ARB Esperance Roof Top Tent Review - 25 000km of use!

We review the ‪@ARB4x4Accessories‬ Esperance Roof Top tent. After almost 12 months, we've taken the tent up to the Tip of Cape York, the entire way down the East Coast, around Tasmania, across the Nullarbor, and beyond. We show you some hot tips for set up, pack up, and using - especially in poor weather! With more than 25 000km of use, this is an in-depth review that will help you decide whether this is the right tent for your travels.
Non-affliated link for more info: www.arb.com.au/esperance-roof...

[@James-jd7ik]

An excellent ‘honest’ review. The little details learnt by your experience are invaluable. ‘Moon Roof’ is obviously a ‘tempting Carrot’ but means you have to remove the Fly to use, unnecessary added pack-up time if you want to ‘get going’. A useful and comprehensive review, thanks and happy travelling 😊

[@suepalmer2049]

Fantastic video - great tips. Thanks.

[@whatcaravanaus]

Glad it helped out 👍🏻

[@fiq1999]

Very helpful video, hope we can see some vlogs from your adventures!

[@whatcaravanaus]

If you search for A Lap of the Block (@alapoftheblock) we post the travel vlogs there!

[@stevescott9667]

Thanks for the tips for young players like me.

[@whatcaravanaus]

No worries, hope they helped

[@heathviner2512]

Awesome review mate👍

[@whatcaravanaus]

Thanks!

[@milindag]

Beat video on the product that I have seen. Well-done.

[@whatcaravanaus]

Cheers 👍🏻

[@jeffreyvasquez7105]

​@@whatcaravanausyup well done review, arb should compensate you on this one, thanks for the tips ❤

[@Jonathan-io1fx]

Great review. Thank you. I’ve had an ARB simpson III for 10 years. It’s been solid and concept and materials look very similar. A few things I’ve had to address and was wondering if you have experienced the same. (1) aluminum internal overhead tent supports attract condensation. I ended up wrapping mine with foam tape to alleviate. (2) internal clear tape used to seal seams basically all came off. I resealed all seams with liquid seam goop. (3) I’m able to store additional deflated air pads in my SIII. Have you tried to do anything similar?

[@markh6676]

Thks, very good review. Any dust ingress to speak of? Sometimes with thid type of rtt, the hinge for the extension platform let's in dust. Also, would the mounting clamps work with 50mm² alloy roof bars or would they be too thick.

[@whatcaravanaus]

No dust ingress inside, and we’ve done some dusty roads. Not sure about the 50mm roof bars, we’ve obviously got the thinner ones and there’s a bit of slack but 50mm is quite thick. You can also mount using bolts so that might be a better option.

[@bjorn99]

Great video! Appreciate the tips. May I ask if you could share the distance between the rails at the tent from center to center (when standing at the back of the vehicle)? I have a different rack and would like to know if it’ll fit.

[@whatcaravanaus]

No worries. The distance between our rails is 90cm, and the minimum distance you can have is 76cm.

[@clairenewbolt8768]

Great review mate - Hadn’t thought of the wind issue yet, I have a question if you don’t mind, looking at the set up, I’d have that back window (at 12.2minutes) open up over my tray, do you see any issues with my climbing it and out that way? I’m not big, 5ft5. I see the mattress is not flush with the base of the window and that material could catch but otherwise can you think of anything? Cheers!

[@whatcaravanaus]

Only issue I'd see is the getting in and out without the ladder - if you've got a way to climb up and down from the tray, you'll probably be fine. Our daughter sometimes uses that window when we're not there to tell her not to...

[@clairenewbolt8768]

Okay great - I got some storage boxes there to stand on, thanks for your reply

[@DriveLikeShana]

As much as I love ARB products, looking at this setup.. I am happy I got a James Baroud. Far easier.. almost nothing set up. Just unlatch n lift go in and zzzz 😅 . Nice video 😊

[@whatcaravanaus]

Love the James Baroud too, great tents. Thanks for the comment!

[@markh6676]

What model JB have you got? Thks.

[@DriveLikeShana]

@@markh6676 Evasion Evo standard size 👍🏼 might need the larger one if over 6ft.

[@chaseclemen2231]

Thanks for your review - I just got one in Cape Town, South Africa. Can one install it backwards so it could open on the left hand side of the car?

[@whatcaravanaus]

In theory you could, I guess. The aerodynamics are set up to open on the right so you’d probably get a higher drag and maybe higher fuel consumption.

[@chaseclemen2231]

@@whatcaravanaus will give it a try and report back.

[@jmzdlone]

Can you share more about the moisture mat

[@whatcaravanaus]

Too easy. It's this one here: www.anacondastores.com/camping-hiking/tents/tent-accessories/tent-flooring/dune-4wd-anti-condensation-mat-120-cm/BP90180560-black We've put it under the mattress and velcroed it to the bottom of the mattress so it doesn't fall out when we pack up or set up. Also adds a bit of padding, so more comfortable too.

[@VenkateshPattamatta]

Amazing video mate! Can you tell us where you got the Anti condensation mat from?

[@whatcaravanaus]

Cheers! Got the mat from Anaconda, but can’t remember the price. It’s the 120cm version.

[@VenkateshPattamatta]

@@whatcaravanaus Thanks mate. In Anaconda I can see the Dune 140cms one haha which is 200x140cms, my tent is 210x152cms and ARB rtt is 200x152cms. So length x width wise the mat comes short, do yu think it would work effectively with condensation? I am sorry to be asking you here, but not many people have used these mats and you used it it would be really appreciated :))

[@whatcaravanaus]

We haven’t had any probs with it being smaller in the RTT. I’ve used some stick on Velcro to keep it in the centre of the mattress when we fold the RTT up, otherwise it’s been pretty easy.

[@VenkateshPattamatta]

@whatcaravanaus Mate cant appreciate your reply enough. I just ordered it from Anaconda it was the 140cm one. Thanks a ton!

[@999mrkhaled]

Can u compare it to ikamper plz

[@whatcaravanaus]

Haven’t had a close look at the ikamper. If I get the chance I’ll post any thoughts here.

[@radioforum]

No comparison.. Icamper way superior

[@jeffreyvasquez7105]

​@@radioforumalso 3x the price from esperance

[@radioforum]

It looks so flimsy. The straps look like they are going to rip at any moment. Door is do flappy like elephant ears., I imagining trying to fit into the holes.. roof is plastic?? Why is ARB ( notoriously good quality) hasn’t done a good job with their tents.. The lights is the only good about it..