Roof Top Tent Review - Smittybilt Overlander

I have been using the Smittybilt Overlander #2783 roof top tent for almost a month and I wanted to share with you my initial impressions. I'll be doing some overland trips this next year and will get a lot of use from this roof top tent. Be on the look out for a long term review in the future, but so far I am very pleased with the quality of the tent and I really enjoy getting a good nights sleep now!
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Tent specifications:
Weight: 116lbs
Opens Size: 95x56x51
Closed Size: 45x56x11
Load Capacity: 661lbs
Mattress: 92x55", 60mm thick
Tent Material: 600D heavy duty polyester
Rain Fly: 420D Oxford flysheet
Video Transcripts:
Why did I get a RTT?
So I have always had hard time getting a good nights rest when I sleep on the ground. When I was out in the field with the marines or doing some backpacking, even with a good air mattess, for whatever reason I don’t’ sleep well.
No I did sleep in the back of the Jeep when I was on the Rubicon, and I actually slept very well, the only problem was that it was tight and I had to take everything out of the back of the Jeep and set it outside…. That’s just not practical. So, my solution is this Smittybilt Overland Roof Top Tent.
Now before we start talking about the specs, let me just thanks the folks over at NorthRidge4x4 for hooking me up with a discount, I really appreciate their support. I’ll leave a link in the description if you want go check this tent out at the end of the video.
Ok, let’s talk about specs. Now Smittybilt sells 2 sizes of overland tents and this is there smaller model. I chose not to go with the larger one because I only need to be able to sleep 2 and I didn’t want the extra weight and the space it would take up on my roof rack.
Specs
This tent weighs in at 116 lbs
When it’s folded up it measures 47”x56”x11”
When open it
Mattress
92”x55”
60mm thick
removable cover
Comfort it’s good. I don’t have any complaints,
Inside space
I’m 6’2” and you can see I have a lot of room.
Head room is nice
Several nice pockets
Shoe bag
LED lighting strip (+ 12volt cigarette power cords, I just used the USB with a battery will do the trick)
I love that I can just keep my sleeping back, blanket and pillow in here when I closeup the tent.
Fabric: is 600D heavy-duty polyester, impregnated with polyurethane
Zippers:
Seams:
Windows & sunroof: all have mosquito netting (size)
Floor:
Tent poles: aluminum with stainless steel hinges
Rain Fly’s: 420D with these spring steel poles
Velcro for bag:
Travel Bag: is heavy duty UV resistant PVC
Ladder has a capacity of 265lbs and extends to 6’8” which is plenty long enough for my Jeep. I will say it’s a good ladder, my only criticism is opening and closing not very smooth and you do have to pull both pins at the same time and then slide it up…
It does have an option for a zip on annex
One year warranty
I had to drill new holes to reposition the rails to fit my rack better and I just filled the old holes with some silicone
Centered over the Jeep and open to the passenger side.
Setup time:
Storage:
Gas mileage…. At least 1.5mpg and that’s with me driving a little slower than normal with it on there. So you will notice some extra drag.
Load on the Jeep; Now I have had it off-road a few times and one of the trails has some good obstacles, but nothing crazy. I really expected to notice the weight, but honestly I didn’t. But keep in mind I have a Rock Krawler Overland lift and the rear springs are rated for extra weight, so I think that helped. I’m sure if I took this to the Rubicon or Moab where there is more off camber obstacles, I would probably notice it a little more.
Now for the couple times I’ve slept in the tent, for me it is 100% worth having it. I have had great nights sleep every time I’ve used it and I really appreciate not sleeping on the ground and the easy of setup and storage. I’m looking forward to getting a lot of use out of this in the coming year…. I’ve got some exciting trips planned!

[@TrailRecon]

Want to see how well this tent has held up after a full year of use? Check out this follow up video I did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWUloalibSmg7M

[@daviddick4626]

TrailRecon love your videos man! If you have any stickers/badges to put on jeeps I would love to have one to show the support!

[@ilc07]

What kind of roof rack is on your 2 door jeep that fits the smitty built roof tent? I also have a 2 door jeep wrangler?

