Family roof tent recommendations
 

Hi,

I am looking for recommendations for a roof tent to accomodate a family of 5 - two adults and three children (6.5, 5.5, 1.5).

I have been looking at the offerings from Eezi-Awn, Howling Moon, Hannibal and they all seem to offer similar things, but it would be useful to get the views/experience from the crowd here.

Our first trip will be to Morocco in the spring, and if that goes well we would be looking to do further trips to N.Africa, as well as possible trips to places like Iceland, and Eastern Europe.

I appreciate these things aren't cheap, so want to make sure that I get one that will last.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

For that many people, why not buy a ground tent?

Far cheaper, much lighter and easier with kids?

Julian,

Have you seen the double up Overcamp tent from Autohome? For five people it may still be a bit cramped. I think Darren's advice about a ground tend it not a bad idea.

double up
 

If you're stuck on the idea of roof living, and have a largish rack, it might be better to get two tents opening fore and aft. Although that's a fair bit of weight on the roof.

Eezi awns are well-made, but they aint cheap.

Yes, I know, but then you have the issue of trying to find flat smooth camp sites.

Also the wife likes the 'security' aspect of sleeping together on the roof and I like the idea that it will be easy to throw up at the end of the day.

It's one thing having to setup camp and put up a tent for your average traveller, but when you have three tired children to feed and deal with at the same time, every second counts.

No problem with flat places in Morocco where your going, plus the same goes for parking the LC with tents on top.

Rooftents do actually take a while to setup as well, depending on the design, and in high winds (like in the desert) they can flap wildly - enough so that you can't get to sleep without ear plugs, but I doubt young girls will put up with it.

In 6 months in Morocco I only used my tent about 4 times - always nicer to sleep inside the vehicle in my case, and when a storm did blow in I was up at 4am trying to put the tent down in gale force winds with lashings of sand. A ground tent parked next to the vehicle would have been fine.

With the price difference, you could get a lot of nights in nice, cheap hotels. Your call, but unless your using it for extended use they really are expensive and heavy. Maybe just hire one?

Clearly your wife's questioning of your ability to protect her is something you'll have to work out between yourselves!

Hi Roman,

Not come across them before, but provide some interesting options. Not really keen on all sharing the same tent so the option of having two up there is interesting.

Do you know anyone who has used them?

OK, flat may not be the best way of looking at it - ideally for ground tent you need level and smooth (not rocky) ground - how common is that in Morocco?

Appreciate that, would only really aim of an easy on - that's the whole point of them.

Surely that would be a problem whether on the ground or on the car. OK, you can camp on the leeward side of your car, but it's not going to help that much.

Have made a note to pack ear plugs ;-)

Yes, I know they are expensive, but once we have it it will give us more motivation to use it more often.

Not considered that - do you know who hires them?


One compromise alternative I have considered is building a platform on the roof rack using hinged composite sheets that are light, but strong that can be opened up and then find a ground tent to fit on top giving the best of both worlds. Two 8' x 4' sheets would give you a platform for a tent bigger than what is currently available from the likes of Hannibal and EeziAwn.

- "smooth (not rocky) ground - how common is that in Morocco?"

Assuming you will mostly be in campsites with 3 kids, it won't be a problem - it's sometimes just straight concrete, but any good mattress will provide a comfy sleep - just make sure the ground sheet is good quality and securely attached.

- "you can camp on the leeward side of your car, but it's not going to help that much"

You'd be surprised - your are up quite high and really get a battering - my tent seems to amplify the noise - always seems worse inside than it does outside. Down on the ground you are much more protected (by the vehicle, campsite walls, dunes etc)

- "do you know who hires them?"

No sorry.

- "One compromise alternative I have considered is building a platform on the roof rack using hinged composite sheets that are light, but strong that can be opened up and then find a ground tent to fit on top giving the best of both worlds. Two 8' x 4' sheets would give you a platform for a tent bigger than what is currently available from the likes of Hannibal and EeziAwn"

An excellent idea I think. Any two door tent that fits of a roofrack and a piece of wood will be fine and heaps cheaper. Show us some pictures!

Hi Julian,

No I don't have any experience with these tents. I suppose, like Darrin mentioned, they must be a pain to set up in windy conditions, only in this case the pain is double :-)

Maybe contrary to what you want it to be, Morocco is not in the middle of nowhere, you can find many auberges and campsites to stay for the night - hence the type of tent is not a safety issue.

