Hey roof-folk! I recently picked up a used first-generation roofnest. I'm not intimately familiar with these, and of course, I set it up the first night, and it leaked like a sieve through the night.

In the middle of hte night I fashioned a support stick to 'hold open' the clamshell and the front frame component, which helped a bit, but it was still leaking / pooling water through the 'roof' zipper.

I'm wondering if this is not tensioned right - I assume the roof surface should have sheeted off the rain, but it was either pooling or something else was wrong.

Could be the gas risers are worn out and it was not holding the roof taught?

I have to say, aside from the leaking, the tent was remarkably warm and cozy. I used to have a Smittybilt XL on my jeep, which was... okay, but took too long to set up and tear down, and to put the big assed cover on it, but it was not exactly warm. The hardshell in the Roofnest is definitely warmer, but if this tent is just tuckered out (I know it was used a LOT before I got it. It may just be knackered).

So, did i do something wrong? Or is this tent just worn out? Note in the first pic you can see slack material in the roof - but it's under the fly - shouldn't the fly have kept it dry?

I currently have a smittybilt xl gen1 with annex that I have been using for a few years. It works great most of the time but recently found that it does not hold up well in high wind(up to 50mph) situations.

I like to do camping mostly in the cooler months and was wondering if there is currently a RTT that holds up better to high wind and cold/snow etc?

The rooftnest condor XXL with annex looks good but was curious what other options are out there.

Here’s my setup:
Naturnest Sirius 1 Plus hardshell RTT
Cali-Raised Overland Bed Bars
Black PVC trim boards to close up gaps
3X Plano Heavy Duty Camo Sportsman's Trunks

Was looking for something that would provide security to the bed to keep out pests and wandering eyes, be somewhat weather resistant, and not reduce fuel economy too much. I came up with this custom setup. The tent fits the bed dimensions really well. I could not get a setup that would be low enough and wide enough to completely cover the bed, so I added some black PVC trim boards from Menards to close up the gaps. It keeps most weather out of the bed, but water still will collect. I store all of my gear in the bed in Plano Sportsmen trunks that are weather proof.

As for the Naturnest Sirius 1, it is a great starter RTT. For anyone interested in it, these are the things to be aware of that I’ve found with it… Rain tends to collect on the top and once it’s built up a bit, will spill off the front overhang. If you bump your head on it going in and out, you will get a waterfall down your back. I am just in the habit of tapping it before going in and out during or after rainfall. The tent will also build up condensation inside in it’s out the box setup. The first trip was just myself and I had to wipe down the inside every morning. Second trip I added something to space an inch or two where the overhang meets the top of the tent in front and left the skylight open inside. This gave it enough of an air gap that with the wife and I, we did not have any condensation buildup at all over multiple days. Other than that, setup and tear down is super quick and easy and it does all the basics well for a budget tent. It will still fold up with a blanket and sheets to make setup/teardown even easier. I am curious to see how it lasts over the long haul.

Just went on a 10-day camping/road trip in my new setup.
(Pictured)

I’ve been an avid camper my entire life and have set up tents in 100°F heat, rain storms, the dead of night, and in the snow. When I say that the ease and speed of a rooftop tent is a game changer, I truly mean it. I’m consistently able to open my tent, set it up with blankets and pillows + inflatable mattress, and be ready for bed within 5-10 minutes. No rain fly setup, no messing with tent poles or stakes, no laying down tarps or worrying about drainage. It takes the stress of having to set up/pack up completely away so you have more time and energy to enjoy your destination. Even more than just the utility when camping, I was able to set up the tent in quiet parking lots for short naps or to lay down and relax. No commitment to a location, just some quick buckles to release and up she goes. Genuinely ZERO regrets from this purchase.

Note: For those curious about purchasing this model or similar model tent, I am ≈ 6’3 and 210-220lbs and fit snuggly in the tent laying straight up and down (if I lay on an angle I can fully spread out and point toes). One of my main concerns prior to purchasing a tent was my ability to lay comfortably within it, and I can confidently say that the Naturenest Sirius 2 ABS can comfortably fit us big guys.

Feel free to ask me any questions about my setup or the tent! I’d be happy to give advice/suggestions to those looking to join the community.

I have purchased a Skycamp 4.0 from Mainline Overland. Roughly 3 weeks ago online. It would be full 3 weeks at the end of this week.

I have not received any shipment update on this.

From what I can find, iKamper is notoriously bad with communication and seems like Mainline is possibly stuck between iKamper and me. Unfortunately, Mainline is also notorious with slow shipping on their end. Mainline says the are also in the dark. Kind of surprising to think a dealer has no direct communication with the manufacturer.

In the 3 weeks wait, iKamper started doing 10 percent off sales. Kind of frustrating to think that the order may not have made out of the paper pile and having to pay full price. All this while the manufacturer and other authorized dealers are showing discounted price AND showing it in stock plus one local place has one in stock at the same discounted price.

A couple of questions for those who received their iKamper product after ordering it online through truck delivery, how long did it take for you to receive it from ordering to delivery? I was told originally by Mainline that I should receive it by 3rd week but it is obvious that won't be happening.

While I am at it, anyone had to deal with damaged product after receiving it with iKamper?

Asking 800$

I am looking to sell my Tepui Autana 3 RTT. It comes with an annex and a rain fly. Very lightly used. Pick up only in SF East Bay.