[@troypurnell7479]

I just came from a member group meet and a jeep member had one on his, it was cool as hell, im 250lbs and he said it could hold up to 600lbs,im getting one now just to have thanks to your review, thanks bro stay safe

[@tonythepkaysone]

I have the same tent for 4 years now and it's been in a great tent. I find that the vents dont work quite as well kn their own so I generally crack the windows. I agree on the ladder though, it's kinda flimsy but its strong, I've had 4 people in there before and I'm a 250lbs guy.

[@thesarge8488]

I love how thorough your reviews are. It looks like there is room for the ladder to extend further to accommodate a larger lift and tires, what is your opinion. Keep up the great reviews

[@TrailRecon]

I think I could go 37's and still be okay with the ladder, the only challenge might be that it will be much more vertical... but should still touch the ground. Thank you!

[@HoosierDaddy_]

I've been waiting for a good review of this tent forever. Thanks for providing such an in depth initial review of this. Your channel is fantastic!

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you! I hope I can really provide some more in-depth information after I've used it for several months.

[@paulprtenjak2708]

anyone else just love how often he slaps the tent when packing it up? hahaha I was just dying

[@TheDenisedrake]

Love that you did a review now and will do one later. We've opted for the KampRite Cot Tent for now, but will probably want to upgrade to a roof top tent in a few years when we can afford it. Nice to know that the Smittybilt is the most affordable and good quality. Thank you.

[@G.Becerril559]

Promo code is still active incase anyone was wondering, as of 03/04/2019. Just purchased one for my Tacoma

[@THE_CHOAS_ENGINE]

whats the code do exactly?

[@POTCscoot]

Thank you for putting the dimensions for this tent on the video. Both open and closed dimensions were helpful. 👍🏻

[@travelclimb]

Love the progress of the build! And that tent is killer

[@TrailRecon]

It's come along ways. Thanks!

[@denverspin]

Great review. You just sold me a roof top tent. Going to buy the XL version.

[@BigChungusthe3rd]

Best RTT walk-around I've seen on KZbin

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you, that's a very generous complement!

[@saev55]

Amazing review as always Brad, I am planning to buy a roof tent and this will help a lot👍👍 great job

[@wheretheroadtakesusa9930]

Thanks to your recommendations I've found so many great items for my jeep!

[@BlackRifleSurvival]

Thanks for going over the setup and takedown on this tent. Gave me a good idea on how that process went. Very cool!

[@arielsangoquiza3730]

Literally was looking at a video of this tent as you posted it. Want one so bad

[@TrailRecon]

Great timing!

[@antoncrowley7342]

Love your videos and reviews, you're doing a really good job man.

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you!!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks for sharing your first impressions. Curious to see what you think after some more use. I was considering one before my last trip, but didn't hear good things for long term travel. With so many manufacturers competing in the market now, hopefully they figure out some creative solutions to handle non-ideal whether conditions.

[@TrailRecon]

I hope we start to see some cool innovations from the manufactures, because you are correct, there are so many competing now. Thank you!

[@andrewlynch5620]

Did you mean 116lb for the tent? Does that include the weight of the rack? Thought I heard it was closer to 40lb. Which means taking it down after a camping trip is doable if your wife isn’t helping. Also, the smittybilt rack only holds 300lb, which isn’t enough for two adults plus a 116lb tent. Thx!

[@wd123083]

Thank you you for the review Master Chief!

[@tonysurface1]

Thanks for your service and your informative videos. Great stuff.

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you!

[@trekkinnw3568]

love the video and finally a great review for the tent i am ordering first of the year!! i look forward to camping and i will now be purchasing this badboy after seeing your video from NorthRidge!! keep making awesome videos!!

[@TrailRecon]

You will love the tent.... I honestly wish I had not waited so long to get one. Thank you!

