By adam@PowerEnterpises.NET on Sunday, September 09, 2001 - 07:09 pm: Edit

Is there a roof top tent for the Disco Adventurer rack? Any clues? Has anyone made a custom one? I know Hannibal makes one, but not for the adventurer rack.

By Norman Smit (Safarigear) on Sunday, September 09, 2001 - 07:20 pm: Edit

How much weight is the Adventurer rack rated to carry? There are a few issues here - weight, fit and how the tent opens. Most racks aren't rated to carry the weight of the tent plus two occupants sleeping in the tent, which could be 600 pounds if you have two heavyweights. Regarding fit, the tent needs to fit on the rack and most fold open. This means that on the side to which the tent opens, (if you have that kind) you can't have a rail. This is why the Hannibal rack is sideless in front. If you don't mind losing a portion of rail, and the rack is 50" or wider, and it can carry the tent plus you and your partner, use the rack you have.

By adam@PowerEnterprises.NET on Sunday, September 09, 2001 - 07:28 pm: Edit

Well I'm no heavyweight.. I weigh 175 and the only other person in the tent may be a lady, or two.. ;)

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Sunday, September 09, 2001 - 08:34 pm: Edit

adam, i kinda dig the fact that you can sleep on top of that roof rack ... especially when stuck in mud.

but damn, aside from that, ain't good for shit.

i was out in truckhaven with a disco equipped with one of the roof top tents. the owner was avoiding all the hard portions of the trail because of the high center of gravity. i understand that there's more to life than some hard trails, but it was no "EXTREME" stuff.... just a minor off camber thing.

another trail, a D90 wearing the tent thing on its top... same situation, can't do much on the trail becauise of fear of flipero.

By Frode Hübertz Haaland (Discofrode) on Sunday, September 09, 2001 - 08:43 pm: Edit

I'd go for the Eezi Awn. Came out best some time ago in a test. And it's far cheaper and has a far simpler/stronger construction than Maggiolina etc.
This link SHOWS you the thing, but it's a scandinavian site so won't be of too much help reading...try a search on the net:
http://www.wiberg-wiberg.com/
Problem of racks carrying weight should in most instances apply to driving only (and you just don't poke around town with a few sleepers up top...). Any descent rack will suffice, though they advice that if you use Thule bars, you should have 3 bars, not the ususal 2.
If the owner you're talking about is afraid of the increased centre of gravity, he will probably be carrying something more/else. The Eezi Awn weighs in at 45kg, while the manual states 75kg as max roofload.
Hope this helps!

By Norman Smit (Safarigear) on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 05:58 am: Edit

Putting anything on the roof of your vehicle raises the c of g whether its a rooftent or a spare or other gear. As with many things, the decision that a 4x4 owner needs to take is 'what do I want from my vehicle and how does it fit my and/or my family's needs'? If the vehicle is there only for going to work and extreme offroad usage, an extra 45 kilos on the roof will be either problematic or unnecessary. However, most of the people who look into either wanting one of these - or using them - want to be able to use their vehicle to get out into the wilderness/ bush/ veldt/ outback, and enjoy the big skies in comfort and without dragging a trailer. They use their 4x4s to take them where other people won't go or because they camp a great deal. This includes canoeists, mountainbikers, skydivers, hikers, rock-climbers/mountaineers, birdwatchers, hunters, fishermen, geologists, researchers, etc. If a person is really concerned about the additional weight and tipping over, put in an inclinometer and have your 4x4 buddies rig your vehicle and test where it's new c of g is. Most people don't drive their vehicle anywhere near its capabilities. If a person with a rooftent wants to do a particularly extreme trail that has no outs or go arounds, they can take it off for that particular trip - it's only 4 bolts. Like many aspects of four-wheeling, it's an optional extra. It can be a very comfortable way to camp, but, like lifting the vehicle, isn't for everyone.

By Brian on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 06:21 am: Edit

All you need to do is add some flooring to your rack and be able to level out the lower section to match so that it's straight. Next find a freestanding 2-3 man (i am sorry "person") tent that has a footprint that will fit inside the rails of the roof rack. Inflate your air mattress and you're set. That's the way I would do it..if I wanted to. It's easy, you preserve your roofrack storage space, and you don't affect your CG.

Brian

By adam@PowerEnterprises.NET on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 06:41 am: Edit

I just don't like the outdoors.. that's all i'm sayin..

By KJ on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 06:54 am: Edit

So here's my question.....the reasons for having a roof top tent would be....? Being off the ground, dampness, etc., seem to be advantages, but does it offer you anything in terms of a deterrant to animals for instance? I wouldn't really think so, but there have to be reasons that I'm unaware of, other than it looks cool. And yeah, I think it looks cool!

