ROOF TOP TENT VS SWAG, Pro's and Con's

[@chrisglen5025]

In Africa RTT's rule (predators etc.) preferably trailer mount only . Only vehicle mount if in soft sand dunes or very challenging terrain (preferably with low mileage travel) where a trailer isn't an option.Corner mount RTT on load bed with 40mm large thread rods mounted on corner posts. In lowered position below cab height to reduce drag whilst traveling. Easily raised/lowered with impact drill to create better headroom on the ground/leveling the tent. After market moulded light weight PVC shells for soft shell tents are handy , but need to be handled with care and have to be stored on the ground. Single Swags are great in camp grounds and safe areas.

[@jaydesinclair7393]

Considered a hard shell rooftop but got an old school pole less double swag, besides the size issues rolled up, I love my swag more then my bed at home, slept in the rain, wind and cold....best night sleep ever, the old man got blown around on his roof

[@zamboni68]

I agree about RTT mounted on a roof. My Ute has a half rack over the truck bed and the RTT sits on it putting the tent at cab height. No wind noise, no loss of fuel economy, and since it sits lower its easy to access all the flaps and windows. The added weight actually helps with traction because it’s over the rear tires where there’s less weight than the front with the cab. Always great vids, mate. US loves Ronny Dahl.

[@phoebeappleby2783]

Team RTT here... They are so much better for a couple. We have a shorty so space is our biggest issue. We now comfortably can do long trips and have a fridge/kitchen set up in the back. Have to disagree with the windy con. They are so good in storms. We went through a insane cyclonic storm and every tent and swag got flattened and blown away. Mornings aren't hot at all in them, Tents are like little hot boxes in humid summer weather that breeze you can get with he windows open is worth every petrol guzzling con 😄 Swags are great but only if you are a single traveller

[@salsa83]

Ive never heard about swags in the USA. I would love a tent vs swag video.

[@steventure85]

Kodiak Canvas is the only US company I'm aware of that makes a swag. I'd like to see a tent vs swag video as well!

[@dubious6718]

Swag is mostly sold in Australia, same with the Landcruiser's they are driving

[@pmg8504]

You have ARB in the US, I'm sure they sell their swags at their dealers!

[@steventure85]

PMG oh yea totally forgot about ARB

[@rudvs]

There great in the cold climates

[@HartyBiker]

Pro tip: a lot of cons for swagging can be avoided by setting it up on a stretcher bed. More comfort, less dirt/sand in your swag and you've also got a great place to put your boots. I've sawgged this way for a few years now and it makes a massive improvement. Having said that I'm looking at putting a rooftopper on my trailer to turn it kinda into a budget camper trailer for longer trips, but I still have to iron out a few kinks yet before I commit to that purchase

[@jackwaau]

I went with a kamp-rite oversized nylon. There are a few good tent-stretcher options and some flimsy rubbish ones. I'd be happy with a swag on a stretcher. Either way I'd run a tarp over it to 2 poles for sitting shelter, cooler in summer and if it rains, you wont have wet canvas to deal with. A light airing is all that would be needed when home.

[@jarradblair1793]

Im a swag man always have been but recently ive started doing very long 4x4 touring holidays. Most recently i spent 2 months checking out the kimberlys in northern WA. And i can tell you right now 68 days moving camp every day, contending with massive humidity and almost no breeze at night i will be buying a rooftopper. Simply not needing to dry it out for an hour or 2 every morning before rollup is a win in my book

[@rasta77-x7o]

Always appreciate your non bias opinon.

[@pinealism]

I always have friends ask for advice before camp trips, overnight or long term. My advice is to prepare for the worst conditions you can imagine, sideways rain, high winds hot and cold. The most robust sleeping in this case is a low centre of gravity tear drop trailer or some kind of folding fibreglass set up. Fabric is shit even after one night of rain, let alone two days of rain etc.

