4 Things we did WRONG on our Roof Top Tent Trailer Build
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- čas přidán 12. 10. 2020
- At the start of summer we took our utility trailer, built a rack, painted it orange and installed the Tuff Stuff Alpha Roof Top Tent. Find out the few mistakes we made along the way!
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Roof Top Tent Trailer
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Tuff Stuff Overland ALPHA Roof Top Tent - bit.ly/33r4vKH
270 Degree Awning - amzn.to/2ZmgAj5
No Weld Trailer Rack Kit - bit.ly/3hsOSHJ
Trailer Stabilizer Jacks - bit.ly/2ZBPbtw
Insulation (Under Tent Mattress) - amzn.to/3kcIDtl
Renogy Battery - amzn.to/3zv8OWL
Renogy Solar Suitcase - amzn.to/3b0ML0v
Power Station - amzn.to/2RpK6jv
Solar Panel - amzn.to/35t9ltE
Favorite Camping Gear:
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REI Headlamp 330 - bit.ly/3dQe2Uq
Headlamp 330 - amzn.to/35RDNNl
REI Headlamp 750 - bit.ly/3wvJUnZ
Headlamp 750 - amzn.to/3MXiKfs
LED Lights String - amzn.to/2Rl0S3m
REI Mosquito Repeller - bit.ly/3Am3292
REI Mosquito Repeller Refills - bit.ly/3crfcFG
Mosquito Repeller - amzn.to/3hxrVmx
Portable Fan for hot nights (Best Ever!) - amzn.to/3kbm1JN
REI Head Net - bit.ly/3e4Yg8B
Mosquito Head Net - amzn.to/3hZqqzM
Screened Pop-Up - amzn.to/2ViM1eX
Bug Zapper - amzn.to/36uhCg0
Walkie Talkie - amzn.to/3zN7YTA
REI Bivvy - bit.ly/3RiM7ey
Bivvy - amzn.to/3sQ31rk
REI FireCan - bit.ly/3con1vJ
FireCan - amzn.to/3JLcaGR
REI Nemo Sleeping Pad - bit.ly/3Torz66
Nemo Switchback Sleeping Pad - amzn.to/3tMK1Kq
Therm-a-Rest Z Seat - amzn.to/3tL3RFK
REI Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sleeping Pad - bit.ly/3CGiL5p
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sleeping Pad - amzn.to/3zNN3lr
Camp Kitchen:
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REI Cookset - bit.ly/3ASpWq7
Camper Cookset - amzn.to/3cniRks
Camp Oven: - amzn.to/30irBSO
Glass Cooking Dish - amzn.to/3QJVAv4
Kettle - amzn.to/3e3Aeuv
REI Camp Stove - bit.ly/3ct4kqS
Camp Stove - amzn.to/3wD1OFs
Tiny Kitchen - amzn.to/3JZbkaP
Cooler - bit.ly/3i4utsH
Cooler Anti-Theft Lock Bracket - amzn.to/2ZBh4lv
Electric Cooler - amzn.to/34OGYba
Fire Extinguisher Small - amzn.to/2DVDTZw
Tiny 5lb Propane Tank - amzn.to/33pFQ9h
5 Gallon Jug Water Pump - amzn.to/3hsOBob
Collapsible sink - amzn.to/33wDplE
EcoZoom Versa Rocket Stove - amzn.to/3tFXFNl
EcoZoom Dura Rocket Stove - amzn.to/3ehud9W
Camp Sink Items:
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Siphon Pump & Tubing - amzn.to/3hti0A4
5 Gallon Buckets - amzn.to/2KNixkB (Cheaper if you can find locally)
Camp Toilet:
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Porta Potti - amzn.to/3hn9MYI
REI Bucket Toilet Seat - bit.ly/3TyKWtp
Bucket Toilet Seat - amzn.to/3CJWPDq
Privacy Shelter - amzn.to/35zj1Ti
DAY HIKING GEAR
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REI Flash 22 Pack - bit.ly/3CGITNR
REI Patagonia Nano Puff - Men’s - bit.ly/3pRgNb5
REI Patagonia Nano Puff - Women’s - bit.ly/3KyuDIH
REI GPS Mini 2 - bit.ly/3Az0nsM
InReach Mini GPS Satellite - amzn.to/3hkYK8X
REI Buff - bit.ly/3pPRDcR
Buff - amzn.to/3M9DPUs
REI LifeStraw - bit.ly/3e9oR4p
LifeStraw - amzn.to/3BYTLnN
REI Trekking Poles - bit.ly/3pUJKTy
Trekking Poles: amzn.to/3cx1xZy
REI QuikClot - bit.ly/3Trd4i0
Small First Aid Kit - amzn.to/3MiatmW
QuikClot - amzn.to/3pomygi
Bug Spray - amzn.to/35DHWra
Sunscreen Packets - amzn.to/3M0lZD8
Sunscreen (we like Alba Botanica) - amzn.to/3BWJNmG
Hand Sanitizer Spray - amzn.to/35y5ldc
Multitool - amzn.to/36FXgnn
Whistle/Flint Combo - amzn.to/3voNO1Z
Compass - amzn.to/3Iv9BZH
Portable Charger - amzn.to/3td4erQ
Lighter - amzn.to/3poHKmB
REI Emergency Blanket - bit.ly/3dZWq8J
Emergency Blanket - amzn.to/3spK3Ye
Walkie Talkie - amzn.to/3zN7YTA
Pepper Spray - amzn.to/3Hl1xcN
Ez Towels - amzn.to/3hEGyY5
REI Tick Key - bit.ly/3ctaur5
Tick Key - amzn.to/3hpGcEi
#TuffStuffAlpha #RoofTopTent #RoofTopTentTrailer
2:00: we have an iKamper with what looks like exactly the same ladder. I pulled the feet off, then cut a few inches off the BOTTOM of the ladder to get the perfect length & angle. A few wraps of duct tape improved the friction fit of the rubber feet.
