Adventure Trail Bike Forum

The idea of being able to camp at almost a moments notice and maybe even at any time of year has got me thinking. I like the idea of a campervan though not very practical from a running it point of view. A caravan is a possibility yet I still want to be able to use the towbar for bikes. Wet ground, drying tents is fine when you've got time to pitch it again to dry it out when you get home but even then you can't guarantee it will be dry in your back garden.

This got me thinking about a roof tent, something i've become a little obsessed with lately. I have access to three estate cars and I'm even thinking about converting one of them (a Volvo V70) to a sort of camping car with heating and leisure battery.

So I wonder if anyone else has ever considered or owned one? Has anyone slept the night in one perhaps? Anything I may not have thought of that would be useful to know?

Here are a few picture, one is a concept - you can buy the vehicle with a built on roof tent. Makes me think this could be the future











I'll post some more pictures soon folks

And for anyone who may be interested, here is the link to the UK importer of the first one..

www.home2go.co/

Some info about the concept which is interesting..

trend-tech.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/logan-for-camping.html

One for Aggy..





Something more realistic for Aggy ..





And if we can club together for a group buy, here is where we can import them from..

upal.en.alibaba.com/product/610859804-20...p_tent_off_road.html

My 2p worth. A roof tent is a nice idea but camping in winter you will be cold unless you are camping with full winter sleeping bags. There will be very little insulation and any heat put into the tent will escape out the canvas sides. Campervans are insulated so if you flick on an air blow heater powered by leisure battery you will warm up and the heat will stay inside for longer.

Just thinking outside the box, or should that be inside the tent, could something be knocked up using space blankets as a heat retaining reflective insulator?

I'm thinking along the lines of a secondary tent liner, fitting between the outer and inner shells.

Check the load capacity of your car roof too

Good point there mate.

ipswichbiker wrote:


And you forgot to mention full winter sleeping bags or a laundry room near by In seriousness though, you do have a good point, I think some sort of heater to take the chill of when you first get in, plenty of alcohol and a nice sleeping bag to snuggle into should be just the job (did I really just use the word snuggle )

Trevor Pastrami wrote:


That could be the way forward TP, I do like the challenge of surviving cold temperatures, I've done -15.7 before and reckon the above could see one comfortable down to -20. (which is probably nothing compared to what the Swedish army endure if i've got that right.)


Outsider wrote:


Very good point indeed OS and one which had me doing hours of research hence my slow reply back, I think it should be ok. The point loading on the car roof I have in mind is 100kg, I will probably fit three bars to be on the safe side though maybe even increase that to four, with around 160+ tent and sleeping stuff I reckon we're looking at around 200kg, if evenly distributed across 8 points on the roof rails 25kg I think should be ok unless there is too much motion in the ocean, see point above (plenty of alcohol)

Edit:

Found this, not sure of weight (or how you get it on and off)



Actually looks like an interesting little boat..

www.hellwig-boote.de/hellwig/jet.html

And I couldn't resist adding this..



zenseeker.net/Kid/AdventureVan.htm

I really don't see the need for a roof tent, when you have a Volvo estate.
It's plenty big enough to sleep in, (I could even fit short boards inside with no problems whatsoever.
If you're worried about heat being lost through the roof or glass, perhaps you could rig up an all round (and over curtain?, plus the added advantages are if it gets really cold you can use the car heater, and if you're pis a little bit worse for wear and you need a gypsies in the middle of the night, you don't have to negotiate a set of steps to get in and out.

Trevor Pastrami wrote:


Ha ha mate, good point, I guess the other and much cheaper option is a roof box, that would make Car Camping a lot more practical, you could store all your stuff in the roof box and leave the back of the car set up as a bed.

Reference your other point, I had that covered with a 2 meter length of hose pipe

I'm please to say that thanks to Markyt, I'm slowly coming to a far more realistic option which involves these items...





But then again, if I lucky enough, some surprise cash could just as well see me being the next customer of these guys..

www.autohome-uk.com

East Coast wrote:



Might I strongly advise against the use of pipe in this instance.
I know it might get cold, but to syphon petrol from the tank, and have a fire in the tent would be foolhardy!
The use of petrol in such a confined space is a recipe for disaster, owing to the highly combustible nature of the fuel, and indeed the material in which the fumes are being contained I.E. a tent.

If it were to get really cold during the night might I take the liberty of suggesting the following solution.
First remove the fuel tank from the car, this will keep you warm, as the exercise will promote good blood flow.
Second remove the car battery and place inside the cabin area next to a seat of your choosing, then use a knife or any other sharp instrument to hack into one of the seats, from which you can extract some of the seat foam; this along with some belly button fluff, or some of Aggys cotton wool will be a source of kindling. Now short out the battery with some light gauge metal, (wire wool when shorted out is very good and makes an excellent incandescent heat source), then simply place on the afore mentioned kindling which can then be placed on the remaining seats which will make you a nice fire.
Now the clever bit, with the fire now raging within the cabin you can retire to your tent on the roof and enjoy a night of warmth and comfort as the metal of the car roof will act as an insulator keeping you away from the flames.
Finally for those who think that the foam will give of toxic and noxious gases suffocating the occupants above, I have a crafty solution.... open the windows!

SAFETY NOTE PLEASE READ!

The above method is as yet unproven, so in the interest of Health and Safety please do not jeopardise your health and well being by trying it out without first taking the following precaution.

Always make sure that your Wife, GF or Significant other, goes in first for at least half an hour before you; remember you can always use the time constructively by saving on fuel for your return trip home.
How I hear you ask?
Simple while your Guinea Pig spouse is up there testing the new heater, you can drink a few cans of beer.
A simple equation > more cans of beer drank = less weight to carry = fuel saved (OK possibly the weight of a passenger as well but lets look on the bright side)

BTW I have a great idea concerning a flaming 12 inch trailer tyre as a hot water bottle if anyone is interested.

Trevor Pastrami wrote:


That's a fantastic idea Trevor, much better than throwing a match in the fuel tank which is what I had in mind! Your idea is pure genius, a slow burn will last much longer than the instant heat generated by an explosion

And there was me thinking I would simply put my willy in the end of a length of hoes pipe when I needed a wee in the night

Ever considered a career working for Top Gear? With ideas like that, I think you've missed your calling

Thank you,
I couldn't resist the temptation