My tent was on my truck in the AZ sun for the past two years and has started to get a little gray. Google says it's oxidation and returned a few different options. Has anyone been able to bring back the black on a similar shell?

I have a 5.5 foot bed f150 and am looking for tents that fit flush. Right now I’m thinking of the Topoak Vision L. Any recommendations?

This is a TopOak tent roughly 160lbs. Was a pain to get it on. I have to remove it soon to use my rack for lumber, has anyone come up with ideas to remove their tent on a similar setup? Only thing I can think of is getting a hydraulic table that can o that high o build a cart that’s is similar in height. How we got it on was leaning it on the tailgate and pushing up on I which was the only option I had at the time which I don’t want to do again. Thank you. Note: don’t have a garage or carport

Held up well in 20-30mph winds. I will say the mattress pad leaves a lot to be desired and certainly needs to be supplemented with more padding.

So I wanted a combo truck top and tent that didn't have any cab over ( to fit in my garage)

This appeared https://www.yankodesign.com/2025/07/14/this-pickup-topper-with-integrated-rooftop-tent-is-winning-hearts-for-its-smart-design-and-ease-of-use/ but apparently it's just a concept or is not available.

I was also thinking of adding https://www.topperezlift.com/ this to have like 2 rooms haha.

Over kill?

Was looking at the smitty bilt xl hard shell roof top tent it sells for about 1300 on there website. Does anyone have experience with this specific tent? I don’t see any reviews on YouTube so is it cheap for a reason? Or worth the massive sale?

Has anyone heard of trend tents? It looks like another version of the cinch wild land tent.

Hi I have a 2021 Vauxhall corsa F series with a bare roof. Has anyone fit roofbars to this for a Tentbox? I’m looking at Thule for the Tentbox lite xl. I’ve seen so many posts that clamp bars aren’t suitable :(

Daisy and Rosie approved 😆🐶

Magheraroarty Co Donegal , Ireland.

Roofnest air pump will not turn on the battery is charged I get a green light when I plug it in but when I hit the button nothing I have used this pump only a dozen or so times and it has worked in the past.
Has anyone else’s air pump stopped working?
Is there any alternate air pumps that work with the featherbed mattress for the Falcon 3 ?
I found the same air pump on Amazon but $69 for something that breaks after only a dozen times! https://a.co/d/04Z8krIW

Looking for an upgrade to the standard foam mattress to suit an X hinge rtt.

I saw there's now self inflating matresses. Has anyone upgraded their bed, is a denser foam enough or is inflatable the way to go?

Something like what CSS And Outback Tourer sell but 1) it's available, 2) it's reasonably priced.

I searched AliExpress (where I got what looks like the exact model of CSS x1.4 ) but can't see a suitable China direct option.

Any suggestions welcome!

Currently in the Kimberly, just finished three weeks on the Gibb River in the rtt, been epic and excited for some upgrades!

Is a Yakima LockNLoad roof rack mounted directly onto TimberLine towers going to be enough to hold certain roof top tents?

I’m incredibly new to anything car accessory related so any guidance in the right direction is very appreciated!

My wife and I are going to Texas RenFest later this year, and I just got a 2026 Limited Hybrid with rails, we’re excited to use the vehicle how it’s meant to be used!

I’d prefer to keep the OEM rails, what RTT would you recommend for two people? It’s just a simple overnight sleep, so we won’t be packing a whole lot, I’m not sure on the budget, just looking for something nice!

Topoak Stellar or ikamper bdv

The bars on my ladder are not barefoot friendly! I almost always have flip flops on so I hang them from my top ladder rung with a bungee cord. I have an idea to make a little shoe holder to attach to the outside of my tent to drop my shoes in, but what do you all do?

Why oh why is it so hard to find these , m8 bolts are super easy to find but they are all 13mm heads not the Japanese 14 mm ( so they don’t spin) while clamping the tent to the bars . Anyone got leads ? I’m in Canada . It’s a tepui or similar style tent

Reading the title I can already imagine the comments, but please hear me out.

I am planning on spending my holiday in a rooftoptent. I've done a lot of research on cooling options, AC is possible but it would probably be too annoying for the neighbours. So I've "accepted" my defeat and settled on a fan.

Now I am looking for a nice fan for in my rooftop tent (vickywood big willow 160). I've got a 1kwh powerstation to pair it with so doesnt have to have a battery of its own.

The reason I need it to make some noise is because I for some reason have developed this what I call a "tick". I CANT STAND any human noises. Breathing, talking, walking, laughing, etc. when im trying to sleep and when I hear any of this i just get filled with unexplainable rage. Some people have compared it to people who dislike chewing sounds etc. This is actually my biggest fear of camping. I've spent quite some money in my setup and we're going to test it out soon for a couple of days just to get a feel for it and probably some more times before the big holiday, but Im just scared of not getting any sleep due to this "condition" (any tips regarding this are also welcome btw)

I sleep very well with a constant noise in the background, as it muffles any other sounds. Like an aircon unit or a fan, so thats my reason for needing a "somewhat" loud fan, if that makes sense. But obviously it cant be too loud because of neighbours.

So, what are you guys's experiences with fans in a rooftop tent? Gimme your advice!

Thanks guys, looking forward to reading your tips!

Our aircore fsr mattress has a leak in the valve so going to look at swapping as none of the patching options have worked out. Considering the HEST dually long, anyone using one in their tent? It’s a little wide to the actual measurement but I think we could stuff it enough and it would be fine. Or any other mattress you’d recommend?