[@garytrigg-graynoth4034]

swag all the way👍 only negative I have is getting dressed in the morning and being a little older, getting off the ground can be a pain. added a big agnes mattress to sit on top of the foam mattress and challenge anyone to get a better nights sleep👍 great review👊🇳🇿

[@jacksonbowen814]

Little tip when I use a swag, I have it underneath my awning and awning wall, sometimes on a stretcher which combats some of the con points Ronny mentioned of being on the ground. Anyway being this close to the car I can undo my muddy boots and step into the swag, open the door and put my boots in the car, keeping the swag clean. On this point I also have my clothing bag accessible from said door meaning in the morning or night I can just reach in for my clothes and grab them out and change in the swag, eliminating space taken up by clothing bags and what not. Really would recommend for anyone to try and to this if they can, makes camp life in a swag so much better

[@tristo8881]

swag on a stretcher bed ;) eliminates the "on the ground cons" ;) plus much easier to get into bedplus you can just dig holes to under the higher legs to make it level ;)

[@AfroMyrdal]

This is hands down the best video I've watched about this. I've spent hours trying to decide and find the perfect roof top tent or if I should just stay with my ground tent. Clam shell tent it is.

[@all4runner316]

I have both. Swag and hardshell AX4 rooftop tent. Swags for 4wd camping trips, rooftops for extended stays.

[@stoatmcgroaty1586]

I reckon you're best bet is a decent low profile flat roof rack .... set the swag up on the ground ,,,, then chuck it up there .... have a small hook on ladder and you're roof camping or ground camping whenever you want

[@y.t.b.s.c.k.s]

not really a pro over a RTT, but: a swag is definitely typical Aussie, quite iconic. i brought mine back to Germany. i sadly have to admit that i'm using it far too infrequently, but when i do - the reactions i get are priceless! "will you bring your bear trap again?" is my favourite :D

[@thewiredfox2691]

'Girls, use the swag roll as a football drill.' You definitely get some 'awesome dad points,' if not 'best dad award' for that.

[@Ronny_Dahl]

Haha

[@philsymons9614]

That was the highlight of the vid, those girls enjoyed knocking daddy over!!!!!

[@kristianlumb4617]

Hi mate, I love My swag. Setting up a swag at camp for me, feels like camping. I could spend on a rooftop tent but sometimes cheaper is better in my opinion.

[@OzBiker4x4]

Double swag on stretchers under the awning for my wife and I. Just got back from a month out Central Australia and loved it.

[@123jakboy]

What stretcher did you use for a double swag?

[@jackwaau]

@@123jakboy My guess is it was 2 singles put side to side.

[@JimMcNabb44]

Hi Ronny I got a rooftop soft cover and on the 4x4 it was a wast of $ if I ever get a new rooftop I would only go hard shell, I spent 50 years in a swag and never had any problem the only thing with a swag is rolling them up with old fingers and using them up North in the wet session the rest of the time they are great easy to put up and put away and they don't take mass of space. I have used swags all over Australia from the snow to the desert from 40c + to -15d and have never been cold or wet (PS I set up in the DAY)

[@The_Algorithm_]

I've spent a lot of time in soft shell roof top tents.... and learned to HATE them. I live in Alaska, USA and you can find scenic places to camp just about anywhere. Our terrain is as beautiful as it can be harsh. I was originally drawn to the rooftop tents to keep the sleeping gear out of my 2 door Jeep, and then once I met my wife we both just really started finding there were way too many cons. I had a small softshell, and an XL. They were bulky and a pain to put away, especially when it got cold. I now have a quality 10x14 canvas ground tent by Kodiak Canvas, along with two premium Exped Megamat Max Duo mats that are much more comfortable and spacious, and easy to put away, especially now that we have a little boy to take camping. Combined, they all cost less than my XL sized rooftop tent as well. I ordered a Kodiak Canvas Swag tent (it will be in today's mail!), and look forward to using that for solo trips with the guys this summer when the wife and kid stay home. Had I known about Swag tents years ago when I was single and went down the rooftop tent route, I would have bought the best one I could find and never looked back! Thanks for the video, I've watched a few of them by you lately and you do a great job. My favorite part of this one was when your kids tackled you while holding the double swag!

