision. It would be nice to think I would just pop it on the car and take off for a few days, but the logistics of that are in fact an issue.

[funcrusher]

That's also not nothing. I live alone and don't have a crew of helpers, so getting it on and off of my car is not a trivial matter. And it could be enough to sway the decision. It would be nice to think I would just pop it on the car and take off for a few days, but the logistics of that are in fact an issue.

dont know what your timing is, but the tent i am planning to buy gets released in november...80lbs seems doable for 1 person

[Saab2000]

dont know what your timing is, but the tent i am planning to buy gets released in november...80lbs seems doable for 1 person

I have only really even been considering this for the past couple days so I'm totally new and naive about it. Today I went to two stores I thought might have something and neither had anything. REI and Bass Pro Shop were useless.

My first task is trying to figure out if I'm going to damage my car, a 2018 VW Tiguan. The Roofnest Sparrow XL is 145 lbs. Combined with the rack needed to put it on the car, it will come in close to the car's limit of 165 lbs, which is presumably the dynamic load limit of the car. I would assume that since the car will be parked and not moving that technically it will support more, but VW doesn't mention that in their literature. The limit is 165 lbs, but that assumes the car is in motion.

Anyway, it's not so much the weight that concerns me as the awkwardness of the whole thing. Regardless of weight, they're not small and would be awkward to lift onto the roof of the car without damaging it, especially by myself.

[SeanEasley]

This has always struck me as the practical version of a 4x4 offroadable van life vehicle.

How are you liking it?

Yea, that was what I settled on as a compromise. So far spent only one overnight in it, very comfortable but still working some bugs out of the systems inside it. The refrigerator in particular is very sensitive to being level or it won't cool, and you pretty much need to pre-cool this one on house AC power for about a day before you take it out and rely on batteries or propane to keep it cool. Will probably invest in a new fridge next season, but otherwise I really like the layout of this thing. Would I pay $40K for a new one though? Probably not unless I knew it would only ever be just me and one other person using it for the long haul.

[guido]

This setup has me smiling...

[funcrusher]

Sounds pretty good to me

Finally, a Rooftop Tent That Won’t Ruin Your Car | Outside Online

[Too Tall]

Yea, that was what I settled on as a compromise. So far spent only one overnight in it, very comfortable but still working some bugs out of the systems inside it. The refrigerator in particular is very sensitive to being level or it won't cool, and you pretty much need to pre-cool this one on house AC power for about a day before you take it out and rely on batteries or propane to keep it cool. Will probably invest in a new fridge next season, but otherwise I really like the layout of this thing. Would I pay $40K for a new one though? Probably not unless I knew it would only ever be just me and one other person using it for the long haul.

Level is one thing. We have similar. Put a block of ice in the freezer and only put pre-cooled items in the fridge. The alternative is pricey, 12v ice chest type coolers (more stuff).

[funcrusher]

so went ahead and preordered the GFC superlite...won't ship until November, however

but also ordrered a tarptent moment dw...so that along with a hilleberg anjan, and the superlite my family of 5 will be super comfy

[Too Tall]

so went ahead and preordered the GFC superlite...won't ship until November, however

but also ordrered a tarptent moment dw...so that along with a hilleberg anjan, and the superlite my family of 5 will be super comfy

Strong move!

[Saab2000]

so went ahead and preordered the GFC superlite...won't ship until November, however

but also ordrered a tarptent moment dw...so that along with a hilleberg anjan, and the superlite my family of 5 will be super comfy

What car will you use? Do you already have a roof rack for installation?

[funcrusher]

What car will you use? Do you already have a roof rack for installation?

going on my AEV jeep...has a roof platform on it

[funcrusher]

it is pretty high off the ground...that's why it had to be light enough for me and my kid to get it on the roof

[IMG]phpcinY5LAM by W L, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Saab2000]

it is pretty high off the ground...that's why it had to be light enough for me and my kid to get it on the roof

[IMG]phpcinY5LAM by W L, on Flickr[/IMG]

Do you happen to know the load limits of the roof? Dynamic and/or static?

[funcrusher]

Do you happen to know the load limits of the roof? Dynamic and/or static?

not off hand, but roof top tents are in their marketing materials!!

and the gfc is a fraction of the weight of most RTTs

[Saab2000]

not off hand, but roof top tents are in their marketing materials!!

and the gfc is a fraction of the weight of most RTTs

Cool. I know the Land Rover Defender has a high limit. It’s a more expensive vehicle but is also a good platform for trips with an RTT.

[funcrusher]

Cool. I know the Land Rover Defender has a high limit. It’s a more expensive vehicle but is also a good platform for trips with an RTT.

that rack is actually attached to the frame under the hard top so VERY sturdy

(and there is a 6.4L v8 hemi under the hood...i'll crush any land defender that rolls by)

[ides1056]

great book

a film is due to be released soon based on the book

genius film maker, genius cast: Chloe Zhao, Frances McDormand, David Strathairn