If you camp near a village (in Morocco you are virtually always near a village), more often than not you will be surrounded by inquisitive visitors, so rooftop or ground makes littel difference here. If safety happens to be an issue, it is because your "hosts" decide you're being disrespectful - attidutes are more important than the type of tent.

Deep in the Sahara, there are hardly any safety issues, so where and how you sleep is even less of a problem.

Having spent months in the back of my 110 on a home made bed as well as ground tents in still and sand storm conditions I prefer the car interior anyday. Wind can keep you awake, as well as noisy campsites, particularly where there are barking dogs. In Djanet some of our party were in roof tents and complained bitterly about the incessant barking dogs, and their tents flapping in night time winds. I could barely here any of this inside, and yes ear plugs are an excellent idea. Use swimming types if available, much better than the traveller ones.

Roof tents are heavy, expensive and upset your C of G. Ground tents are for me at least a mega pain to set up and pack up, especially if windy. As mentioned before, in Morocco, even in the desert there are auberges so if you know where they are and reckon you can get to them in time, that's probably the thing to do.

Andrew.

my experience:stay away from the south african brands.
they are made for dry weather.

had a hannibal,sold it after 1.5 year.leaks,wheighs a ton.

use the overland of autohome.it now.
what a difference in quality.these brand is made for European weather and I can assure you,going to bed is much comfier when the inside is dry.

loads of my mates use Eezi-Awn and they also leak as hell.

If you want a quick set up, go for the box model (columbus/maggiomina)

check with BOAB in the UK for Autohome.it
nice bloke as well.

roof tent for 5
 

Julian

A roof tent for 5 is going some. It would have to be pretty big and therefore very heavy to accomodate you all. Go for a ground tent. On our trip last year we used a ground tent - ok only 2 of us but it stopped the pendulum affect of weight on the roof rack.

There is also the issue of getting in and out at night which for small people may be a little tricky with ladders etc.

And roof tents are expensive.

Jeremy

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Yes I agree that sleeping in the car would be best option for noise, etc, but not really practical when there are five of you.

As for earplugs, would probably go with the little foam ones many use when shooting - nice and cheap and do the job. Not sure what the swimming ones are like.

It's interesting to hear the comments about the South African tents since that seems to be where they originated and it's also good to see a couple of votes for the Autohome tents.

Most of the manufacturers supply 'family' tents, but most of them seem to be large single space tents. I like the Autohome Overcamp range where you have two tents side by side opening on either side of the vehicle - I guess it is the same as having two normal tents at either end of the roof rack.

My ideal would be to have on tent that has an openable divider down the middle so that we can access the children if required or shut the flap and geta little privacy.

So..

Having driven LCs with tents, fuel and spare tyres on the roof I have a good feel for the pendulum effect so am conscious of that.

At the moment I am looking at all the options for kitting out a car for use in N. Africa and elsewhere (I am hoping my trip in the spring will be the first of many) and am being very conscious of the weight and where it sits in the car.

Having understood all that and ignoring the cost implications can anyone here actually recommend a brand from personal experience?

x
 

overland/camp by autohome by far!:clap:

Hi,
Time for my small contribution.

I've owned and used 2 roof tents.

We started with an ECHO 4x4, made in South Africa, it is of a similar quality and material to all of the other SA tents and it cost £300 second hand. We used the tent on Dartmoor in the rain, and Widmouth Bay, Cornwall, again one night in the rain. We have also used this tent in Tunisia on two seperate visits for a total of about 25 days under canvas. We have never had problems with water ingress, however condensation is a significant issue. I sold this tent for £375 to a South African couple hoping to return home in a 110.

The second tent is an Autocamp, the German version of the Autohome. It cost £800+ and was mainly chosen for it's lightweight construction (35kg).
In my opinion the Autohome is not that well made to justify the the price difference. A lot of the SA refinements are missing; there is no wire through the upright supports, all of the weight is held by the ladder, the SA tents use bungees to pull the sides in when packing away, the door/awning is almost a waste of time, etc.

