Roof tents are incredibly versatile, and can be put up and taken down in minutes. We used to have an “air beam” tent, advertised as put up and pack up in less than 2 minutes I think. We put the roof tent up in less than 5 minutes the first time we used one. Throw sleeping bags in and it’s done. No messing around with air beds.
Defender 90 roof rack alternitaves
- Thread starter Jonewen413
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Roof tents are incredibly versatile, and can be put up and taken down in minutes. We used to have an “air beam” tent, advertised as put up and pack up in less than 2 minutes I think. We put the roof tent up in less than 5 minutes the first time we used one. Throw sleeping bags in and it’s done. No messing around with air beds.
Sofasurfer
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They are just fashion statements. Sleeping on the roof of a vehicle is nuts, get a B and B or a tent.
Saying they are fashion statements, is like saying “if your not a farmer, and you own a defender, that’s a fashion statement too”.
Have you ever used a roof tent?
Just because you can’t see the logic, or disagree with another persons point of view, doesn’t make it “nuts”.
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That made me laugh!
I had never used one until we hired a vehicle from Scotland Overland. We loved it. I have camped since being a few months old, so “normal tents” was the norm for me, until that roof tent. I have used trailer tents, and own a folding camper, over the last few years. I think carrying all the camping gear is a chore when you compare it to a roof tent, but we have 4 of us and a dog, so need the internal space of the 110.
Sofasurfer
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Overloading the roof, top heavy, climb up the vehicle, sleep on a roof rack, can't use multi storey car parks, make the vehicle more likely to be nicked, climb down in the dark to have a wee.. .... Sounds fun
bluedog333
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What is the load rating of the roof?
You climb up the ladder, not the vehicle.
You sleep on a mattress, not the roof rack.
Who wants to use a multi-storey anyway? They are usually in built up areas, drive your Prius to these locations.
Actually they make vehicles LESS likely to be stolen.
No wonder you don’t see the point of a roof tent, you haven’t a clue.
Sofasurfer
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Maximum roof loading for a Defender is 75 kg. How much does your roof rack, tent and person(s) weigh?
Sofasurfer
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Just checked Howling Moon website, weight for their basic model is 72 kg. Do you weigh less than 3 kg ?
That’s “dynamic” loading, so driving loads, not static. Take a look at the camel trophy vehicles for what LR load on their own roofs.
I’d suggest a Brownchurch roofrack but with the extra supports to the top of the bulkhead and the rear body capping a each side of the back door. This should get around the weight issue as a roof rack, tent and at least one person isn’t light!
They come up on eBay occasionally or go direct to Brownchurch.
They come up on eBay occasionally or go direct to Brownchurch.
Sofasurfer
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"That’s “dynamic” loading, so driving loads, not static."
....so your not going to drive it then, just leave it stationary. You'll know the safe weight limit when the doors won't shut or you roll it on a bend.
....so your not going to drive it then, just leave it stationary. You'll know the safe weight limit when the doors won't shut or you roll it on a bend.
The total weight of a roof tent and rack is unlikely to bend the roof, so the dynamic load will be ok. Why is the dynamic load for SA spec 150kg?
Why not go back to “sofa surfing” and leave the outdoors stuff, it’s not for you!
Sofasurfer
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Si Click
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I'm sorry are you implying that this SII rolled over not because of a mishandled traverse, but because of the weight of the rack and the few odds and sods it was carrying?
bluedog333
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I’d put it down to the black ice on that road.
I don’t know what Sofa’s problem is really?
Si Click
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I don't think it rolled on the black ice. If you look behind it there is a trail of jerry cans going back up the hill. I think he was traversing the snow and brush covered route in the background from right to left and pushed the vehicle beyond the maximum roll angle either by placing a downslope wheel onto something that gave way or put an upslope wheel on to something too high. The SII rolled left, down the slope and came to rest on the rock with black ice. "Mishandled" was probably unfair as that could happen to anyone and is why traverses are so hazardous.
bluedog333
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Who knows how it happened. It was probably Sofasurfer driving anyway.
I doubt that. Probably too busy surfing the sofa.
