First Camping Trip — Rooftop Tent

[WoodWorks]

I've been using this James Baroud rooftop tent that I picked up off of Craigslist for the past three years on my old Subaru Crosstrek. But this was the first chance I had to try it out with the Tremor. So me and my dog Stanley drove out to a campsite I know along the McCloud River just south of Mt. Shasta in Northern California and spent the night there.

I've got the tent mounted over the bed on some Elevate racks. I did have to swap out the antenna for a stubby because the front end of the tent protruded too far. But I don't listen to the radio much.

Setup at the campsite was quick, and sleeping off the ground is sweet. Here you can see the wheel chock levelers and the mosquito sleeves over the rear windows, where Stanley sleeps on his "hammock," which keeps his dog dirt off of the rear seats.

Here you can see my "kitchen." I've recently switched from a butane stove to an induction burner, powered by a Jackery 1000w battery, which you can barely see strapped to the top of the 2x8 bed divider on the left side of the bed. It gets charged from the 110V AC jack in the bed while I'm driving, and I have a couple of 200w solar panels (that I store behind the front passenger seat) to keep it topped off while at a (sunny) campsite. It also powers the small 24qt. fridge that you can see strapped in to its right. Cold beer is good, and not having to find ice is nice.

It was a very successful inaugural camp, and I look forward to plenty more later this summer, once the smoke from all of the nearby forest fires here in Oregon clears.

Stanley is all in.

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[Ford Motor Company]

I've been using this James Baroud rooftop tent that I picked up off of Craigslist for the past three years on my old Subaru Crosstrek. But this was the first chance I had to try it out with the Tremor. So me and my dog Stanley drove out to a campsite I know along the McCloud River just south of Mt. Shasta in Northern California and spent the night there.

I've got the tent mounted over the bed on some Elevate racks. I did have to swap out the antenna for a stubby because the front end of the tent protruded too far. But I don't listen to the radio much.

Setup at the campsite was quick, and sleeping off the ground is sweet. Here you can see the wheel chock levelers and the mosquito sleeves over the rear windows, where Stanley sleeps on his "hammock," which keeps his dog dirt off of the rear seats.

Here you can see my "kitchen." I've recently switched from a butane stove to an induction burner, powered by a Jackery 1000w battery, which you can barely see strapped to the top of the 2x8 bed divider on the left side of the bed. It gets charged from the 110V AC jack in the bed while I'm driving, and I have a couple of 200w solar panels (that I store behind the front passenger seat) to keep it topped off while at a (sunny) campsite. It also powers the small 24qt. fridge that you can see strapped in to its right. Cold beer is good, and not having to find ice is nice.

It was a very successful inaugural camp, and I look forward to plenty more later this summer, once the smoke from all of the nearby forest fires here in Oregon clears.

Stanley is all in.

Great setup! We hope you and Stanley enjoyed the adventure

 

[CajunMick]

Nice. We camped 12 yrs in a fiver RV. Miss it…the camping stuff. Been curious of these top cab mounted sleepers. I’d have to go at it alone, but wife prob say no. Besides, has knees replacement and can’t climb ladders. But to put it bluntly, she could sleep on the ground. LoL.

 

[WoodWorks]

Yeah, my wife has no interest in camping either. Well, maybe a luxury tented safari. But not in my current rig. The upside? Stanley and I can get as dirty and smelly as we like.

 

[FamousAmos]

Nice setup. Mt. Shasta, the most beautiful mountain in the world. Growing up in the Bay Area, I never could understand why Shasta didn't get all the publicity/ink that the other mountains got. People who see Shasta will never forget it.

 

[WoodWorks]

People who see Shasta will never forget it.

Agree 100%

 

[SLINGSHOT]

Yup. Beautiful.

 

[Superg0]

What tonneau cover are you using?

 

[Panther City Outdoors]

fantastic!!

 

[WoodWorks]

What tonneau cover are you using?

The Lomax Folding Hard Cover (not the Lomax Stance). I'm OK with it not folding up against the rear window to expose the whole bed, as it takes all of 20 secs. to remove it, and I don't want to drive around with the rear window completely blocked. Besides, at 5' 10" I have no problem leaning over the side of the truck bed to access the front area if I need to.

It does leak a little (in the front and the rear) if I take it through the car wash. But I haven't yet had the chance to drive it in the rain. Here's hoping we get some soon, both to test out the cover's weatherstripping, and to tamp down all of the forest fires currently surrounding us.

 

[SLJ]

Very interesting. This rooftop tent on a Bronco Sport was set up two spaces away from me last weekend at a music fest.

I prefer a little closer to the ground...

 

[Deb from MN]

nice setup...beautiful view!

 

[DrNoobNStein]

That's an awesome setup . No wiggly ground crawlers to worry about at night, great view, and no trailer to hook up.

 

[Superg0]

The Lomax Folding Hard Cover (not the Lomax Stance). I'm OK with it not folding up against the rear window to expose the whole bed, as it takes all of 20 secs. to remove it, and I don't want to drive around with the rear window completely blocked. Besides, at 5' 10" I have no problem leaning over the side of the truck bed to access the front area if I need to.

It does leak a little (in the front and the rear) if I take it through the car wash. But I haven't yet had the chance to drive it in the rain. Here's hoping we get some soon, both to test out the cover's weatherstripping, and to tamp down all of the forest fires currently surrounding us.

I thought I saw that the Elevate only worked with Truxedo. I have a Rough Country tonneau. Are you using TS rails as well? Probably has been answered on another thread?

 

[JamesG]

Nice setup and Stanley looks like he had a big time.

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