Installed New iKamper Blue Dot Voyager Series Solo

After having several RTT's in the past, I was able to create a punch list of specs it had to meet. Last year I was in a ground tent after selling my old RTT because it was too heavy and made the vehicle drive poorly. I was going to stick with a ground tent until this one was announced. Here's the punch list I had:

• Under 135 pounds (this one is about 130)
• Ability to store bedding in the tent (this one you can with the air mattress option)
• Low profile (only 6" high)
• No overhang over the outside of the vehicle (This is the solo version, since I'm alone) with my son we ground tent
• Wedge style for fast easy set up and take down
• Long enough for me (I'm 6'4")

The only issue is, this tent is designed to be off to one side of a roof. This allows room for kayaks, bikes, ect to be placed beside the tent on the roof. Since I centered the tent on the roof of the Bronco, there's no way to hook the ladder on without fabricating something. I found you can easy climb up the back and jump in. I did purchase the Front Runner Spare Tire Steps. That should solve the problem. Since I'm only up there to sleep, it's not a big deal and I no longer have to carry a ladder.

The advantages of a RTT are great for what I do. I'm not "camping" I'm going out in the desert exploring old homesteads. Normally about 2-3 nights at a time. Moving to new spots each day. The RTT is nice because it's a 5 minute set up and take down of camp. Plus, it's often muddy or snowing. This keeps my tent off the ground. Even when it's hot and dry, it's a dusty mess picking up and storing a ground tent. This solves many issues. BUT they are only good for me if they hit those items on the punch list. Otherwise, it's a pain.

Oh...in regards to peeing in the middle of the night. Most folks I know (and myself) keep an empty Gatorade bottle up there.

Hope this helps!

Dang that's pretty sweet, but if I spent 3 large on it I'd only need the solo cuz that's where my wife would banish me to sleep.

So I have a legit question (not trying to be difficult or start a yelling match), but I am a traditional tent camper. What makes RTTs so sought after?
Traditional tents are easy to assemble and take down, and you don't have to worry about messing up your roof, falling, etc.

Enlighten me!

FleshTuxedo said:

So I have a legit question (not trying to be difficult or start a yelling match), but I am a traditional tent camper. What makes RTTs so sought after?
Traditional tents are easy to assemble and take down, and you don't have to worry about messing up your roof, falling, etc.

Enlighten me!

Click to expand...

While I still occasionally use a ground tent (Gazelle or Decathlon 2-sec), I much prefer an RTT.

For the Wedge shaped ones, getting to a spot after midnight, you release two latches, attach the ladder and your ready for bed, closing it down in the morning is just as fast and you're on the way. So Wedge RTTs are always on my vehicle:

• Easy, fast setup
• Never have a rock underneath my mattress
• When it's hot, there is usually a better breeze up higher
• When it's raining, you don't have to worry about the flood coming into your tent
• You can leave all your bedding in the tent when you close it
• Alot of the dirt falls off when you're climbing the ladder, easy to sit in your tent take off your boots and hang from the tent and don't have to worry about animals getting into them in the middle of the night.
• While some animals can climb, most won't climb a ladder, and those that do, you can spot and stop them before they get up to your tent.
• Don't get me wrong, it's not all perfect, but for me the benefits outweigh the negatives.

On my trailer I have an iKamper X-cover 1.0, it has a roof rack on the top and the inside of it can sleep 4 adults (hopefully they all have taken a shower before bed).



I went up into my tent when this bison came into the camp. I felt much safer being up there, then I would of been in a ground tent.

B Miller said:

Only 130 pounds! Like it's not even up there.

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Nice, did you get pre-assembled or did you put it together yourself?

FleshTuxedo said:

So I have a legit question (not trying to be difficult or start a yelling match), but I am a traditional tent camper. What makes RTTs so sought after?
Traditional tents are easy to assemble and take down, and you don't have to worry about messing up your roof, falling, etc.

Enlighten me!

Click to expand...

I think it really comes down to whether you make camp at the vehicle or not. I'm a backpacker, and the vehicle usually gets me to the trailhead, so I have several tradition tents. For many, where the vehicle stops is where camp is made. I can see the usefulness in a RTT if it fit my vehicle use.
Where I live though, they are much like Rotopax and more of a status symbol than anything that actually gets used.

kodiakisland said:

I think it really comes down to whether you make camp at the vehicle or not. I'm a backpacker, and the vehicle usually gets me to the trailhead, so I have several tradition tents. For many, where the vehicle stops is where camp is made.

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9 times out of 10 a RTT would work for me because I do usually park at camp. Funny enough, the Dead Horse campsite I just reserved will not, as there's a parking lot then a short hike to the spot.

Where I live though, they are much like Rotopax and more of a status symbol than anything that actually gets used.

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Don't forget the traction boards and shovel to complete the kit.

emulous74 said:

While I still occasionally use a ground tent (Gazelle or Decathlon 2-sec), I much prefer an RTT.

For the Wedge shaped ones, getting to a spot after midnight, you release two latches, attach the ladder and your ready for bed, closing it down in the morning is just as fast and you're on the way. So Wedge RTTs are always on my vehicle:

• Easy, fast setup
• Never have a rock underneath my mattress
• When it's hot, there is usually a better breeze up higher
• When it's raining, you don't have to worry about the flood coming into your tent
• You can leave all your bedding in the tent when you close it
• Alot of the dirt falls off when you're climbing the ladder, easy to sit in your tent take off your boots and hang from the tent and don't have to worry about animals getting into them in the middle of the night.
• While some animals can climb, most won't climb a ladder, and those that do, you can spot and stop them before they get up to your tent.
• Don't get me wrong, it's not all perfect, but for me the benefits outweigh the negatives.

On my trailer I have an iKamper X-cover 1.0, it has a roof rack on the top and the inside of it can sleep 4 adults (hopefully they all have taken a shower before bed).

I went up into my tent when this bison came into the camp. I felt much safer being up there, then I would of been in a ground tent.

Click to expand...

What he said! When I'm with my Son, we use a ground tent.

emulous74 said:

Nice, did you get pre-assembled or did you put it together yourself?

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pre-assembled. It was worth the money!

The rtt looks great...but I'm really loving the 35's + steelies on your BL.

Is it called an iKamper because it looks like a giant iPhone on your roof?

Which light brackets are you using for your Hellas?

FleshTuxedo said:

So I have a legit question (not trying to be difficult or start a yelling match), but I am a traditional tent camper. What makes RTTs so sought after?
Traditional tents are easy to assemble and take down, and you don't have to worry about messing up your roof, falling, etc.

Enlighten me!

Click to expand...

cuz spiders………

ATLBronco75 said:

Which light brackets are you using for your Hellas?

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They're from Specialty Performance Parts. The only single light mount I could find designed for the bronco bumper factory holes: https://specialtyperformanceparts.c...bars-or-2-lights?_pos=54&_sid=07712dd0e&_ss=r

Here's a video I did awhile ago:

Kickit said:

cuz spiders………

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You know that spiders can climb, right? It's kind of their thang.