[@Ian-le3bu]

We have swags plus a camper trailer. We have talked about a roof top tent but it’s a problem having to pack up everyday as you mentioned plus going to the toilet 🚽 overnight can be dangerous when climbing down in the dark. So good summary by the way. Cheers

[@youngadventuresaustralia952]

Iv got a camptrailer with a fold out rooftop with anex it is lighter then a hardshell rtt and doesn’t take to long to set up/pack down. I’ll hold onto my swag and keep it on my ute for short trips to places I cant/won’t take the trailer. I’m hoping to get a Troopy for a warmer/dryer option then canvas as I live on the road full time. Both bloody good options but I dont hate on the fold out rtts. 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@warwickoneill2459]

Been swagging it for years and love them. But, just had my first outing in a rtt on a trailer and loved that as well. These old bones don't quite get in an out of a swag as easy as they used to. Having said that, depends on the situation - a weekend with the boys = swag. A few days away with the Minister of Finance and Domestic Affairs, then it'll be the rtt from here on I reckon.

[@berga312]

Warwick O'Neill I bought a stretcher to put my swag on, much easier getting in and out and more comfortable than swag mattress on its own.

[@hardrockuniversity7283]

I agree with salsa 2 below, my 10 x 12 tent is much smaller packed than any of those 'swags'.. Very well presented, that's why I started watching you.

[@e210dall3]

Had tents for ever when camping with the family. Great times. My son still does the swag. Now V8 Toyota Troopie with a pop top, ready made bed and just to top it off diesel heater and hot shower. I reckon I've earn't it. Can set up in 1 minute and shut down in less than 2 minutes. Did I mention we love our troopie. Yes, the price point is a tad more than a swag.

[@vincebroady]

I did the soft shell RTT for about 5 years. Never again. When I chucked the RTT I went to the Marmot Limestone 8P tent and slept on a cot. I really enjoyed the extra room inside. Now, I’m in a Darche Dirty Dee Swag and absolutely love it.

[@johndavidangus]

When I'm ready to jump into my swag, I just chuck my boots in the car and walk over in my thongs. Then your thongs can just sit outside the swag waiting patiently for the inevitable 3am wizz.

[@allwheelinoz4707]

John Angus that is so what I do 👍🏻 rain, hail or stars 😀

[@BRollOffroad]

why do i never piss at night when i'm home but only when i'm camping and it's freezing?

[@glennschmidt8877]

So obvious, yet... why haven’t I ever thought of that.

[@CarlosRios1]

I usually walk on flip flops instead of lewd underwear

[@tonypucheta354]

Hahaha I bring my urinary bottle as well 👍👍

[@Yerevan1964]

Thanks for the post. Here, in the U.S.A., I have a Tepui Ruggedized XL (soft-top) four-person tent on a Toyota Tundra. Although, it may be little time consuming to fully set it up (30 minutes for two people), I still like the spaciousness of it. It really provides the four-season camping experience for all weather situations. It's perfect for two people along all of our belongings, including a Mr. Heater Portable Buddy propane heater. Prior to purchasing the tent, I also looked at hard-shell rooftop tents, and the major drawback was the lesser space. With my Tepui tent, the floor space doubles when opened (closed size is 48"x72", opened sized is 96"x72").

[@mrjohnsonclarke]

With 3 kids and the missus, I have opted for a camp trailer. Get the right one and you can be setup in about 5 mins. I have timed my pack-down, 8mins ;) You can leave it at base and go cruisin. If you use your truck as a daily then you can have your camper as an easy hitch-up camping solution with everything ready to go... I personally converted an army trailer into a camper as they are tough as hell. Hope this helps someone.

[@kenuber4766]

Good ideas. Thanks for taking the time to show the pro's and con's.

[@k2svpete]

I've got a few choices to work with. Solo - Bourke & Wills single swag that I've had for 20 years. With the wife - Double swag. Family - Tent if we're off-roading, camper trailer (soft floor) if touring. Ground sheet and awning over the top for everything but the camper.

[@pearcem66]

It's one of those questions where there isn't a right or a wrong. Great video again Ronny 👍🏼

[@benjaminmadrigal2328]

I've got the best of both worlds. I have a swag, bit I built this retractable extension on my truck's bed. It's quite light and I just set up the swag on there. Mind you, I don't do really long trips, just a couple of nights camping.

[@christianmilligan3614]

Benjamin Madrigal, I'm thinking of the same setup for mine. I'm stuck for ideas. Would you be able to roughly describe how you did it?