In all cases with ours we go as a family of 4. Me and the wife use the roof tent, the kids have a ground tent. We tried a 6 man tunnel, Caranex, 4 man ridge and now have a 2 man Kyham, the quick erect with all of the poles built in. We also use Kyham sleeping bags and a Kyham windbreak.

Personally, for 5 people I would go for two roof tents, not the sideways mounted ones, as you have to climb over the other person to get out for a leak, in the night. Although I dismissed all of the Howling Moon/Hannibal etc as they had lots of dangly bits, front awnings, side flaps etc, which look awful when not put up properly, having seen lots at Billing this year I wish I had kept my money until I had looked at more options. I bought my Autocamp from the brochure and the sales pitch of a good sales person.

As far as stability is concerned - one would hope that with 3 of your own children in the car you will drive within the capabilities of both car and driver.

Roof tents have improved considerably over the last few years, buy from a good reputable dealer in England.

BTW forget the home-made custom set-up. I thought I could save money by making my own (not roof tent but other bits an pieces) in reality it does not work. We can make, and break, camp now in about half an hour, because we've bought the right kit.
Kevin
www.4x4-travel.co.uk

go
Having seen some of theSouth African tents Iwould be surprised if they were that leaky. Knowing Widemouth reasonably wel, if it can survive there it should be OK for what we need.

OK I guess a major factor in the price difference will be the fact that you bought one of them second hand, but having said that I did notice that the Autohome tents were a fair bit lighter and it's interesting to hear your views as to why.

With our children being so young I wouldn't want to have them that seperate from us.

If you don't like the Howling Moon/Hannibal ones, would you recommend another brand?

Agreed.

Yes, the time taken to make and break camp is important.

Hannibal
 

Hi Julian,

we've had a hannibal on top of our land rover 130 for about 8 months now. We've been camping in Wales in early spring (5 out of 8 days with rain) and two weeks in europe (1 night of light rain and two nights of torrential downpour) amongst others.
From our experience, no leaks (unless you leave the window open and the rain is vitually coming horizontal:-( ), but we've only come across 1 weak point... the 2 piece ladder design means there's a lot of pressure on the join (and with people our size it soon showed!!).

Other than that, we love it...with a bit of practise, setting up and breaking down is quicker than we've seen anyone accomplish with a ground tent (other than the 30 second oztent) and it's out of the way the rest of the time...no storage issues. We opted for the enclosed entrance and its super.

We're selling up and heading home and I know we will have one of these when we get there (if we don't take this one back with us).
Cheers
Chris

We have just faced the same dilema when planning for a family of four. We have opted for an Oztent (Ground Tent). Fantastic bit of kit and half the price of a rooftop. It is very strong and only takes 3 minutes to errect. Cannot recommend it enough. Because we like space (the wife likes a king-sized bed) we have actually brought 2, which can be joined to form 1 huge tent. See www.oztent.com for distribution (BOAB in the UK). Good Luck.

Oztent
 

Saw the oztent at the last Land Rover show...they do look super quick to erect, but how sturdy are they and how heavy?

Oztent
 

If you're looking for UK prices, give Nene Overland in Peterbrough a call - they seem to import most varieties and if you ask for TJ (I think that was his name) he'll be able to give you the pros and cons as well as prices.

They have a website just on tents: http://www.rooftent.co.uk/

Julian,
My comment

"Although I dismissed all of the Howling Moon/Hannibal etc as they had lots of dangly bits, front awnings, side flaps etc, which look awful when not put up properly, having seen lots at Billing this year I wish I had kept my money until I had looked at more options."

did not come across properly, I missed a few words.
Once I had seen the Hannibal/Howling Moon's etc, erected properly at Billing I think I would have looked more closely at the pro's and con's of them and made a good choice from those available.
Kevin.

Sounds like a good option, but what is the likely hood of finding suitable camping grounds in Morocco?

This is my big concern with ground tents. With a bit of clever parking you should pretty well always be able to have a good level tent with a roof tent, where as with a ground tent you are fighting the problem of (a) finding a level surface and (b) finding a smooth surface.

Personally having camped on the side of the Himalayas, I'm not that fussed, however I will have an 18month baby, a 5.5 year old, a 6.75 year old as well as a wife to contend with - the last thing they and I will want to do after a long day driving is trying to find a level surface and then clear it of stones to smooth things out before putting a tent up sticking the mattresses in e.t.c.

