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Engine: 242 CID 4.0 Inline 6 Chrysler MPI "High Output"
Originally Posted by osinrider04
If you're serious about a RTT, make sure you buy a roof rack that functions well with one. My rack is more of a basket with sides and a bottom. This means my RTT will sit up about 5" higher because it will ride on the edges of basket. There are roof racks out there that are better for this. See below:
However, my rack actually works out well for me because I have the awning on one side and the soon to be roadshower on the other, so my RTT needs to sit up a few inches higher to clear whichever way I deploy my tent when it opens. Once I get a chance to install the tent I will get pictures up! CVT does have a good reputation from what I can tell.
Finally got the fogs wired up. These things are ridiculously bright. These photos were taken with my cell phone so it doesn't really show how nice the beam is, but in person you get a great spread of light in a perfect direction for where I want my fogs to go.
Also did the front air relocation kit. This is cool because I don't need to store a super long air hose inside the jeep. It's also strategically placed so that I can pressurize the road shower that is above it.
We decided to angle it down because no matter where we placed it, it will be getting wet since it's exposed outside the jeep, so I figured pointing it down will at least let it drain from moisture. I'll keep an eye on how well this works, but the thing to consider is that placing it this way allows me to take the air hose in any direction a lot more easily.
Had a home depot gift card from returning some things from a million years ago so I picked up this 4 gun kit. It was like $100 and came with a pretty good array of things. I'll be testing everything out this weekend to make sure it can break lug nuts off and whatnot.
A 40% sale on Engel fridge/freezers came up so I pounced! I got the 40qt unit mostly because the 45 was sold out, but this has a more stylish look anyways.
I already have it installed to the dual battery system via a 9v plug that was wired into the fuse block. I'll snap some photos of that in a little bit. Stay tuned.
Removable inside basket is useful so you can pack up goodies and then put inside the fridge. Definitely useful for me since the fridge will basically live in the back of the XJ and I don't want to be lugging that thing around to pack it up.
Yes I do have a few updates. Not a ton happening lately since I ordered a new set of BFG KO2s. My old Duratracs wore improperly causing terrible road noise. Those puppies weren't cheap so I probably won't be doing a ton for at least a month. I will be creating a rear storage set up soon though since that isn't expensive for some wood. But here are a few pictures of my setup with the RTT. It isn't bolted down yet but I wanted to see how it would set up.
Yes I do have a few updates. Not a ton happening lately since I ordered a new set of BFG KO2s. My old Duratracs wore improperly causing terrible road noise. Those puppies weren't cheap so I probably won't be doing a ton for at least a month. I will be creating a rear storage set up soon though since that isn't expensive for some wood. But here are a few pictures of my setup with the RTT. It isn't bolted down yet but I wanted to see how it would set up.
How long does it take to deploy that? I've always been curious in relation to a regular tent.
How long does it take to deploy that? I've always been curious in relation to a regular tent.
To physically open the RTT it takes maybe 5 minutes? All you do is unzip the cover that you see hanging down on the driver's side of the jeep, undo a few straps that help compress the tent down, grab the ladder then swing the tent open. It's a hinge design so it's like opening a big pop-up book. Of course you still have to deploy the smaller things for the windows and rain fly if necessary, but that's common across all tents.
I think the debate on whether to do traditional ground tent vs roof top will go on indefinitely. The traditional guys like to be able to have a "base camp" that they can drive away from while keep everything else set up. For me, I am geared more towards overlanding so the purpose is to have everything self-reliant with the jeep. If I need to drive somewhere it's because I have planned it that way and I'm leaving (therefore the RTT idea works).
Also, the first trip I went on with this jeep was to an island in the OBX. We were using my ARB awning with the room attachment, which is basically a tent enclosure the connects to the awning. We had everything set up and were about to start cooking some food and having a few adult beverages when my wife noticed a weird pattern in the sand. Turned out that snakes were occupying the nearby beach dunes. We packed up all our crap and went down about a mile to another cove on the beach. Same thing. I guess the entire island was inhabited by them. They didn't bother us once, but the fact of having a tent up 6ft+ in the air would have given much more peace of mind in situations like that. The other thing for us are other wildlife such as bears. We don't get a lot in my area but with the backwoods mountain biking that I do, it's only a matter of time. In my opinion, take in account how you plan to do your camping. A RTT looks really cool but they aren't necessary for everyone's application. I'm happy to answer more questions about it if anyone is curious!
Last edited by osinrider04; 03-30-2017 at 09:22 PM.
I'm happy to answer more questions about it if anyone is curious!
Question!
I'm gonna sound super, duper lazy, but...so the thing opens like a pop-up book. It prolly closes just as easily - but would it close if I left all my sleeping stuff in it?
Instead of rolling up sleeping bags and pillows, just to deploy them at the next camp site, can I just leave it all in there and close it like a suitcase?
I'm gonna sound super, duper lazy, but...so the thing opens like a pop-up book. It prolly closes just as easily - but would it close if I left all my sleeping stuff in it?
Instead of rolling up sleeping bags and pillows, just to deploy them at the next camp site, can I just leave it all in there and close it like a suitcase?
LOL I like they way you think....
OP, yikes on all the snakes. RTT certainly a bonus there. However its not gonna help you in the instance of a bear one bit. If there is something in the RTT the bear wants he gonna get it. Promise. Only now you have nowhere to run. lol Best bear prevention = .44 mag
I do a fair amount of traveling to hunt. I've considered a RTT for the simplicity of quick accommodations in route to the destination.
I'm gonna sound super, duper lazy, but...so the thing opens like a pop-up book. It prolly closes just as easily - but would it close if I left all my sleeping stuff in it?
Instead of rolling up sleeping bags and pillows, just to deploy them at the next camp site, can I just leave it all in there and close it like a suitcase?
You certainly can! Everything has its limits so if you're trying to stuff a king-sized comforter in it you might have troubles. But I've heard lots of people using a double size sleeping bag and pillows when closed. I'll test it out in a few weeks once I use the tent and can let you know how well it works.
OP, yikes on all the snakes. RTT certainly a bonus there. However its not gonna help you in the instance of a bear one bit. If there is something in the RTT the bear wants he gonna get it. Promise. Only now you have nowhere to run. lol Best bear prevention = .44 mag
I do a fair amount of traveling to hunt. I've considered a RTT for the simplicity of quick accommodations in route to the destination.
Yeah I understand that a bear will easily climb my little jeep, but that extra few moments that it takes to do that versus me laying on the ground in a paper thin wall makes some difference to me. Not to mention the bear situation is very unlikely to happen in my part of the woods as well. Let's just say it wasn't the primary reason for getting the tent lol
Maybe...now hear me out, maybe you could use the RTT as a makeshift decoy/trap. The bear sees a tent up there, smells hot dogs, and goes for a li'l exploratory climb...SNAP!
SUCKER!
That dumb bear just climbed up into my RTC - Roof Top Cage. (Copyright Mike Mahoney, 2017, patent pending.)
Now, drive to a cliff and push the whole friggin Jeep over the side. No more bear problem.
Did a bit of flex testing today. I haven't upgraded my crappy shocks, bump stops, or limiting straps since doing my long arms. Decided to put the jeep up on the trailer to get some measurements. It isn't fully flexed out but you get the idea. Not too shabby considering my shocks aren't long enough. Could have gone more in the rear but it wasn't a tall enough ramp.
03-15-2017, 05:40 PM