[@jaroffireflies]

This video was great, thanks. I’m researching RTTs and came across your channel. This is exactly the debate I’m having right now in my head :)

[@Ev1lsp00n]

I had a Darche RTT (soft shell) and loved it. Put it to the test in a lovely Westerly outside Queenstown... it survived, but it was loud. So if you are in windy/exposed parts of the world I'd say go Swag! Currently working on my next build and I've decided to Swag. They are just a lot more versatile .... and in a Discovery, I really don't want any more weight up high!

[@WhiteCavendish]

I debated over the question of ground tent vs rtt, and I decided to take the third option: Cot tent with rain fly that goes almost to the ground. It's nearly identical to the one sold by Oztrail. Extremely comfy, roomy enough for me and my gear, very weather proof, off the ground, weighs 25lbs, not overly huge when packed, can stay behind at basecamp, and it only cost me 50 canuck bucks vs the $800-$2000 of a RTT.

[@brianjarvis3367]

This may have been mentioned before but if not here goes! My wife and I are in our mid 60s. So for us a rooftop tent has the big disadvantage of safety in climbing up and down a ladder to get into it. Also if you have to go to the toilet in the night, you have to climb up and down ladders in the dark and half asleep. So we went with a 2.4 x 2.4m pop-up ground tent in which we can stand up fully inside and I am 1.92m. Great video however, thank you.

[@cemmercho8090]

Top video! I was wanting a rooftop tent on my ute but now my mind has changed

[@boboutdooradventures]

Good Pro & Cons video. In Europe it's pretty difficult to get a swag (aka order one from Australia) so most people go for this 3 options: Ground tent, RTT or sleeping platform inside the car or in the UTE hard top

[@wesleyconnell2758]

I have a double swag and fully agree about size and the space it takes up in the vehicle, but I do love it. Also keeping the zips together at the top of the flap minimises the snakes and spiders getting in issue. I always laugh when I see people zip their swags/tents up and they have the zips down low.

[@fanum4030]

Completely agree with you on soft shell RTTs...I ran one in North Africa on a Landy 130 for 8 years and it was such a major pain in the arse.....In the heavy snow or torrential rain of the High Atlas mountains, I was soaked putting it up and getting it down......the cover would never go on properly, the straps and buckles would freeze and putting it up or down with wet cold hands was just too much sometimes; In the desert, the wind would make me queasy rocking around on the Landy's suspension and putting it away (standing on the platform) was pretty dicey as well. I'm six foot four and a Landy cab is small, but several times I just opted for sleeping in the crewcab. Never EVER again. My next rig will include a camper trailer with a sleeping compartment that's always ready to just crawl into and sleep. BLISS.

[@MoneySkills4Life]

I have a dome tent, it works for my lifestyle. I like your thinking about inconvenience on vehicle roof and fuel consumption, being sensitive to fuel consumption. I rather drive more. Having said that, I am toying with the trailer idea and your hardtop view makes sense. Thanks.

[@silknfeathers]

Just had our first trip with our Bush Company RTT (hardshell). It sits on our lift-off canopy set-up. Sold the Darche Panorama for the reasons you mentioned. This one is fantastic (though not cheap). We have coupled it with the Darche 180 Awning, which is also brilliant and goes up and comes down in less than 3 minutes. With the tent, we can have both packed away in around 5 minutes (no exaggeration). For an overnight stop you are ready for camp and ready for leaving in minutes. If we want to go for a drive we can simply leave our camp gear (tables, chairs etc.) in place and pack up the tent and awning for a quick getaway. If we are staying for a few days (base-camping) we can lift the canopy off (this takes about thirty minutes all up, so is mainly for long stays or when we want to tow the boat but leave camp set-up). All in all, the best set-up we have ever had. Not a swag lover (my background is outdoor education, so I prefer lightweight, compact ground set-ups) but must say the simple, triangulated, tie-up swags are great for the desert. Most of the new ones take longer to set up than some tents! And swags can be really dusty to pack up. ps: our boat has a bed...;-) As usual, good video and clear explanations, cheers.

[@Nokkynokky76]

The thing that stuck out for me "the cheaper it is, the more work is required in setting up and packing down". Thanks Ronny

[@Jason-cw6ws]

Absolutely need a ground tent vs swag video. This is the first time I ever heard of a swag

[@tomwilkie6431]

I have both and enjoy using both. But more and more I find the roof top tent is my go to. One of the pros for the roof top not mentioned was the ease and speed of getting ready to go off camping. With my vehicle mounted tent it now takes less than hour from deciding to go and driving out the gate. All I have to get ready and throw in the vehicle is food and clothes.