you could add a 1" spacer to the tent mounting points to gain some digit space, it may require new hardware. easy fix
That’s a good idea. 😀
If you add a spacer to lift the tent the amount you need for the ladder to function properly you will also gain finger room to undo the straps. That's 2 problems fixed with one easy mod.
We do have a couple extra pieces of steel so we may have to give that a try. 😀
A rubber/plastic bushing used in car suspension would be better. Would reduce vibration too
Great video!
Thanks for the honest feedback and great advice, on your home built Tent Camper. I am beginning my own build, now…
Good luck on your build!
This was so cool!
Great video guys!
Thank You!
Thank you!
Great setup!!
Thank you 😀
Guys, you are awesome! very nice budget built. I recently started looking at various ways to do the camping with my family and I started researching teardrop trailers. It is insane how expensive those are. For god's sake these are two wheel trailer with hard shell on top. They don't have engine, not transition, no other complex piece of machinery and yet they cost so much.
Thank you! We have seen quite a few nice budget teardrop trailers out there. That might be a fun project to build. 😀
I didn't have my tent either, but ended up having a welder design my "cage" to go on top of my utility trailer. I didn't go with the taller sides that you all did, I basically had him design it as if it was a big square, but with movable crossbars so it would be flexible in what I could throw up there. However, my original trailer started out as a kayak trailer, and I planned and wanted it small. NOW, that I'm camping a ton, my biggest mistake was going with too small of a trailer. 4x8. You can't see it in the mirrors as well, and with my kayaks loaded, I just don't have enough room for gear. Soooo, onto version 2, lol. I'm picking up a 5x10 with 15" wheels this weekend, and started over. I do think for the short term I'm going to get a ladder rack to hold the tent, and really design the next "welding" job a bit better. Mine works great, but once you start using it, you figure out what you could do different. I do like the idea of yours being put together. I'm curious at the cost (maybe I missed that in the original video). Mine was $500 to do what he did, but that was over a year ago and steel is way more expensive. He's working on a quote to do basically what he did last time, but I suspect it will be double which has me looking at other options for now. Thanks for a great video!!
I bought a ladder rack used for $80 and then used pallet racking beams ($27) as the crossbars. I bolted it all together with loctite so it’s removable if needed. We will see how well it works out. Maiden camping trip
Is next week.
We have a Jeep Wrangler. The wrangler has a very poor tow rating. This is a great alternative to a camper. I got so many great ideas from your build. Thank you for sharing.
Glad we could help. 😀
Hi ! I am still trying to find out these brackets to join the square tubes, is there any special name for it so I can ask at my local harwdare store or find them online? thx! Nice build :)
We purchased the bracket as a kit from Compact Camping Concepts. compactcampingstore.com/products/no-weld-trailer-rack-bracket-kits-racks
around 2:00 you are talking about the ladder's angle. If you get some paracord and tie to the 2nd or 3rd from bottom rung and tie to the verticle rib of the trailer. this will allow for an easier approach to tent and prevent kickout.
That is a good suggestion but one big problem is the ladder rungs only lock into place at certain intervals. It would help if the ladder was more adjustable.
They weren't mistakes, they were personal touches 😉👌🤣🤣🤣🏴🇬🇧
😂
What's maintenance and cleaning like for the Alpha? Is it a big chore when you get home after a weekend away to keep it cleaned out or to check all the fasteners?
