BDV Duo

I have a hard shell RTT (iKamper) and love it. As for awnings…I don’t get it. Maybe they’re useful for about 2 hours when the sun is directly overhead or for a light drizzle of rain but they generally don’t offer much protection and they’re expensive. I use tarps so that I can angle them for maximum coverage and move them around as necessary without having to move my vehicle.

Just a note on your options. If you’re looking for a walled tent, windy conditions may create excessive noise. IMO wedge options are better as you can turn it into the wind. Although I have never slept in a James Baroud or Autohome and quality counts so noise may not be an issue. I personally went from a flip over soft shell style to an iKamper (kind of wedge) and would always recommend a hard shell RTT over others. One of the most important things is to get one with enough space to hold the mattress and your bedding so you can open/close without moving equipment. This is paramount. Others have noted some cons with RTT in general: climbing up and down the ladder, extra cost, can’t leave camp, etc. They are valid. There are always naysayers. And like with anything, there is no perfect setup. There are pros as well. You’ll stay cleaner and dryer than on the ground. If you choose the tent well, setup/takedown can be 60 seconds. Bedding is ready when you are. Sleep is generally better. Good luck.

Never hear this story about an ikamper. (But also I'm a three season camper. I intentionally don't camp in the worst weather.)

I've never gotten wet inside my tent BUT I have been through wind strong enough that the support bar inside keeps blowing down, and that's annoying but you just push it back up 40 times.

I second iKamper. Also, get a diesel heater if you need to. Tons of options out there and make the tent 70+ degrees in zero temps.

https://preview.redd.it/k68tdqpnewmg1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1920185dea43167c98087526cec9c484b6c35d7f iKamper's aren't cheap.... but they fit perfectly on the Crosstrek. Pros and cons for sure - but as someone who lives in Utah - the ability to drive in late a night, pop a tent on BLM land within a minute and leave just as quickly makes it great for us. We don't stay in one place other than to sleep, so it's perfect. I keep it on year round because we can just go south whenever we want.

https://preview.redd.it/spnza1jvfwmg1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fbce9929a6da74b07de3c73e92dabdc4470a6901 Use it all the time. We live in Utah so we can literally decide last minute to go somewhere and it's all packed and ready to go. Definitely not for everyone, but we love being able to find a random BLM spot when it's getting dark and be set up in a minute.

I love my RTT but as I've gotten older I've started to look at trailer RVs. Nothing is more frustrating than getting to a campsite, setting up, and realizing you need to run an errand because you forgot something. Or, when we went to Glacier National Park and camped in a dedicated campground and couldn't leave to explore because it was raining and I didn't want to pack everything up wet for a short day trip. You're kind of anchored to where you set up your campsite with a RTT and that is a big downside that I didn't fully comprehend when I bought mine. I fully comprehend it now. Usually it isn't a problem but when it is, it's a very frustrating problem. Having a bed that is comfortable is a huge benefit. I feel like I'm actually rested when camping with one. I also like how warm they are compared to tents. I have an iKamper and the vestibule is incredible, especially when it's raining or you don't have shade in the hot summer sun.

I’ve been down this path. Find one that has enough room to keep your bedding in it. And not one you have to climb on top of to close and smash down. I had the Ikamper and it worked great,, although I don’t really use it a more because on my jeep I prefer to keep my center of gravity low. I’ll use it for overlanding trails. But not for any rates trails over 6