[@rockymtnlovelander]

Helpful review,, Thanks. I recently ditched my RTT for a swag. However, I'm setting up my swag on my Diamondback bed cover. This is giving me the best of both. With the swag on my bed cover I've: - Removed dangerous high center of gravity - Reduced cost for sleeping system, RTT $ vs. Swag $ - Improved gas mileage ~ 4 mpg - Kept off ground and level sleeping feature by using truck bed cover as base for swag - Reduce time and hassle of tent setup & take down - Removed base camp mobility hassle of truck top RTT. I can actually drive at moderate speed with the swag deployed on the truck bed cover. - I can use my bed rack and tarps to expand my sleeping space to run a Mr. Buddy Heater, better protection from the elements and room for discrete clothes changing with my swag

[@rbhfishing8123]

I myself have been a swag man all my life. But have lately been considering a similar set up trailer with the RTT seen in this vid. I was unsure weather to go soft or hard top. You have now 100% convinced me on hard RTT. thanks a heap for the vid champ. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@fearnobeer9077]

Iv'e had them all,even still have me camper, got sick of the hasstle,now got a double swag for myself and have never looked back it's awesome

[@chackmule4998]

Always incredibly helpful, thanks! Shoutout from southwest US!

[@SJB666]

I'll always put a tarp up and put the swag under it. Two swags actually mine and a mates as I use a 18 foot by 14 foot tarp pegged at two corners to to ground and two or sometimes four extendable poles holding the other two corners up and four heavy duty ropes to peg and hold the poles in place, high enough to stand under. Not too big and not too small, I find it just the right size. Couple camp chairs will fit under it as well when it rains. Swags stay dry and your shaded by the early morning sun as long as you face the tarp in the right direction. Has lasted 20 years and still works a treat to this day.

[@mountainconstructions]

I considered all these options for a year Then just build a sleeping platform in my Landcruiser, perfect queen size bed with 2 pillow and heaps of space. Zero on the roof, Zero on the ground, Set up time is Zero, When it rains, i just smile and roll over If its cold in the morning, i reach over the start the vehicle and run the heater Can charge my devices, can access the fridge. My vehicle stays light weight and fast Cost, about $40 and some off cut timber, some second hand carpet. How ever, i did want a James Baroud RTT and 270 awning.... That was my dream, but what i have is easier, less weight and stays in-vehicle

[@spets5355]

That's what i want to do with my vehicle. Better than a ground tent in case of wild animals and cheaper than a rooftop tent.

[@mountainconstructions]

Spets You also save weight in your vehicle by removing the 2nd row seats

[@spets5355]

Considering the weight of the wooden structure, i woulnd't save much weight. But the engine is already underpowered, so a few kilos wouldn't matter anyway :P

[@edwardphelps5129]

yah thats what u thinking in my troopie but doesnt leave much room for storage?

[@saularana2033]

I have an X2 pretty much with the same setup of yours (with J. Baroud on top), and completely agree on your analysis. I will consider to acquire a swag as a plan B or when I have guests, taking on count your advice.

[@lucasantes3687]

I've used a ground tent exclusively over 25+ years. I have used a cot and various pads inside. I have used a bivy sack (close to a swag) a few times and love it for the simplicity and compact nature, but it's bare bones for sure. I have also used a hammock. If it's just me, I use the hammock. If I have dogs, kiddos, and the better half, then I go for the big ground tent. Never had a RTT but I would like to try one, maybe on a trailer given your pros/cons list.

[@jackduncan6304]

cant go wrong with a canvas swag so warm and weather proof

[@aussiebee4]

Great info. ARB has some newer swags with water resistant floors. I see many RTT that are ornaments over the bed restricting its use. I use tents when it is below freezing, and when it's warmer having a hammock, as long as there are trees sufficient for holding up a hammock. I run a rope and tarp over top and I have slept through heavy rain storms and cool weather. I recently picked up a Tentsile trillium 3 person hammock. It I great to sprawl out and be up off the ground, plus there are lots to make it a 4 season tent. But it requires sturdy trees. It's kind of like a swiss family Robinson treehouse.