[@davidq4777]

Awesome video man! I am buying one tomorrow and was needing an in-depth video about the Smittybuilt. Thanks for the time! ;)

[@Crashtestcowan]

We used our Smittybilt RTT for a total of 130 nights out of a year. North rim grand canyon, Moab, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, and Arkansas. It went over Black Bear with us and through Hell's Gate. But momma wanted an upgrade so momma got an upgrade. Loved it for the price and the only thing I could knock was the ladder (easy upgrade from CVT), the velcro vs zipper travel cover, and some of the seams leaked. But the last two issues were fixed with some simple tailoring.

[@TrailRecon]

You have some awesome experience with the tent... I can't wait to take it to some of those destinations! Thank you for the comments!

[@Crashtestcowan]

TrailRecon love your channel! Get yourself an ARB Touring awning as well and it'll make life so sweet for so cheap! Happy trails!

[@EnriqueSonora]

Look forward to your next videos. Merry Christmas!

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you and Merry Christmas to you!

[@NPHTV12]

Definitely want this tent for my 4runner

[@bryanperry4557]

Thank you for the review...looking at getting one soon...Semper Fi...!!!

[@ltsjeepjeep]

I picked up one of these tents last month. Mounted on my 2012 JK Sport. Took it up to Burnside Lake for the 4th. I watched your video before I took it out. Appreciate your video to help me prep for my experience. I was curious if you swapped out your mounting brackets. I noticed a change in sound going over bumpy terrain driving out. I just ordered some muffler clamps to replace the solid straight brackets clamps that came with it.

[@williamcrews1525]

awesome informative video. I'm currently shopping for a RTT for my Tundra. I've been looking at the Smittybilt for it's affordability so seeing the build quality helped alleviate some of my fears. I'm going to put it over my bed just a few inches above the side rails so it shouldn't affect my mileage or center of gravity. Thanks again

[@Venom-kq5xz]

Defiantly makes me want have a roof tent! Awesome review!

[@battleshipoverland8677]

If any viewers are watching from the UK, Im just about to install the Discovery 4x4 rooftop tent on my XJ. Its something I've wanted for years - cant wait to get out and start using it. Not sure how the quality compares with the Smittybuilt, but for us in the UK the Discovery 4x4 is probably an easier option to get hold of (Unless someone knows of a UK importer for the smittybuilt stuff??)

[@alexandergray2341]

Thank you for your service, Rah

[@Garth2011]

Outdoor camping has another option for sleeping. There's a contraption called a cot. They come in many styles, sizes and built from all sorts of materials from wood to aluminum. They are up off the ground and large enough to sleep rather well as long as the weather is not extreme cold.

[@akammer1000]

I've owned this unit for a while now and not until watching this video did I realize you could pack this tent up with the rain fly still on. I've been taking it on and off each time... sheesh

[@COMtnPilot]

Great vid and review. I liked how you took the time to detail the things that Guys & Gals will look for when trying to make a decision on a buy! Looking forward to the next updated review! Good job Brotha! OohRah! 😎

[@GIGUNS-0341]

OOH RAH Devil dog, very helpful video, I was thinking of getting one. Semper Fi

[@TrailRecon]

oorha!

[@arizonatimelesstourist846]

I'm looking to buy one of those tents SOON. Enjoyed the review.

[@crawlusa505]

Your videos are super-informative. This was very helpful in considering this tent as a next purchase. Thank you!

[@craigwoolbert2443]

Best channel on KZbin

[@ronschreiber3635]

Thank you Brad very informative video .you sure you don't work for Smittybilt ??? lol thank you

[@OVRLNDX]

Very informative video ! Thank you Brad!

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you sir! I've learned a thing or two from you! Check out @OVRLNDX on instagram!

[@ChasingDreamsLivingLife]

Take some Johnson Paste wax and brush the ladder rails in the groove. The ladder will glide easily after that. It does not collect dirt either. Any kind of alum or steel sliding against each other... This stuff works great.

[@judgegarry]

RV stores sell aluminum lube/protection spray that dries completely, holds up and doesn't collect road/trail gnarph. I sprayed the awnings on my motor home in the spring and I was.good to go for the season..