It’s a fairly good easy process. We open up the tent in the garage to let it air out and vacuum the inside. After a day or two we fold it back up which only takes about 10 minutes. Probably need to protect the hard top with some type of wax but haven’t researched that yet.
Hello there. Where did you purchase the cage part of the trailer? Also, if all you had was a riding lawn mower, could you tow this trailer a short distance w/it? Thanks.
You could start with a smaller 4x6 trailer platform which might be towable by a small mower. The bigger trailer we have would be way too heavy. The cage was built from steel tubing and “DIY No Weld Brackets” which you can find online.
I'd run 2" spacers or some 2" square tube to lift the tent, while it's unbolted turn it around. And then remount the awning on the opposite side. Will work just fine, not ideal, but definitely workable. And as a bonus, it would provide covered access between the tent and the truck. Another idea is with the rack you have, you could add fold down or hook on "tables" on the orange rack, on each side of the ladder for storing shoes and other things you don't want to take into the tent.
I like the table idea. We have been looking at aluminum counter to have as drop down tables on the side of the trailer. We can’t flip the awning because then it wouldn’t cover the kitchen when it extends out of the back.
@@ExploreTrekAdventure I understand the thinking, but a little more food for that thought....... Since you have a great and sturdy rack, do like I said and reverse the entire thing, but then also add some pull out arms to have a second awning to cover the kitchen. Or even just another small rv style one mounted to the rear that extends out over the kitchen.
You have convinced me. I am going to just stay home. After all the outdoors is on the internet.
Need to try some VR camping. 😂
Did you guys build the trailer cage? And how?
If you check out our other videos we go over the build process.
Thank you for sharing this video. How much you paid for this tent ? Did it come with owning or was a separate purchase.
We purchased the tent on a preorder sale and was around 1900. The awning was a separate purchase. 🙂
@@ExploreTrekAdventure thank ya
Great video and information. I am actually in the planning stages of my Rood Top Tent Trailer Build and stumbled on your channel. I have always thought that i would place my RT with the ladder on the passenger side and the awning on the driver side like yours. I do plan to be camping mainly at devellped camp grounds. After watching your video I'm kinda confused now. Can you elaborate more? Maybe a good topic on a future video. "Ideas of a Roof Top Tent Trailer Campsite Layout/Setup"
Part of our problem is we have the 270 degree awning which means it can really only be attached to one specific side of the trailer. We want to have our main hang out area covered by the awning, but we also need the back of the trailer covered. Our Kitchen slides out from the back of the trailer and the 270 degree awning wraps around and covers the cooking area. We can’t flip the awning to the other side because the wrap around section would cover the wrong end of the trailer. That’s where we probably should have ordered the passenger side version of that 270 degree awning. If you are going to use an awning that comes straight out from the side it probably doesn’t matter as much since you could always flip around your setup if needed. Does that help?
@@ExploreTrekAdventure Yes it helps! Thanks.
@@ExploreTrekAdventure Would you actually be able to open a passenger side 270 awning or would your RTT block it?
We would have to flip the tent around so it would open on the driver side.
@@ExploreTrekAdventure Got it. So you would end up flipping both the tent and the awning. Do you see any downside to that? Maybe less aerodynamic?
Do you find the trailer bouncy when sleeping? Did you use stabilizer jacks?
You can check out our other videos or website which go over the build. We use 4 heavy duty jacks and don’t have any issues with the trailer moving around.
@5:15 Do you have the little bit taller and little bit shorter heights for us so we can avoid that situation? TY :)
Honestly the best way would be to test the tent ladder. Depending on the tent and the ladder they have at the time the height would change. You could also add spacers to the rack if needed for small adjustments.
Do you happen to have plans for that kitchen
We don’t have any official plans to share but we did reference the designs on drifta.com.au. They do some great kitchen builds.
@@ExploreTrekAdventure Yea, I've been looking to do the same. But was hopeful I could find someone with plans. Thanks!
First 2 seconds of the video I really thought she was English but her accent didn't support my presumption but her t-shirt says yes but her,,, my head hurts now!
Anyways, great video and hope you guys are still enjoying your trailer! 👍😊
🤣 Thank you for the nice feedback.
You guys are sweet. Good work. I would like to do something similar.
Thank you. Time to start your build! 😀
The ladder is not meant to support any weight of the tent
On the Alpha the ladder absolutely does support the end of the tent.
Id box in the trailer...
That is something we have been thinking about lately. Maybe use aluminum sheeting to keep the weight down.
Well that tells me not to build the trailer without buying all the equipment first.
That would definitely help. 😀
Negative
Ghostrider. The pattern is full.