[@gman2782]

Another great vid Ronny. I have been fortunate to have owned them all. I have an X2 as well, and it originally had a soft shell rtt on top. Did a cape york trip with it, setup and pack up was manageable with two ppl. And yes, we got very dirty when setting and packing up!!! It wasn't until I started doing solo trips that I realised how much of a pain the soft shell rtt was!! So, I spoke to the finance minister, and we bought a bundutop rtt. Wow, talk about luxury!!! My son also has a crashpad single swag and it is fantastic, even I've contemplated taking it away instead of the X2. But the whole base camp experience with an X2 is unbeatable. I also have a oztent rv4 and find that to be a fantastic tent. However, it's hard to go past pushing a button on a bundutop, and having your bed ready to sleep in in about 20 seconds!!

[@anthonycook8703]

I've never used a swag but have done a lot of camping trips on my motorbike (currently a Suzuki DR650 ADV). I use a little 2-man (I think it was advertised as a 3-man but you'd never fit 3 in it comfortably) tent which gives me enough room to bring my panniers, bag, and boots in with me so it's ideal. What I especially like about it is it has enough headroom that I can sit on my Helinox Chair-1 without my head touching the roof, next to my Helinox Table-1, while cooking and eating/drinking a meal and reading a Kindle at night, zipped up out of the mozzies. (I know, I'm always super careful when using a stove inside a tent, and keep a window & door a little unzipped to vent the carbon monoxide outside.) What I save on caravan park fees I spend on a good quality mattress and sleeping bag and I always get a good night's sleep in it and get woken by a chorus of little warblers in the trees outside. Very nice. On the DR I'm able to wander deep into the bush in search of the ideal campsite. And it's not so heavy I can't easily pick it up without having to off-load all my luggage if (when) I put it down The tent is a simple design, small and light enough to carry in a dry bag on the seat behind me without adding any weight to speak of. 2 little fibre-glass poles and a dozen little Helinox aluminium (highly recommended) pegs and guy ropes secure it to the ground. First time I put it up it took me a while to nut it out but now it's a 5 minute job. Taking it down and packing it up in the morning takes a lot longer unless I manage to set it up where the sun hits it early so the dew and frost will be gone without my having to sit around til10am before rolling it up. I'd like to be able to hit the road by sunup but that only happens the times I stay in a motel, which I almost never do because I'd miss the early morning birdsong chorus. So long story short, like I said I've never tried a swag but I don't fancy it. Btw I can easily get dressed inside my little tent.

[@lukemitchell5241]

Have you ever owned a soft shell rtt Ronny? Had a Kings one now for a couple years and I’d put $20 on it that I could set that up and pack up with bedding in the same time it takes you to do the same with a dome swag. About the only cons I’ve found so far are the wind and when camping in the one spot for more than a day doing day trips. Have mine mounted on a tub rack flush with roof rack so for me and the misses works perfect. Never been covered in dirt packing it up either. The bag never touches the ground 🤔

[@bradjohnson4812]

G’day Ronny, thanks for posting another informative video. Great stuff. I recently bought a lovely (but slow af) 1HZ powered 80. It came with a 3m awning and a Darche Highview RTT. We’ve used it a few times and it has proven itself to be very comfy. As you mentioned, you are up off the ground which if you are camping in the cooler months in Southern NSW is very beneficial, everything stays drier. But my 80 runs 33” tyres and a 4” lift. Packing up every day to hit the trails and set up again every night is a pain in the arse, particularly when the trails are so dusty by day that you have to make sure it is completely zipped up and covered lest it get full of dust. You are right, you can feel the weight of the bloody thing up there when you are negotiating some of the more technical stuff. Regardless, my accomodation is up there, out of the way. I’m not dragging a bloody trailer around and I don’t have to worry about allowing space in the cab of the car for my accomodation. Anyway, keep the vids coming mate, they’re great.

[@crustycrowley]

I have been living in the James Baroud featured in this review for the past 8 months. The fly mesh in the latest version of this tent has very large holes which do not stop mosquitos getting in. Also recently the fan has started leaking water (misery for such an expensive piece of equipment). I also have a swag and 2 ground tents which have their purpose however most of the time I am in the RTT. If buying an RTT look at alternatives such as The Bush Company or Alu-cab.