There is nothing more annoying when crawling around in a tent to end up kneeling on a stone under the ground sheet.

Having said that the one option I have considered is carrying some hinged sheets of ply or compsite that can be folded out as a base.

live it up instead?
 

I realise I'm missing the point slightly, but you can't move for great auberges and hotels in Morocco. As someone already pointed out, you get an awful lot of catered comfort and convenience for the price of a roof tent!

Bush camping is one of my favourite things - but I've never done much of that in Morocco. Why not buy a good family tent on ebay (£50 tops) for the odd day when you find that perfect spot, and then chill out by the pool the rest of the time enjoying your Howling Moon cash?

Just a thought...

OK, I have never been to Morocco so have no idea what exactly it will be like, but I couldn't think of anything worse than sitting by a pool in a hotel. Yes we will stay in a hotel, but probably only once a week or one night in 4-5.

The other thing is I'm not planning on getting one just for Morocco, if all goes well down there we will plan to do plenty more family trips hopefully getting more adventurous each time so it is vary much a long term investment.

I don't mean the pool thing too literally! Although after 3 or 4 days of eating piste dust...

The driving distances in Morocco are fairly small and the accomodation is often very good (or at least convival), so you never really 'need' to camp.

For us, the struggle of finding a good camping spot away from curious locals or villages, cracking open all the gear etc. etc. is usually defeated by the prospect of a hot tajine and some Moroccan hospitality. Last trip I suppose we camped 2 nights each week.

Re: the SA style tents, looked at these closely a few years back and decided on the Eezi-awn which stood out as the best of the bunch in terms of design and build.

We are just trying to help Julian! ;-)

The other thing is, with kids as young as yours, I doubt you will be on the move everyday. So with a ground tent in a campsite you can leave the tent in the campsite for the day - take the cruiser out for a day trip and then return to your already made up campsite.

I don't know what your kids are like, but many that age might find it hard going being in a strange place and camping with poor toilet/shower facilities?

All gritsle to the mill - your choice, we just don't like to see money spent unless it's the right choice ;-)

Would you, actually have you ever left your campsite all setup at an auberge and not had any problems?

Not in places like Tanger, but in smaller places such as Tata where the campsite is excellent then no problems. You need to judge it on a case by case basis, and obviously don't leave valuables. But it would work fine in many smaller places where you can get to know the owners.

And put a little lock on the tent zipper anyway and have one bag with all valuables in it to take easily with you etc

With the children in tow I would never want to risk it. We can't afford to loose any camping kit so would never leave it behind.

Hi Julian

I spent 3 years in Africa, tried out several makes - Echo, Maggiolina, Howling Moon, Eezi-Awn, Campmor(?) etc
I ended up buying an Eezi-Awn, it was used extensively in all conditions - many night with howling winds and very heavy rain, and I would not hesitate to buy another or to recommend them.
Good luck

Most of the campsites are full of European Pensioners in camper vans (or mobile castles as is often the case) and are only too happy to help out a young family. Sidi Ifni and Tata are two excellent campsites where doing this wouldn't be a problem.

Have a look at the Sidi Ifni campsite for example - all walled and guarded and many of the pensioners only leave to buy bread each day ;-)

http://www.roamingyak.org/morocco/di...sidi_ifni.html

(Note, don't swim or let the kids play at the beach in Ifni - raw sewage had a habit of floating back to the beach when I was there - lets hope it's better now...!)

Anyway, enough of that.

My thoughts on actual tents. Canvas for European conditions isn't the best - if you have to put it down when wet it will rot, or if your cover develops a leak it will also start to rot.

I have a Eezi Awn - very nice to use as rooftent when it's up, but it does take a good 10 minutes of work to get it up and all the bits in place - I only ever use mine if staying in a place for more than a few days - in Morocco I mostly slept inside.

So I would go for a artificial fibre if possible - and ideally one that is completely enclosed. My Eezi Awn has two annoying flaps by the hinges where the two pieces of wood meet that it is difficult to get sealed up correctly, especially if the canvas gets wet and sets in a funny position.

It was through these holes that some mice got into my tent when it was parked up over winter and had a very messy and nasty mess - an expensive new mattress needed. When it's cold it's hard to stop a draft coming in here as well.

