The wheels are 17-inch units from Method Race Wheels, wrapped in 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires. There’s currently one model (Ascent) available in two versions: Lite (59kg) and Pro (67kg). Peter from Hannibal Safari highlighted the importance of the tent’s orientation for specific vehicles. Not all tent materials are the same- Fabric quality- Internal storage- Internal windows- Mattress foam density- Stitching quality, MR SWAGMAN- Australian canvas and manufacture- Double-stitching and waterproofing of seams - Flys mustn’t touch the tent roof, as it renders them useless- Cheap does not equate to value for money, TJM- Polycotton material- Cover is thick and durable, like PVC- Aluminium bases- Light colours don’t absorb as much solar heat - Easy-to-clean aluminium ladders w/ large steps- A good warranty- Spare parts availability. $3,749.00 Unavailable. Speaking to James at Backtrax about the ease of installation, he told us: “The Backtrax RTT can be fitted to any SUV, 4x4, truck, camper or boat that has the legal capability to carry a ‘dynamic’ load of up to 75kg and a static load of up to four times that weight. For example, a 200 Series Land Cruiser has a dust deflector over the tailgate, which makes it difficult to open over the rear so you would opt for a side opening. Gear: ARB Flinders Rooftop Tent The new ARB Flinders Rooftop Tent is designed to provide a lightweight yet comfortable camping solution that’s quick to set up and pack away. In saying that, a well-designed rooftop tent shouldn’t put too many restrictions on your off-road adventures, and it should even make reaching your remote destination less stressful. Peter also advises to double-check the country of manufacture for specific “online” sellers, as the claims on packaging can sometimes be misleading. In most cases this will give protection to the access of the vehicle – if wet weather is experienced, you’ll have access to the vehicle with some protection provided by the tent.”. “There is no authority in this country that will assess the specification of the tent. Is it possible to have the off-road ability of a muddie and still enjoy on-road performance, mileage and comfort? The ARB Kakadu roof top tent is made by folks that know the outdoors and the Outback. The Ironman 4x4 Roof Top Tent features a raised ‘Climate Cover’ Flysheet to control temperature and reduce condensation; a pop-up window awning; flyscreen windows; waterproof, breathable 280GSM ripstop polycotton canvas; lightweight aluminium and insulated floor; luxury 65mm high-density foam mattress; a retractable aluminium ladder; YKK zips; rugged 1000D waterproof PVC ‘On Car’ cover; while a high-lift extension kit is available, too. However, it’s important to remember that traditional tents and swags are also typically positioned on the roof racks, so they’ll just as easily increase the amount of fuel pumping through the drivetrain. The ARB Rooftop Tent Ladder Extension is for fitting ARB Roof Top Tents to tall vehicles The rooftop tent ladder entension is compatible with ARB Simpson II, III & Kakadu roof top tents … recommendations 84709 Reply from Chris R. 7/6/2020 The best roof rack system we have available for your 2014 Chevy Sonic hatchback is the Rhino-Rack Vortex setup that consists of parts # RRVA118B-2 , # RRRLKVA , and # DK399 . ARB 804100 Simpson III Brown Rooftop Tent Annex/Changing Room. As mentioned – and it may seem like a no-brainer – the extra height you’re now driving around with can also cause problems when trundling through low-hanging scrub. In the Backtrax this is 38cm at its highest point on top of the roof rack. The lighter fabrics have no density to them and will not retain heat in the tent on colder nights.”. For example, the Hannibal tent is 380GSM canvas; there are other tent brands that also say that they are 380GSM or best quality and when you see them the fabric is so much lighter,” Peter Spowart told us. Other Toyota Tacoma truck tents use the side of the truck as a wall for the tent and branch out from there. “Both tents have an optional privacy room that allows either extra people to sleep in or can be used as a dining, change or storage room,” Mark Allen explained. Peter Spowart from Hannibal Safari explained that lighter fabrics may be waterproof but they offer no breathability. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. So it's the weekend and you want to get dirt beneath your boots and grime under your fingernails, but setting up a tent after a long commute is the last thing most of us want to do, especially when the last rays of sunshine are slowly receding. Can be an easy DIY installation with a few common tools. The Yulara is the bigger and features a large canopy over the tent entrance. The quintessential magazine for Australia’s four-wheel drive and offroad enthusiasts. Dynaproofed canvas 380GSM Polyamide breathable cotton canvas is used for the tent body, while 280GSM canvas is used for the window hoods and wall systems. “It needs to be understood that if the vehicle’s suspension is in good shape there shouldn’t be a problem,” Peter Spowart from Hannibal said. The moisture is generated by the people inside the tent. Many of them will convert the truck bed into the base of the tent. If you’ve got a mate to help out, then you’re laughing.”