[@rbuste]

I was really wanting to pull the trigger on one of these but I asked a buddy if I could check his and I found a stumbling block for me. My Australian Cattle Dog will climb just about any ladder but he would not climb the one going up to the RTT. He weighs about 50 lbs so lifting him up all of the time is not practical. I'm only 5'9" so I ended up building a sleep platform/drawer system for the back of my JKU. Being short, I have plenty of room back there with a twin air mattress. Great review.

[@TrailRecon]

I had the same discussion with my wife. My dog Rocket is a 50lbs Spring Spaniel and if I take him with me, he'll have to sleep in the Jeep alone and I know he won't be happy about that. I need a RTT dog elevator!

[@zerocool2352]

Bought this same model and spent a month on the road with it during the summer of 2017, traveling across the western US. It was a great tent overall, but there were a few issues. On a windy day in the mountains, it folded up... this might be a common issue with roof tents in general, so we learned to anchor it after that. There was a slight leak during a heavy thunderstorm, appeared towards the top with a slight gap in the taped threading. The led light strip never worked, so we didn't bother with it.. could have been the in-line fuse. I found the cover took a ton of fiddling with because the velcro would catch before I got it all the way in place. The trick I found is to fold it up while seating the cover and then walk around and fold it back down. It's kind of a PITA, so I've been thinking about making a custom cover out of fiberglass so I don't have to keep walking around and adjusting the straps and velcro when I'm packing up. A lot of people have complained about the sleeping pad, so we got inflatable memory-foam sleeping pads and were fine.

[@xplorit1110]

Great video. From a newbie what roof rack are you using ?

[@theavanderpool]

Thank you for making this review! Makes rtt more affordable and accessible :)

[@tacotrek7341]

It’s not easy falling asleep on windy days. The rtt flaps like any other tent and will keep you up all night. I usually just get really drunk and I will sleep through the wind.

[@slowpokewrangler8752]

As always, great video, good info. Thanks again Brad..

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you!

[@gorillaninja78]

Wow love the way it just folds right up! If I ever get a Jeep this will be the first purchase 💯

[@UncleSam077]

Do your sleeping bags fold up inside? Or do you roll them up and stow them away in the cab? Great video and review!

[@TrailRecon]

I just leave them flat and fold up the tent with them inside. Thanks!

[@vgullotta]

Nice, I love Northridge4x4. I get all my parts from them. They are always so friendly and shipping is super fast.

[@TrailRecon]

They are a great company to do business with!!

[@ruckermuthluxurybuilders9672]

Their return policy is crap.

[@comingtofull-ageinchrist6736]

thanks for the tent review! I've been looking at them and wondering what the pros and cons are on a Jeep. I did notice that you did take the roof tent off in some of the more recent videos and are sleeping in a tent. You mentioned in this video that you slept better in the rooftop tent. If you don't mind, why did you take it off? Wondering if you chose gas millage over comfort?

[@cbigg81]

Having seen all the options at overland I still think the ARB is the best bang for the buck. Thanks for the video.

[@9235wayne]

Sir this is a dream review. Thorough. thank you brother.

[@larrypeace2951]

Great review thank you. I didn’t read all the comments so this question may have been asked. Before putting away the tent do you have to make sure it’s not wet?

[@Lazyslime56]

I having been really considering one of these and you do just a outstanding review. Thank you Master Chief. I am a E-3 Airmen in the navy and my goal is to become a master chief.

[@akawazzupwitdat1543]

Great reviews on everything you do with your Jeep 👍 Keep up the awesome videos....big supporter of TR

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you!

[@Luis0n91]

Nice review, looking to get one maybe soon

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you! I think its a good investment.

[@jordanyang3066]

Some of the best sleep I've ever had was in a ground tent. A hard top rtt is on my short list though.

[@TrailRecon]

There are some nice hard top RTT's out there.

[@MrNightroder01]

thanks for the review mate. i trust what another grunt says about comfort, now im looking into getting the smittybilt src roofrack and tent.....duty first

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

Great looking tent. Makes me want to do an overland build now. Looks like it is a very solid tent.