Also, the doors don't seal up completely either at the bottom- I had a rat attempt to get in through this hole one night, though the mozzy net held him at bay until the French dictionary was found.

Mine has been through quite a few prolonged and heavy downpours and been thrashed about in a few very windy storms. It's never leaked and nothing broke, though one night I got up in the rain and put it down and retreated inside.

Well guys, thanks for the responses.

It looks like the votes are swinging towards the Eezi-Awn. I suppose I need to get out to have a play with some in action.

I like the idea of the ones that open out the back with a covered in ladder, however all the 'family' ones appear to open out sideways. I guess if it is that useful I can always get an awning seperately.

I have considered getting two double ones, one opening to the side or front and then one opening to the back, but realistically would want to be have the children in the same 'space' instead of going down one ladder and then up another.

Darrin - saw that 'camp site' on the DVD (well worth watching if you haven't got a copy yet) and I think I would prefer the town dump! (although no doubt my attitude will change when I get out there).

Roof tents etc...
 

Hello All,

My two pence worth...

I originally started with a ground tent:
Cheap, versatile, not good on rocky ground ( a rake is very useful for quick easy clearing of stones), feeling vunlerable in dodgy areas,
packing away when wet a pain but you do store your bedding separate so it keeps dry...

I then went to a roof tent by Overcamp, the long thin one mentioned earlier, which can allow you to mount 2 side by side for more people ( not done by me)...
A pain to put on the loose cover when packing away - requires you to be tall and to be able to climb up to affix, noisy and wobbly in high winds, good in rain but remains damp and makes bedding damp if left up there in transit, feels safe off ground, no need for smooth ground to pitch, but 2 would be very top heavy - you will need to beef up the suspension to heavy duty for a happy drive IMO...
2 Overcamps side by side would require the access ladders to provide support each side - maybe not a good idea with 2 tents up top, as the weight of 5 people and the sway on the vehicle suspension will put a lot of strain on the side access ladders providing crucial support for the halves of the tents not over the roof-rack...I wouldn't fancy it...Would also put a lot of strain on the hinges - not good..!
Some kids love the access ladders - some are just scared and won't be happy to use and can lead to denial of full bladder syndrome (!)...Many women are not keen on the ladders either...personally I don't like ladders at all - particularly after a beer session requires you to put shoes on and descend for a nocturnal visit half asleep and a bit worse for wear..!
Access ladders and bare feet don't mix well - a bit painful for me
Safety first - even just a twisted ankle for the overlanding driver is a big problem...

Since then I have migrated through a 110 with a Dormobile camper roof and now a 130 with camper conversion - all fine and dandy for 1 or 2 people...

For 5 of you, I can only think a ground tent is the sensible way to go...
The previously mentioned OzTents seem very good (boab.biz) - quick to put up and can be more of a family team effort (!) than a roof tent...
At the freak storm incident at the recent Billing Landy show they stood up very well - watch out for the long pack size on the larger models...
Try it out before you travel to give enough time to order more poles if you want it more rigid than standard...

Not seen them, but worth checking out Kyam ground tents that now claim to have a quick erect system - no stop it, etc..!

Good luck and enjoy..!

Best regards,
James Stephenson
Land Rover Defender 130 camper
www.JamesUK.net

Just back from Artic Russia - will advise when website is updated for anyone that is interested...

I think he's probably seen it by now!
 

...or at least you would hope so!

Hi James,

Would be running HD suspension anyway.

Not considered that issue although suspect the 'family' tents where they open out on to one side only this will be less of an issue.

Good points. Our children are born monkeys so the ladder will be part of the fun, although probably not the 18 month old!

Fortunately none of us ever seem to need to empty our bladders in the middle of the night so not overly concerned about that.

True, although wouldn't be that keen on wandering around with bare feet that often, espescially at night.

I'm going to go and arrange to have a play with a couple of family sized roof tents before buying, but if I decide to step back to the idea of a ground tent, I like the idea of taking a rake - very sensible.

Thanks.

19-25 Kg, but well packaged. Very sturdy. I see you have a Trojan back. I have just ordered one from Terkoverland. I would value any comments. Thanks

Trojan Back
 

Hi Ian,

Not sure if we should start a new thread or carry on here - I'm a newbie to forums and not a 100% sure of the etiquette...I'm sure someone will let me know if we should.