. Once installed a Hannibal tent takes between three and five minutes to set up, while folding down takes a few extra minutes – add a further five minutes for the wall system. The transit cover uses Australian-made 600GSM Vinyl from Wax Converter Textiles. A 400GSM PVC full-cover fly extends over and past all tent side walls. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. Our Tacoma camping tent inventory includes rooftop tents from the best brands in the business, including ARB, Smittybilt and Thule. AS the rooftop tent has evolved and increased in popularity, the price of a unit has been driven down. We have a solution for most utes, vans, wagons, SUVs & more. Compare. Sold Out. A rooftop tent is typically secured to the purpose-built roof racks of a 4x4 that has sufficient capacity to carry weighty objects up top. Enter the rooftop tent, where a good night’s rest is only a couple of minutes away. “Obviously the end-user needs to be aware they have additional height added to the top of their vehicle. Once you have set the whole system up, installation should be a 10-minute exercise.”, TJM’s range of rooftop tents simply U-bolt to the roof rack of any vehicle that has a sufficient roof load rating and enough space, but Laura Hayes did offer a word of advice: “It can be awkward to lift onto the vehicle for one person, but easy to secure once it’s up there. The flysheet has a vinyl waterproof roof with 210 denier Oxford Nylon sides, and the fly is suspended above the tent by an additional bow to ensure insulation gap. The RMR range of drawers systems feature a unique easy-fit adjustable mounting system & all double drawers come with a FREE wing kit! The tents are Australian made from Australian (WCT, Wax Converters Canvas) 380GSM Billabong-dynaproofed outback canvas. The tents feature a unique anti-pooling pole system. As a unit is installed on the roof racks of the vehicle or camper trailer, it means the rear cargo area can be used for other essential bits of kit. The units vary in weight from 50 to 95kg. As always, it’ll pay off in the long run if you do adequate research before laying down your credit card digits. AUSTRALIAN company TJM has two rooftop tents: the Yulara and Boulia. The PVC fly is 100 per cent waterproof. The bases of the tents are made from aluminium with ABS plastic sheets on the top and bottom, with foam used as insulation. The tent features a marine-grade hood lining and Speedline 1000D PU-coated nylon tent lining. ARB has encased all the best parts of the current awnings into an 2500m (8.2ft) x 2500m (8.2ft) gloss black, powder-coated aluminum housing. They couple perfectly wiith our rack systems. Will carry a 110 pound rooftop tent. ARB 804100 Simpson III Brown Rooftop Tent Annex/Changing Room. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. The tents can fit two adults. By iKamper iKamper Skycamp 2X - Black Roof Top Tent. “The definition of good shape would be a vehicle with an uprated aftermarket springs and shocks suspension package. Instead of smacking pegs into terra firma or squeezing into a swag (there’s nothing wrong with that, mind you), a rooftop tent is ready almost immediately upon arrival at camp, and it provides ample space, comfort and convenience. RRP: Simpson III $1599; Kakadu $1561Warranty: Two yearsWeb: arb.com.au. RRP: Ascent Lite $4795; Ascent Pro $5695Warranty: Three years for all workmanship and components and 12 months on the Lithium battery.Web: backtrax.com.au. • “The quality of the material and assembly required really differentiates a quality rooftop tent from an eBay special,” Laura Hayes said. Also standard is a 112mm mattress. Adding to the long list of reasons why it’s always better to buy local, Lux Fab is continuing to show how good a quality Australian-made exhaust can be. )Warranty: 12 months on the whole tent, with five years on the canvas.Web:  mrswagman.com.au. Backtrax Australia has designed and manufactured a hard-shell composite rooftop tent that raises the lid evenly, creating a secure and comfortable bed area. As an example, Hannibal Safari tents are designed with the use of a two-piece ladder, creating a total closed height of 30cm – opposed to cheaper alternatives which have a taller height before the ladder is even taken into consideration. Compare. How are you finding our new site design? Adding 60-odd kilos to the top of any 4x4 means there will be significant changes to ride, handling, off-roading ability and fuel efficiency – heck, your 4x4’s not cutting through the breeze like it did when it left the showroom. For example, Australian company Backtrax’s RTT Pro comes with a remote control, worm-drive-operated