Roof top tent, swag or tub?

Damian...

Welcome to touring, there is no perfect set-up that will suit all situations. Often it comes down to budget and what you can afford, compromise, or both...

If budget permits have a range of options that you can use depending on the style or type of travel being undertaken, failing that have the one set-up that suits most of your travel requirements the best...

For us, it can be anything from a hiking tent in the back-pack, southern cross centre pole tent or swag in the vehicle, or hitching up the TVAN camper trailer. After 25 years + of travelling we have accumulated the gear that allows us to take the gear that best suits that trip.

Just depends on what we are doing...

Best to get out there and experiment with what works best for you.

Good luck with it.

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

Make a rack for above the tub, low enough to allow RTT to sit below roof height, leave it on all the time, still lots of room in tub for storage.

I have a setup using a 2x3 mtr rollout awning and a tent arrangement that fits up under it from Kings.
On my last trip east I used a pair of Rola Roof bars that hold a solar panel on the canopy as the main supports for it.
I used the slots in the Rola to fit the brackets for the awning, using wing nuts from BCF, and when camped up for the night I simply loosened the wing nuts that held the awning along the side and simply took it off and then fitted it to the rear Rola bar.
Then the awning tent fitted under the awning , over the tail of the ute and I simply dropped the tailgate for a kitchen etc.
For extra support of the awning seeing it was holding the under tent I used a couple of tent poles and a cross bar in the middle under the awning bars.
Took all of 7 minutes to set up this arrangement.

Ron

Damian
Leave the rtt where it is and fit a airflow spoiler on a roof bar so the air is smoothly directed up and over the rtt for economy reasons as mentioned in earlier replies.That way you have accomodation you require, ie, already own it. The spoiler/air director can also incorporate a solar panel and with a regulator it will keep you battery/ies charged as well.
Alternatively, take the rtt off and use a large heavier poly tarp to drape across the bars you have and it pegged out either side and to the rear. Sleep in swag, cook, sit, all out of the sun and weather, hail rain or snow. Plenty of room for one and dog.

Here's a suggestion.

Replace the tub with a flat tray with fold down sides.
Build a rack that will allow your RTT to sit at the height of your ute's roofline.

In the tray create some drawers so you can access the space under the RTT easily.

Place your fridge in the back seat of the ute somewhere (if possible).

There'a ton of things you can do.

I had a king cab Navara which I built a frame for and got a canvas cover made to go over the frame. I was able to sleep in the tray area as well as carry all my gear . I built some shelving in which I could slide things in and out.

I reckon you'll be the only person who'll be able to solve this problem.

Good luck.

I think Baz-the Landy has nailed it. Judy and I have had a roof top tent until recently (it is in the shed), and due to age and getting up in the middle of the night, it has become awkard for us to get down in time for calls of mother nature, as we are in our late 60's. We mainly use a pyramid type tent now using the side pole kit to eliminate the centre pole That being said, we both have swags that we still use, and a small dome tent that we also use when on the motorbike. When time and trip conditions allow, we also have the camper trailer to use for a base and longer stays. Like Baz, when have accumulated over the many years. The only problems with using a rtt is that once you have set up you cannot go anywhere unless you pack up and set up again. As a laugh, we also had the little dog sleep with us in the rtt. My son uses a canvas setup that clips to the tub hard lid, but not sure of make etc, as he lives in NSW now,but have seen it setup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqtCXHlDfqo

Damian, I posted this information below to your enquiry about a week ago. Don't know if you saw it.

" sorry lost pics of two vehicles which I set up with drop side utility trays on each vehicle. One was a Landcruiser the other a Holden Rodeo 4x4 dual cab.

As you will see you can spend many thousands of $ on custom made arrangements with immaculate fittings and rigs that I guess add quite a bit of weight. Instead I used ply wood to make a camper on the back with a lift up roof to standing height. Looking at it from the rear, the left side I had a lift up side that provided cover and then used a tarp over this if rainy, windy or cold. so that area was fully enclosed including floor. This side I used as my kitchen with 3 way fridge, gas cooker etc, a fold up card table, fold up chairs to put out on the ground. At night I parked the fridge using gas on the ground.
The right side lifted out and I devised an arrangement where the side lifted up as a roof. A floor hinged at the floor level of the tray that folded out and was securely locked level with wooden supports that slotted into the drop down side tray of the utility. A couple of panels fitted into place either end and I could then use this area to shift across gear from tray and use the tray for sleeping.
The rear had a lift up panel across the width of the vehicle so I could prop this up and it made easy for loading. Within that panel I made a door with rear window do I could still use the rear vision mirror in the cab. A fold up compact short step ladder for getting in and out. The door was in two parts with the top part opening at the level of the of the tray panel when locked in place. I could put things in and out, (foodstuffs or whatever) without dropping the rear tray panel.
I called this The Half Star Hotel. It had many advantages. The structure was lightweight but well secured. (I had a five ply panel across the floor ) The ply provided insulation against heat and cold.
In making this every element was based on low cost and simplicity so that I could set up without any assistance and it took 5 minutes. It also meant you could stop anywhere at night without having to worry about wet ground for setting up a tent or whatever.
The cost for the whole thing came in at under $3000 with paint being one of the more expensive elements.
.I ran a line from the battery to the 3 way fridge and had long extention cords for camping in a park with lighting etc in the rear.
P.S. The plywood camper gives much better insulation than a canvas pop up or tent. Windows I made up using car window glass bought cheap from a wrecker."

Ever thought of towing a small trailer with your rooftop tent above it?
Lots of storage space then.

Thanks for all the advice, wow! So i got heaps of plans now lol i just fitted a custom light weight drawer on one half, the other half will be for my dog. Gonna cut the racks (if possibe - their a wierd shape) and line a roof tent with my tub so hopefully it will make a decent roof for the drawer and my dog also.
My brother just bought a darche swag and im bloody tempted to get one and keep my options open when camping, cant hurt if it only weights around 10kg.