To answer your question, we're only half way through with the trojan...we got the main part fitted in a hurry to allow us to head off for a 2 week trip round western europe, so still need the lockers finishing, and waterproofing of the rear door and the soundproofing and carpeting done...but so far so good.
Tim at TO is a great guy who's happiest when he's stood around chatting about the options and ideas and is up for anything. We got them to manufacture and fit an extended 80l gravity fed fuel tank when fitting the trojan and it works a treat. They're pretty busy and for us getting the vehicle up and back from yorkshire is a pain, but they're even willing to help out there - we're dropping our truck off with them this weekend at the Peterbrough show so we only have to travel there and back rather than up to the farm and back in two vehicles.

My only advice is to make sure you've thought it all through, so you're not getting them to do stuff and then undo it a few months later to fit something else...but Tim is the kind of switched on guy who'll point it out to you...but do tell him everything you're intending to do (even if it's not through them) so that he can advise you on any potential problems.

It would be great to compare vehicles and trojans when yours is done!

If you go down the tent route. I can highly recommend the Vaude Base Dome. It has two separate sleeping compartments on each side and living space in the middle (in which you can set-up table and chairs and escape the elements when neccesary). It is extremely well made (large bore ally poles etc) and will withstand most condions - designed for Everest Base camp.

It will take you 10 minutes to set-up. But get your children to help and you''ll make light work of it.

IMHO tents always flap in the wind and you wake up when the sun rises. Basically you get very little sleep for the first two or three nights until you get used to them. Its a question of getting acclimatised.

If you set up camp properly and get organised, then camping in a beatutiful spot is pleasurable in itself you don't always have to be on-the-road. I therefore feel that sleeping in the vehicle can be a bit restrictive.

If you edo choose to camp, always try and pitch camp a good few hours before sunset so you have time to get organised and so you are not shattered. You'll find it a lot less exhausting.

Alternatively stick your kids in the roof tent -they'll love it and pop you and your wife in a smaller dome tent on the ground. North Face - Mountain Tent - is another great tent.

In line with some of the other comments, Morocco is fairly populated and is not the best place for "bush" camping. If you do choose to use campsites be warned that some of them have fairly squalid lavatories and showers. Your wife and kids are unlikely to be impressed!

N.B. I have a Vaude Base Dome and a North Face - "Mountain Tent." I used to have an Eezi Awn rooftent (also excellent) but sold it with my last vehicle.

Family roof tent
 

Hannibals leak. Howling Moon are very heavy and cause condensation issues. Eezi Awn canvas attracts dirt which makes putting it up and striking it a pain. Autohomes seem to have a sharp unfinished metal edge along the lower tent which slits the fabric after a time - Ive spoke to three separate users who are really annoyed about this. Rocky Mountain get taken to bits by a decent wind. Never used Maggiolina but they take up your whole roof rack.

Saving grace for roof tents - MyWay. Very light (Oxford Nylon) but tough fabric, plastic floor so no rot or mildew issues (unlike wood floor tents), they make them as big as you want - you order the size. Lightest, toughest roof tent Ive ever seen, and after Eezi Awn and Howling Moon I was almost ready to go back to ground tents. They also flap less than canvas tents, being lighter fabric.

Roof tents are noisy, but they free the space in the rear of the vehicle. They are extremely comfy. Ive used mine all over N and E Africa and on the outer Hebrides in the UK, in the teeth of an Atlantic gale. Brilliant kit.

www.mywayrooftents.co.uk - have a look

Thanks for the link and recommendation?

Interestingly I recall reading about the chap who setup the company and why a couple of years back and have been trying to remember the name of the company etc for a while.

I also like the idea that you can get a degree of customisation, the family sized offerings from the other main manufacturers have very limited options.

Roof tent
 

Hi Julian
I had a fantastic roof tent that came with a Swiss vehicle, I think they are German, made by Camping car (Kampingcar?), looks like one used by Max Reisch in the 30's (fantastic museum in Innsbruck). The tent folds out on top, and an awning drops down to the ground, then you could sleep on the roof with kids in the awning. the only trouble is a high wind, then we just slept on the tent without putting it up, kids could go in the car. They are expensive, but fairly simple, just three hoops and a hinge, a canvas shop should be able to make one.
Happy travels
Bruce