lift-and-lower mechanism, so all the punter has to do is undo the side latches and press a button. Made with heavy-duty outer shells, these tents protect you and your gear from the ravages of the great outdoors, including rain, dirt, mud and insects. Tell us in the comments below or send us your thoughts at feedback@whichcar.com.au. Its shock-cord-loaded opening doors are easy to use and help keep the housing from rubbing on the canvas awning when deployed. It also means sleeping material can be kept in the rooftop tent and be ready upon arrival at your destination, as Mark Allen of Mr Swagman fame told us: “With a Mr Swagman rooftop tent, all your bedding can stay in the tent when packed down, saving space within the vehicle.”, James Cockburn reiterated that point: “We have designed the unit with enough space for four pillows and a reasonable allowance for bedding to be left in the Backtrax whilst travelling.”. Ironman 4x4 has one rooftop tent on the market. The cleverly designed Bracketeer is now available in Australia. A 63mm high-density foam mattress is supplied with both tents and is separated from the tent wall via a PVC layer. The experts were in unison when discussing what separates quality products from ‘online specials’, and they all agreed the quality of the materials and the attention to detail is what separates the pretenders from the contenders. WHAT TO LOOK FOR? ARB 803804 Simpson Tent Incl. Two Versions of the Best Dune Roof Top Tent “Finding the perfect campsite is not an issue,” Peter Spowart, director of Hannibal Safari said. Set it up and close in under a minute. $689.00 Add To Cart . RRP: From $2500 to $4600Warranty: Five years for material and workmanship.Web: hannibalsafari.com.au. A well-designed rooftop tent – like Hannibal Safari’s range – feature windows and doors with the ability to open and provide cross-flow ventilation, which eases the sweats on those hot, wet nights in the tropics. Once installed, Ironman 4x4 tents can easily be set-up and folded down by one person in a matter of minutes. "Miscellaneous webpage" ... For some real crazy Liberty action, keep an eye out for the upcoming video from this ARB trip when we show all the other rigs how to really have fun in the sand dunes. “These coated fabrics retain moisture. Cloudflare Ray ID: 64d24194af0b0530 “A quality rooftop tent should be able to handle outback dust, corrugations, and anything else an avid adventurer can throw at it,” Mark Allen added. By iKamper iKamper Skycamp 2X - Rocky Black Roof Top Tent. Front Runner Roof Top Tent. “Rooms easily attach to the tent and are made from the same quality Australian canvas as the main tent and can be custom-made to suit the height of the customer’s vehicle or trailer. The obvious remedy to any issues with off-road performance is to ensure the vehicle is set-up correctly by adding necessary aftermarket componentry. So it’s best to ensure real canvas is used to avoid such problems. Compare. Ideally, we require at least two east-west bars on the vehicle, allowing simple fitting of the rooftop tent, but customers have the ability to mount them directly to canopies or flat surfaces. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. ARB Series III Simpson Roof Top Tent & Annex - 2-3 Person Capacity from $1,537.00. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. By iKamper iKamper Annex - Skycamp. “In the majority of applications I would recommend setting a tent up over the rear. ARB manufactures two models of rooftop tents: the Simpson III with Annex (and verandah) and the Kakadu (no verandah, but larger windows for more ventilation). James confirmed packing-up takes a bit longer – no more than two minutes, mind you – as punters have to walk the perimeter of the vehicle to tuck in the remaining material before pushing the button. It’s also a much heavier-duty attachment method to roof racks). The frame is manufactured with large diameter-thick wall section aluminium tube to reduce flex and damage during harsh conditions. The sizes are 1.2m (wide), 1.4m, 1.6m, 1.8m and 2m, and the line-up comprises four canvas foldout tents (all made in Aus) and one hard-shell. Aluminium is used for the poles, base and ladder, and the insect screen is made of fire-resistant nylon. $3,199.00 Add To Cart . Ford announced that it's officially teaming up with RTR Vehicles, ARB 4x4 Accessories, and 4 Wheel Parts for aftermarket Bronco goodies. Your IP: 50.62.141.61 A midge-mesh screen is over the windows, and a mosquito mesh on the side doors. TJM Yulara Roof Top Tent from $989.00. We then have four U-brackets that are looped under a roof rack and tightened to the tent with M10 cup-head bolts. • This may limit access to spots that have fixed height access,” James Cockburn said. Other features include a 3mm 304 stainless steel hinge to retain the two baseboards, the internal tent frame is gusseted for extra strength, and a two-piece ladder comes with wide treads. RRP: $1295Warranty: One yearWeb: ironman4x4.com. People forget that every breath of air has moisture and even perspiration from the skin has moisture. Hannibal Safari manufactures five rooftop tents: Hannibal Classic, Hannibal Jumbo Fly, Hannibal Jumbo kit, Hannibal Tourer and Hannibal Impi. Thule Tepui Autana Ruggedized 3 Person Roof Top Tent - Annex Included $2,749.95. Tepui... best tents on the market. This Roof Top Tent is designed to mount easily on your stock roof rack system or on an aftermarket rack/crossbar system. “With the ability to pull up anywhere for a night and be cosy in bed in under two minutes; what’s not to love?” he added. The extra height and weight a rooftop tent adds to a vehicle puts limitations on where you can head for your next adventure – if it involves serious rock-crawling through narrow passes, maybe it’s best to leave the rooftop tent at home and pack the swag. The tents feature double stitching, are made using polycotton, and have been designed with large windows for increased ventilation. iKamper Skycamp Mini - Rocky Black Roof Top Tent. They’re also equipped with a quality mattress and proper electrics. 4-Wheel Parts was also responsible for the lone Bronco Sport, which wears a rooftop tent … Remote tourers will know all too well how tight some bush tracks can get, and carrying an extra 50 or so centimetres on top of your roof rack could stop you in your tracks. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Are Media Pty Limited. “A [rooftop] tent will increase the height of the centre of gravity to the vehicle, but the uprated suspension will compensate for this.”. The tents also feature: 75mm-thick high-density foam mattress with removable mattress cover; stainless steel hinge system for the tent base; braced anodised aluminium tent bows; heavy-duty 600GSM PVC travel cover with internal PVC welded twin straps, which are held in place with metal cam buckles; mozzie and midge protection via Finetex gauze; interior LEDs, a slide-out gear shelf; and wide ladder treads on a two-piece ladder. Mark Allen added that it even pays to check things like tent flys, because “if they touch the tent roof, they are useless at providing shade and weather protection, and simply do not work”. Annex/Ladder Simpson Tent. “The evolution in design and construction of the rooftop tent in recent years means they are a lot lighter than they once were. So even though extra weight affects your bank balance when it’s time to refuel, it’s not as bad as it used to be thanks to the advancement in design, construction and the lighter materials used. “Forty-two seconds later you are ready for bed,” James Cockburn, founder and director of Backtrax, said. It’s only a little cheaper than the Simpson, but it lacks the extra space provided by the annex. As well as the luxury of convenience, a rooftop tent also maximises space by freeing up cargo areas for other essential camping and off-roading accessories. RRP: Yulara $1495; TJM Boulia $1400Warranty: Two years Web: tjm.com.au. “The views are better, less sand and dirt gets into your tent, and there’s extra security, which I am a big fan of with Australia’s abundant wildlife.”, Not only can you prevent unwanted attention by ground-dwelling prickly critters looking for shelter at night, you are also up higher to, as Ironman 4x4’s Greg Smith put it, “catch the breeze on a warm night.”. And, as Peter Spowart from Hannibal Safari added, “A rooftop tent has less effect on fuel consumption than a camper trailer or caravan.”, Another issue is the increased height, which may be a problem when in town (tunnels, carparks, etc. “TJM rooftop tents have been designed and constructed for ultimate comfort and maximum longevity, while keeping it as lightweight as possible to not add unnecessary weight to the vehicle,” Hayes said. The ARB Black Edition Aluminum Awning with LED light strip. This means that if the tent is closed the inside of the tent can become damp and bedding as well as other belongings get wet. However, this also means cheaper materials are being used to keep up demand. The tent is supplied with two crossmembers to distribute the weight evenly across mounting racks. The fly and tent are 100 per cent waterproof and the zips manufactured by YKK. ... from the Smittybilt rooftop tent … We pitched this question to the industry’s experts and this is what they had to say: ARB- Double-stitched seams - Weather-proofing with internal tape- UV Stable and UPF 50+ rated fabric - Corrosion-resistant hardware - Tubular frame, with a thick wall section to reduce flex, BACKTRAX- The attention to detail in all the finishes distinguishes a quality-made product - Take note of the stitching, fitting of components and general presentation, HANNIBAL SAFARI- Quality of materials and stitching - Density and thickness of mattress - Options available after installation - Quality of workmanship - Integrity of manufacturer/distributor - Product support and backup - Warranty policy, IRONMAN 4X4- Look at the materials used.