Hello all
I'd love to do some cheap camping down the coast come summertime, and to that end I'd like to get a rooftop tent for our 2007 Subaru Outback. Has anyone done something similar? I'd like to keep it lightweight and low profile to keep economy okay, and because I don't think wagons are built for the same pressures on the roof as something like a Nissan Patrol.
Any brand recommendations or things to avoid?
Cheers
Thanks for your suggestions!!! I'll check em out.
Absolutely with you on why it's better - we just want to get down to the beach on a Friday after work and relax all day Sat then come home. That's ruined if you're thinking about setting up a tent and sleeping in a cramped space.
Yes! Another big advantage of the tent being up high is it stays clean inside at the beach unless you bring it in on yourself
I've known someone with a Forester that had one of those fibreglass shell ones, worked well. You mentioned though not wanting to sleep in a cramped space and these definitely aren't spacious. Perhaps look at one of the 30 second touring tents instead? Much more spacious and nothing to think about putting them up.
I just mean as compared to my hiking tent which is tiny! Plus being off the ground is a win too.
Don’t forget that if you have a roof top tent you can’t go for a drive without packing up the house. My brother bought one for a round Aus trip and ended up selling it half way round and bought the a quick erect tent for that reason. Couldn’t go and get groceries, sight see easily if they wanted to stay in a place for a few days.
Do you know what the Subaru recommended weight limit is on the car's roof rails? I ordered an ARB RTT for my new Tiguan but when I went to pick it up the ARB manager advised strongly against fitting it due to the possibility of the roof rails collapsing. Even though the RTT weight was something like 80kg, you have to then add 150kg?? for the 1-2 humans inside. Car roof rail load limit was 75kg I believe. Cancelled the purchase and bought a Coleman Instant Up. No regrets.
Afaik the stated roof load is for a dynamic load. Ie: while moving.
Static load, while parked is a lot higher.
For example, 2013-2016 xv has a dynamic roof load limit of 80kg. The 2017+ xv has 60kg. And a Mitsubishi Pajero 4wd has 100kg.
Plenty of Pajero's with a roof top tent and it's only 20kg more than the xv previous shape xv.
I think your car would have been fine
I think you're probably right regarding static vs dynamic load limit, however the VW literature was ambiguous at best and I didn't want to risk damaging a new car. The ARB guy also pointed out a vehicle in his car park with a collapsed/broken roof rail support from an RTT. I'd still love to have though.
I think the commenter below is right about static vs dynamic loads but it would be good to make sure, I'll look into it.
The other reason a RTT is better than a tent is I can more easily camp in places you're not strictly allowed to camp (i.e. carpark in the middle of nowhere).
Probably easier to buy a swag and gazebo/instant up tent. Rooftop tent on a 12 year old subaru wagon seems a bad idea.
Why do you think it's a bad idea?
I'm also going to guess that a RTT will impact your fuel usage more than a camper trailer id you're doing mostly Highway KMs.
I'm also going to guess the camper trailer will use more fuel than a RTT if you're doing mostly city KMs.
I think that applies to the bulky RTTs more than the hardshell ones, no? Good point nonetheless, however, camper trailers are hardly inconspicuous which is a decent part of what I need.
Anything on the roof will affect fuel consumption.
A roof top tent isn’t inconspicuous either.
My Subaru xv normally uses 7 to 8 L on the highway.
Traveling to the outback at 43 degrees with a black wolf turbo 240 plus tent in a pod on the roof and heaps of stuff inside the car at 130km/h in the NT would mean I'd be using about 12L/100km to 13L/100km depending on wind.
So … Fuel consumption increases can be an issue when the next cheap petrol station is 400km away, and you get there and discover the unleaded pump is broken and you've got another 200km to the next one :)
What I'm trying to say is, … If you can make it fit inside the car then that's the best.
Also on independent suspension cars… When you load up the back your wheel alignment will be off and after 13000km of travel you may find your rear tyres worn on the inner edge.
I am aware of that, but it's really not a huge concern. I wouldn't be driving an Outback if fuel consumption was my number 1 priority ;)
Re conspicuousness - I think you'd be fine camping in a rooftop tent in a beach parking lot in a reserve, whereas you probably wouldn't set up a tent or camper trailer in the same position.
Did you look at an iKamper?
Thanks mate, no I didn't but will have a look.
Not cheap, but currently my pick of the bunch.
The other option is to put it top of a 6x4 trailer, then you can setup camp and still drive around, no weight on your roof and easy to tow.
Also stumbled on this yesterday, similar but much cheaper… https://bushbuckoutdoors.com/collections/our-favorites/produ…
If you want low profile, you'll be best off getting a hardshell roof top tent which start from $1100 for an Adventure Kings one to $5.5k for a James Baroud.
I'm personally running a normal high profile roof top tent but I've got a ute and it's mounted over the rack and barely higher than the roof. The one I use is an Ocam which is similar to the Kings but was about $650. I do recommend roof top tenting though. Comfort is miles above sleeping in a normal tent and having a always perfectly flat surface to sleep on and set up time is main advantage.