Karen

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 07:08 am: Edit

brian,

you're right on the money. sears has a tent for under $20. i bought it and slept up top.. to see if i likes it. it wasnt too bad.

aside from bring cool it's not real practicle... as i discovered. but knowing adam his reasons are to impress the ladies.. so i say go for it.

rd

By Robert Mann (Oldscout) on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 07:22 am: Edit

If the tent is a rocking, don't bother knocking :D

By Norman Smit (Safarigear) on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 08:25 am: Edit

A rooftent's biggest advantage here in the US is it's ease of use - it takes us longer to unzip the cover on it than it does to put up the tent. If it's raining or you arrive at your campsite after dark, or you're tired, it's very pleasant to have a comfortable place to sleep inside 5 minutes. It has a foam mattress inside - and your bedding if you planned ahead - so you don't have to dick around trying to inflate a mattress. If your rooftent is properly designed, it will be cool because of the gap between the flysheet and the top of the tent. Animals find a rooftent more difficult to get to than when it's in front of their snouts. You also don't have the problem of scorpions or snakes taking up residence under the nice, moist groundsheet overnight, or, being flooded out when it rains - unless you're parked in a river. Putting up most conventional tents is a hassle, as is taking them down, and putting one on the vehicle adds to these difficulties - like having to carry a base, adjust for the step in the rack and not being able to use the rack for anything else while sleeping on it. A rooftent opens off the rack, so you can leave the other items up there. When you want to leave in the morning, fold it up, zip it closed and have another cup of coffee while everyone else in the group finishes disassembling their overnight arrangements.

By wturner on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 08:54 am: Edit

Who needs a tent WE DRIVE SUV's.

I was at a friends place on the Colorado river on night. I had more than a few cold ones and couldn't even walk, much less drive my lovely Rover, so knowing that I always cary an extra blanket, and had dirty clothes that could serve as a pillow, I decided to stay the night. No one else had room in their tents, and it was cold and damp, so I turned to my trusty Cargo area.

The back was FILLED with everything you could think of (tool box, suit case, ice chest, my GREAT folding chair with ottoman that also stays in the Rover at all times). I folded up the back seats, removed the roll up cover thing, and stacked ALL that stuff in the two front seats (sort of looked like Sanford & Son). I crawled back their closed the door and had a good night's sleep.

I am 5' 11" and I fit OK laying diagonally.

As for the ladies, my hand crafted British leather back seat did fine on another occation, and I am sure the cargo area would suffice as well.

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 09:26 am: Edit

I usually sleep in the cargo area as well. For longer trips I take out the rear seats for a little extra room. With a little pre-planning, I am set up within 5 minutes.

By ho on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 09:54 am: Edit

axel, you can fold down the rear seat, just fold down, then put the pelican cases so that they are the same height as the back of the rear seat.

and there is your bed. and use the driver arm rest as pillow.

By Jo Matthews on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 10:17 am: Edit

Brownchurch, thats the way to go. Have been all over africa in my old 110 with a brownchurch roofrack and tent. The tent is now on my disco and is still being used reguarly. It has never leaked and is excellent in providing a cooler place than the outside temperature due to its seperate roof. Its five years old and one of the best things that I have bought. If your worried about tipping over, dont be, you will be surprised how far a coil sprung landrover will lean.

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 10:26 am: Edit

The whole roof top tent thing has been haunting me. Just this last week end Heather and I were forced by circumstance to sleep in the back of the Disco. Heather is around 5'9" and I am 6'5" and some change, so you can see how that works out.The tent is nice in the way that you can just be at home no matter where you end up but bad in the way it kills the rack for anything else.I use my rack to carry allot of things along with me. Where am I gonna put that shit if I have a roof top tent? Thats my problem with them.

Kyle

By chrisvonc on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 10:28 am: Edit

Damn.. good idea Ho. More uses for the cases. I like it. Inflate the queen matress and bye bye seams.

CVC

By E Snyder on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 12:12 pm: Edit

Check out www.offroadstore.co.uk. Their section on rooftop tents is good. I have emailed them to see if they will sell direct to US. I think we could save on shipping if we did a group purchase. The Hannibal tents are around 495 pounds, which is about $750 US. The Ezi-Awn is around 550 pounds. I am planning on buying one at some point, but would be interested in a group purchase from DiscoWebbers. Charles Andrade at RoverAccessories has the EziAwn, but he is hard to get stuff from I've hear. There was a very good article on roof top tents (comparing different models) in a recent LR mag. I'll post the issue when I get home.