[@mykalbee]

Smittybilt seems to be a solid product. I know their off road trailer is Chinese made but not sure about their rtt's but it appears to be good quality for the $. I don't want the brick on my rig so I'm considering a hardshell rtf. They are a bit more pricey but have some advantages over the traditional rtt's. I was wondering about the comfort level in your tent and as you added some padding, all my research suggests that a minimum of 3 inches of mattress and/or padding seems to be the best comfort level. I'm looking forward to the long term review. Have fun out there.

[@TrailRecon]

I don't think you can beat the price of this tent. The hard shell tents are nice and more aerodynamic, but the cost is up there. My pad I purchased was 1.5"'s so I have just over 3"s now and it's VERY comfortable.

[@Mechpg]

Thanks a lot! I just installed a Rhino platform rack in my JL and I’m looking to purchase this RTT in the near future. Did you end up using the Rhino rack roof top brackets or did you mount the RTT directly to the platform rack supports?

[@sammurthy3444]

Have you use in sub zero temperatures? like -20 C? your review was good and helpful. Thank you.

[@harrisonpfefer]

Love the video man

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you!

[@LostEmt]

Been waiting for this vid since you posted pics on your FB account.

[@TrailRecon]

Right on!

[@co4x4]

Great video as always. Love your channel. I often purchase items due to reviews such as yours...so thanx for that! I to have this same tent and also wondered how to keep warm in very cold temps here in Colorado. My thoughts (haven't done it yet) was to get a 12v electric blanket and place it on top of the matress and sleep on it. Either power the blanket with your Jeeps battery (a dual battery setup would be awesome for this) or perhaps you could power the blanket from something like the portable Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium or even the 1000 Lithium model. This ought to power the 12v blanket for an entire night. Thoughts???

[@asphaltgypsy868]

I've been wondering the same thing!

[@jameshairyknuckles1655]

I know nothing about these tents. New to all this . But I’ve heard people saying to stay away from the ones with Velcro.

[@patsoffe7691]

Funny, I was going to hit you up about a week ago and ask how you liked the tent and if you noticed any mileage change or if you could feel the weight up top. I have been looking at this for over a year now and yes don't sleep well on the ground or in the back of the XJ and I'm 6'2". Thanks for the review. As odd as this sounds it really comes down to how it looks on top of the XJ.

[@TrailRecon]

We'll be throwing this on top of our XJ down the road and I imagine its will look pretty cool at camp all opened up! Thanks!

[@briceswan7803]

I've watched a few of your videos and I just noticed your shadow box. Great review. I'll keep coming back to the channel. Navy Chief, Navy Pride!!

[@cef3567]

Great video w/ lots of useful info! Really appreciated.

[@TrailRecon]

Excellent, glad it was helpful!

[@Berserkeroffroad]

How was the overall build quality compared to higher-end ground tents? I'm testing a RTT myself. I have two complaints so far. The effort it takes to mount & unmount the tent from the roofrack between trips makes me weigh good sleep vs time prep time. Wrestling the tent cover onto the Jeep after a night of rain is a recipe for getting yourself covered in mud (the dust on the cover turns into slim). Anyways, enjoy your nights on the trail! An RTT is adds a whole new layer of "coolness" to the trips we do. I'm looking forward to the content you produce with Ovrlndx.

[@TrailRecon]

You make a great point about opening and closing the the RTT in rain. Have you looked into getting some of the folding hingestepes? Something I'm looking into. Thanks!

[@Berserkeroffroad]

TrailRecon That's a good idea, I'll check them out. Thanks for making the distinction that this was a "first impression" video and that you'll post a full review later. Not a lot of guys do that.

[@ironturtle37]

Jeeps looking mighty fine brad

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you sir!

[@alexkostenyuk]

Great review, wanna get tent like that in future

[@dutchking7]

Great review! Just bought one and waiting for it to arrive. Do you need a rack with crossbars for this to work? Wanting to get a EAG roof rack cargo basket haven’t ordered one yet.

[@N0AGI]

thanks for sharing. My wife and I were looking at the Smittybilt RTT and are considering one for my JKU or for my M1101 trailer. - nagi

[@TrailRecon]

So far, so good.... it's a great tent for the price. Thanks!

