Love the surplus trailier...what model is that one. It is bigger than the M101.

 

I love your setup..! This is exactly what I have been thinking about doing. I have tons of questions:

1. What version of Maggiolina RTT is it (Airland or Airtop - small or medium)?
2. How do you like the Gobi rack? From the pictures it looks like the RTT sits on top of the Gobi rack rails and not down in the "basket"?
3. How is the wind noise (without Gobi rack vs. Gobi rack only vs. Gobi rack & RRT)? Does the wind deflector on the Gobi rack make any difference in wind noise?
4. Have you noticed any changes in MPG and what about sidewind sensitivity at Freeway speeds?
5. Do you have any close up pictures of how you are mounting the RRT onto the Gobi rack? Also do you have any pictures with the RRT closed?
6. Have you ever tried to tilt back the Gobi rack with the RRT on it? is it possible? (It would be nice to be able to remove the roof panels on the hardtop or open up the softtop if installed).
7. Are you still runing the original Tires/Rims and suspension on your Rubi? and what brand is your fenders?

Pew... I think that should do it for now

 

Hey Cool Danish, Sorry for not responding sooner. The tent is an Airland medium size and is mounted on two crossbars which is a part of the Gobi Rack . Very little wind noise with the shield up front. The Gobi Rack has been a great investment and feel it is worth the extra expense. As far as tilting the rack back while the tent is attach, I've not tried to do so. My JK has a 2" level lift with 33's and 1 1/2 spacers. The fenders are Bushwacker flat fenders. To be honest at times I forget that the tent is even up there while driving highway or trail. As far as mpg, maybe a lost of 1 - 2 mpg. When I get a chance I'll post some pics of the tent down.

 

About 3 weeks ago while photographing moose just outside of Stratton, ME, I almost hit a moose on my way to a moose bog. Slid sideways and came within a few feet of hitting her. Love to photograph moose in Maine! I love your state!

 

The tent is extremely warm during cold nights and very comfortable. I photograph nature & wildlife for a living and need something I can depend on while in remote places throughout Alaska.

 

Not to bag on RTT's and their ridiculous high price, as well as increasing the center of gravity of your JK, as well as the lack of Lions in North America.....but save yourself a ton of money (in RTT and rack) and just get a really big tent, an air matress, and great sleeping bags. Spend 10 minutes setting up the tent, 3 minutes blowing up the air mattress, 2 minutes tossing the bags in, and since the RTT guys are already done they should have a drink already mixed for you :)
Light weight is key to expo. Everyone talks of not using 37's for an expo rig because of their weight. How about dropping a ton of weight that goes in your rig. Just look at some of the awesome photos taken by marksdsv expo in SAmerica. Look at the clearance of his wheels to the fenders....I'm guessing his rig is very heavy?!

Some of my tips on saving weight

Here's my sleeping set up:

Packed in the black duffle on the deck is my entire sleeping setup: a Kelty 4 person Tent, 2 sleeping bags (both highly compressible down bags), and 1 queen air mattress


Use your air compressor that you already have (we all know air tanks don't last on multiday trips) to blow up the massive air mattress


Here's the tent that stands 6' tall....try putting your pants on in an RTT


Need another advantage of not having an RTT? How about being mobile after camp is set to take photos or see wildlife:



Sure, in the morning you have to spend some time packing up, but who cares your on an expo!


Take the money you saved in the rack and RTT and get extra fuel cans or an underbody extra gas tank. These items will get you farther down the road to no where....I promise

Keep the pics and ideas coming folks!!

 

Agree that I don't find the rooftop tents very useful--they certainly won't protect your from bears or mountain lions if for some reason one decided he wanted to bother you. I go with a smaller tent, however. And eschew the air mattress for 3/4 sleeping pads. In my case, MSR Hubba Hubba and Thermorest Prolite 3s. This takes up less space in the Jeep, and even with the overhead rack, I find space is still a premium. That's partially because of the need to keep the back seat available to carry our extensive camera gear (the floor area, however, is available and is where we stuff clothing bags and toiletries, etc). As for the sleeping pad: I guess over many years of backpacking I've found that I'm much more comfortable on a pad than on an air mattress. Air mattresses tend to sleep cold--your body heat is no match for that mass of cold air on a chilly night. For the mild weather campers (I camp all year long), I guess the air mattress is okay. But I still find the pad a more comfortable rest at night.

 

The great thing about RTT s is that they offer another option for getting out and seeing things off the beaten path.
I wanted to take the family (including two teenaged girls) across Canada and to the North.

My wife said:
Staying in hotels Not an option!
Sleeping on the ground like a High School kid no longer an option!
Waiting around in the am for a tent to dry, not an option!

Sleeping up off the ground, in a tent that sets up in 45 seconds with your bed already made, folds up in 1 min.
When are we leaving?

We had a blast on the trip. Next year we plan to take them (tent and kids) to Newfoundland.

Rtts aren't for everybody but those of us that have them,love em.

Find what works for you and roll with it.

 

Good points for the RTTs and conventional tents. How about the trailers and the tents that mount on top of them?

I tend to agree that staying above ground keep several critters away and a mil trailer also offers the option to leave the camp setup while driving nearby.

Based on the advantages listed for RTTs and conventional tents the small trailers seem to add both.

Thoughts on that?

 

Nice looking trip... That bog mud is somthing isn't it... Talk about looks being deciving, looks like a normal pasture then you take a step into it up to your knee?
Can't wait for my little girls (2 & 5) to get a little bit older and then we are Labrador/Newfoundland bound for a summer...