Sleeping in the back of a Disco kinda sucks. You have to unpack all your stuff, sleep sideways, etc. Maybe if you took one seat out and left it out it would be easier, but the roof tent is the way to go. If you're doing extreme off-camber stuff, leave it at home, I guess. I'd be more worried about it grabbing branches.

By Tony (Gremlin) on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 12:50 pm: Edit

So how much weight can a gutter mount rack safely support? The manual says 110 lbs, is that only using the 2 factory bars?

By Brian on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 01:45 pm: Edit

I can see someone on a safari or out in the bush using that but here it doesn't make much sense. You lose precious storage space, you're stuck with a proprietary roofrack, higher CG, ease of removal and replacement is questionable(cause you don't want to drive around with that thing on top all the time)you basically spend $$$ to sleep on top.

I don't know about you but it takes me less than 5 min to set up any one of my tents. Even faster if its raining and I am not much of a luxury camper so I don't have to dick around with mattresses, and any snouts poking around will meet the muzzle of another beast...

But if you're going entertain one or more women, you gotta do whatcha gotta do! To each his own...

Brian

By E Snyder on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 03:08 pm: Edit

I agree taking it off and on would be a pain. I think they can be made to fit several different roof racks. I have a Wilderness system rack and it doesn't look too hard. As far as weight, I have had up to 6 people on my Wilderness rack (with custom floor, spreading weight out to perimeter of rack), with no problem. (So entertaining a few ladies shouldn't be a problem for our man further up the thread!) So far no cracks or anything at the gutters. The wilderness rack has 8 support points. The roof tent would be sweet camping on the beach, though, up out of the sand. Although I agree the $1000 or so would probably be better spent on gearing or something I would use every day. But hey, we aren't really in the Disco business to save money, are we?

By the way, I've looked for tents small enough to fit on the Wilderness rack. I think it is 4x7. If anyone has one they've used for this before, I'd appreciate you posting what it was. It wouldn't be too hard to rig up some modified platform, and a ladder. Set up is much easier on the fold out roof tents, though.

The article I mentioned earlier was from Land Rover World, February 2001 issue.

Also, while I'm rambling, I've been in some campgrounds here in the good old USA that had a few too many furry nasties around to be comfortable sleeping on the ground.

By adam@PowerEnterprises.NET on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 03:07 am: Edit

I'm like Kyle, I'm 6'5 an 175.. I can't sleep in the back of the disco.. i tried it once.

As for Karen, hell yeah it's cool!

and for John at RoverTym, suck it..

Adam

By Norman Smit (Safarigear) on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 01:46 pm: Edit

I've been offline a few days - but if the forum is interested in a group order, please email me as I'd like the opportunity of quoting on it. We have the rights to import Hannibal products and will be competitive. I also think you'll find that dealing with someone in the country is a lot easier than someone abroad, especially if something should go wrong..... go wrong.... Even with a group order I believe that a rooftent is a lifestyle product and should be optimised for the individual who will be using it. I'm familiar with how these products are used in South Africa and lived up the road in Cape Town from Hannibal and can make suggestions to people interested in the concept on how to use them or whether they should consider other options - like sleeping on the ground. Before I came to the US, I had a good look at the products available and I believe the Hannibal product is the finest on the market at the moment, both in design and materials.

By Mike D1 on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 07:26 pm: Edit

I have a Brownchurch and I am just going to use a REI tent on top. It will be inside when driving.

By Ron on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 05:14 am: Edit

I usually sleep in the cargo area as well. For longer trips I take out the rear seats for a little extra room.

Seats of the disco have been in the spare bedroom for the last 6 months at least. Two people CAN sleep in the back of the disco with the seats out but I would not recommend it unless you are really close. Alyssa built a cot thing back there. Unfortunately with the cot I had to sleep outside

Ron

By L_Tilly on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 06:36 am: Edit

We're looking at getting a Wilderness rack soon and am considering making a plywood (or similar) floor for a few reasons. We normally use a comfy dome tent for camping but have a "snug" two person pup-tent as well (light weight and takes up very little space).

I was thinking about putting in preset connectors and holes in the wood floor for poles and stake downs. Then set up some mounts to rig up a few poles to hold a sloped tarp for additional rain / sun protection. We still intend to do most camping on the ground, but it's nice to have a back up for heavy rains (ground water) or critters (my wife has a *thing* about snakes).

L_Tilly lnctilly@mediaone.net
96 Disco "Beowulf" - NH, USA

By Kristian on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 09:57 am: Edit

I was just imaging the road trip portion of expeditions where one pulls into a rest area or truck stop to sleep; don't think I would use a rooftop tent there. But the lot lizards would dig 'em!