[@rrad3926]

Thanks for the in depth review!

[@angelicagarcia-vq6sl]

thank you for the video. it is very helpful. I want to know if this same tent can go on the bed of a toyota tacoma AND my small SUV?

[@moragna]

Great video! Great presentation. Very thorough!

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you!

[@mikerobbins5049]

Nice video with good info. Did you cut your fenders or buy them?

[@TheSylvesterruelas]

Roof tent is awesome!! My question is what about roof rack. Which roof rack would you recommend to hold all weight? Thanks

[@MegaSpooke]

I purchase this tent for my AT4 Sierra and i had to get the extension ladder because i have 8" lift, feels like I'm on a 2nd floor lol

[@Mechman0925]

Never mind I just noticed you did, cool I just got mine last week.

[@AndrewBrowner]

good review, my smittybilt winch has been great but the velcro straps and 1 year warranty on this dont inspire confidence, itll end up costing me close to 2000$ CAD i think ill keep looking i need something to atleast last 5 years in canadian weather

[@miguel1waterpolo1guy]

Do an updated video, what is needed on the roof to mount it , I just have a rack on my car

[@TrailRecon]

Coming soon!

[@patelliott39]

Wondering if you can share or show how you chose to mount this to your rhino rack pioneer system? I am trying to decide if I re-drill my Tepui tent base to 36.5" wide from the predrilled 32" spacing so that I could utilize the channels, OR drill into the platform and utilize the cross bars. Thanks for any insight!

[@barretthageman3350]

I'll have to check out Northridge. I like it, we tent camp but it is so much stuff. I may try to talk the wife into checking this out.

[@TrailRecon]

Not having a tent, sleeping bags, pillow and an air mattress in the back of your rig really frees up space!

[@sheldon6864]

Fantastic review. Thank you!!!

[@fabypulido1305]

If you pull the ladder pins and twist half way they lock and you don't have to hold them

[@alanrichard9429]

Great vid like usual brad... I have the same rack do you foresee any problems with me putting in the xl version of this tent ? Thanks for any feedback...

[@samprokop]

Thanks Brad for another great review! I live in a very hot and sunny region and without a garage, I wished someone made a WHITE cover so that it would reflect the sun instead of literally baking the inside :-) ! Also I shave seen people who fold the tent with couple of anti humidity packs inside which I think was cleaver.

[@Popeye67]

Great video! Is there a tent on the market that will not impede use of my Sunrider flip back top? Thanks

[@jamiemink3379]

Great review, thanks a million for posting! I don't see where you shared your rack manufacturer. Can you share that? Again, thanks so much. Awesome review.

[@SpiderWebStudioRU]

Good informative review. Why your choice fell on such a soft auto tent, and not with a hard roof like alu-cab?

[@kyrangriffiths3703]

What is it like to take this tent off the Jeep for storage on the floor? Can 2 adults remove the tent from the rack easily? How easy is it to store the tent on the ground like in an indoor garage?

[@treycritzer]

Thanks for the video I just purchased one of these tents as well. I’m finding I’m having an issues like what you were describing with the two main hard pieces seam meeting together when pulling the tent out. Any suggestions to get them to connect better?

[@4x13]

Thank you for the detailed video. Planning to pick up one, and will use your promo code - thanks for that! Quick question -- is the folded dimension of 11" height, including the ladder? Seems like it has two heights, max at the ladder area and rest all a bit shorter. Trying to see if this would go into my car garage fitted, so I'd really appreciate if you confirm if 11" is including the ladder and is the max height! Thanks so much!

[@ft1813053]

Great review! Im considering the same RTT and roof rack combo as yours. One question: how did you mount this tent on your rhino rack? Is the base of the tent resting on the rhino rack? Or there is a space between the RTT base and the rhino rack? I was hoping with the rhino rack one can bolt the RTT right on without the crossbars it comes with to reduce height.

[@the_anxiousphotographer]

Great video!

[@robolyn]

Harumph!👍