[@51mondays]

crustycrowley Autohome, the best! Italian made. Finally being stocked in Aus by theoverlanders.com.au

[@crustycrowley]

@@51mondays i wish these had been here in Aus before i lashed out and purchased the JB

[@I_am_Jeff]

Great video! Hello from USA👋🏾. Thanks to you, you broaden my horizon of choice of shelters for overlanding. I always assumed there was the RTT and tents, but these SWAGS are something difficult and prolly something I would consider now. Please do a tent versus SWAG video.

[@Phil_McAvity]

I had a Kings rtt, the soft one and it was shit! I’m now back in the swag & saving for a quality clam style rtt. Lesson learned.

[@JustinCaseWages]

RTTs work well for pickup trucks here in the USA. You can keep the tent even with the roofline for better center of gravity and fuel economy. With a well designed bed rack the RTT also serves as a cover for the bed to help reduce water, snow and dust covering any gear you have in the bed. Coupled with a good tarp you can keep gear almost completely dry/clean. For snow or wet weather camping I much prefer a RTT. Hard shells are great if you don't need a lot of space and can afford them but at half the price a soft shell gets the job done.

[@tlipizy]

Here in the states we have kamp-rite tent cots, which are your swag on cots. Work great.

[@Aussiedavid71]

Got em here too mate. I've got the oversized one. Lots of condensation with the cover on. I'm gonna set it up under a tarp next time, with the cover off. Obviously only need cover if it's raining. Haven't used it in a couple of years, but gonna get back into it.

[@johanneswehrmann]

My camp car is a Suzuki Jimny and I have an Oztent RS-1 Swag that fits perfectly on the Frontrunner roof rack. That combination seems to be gold. 💥😁

[@timfreeman2603]

I’ve had same swag (no hoops) for 25years. It’s been good but lousy when it’s raining or heavy dew. RTT on a trailer is on my list with a young family. Give me a buzz Ronny if Justin gives you a new X2 and you want to shift the old one. 😜

[@ahmedbhana8301]

I had a canvas tent on an echo camping trailer. Biggest pain in the ass setting up and folding away. replaced the tent with a bundutop rtt on the trailer. Best investment i made. Easy motorised lift and close. Best is all the bedding and much more is left in the rtt freeing up space and saving time. Win win for me

[@MrGnugfur]

Just bought a Simpson III rooftop soft tent. Easy enough to setup. Even us beeing short and having it on a Tahoe, we have it setup in 5 minutes.

[@spencercoe7550]

I have had an oztent for years and decided to get the kings qwiky rtt yes more fuel but as we are getting older having the bed made and off the ground made more sense absolutely love it. 30sec to open and little longer to close.

[@stormtomlinson5431]

This helped me save a bunch of money. Thanks

[@Toddynew]

I have both and use both it different scenarios and love both, because they both have pro’s and cons. Awesome video mate! I really enjoyed it and found it very informative.

[@GoatOffroad]

Great video Ronny! Definitely like the idea of the RTT on the trailer. Would not put one on our XJ how we use it. Clearance with trees etc..would be a problem. ❤️🐞

[@2manyhobbies76]

Good pro/con video on the two. I would love to see a swag vs. ground tent video. Maybe include a bivy sack (which seems a lot like what you call a swag) Keep up the great work, Ronny! Your channel inspires me to get out and do more.

[@tegunn]

yeah it looks like the Aussie swag is a bivy shelter with bedding inside and roomier. My bivy is in my BOB.

[@quantametric]

Hey Ronny, great video as always. It's probably a little silly of me but I just wanted to point out that 'pros and cons' do not use apostrophes, grammatically speaking. Thanks again mate.

[@Malc664]

🎼 Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, under the shade of a Coolibah tree. And he sang as he sat and waited while his billy boiled. You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. 🎵

[@spencercoe7550]

I bet all aussies that read your post sang the tune to themselves 😎

[@8drifit]

@@spencercoe7550 yes i did! 😂

[@DeejayManii]

you make good points, my arb rooftop soft clamshell is fantastic, 5 mins up and 5 mins packdown.. and loads more room than a hardtop.

