Part 4 - Roof Top Tent Check List

Roof Top Tent Check List

Determining Your Need

·Size

o   How large do I need the sleeping platform to be?
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·Budget

o   What is my budget?
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o  ($_______) <-  Budget per night
        (________)<-   Number of nights/year that you plan to camp)
      x(________)<-   Number of years you plan to use this setup
     =($_______)<- Your Roof Top Tent Budget

o   How will this affect my miles per gallon?
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o   Does it have a warranty?
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o   How long will it last, and what will its value be when I decide to sell it?
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o   Are there any sales coming up, or do they offer free shipping?
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·Demand

o   How often do I plan to use the tent?
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o   Will I want to spend time inside the tent to change, or relax?
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o   What weather conditions may occur while I am camping?
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Getting The Best Experience That You Can Afford

·Weight

o   How comfortable am I with a load of “x” amount on top of the vehicle?
___________________________________________________________________________________
o   How often will I be removing this tent from my vehicle?
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·User Friendliness - I also like to call this, the pain in the a** test. - check forums, social media, and reviews! Knowledge is power. 

o   How easy is it to set up, and tear down?
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o   How comfortable is the mattress?
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o   How comfortable is the ladder?
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o   How is the maintenance when you aren’t traveling?
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·Bonus Pros and Cons

o   Reputation – Does the company have a positive track record?
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o   Customer Service/Warranty – Are you able to get help when you need it?
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o   Wind noise – Does this bother you while driving?
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o   Loss of space in truck bed, or on roof rack. Soft-shell tents tend to double in size as they open, whereas hard-shell tents tend to cover their entire footprint. Is this important to you?
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o   Appearance – How does it look open or closed, what colors do you prefer?
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o   Miscellaneous Technological Features- What does it have? aka Creature Comforts.

-Auto Opening/Closing
-Ventilation When Open Or Closed
-Interior Lighting
-Number of windows
-Window awnings
-Skyview
-Ladder Functionality
-Mattress Thickness
-Anti-condensation mat
-Gear storage on top of the tent
-And the list goes on and on!
___________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

·Conclusions

o   What is my budget?
$___________________
o Based on the need and experience you desire, which companies offer products within you budget, that also meet your needs?
____________________________________________________________________________________
o List your favorite products from each company below.

Company 1(___________)
    1. _____________________
    2. _____________________
Company 2(___________)
    1. _____________________
    2. _____________________
Company 3(___________)
    1. _____________________
    2. _____________________

o Now that you have no more than 6 products on your radar, the fun begins! Call people, go to show rooms, go to meetups and events! There is no better judge of a product than yourself. When I was searching, I messaged local tent owners on Social Media and asked if I could trade them a 6-pack for a quick tour of their tent. This helped solidify my decision. 

Happy Hunting!