{"id":4342,"date":"2018-06-15T15:06:08","date_gmt":"2018-06-15T13:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/?p=4342"},"modified":"2020-07-07T15:54:21","modified_gmt":"2020-07-07T13:54:21","slug":"rooftop-versus-ground-tent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/rooftop-versus-ground-tent\/","title":{"rendered":"WHICH ONE? ROOFTOP VERSUS GROUND TENT"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is quite difficult to decide which is best: a rooftop tent or a ground tent. The truth is that both have advantages and disadvantages and there are a few factors that will determine which one will work best for YOU. \u00a0So let us have a look at the broader picture.<\/p>\n

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A rooftop tent is the easiest way to sleep off the ground.\u00a0 You will have to decide why this is important for you and your family.\u00a0 We as a family prefer to go for a ground tent as we do not want to carry all the weight on Wallace\u2019s roof as it becomes a bit top heavy then.\u00a0 Top heavy in a Landy spells danger going down slopes \u2013 it always feel like Wallace is going to topple over.<\/p>\n

The pro\u2019s and con\u2019s<\/strong><\/h5>\n

One of the pro\u2019s of a rooftop tent is it helps when your campsite is uneven like in many places in Lesotho where it is nearly impossible to find a level place to pitch a tent – for this very reason Lesotho is called the Mountain Kingdom of Africa!\u00a0 This also applies when you are visiting marshy areas where the soil will not hold a tent pen as anchor.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest pro\u2019s for me towards a ground tent is when you are planning a longer stay in an area.\u00a0 You can pitch your tent, off-load your stuff, stow it safely and go for drives during the day.\u00a0 With a rooftop being fitted to your vehicle you will have to close your rooftop every morning and pack up your camp before you can go on your daily drive and hope that nobody took your spot when you return in the afternoon \u2026..<\/p>\n

They say that rooftop tents are quick and easy to open up.\u00a0 Without a doubt I tend to disagree on this one!\u00a0 Being on the shortish side it is always a problem to reach the top to help unfold and pack it.\u00a0 We have proved on numerous occasions that we can pitch our ground tent in the same amount of time as fellow campers with a rooftop tent.\u00a0 I think this comes with experience and understanding your camping buddy \u2013 what to take when and the process that we follow.<\/p>\n

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Those campers that are unsure of wild camping almost always prefer to go the rooftop tent way as they claim that they feel safer from lurking wild animals.\u00a0 This is a false sense of security as it has been proven over the years that you are just as safe in a ground tent as long as you keep your tent properly zipped up.\u00a0 Most of the unfortunate incidents that occur during camping excursions is because of the neglect of campers and thus landing in trouble.<\/p>\n

Surely the biggest con to a ground tent is that, although it is comfortable and you can stand upright, it is bulky and take up some space in your vehicle.\u00a0 However, we have managed to sort our packing for a trip so that it is easILy accessible and can be taken out first.<\/p>\n

Rainy conditions also make me lean towards a ground tent.\u00a0 The little veranda in front gives some protection where you can prepare a meal whereas with a rooftop you are quite exposed unless you erect a gazebo …………. or climb into bed and eat tinned food.<\/p>\n

Comparing cost<\/strong><\/h5>\n

There can be a significant cost difference between entry-level ground tents and rooftop tents \u2013 a budget two person dome tent is far cheaper than the cheapest rooftop tent. So if you are a novice camper and do not have big bucks or are unsure whether camping is for you, start off with a ground tent before spending heaps of money.<\/p>\n

There are some hidden (and often not thought of) costs when considering a rooftop tent.\u00a0 If your vehicle is not fitted with a roof-rack or luggage bars yet, it will add to your \u00a0cost layout plus remember to add a percentage to your fuel bill as well.\u00a0 However, if you carry your ground tent on your roof-rack it will also add to your fuel bill.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Physical abilities<\/strong><\/h5>\n

One important factor which might rule out a rooftop tent for you is your mobility. If you are a senior person and not that mobile anymore you need to reconsider a rooftop tent.\u00a0 Add the fact that you need to \u201ccrawl\u201d into your bedroom and cannot stand upright and have to negotiate the ladder at night when nature calls \u2026\u2026 you can injure yourself badly if not careful and spoil your long awaited trip.<\/p>\n

Lastly<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Think carefully about your needs (and that includes the age of your children who will need to use the bathroom during the night), abilities and places that you are planning to visit before investing in a tent. \u00a0At the end of the day there is no right and wrong, it is all about what suits your needs.<\/p>\n

I hope this contributed to your reasoning in making a well thought over decision and that I did not mess with your head even more!\u00a0 If you are still unsure if camping is your thing you can read more about camping under my\u00a0 Wilderness<\/a> camping post.<\/p>\n

Recommendation<\/strong><\/h5>\n

My recommendation is, where possible, buy second-hand.\u00a0 There are various Facebook pages where you can buy\/sell camping gear which is still in good condition.\u00a0 If you need pointers, please pop me a message on Facebook or e-mail me.<\/p>\n

—oOo—<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is quite difficult to decide which is best: a rooftop tent or a ground tent. The truth is that both have advantages and disadvantages and there are a few factors that will determine which one will work best for YOU. \u00a0So let us have a look at the broader picture. A rooftop tent is the easiest way to sleep off the ground.\u00a0 You will have to decide why this is important for you and your family.\u00a0 We as a family prefer to go for a ground tent as we do not want to carry all the weight on Wallace\u2019s roof as it becomes a bit top heavy then.\u00a0 Top heavy in a Landy spells danger going down slopes \u2013 it always feel like Wallace is going to topple over. The pro\u2019s and con\u2019s One of the pro\u2019s of a rooftop tent is it helps when your campsite is uneven… Read more ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,125,510,139],"tags":[1088,1087,1308,1465,1089,1090,1083,1084,1755,1733,1565,1086,1082,1563,1564,1756,1085,1105,881],"geo":null,"yoast_head":"\nWHICH ONE? ROOFTOP VERSUS GROUND TENT - TRAVELBUCKET<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It is quite difficult to decide which is best: a rooftop tent or a ground tent. 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