Roof tent

Irritable Owl

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has anyone fitted a roof tent to the top of their mercedes?
 

LostKiwi

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Why, what's your concern? Roof tents are pretty vehicle agnostic.
 

ajlsl600

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not on mine dats why they have hotels
 

Craiglxviii

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I thought they was for camper vans?
 

LostKiwi

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I thought they was for camper vans?
You're thinking pop up roof.
Roof tents are a tent that folds out of a 'box' on the roof. There are a few different styles but they all have the same issues:
1. It's a long way to climb up when pi55ed.
2. It's a long way to fall down when pi55ed and you need to go for a wee...
3. They sway around a lot when it's windy.
4. You need to park somewhere level .
5. They compromise cornering/centre of gravity.
6. They hit fuel economy.
7. You have to pack it up every time you want to go somewhere.
 

Craiglxviii

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I don’t think I’d want to sleep on the roof of my car. It’d be a bit small for a family of 4.
 

Argus

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First time I saw this was back in the 70s in Italy. A Fiat 500 (the original model and really small) turned up with a roof rack that appeared to be fully loaded.
The occupants emerged from the car and proceeded to unfold the roof rack into a roof mounted tent.
It was so comical I almost pi$$ed myself laughing.
They were gone when we got up next morning, I just hope they remembered to fold the tent away before they left :D
 

rorywquin

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You're thinking pop up roof.
Roof tents are a tent that folds out of a 'box' on the roof. There are a few different styles but they all have the same issues:
1. It's a long way to climb up when pi55ed.
2. It's a long way to fall down when pi55ed and you need to go for a wee...
3. They sway around a lot when it's windy.
4. You need to park somewhere level .
5. They compromise cornering/centre of gravity.
6. They hit fuel economy.
7. You have to pack it up every time you want to go somewhere.

Exactly - we had friends with one when we crossed the Simpson Desert in Australia and they really suffered - the wife refused ever to sleep in one again........and to add to the list

8. Small and cramped and tricky getting out in the middle of the night if you are away from the door.....
9. He couldn't make any moves on her ....too much rocking ;-)
10. Unladylike for her, getting in and out, in her PJs.
 

bembo449

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I had a look at these for the range rover but it was more of an awning than a roof tent so with the rear seats down for sleeping quaters then a section above / over the rear end to do everything else but like others have said , its a pretty commited way of sleeping and lets face it , the benefits are not great in numbers
 

umblecumbuz

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I looked at roof tents, and thought what a stupid and impractical idea they were. So I now keep a Berlingo B9 as a dual purpose vehicle. It's often used as a camper - here's a shot of the bed.
All mod cons hidden away:




And here's the morning after:



Very enjoyable when mixed with every second night in a hotel.
 

M80

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We bought one of these for the Vito, now to be used on the Viano,

Khyam Tailgate XL - Drive Away Awnings from Khyam UK,
although I seem to remember it was called the XD when we bought it.

It reserves your plot fairly well when away for the day, just reverse up, unzip the joining section that clips to the roof rails and rear wheel arches.
The tailgate stays open over night for ease of using the facilities, we use ex caraven cushions to create a bed in the back of the van.
Unlikely, but we bought the bed pod that could take 2 more sleepers within the tent, close the tailgate and all have privacy depending what was eaten and drank the previous evening.

We do breakfast but otherwise eat out. If things get a bit uncomfortable we can always book in somewhere.
We've only used it for long w/e's so far though.

Works ok for us. I wouldn't fancy the climbing up onto our roof to sleep, not with Larisa being an alcoholic in training. BTW I'm qualified.
 
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A.J.

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I don’t think I’d want to sleep on the roof of my car. It’d be a bit small for a family of 4.
Or a tent anywhere for that matter !! not my idea of fun :eek:
 


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