[@SomervilleMetalWorks]

I know you've had one Ronny but since getting a jet bunker haven't looked back. FYI I've done 10 days in July in the high country rain wind and snow not an issue. Main downside is you can pack it up with bedding and I bring a self inflating mattress nowhere

[@offtrackfamily]

Great vid! We have a hard shell rtt for 8 years now and love it. Had to deal with soft shell rtt when traveling in Australia and hated the set up & closing. Was really happy to use our hard shell when back home. It is on our Defender but no problem for offroad... except maybe for MOAB 😅

[@LovingAtlanta]

👍Terrific info based on real world, real user experience. Thank you! 🙏💝

[@coreycarpenter2489]

I wanted a rooftop tent until I saw this. There were a lot of cons I didn't even think about. Thanks!

[@iantru9929]

If u could afford a hardshell rrt. Who cares about a couple more extra dollar of gas?

[@billyh9287]

Re your fuel consumption comment. I have a S/C Hilux with raised suspension, AluCab canopy and a Bundutec RTT. Consumption with everything on over a 6 month period, 8,2 Km per Litre Consumption with the Canopy and Bundutop removed over a 3 month period, 8,4 Km per Litre The loss of 200m per litre well worth the hassle free camping and in Africa, best to get as high as possible As for having the additional weight on top of your vehicle, 60kg spread over half your vehicle is hardly excessive or noticeable.

[@lukesheppard1065]

You talked me out of the roof topper, ppl definitely need to watch this before buying 👍

[@bazza2540]

Good point on fuel use vs towing

[@shanestaff6307]

I’ve got a Arb rooftop on top of my Hilux and setup no problems but packing it up you need to get up on top and push down to get cover done up when family is camping with me no problems I use rooftop but just me swag I just bought sand swag as you Ronny crashpad black stealth 🥷 one can’t wait to get it out there now

[@BL-tr2ug]

Simple, no BS info. Thanks

[@qbncrzn]

This was an awesome video thank you and it was very thorough

[@Ruger41mag]

yes - swag vs ground tent ..... please

[@jayeyoung513]

I like ground camping as to me it’s real camping. My 2 kids and I used a double swap for a few years with all 3 of us in it. I have since progressed to an oztent for more room and comfort but definitely miss the swag sometimes. Probably go back to them once the kids are old enough to sleep in their own swags.

[@J890R]

In the states we call a swag a bivvy sack or bivouac bag. Great video..... Mate.

[@paultalbot2192]

Another great vid Ronny, swag every time if just doing 1 or 2 nights with the wife, camper trailer for longer trips, your dead right about the roof top costing the same in extra fuel as the camper trailer, also with the trailer you can leave everthing except food and beer in it, just unhook. I have mates that leave the roof top on and winge about all the extra fuel used, they claim its a pain to take off the 4WD.

[@arokinikop5345]

Like the metallica reference...big fan of ur channel keep bringing some great content

[@autoglassmike]

I actually have a setup called a kamprite tent cot and it’s not bad. The setup is quick and breakdown is fast. Less than $200 here in the states. We will see how long it holds up. I think they are starting to get on the overlanders radar. Thanks for all the great info

[@jamesbushy9031]

I do both and i love them it just depends where im going n what im doing

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Non BS videos rock!

[@Dies1r4e]

I am using a soft tent/air matress that fits in my bed, my supplies are all on the tacoma's rails in ammo boxes bolted around it so they are easy to get to tent on or off, takes about 20 minutes to set up, and I can store more camping supplies in the access cab. between the boxes and the cab I have enough space for my air up/air down needs, recovery gear, camp kitchen, spare clothing, tents and sleep ware as well as food for about 6 days. has worked very well and been super comfortable. for the price of the tent and air mattress I think I'm in 200 bucks or so? bought it as a short term thing for a trip before i looked at other more expensive options but me and the wife love it, so I dont plan to "upgrade".

[@adulfdabo898]

I bought a (OZTRAIL) stretcher tent for 200 OZ$ on a special offer and I'm quite happy with it. It only weighs 12.8 kilos and is set up in a minute. You will need an insulation (self inflating mattres) to stay warm from underneath, but you're stll above the ground and safe from bugs, water, etc...

[@2adventure_oz921]

My Bundutec Bundutop is dark as inside. Thick canvas walls help against sun and also warmth. Just got back from camping on DHI and was windy as at the barge pickup point but not an issue either. (mounted on my No5 trailer - on your roof could get a bit tippy!)

[@brookesrook]

I've been tent camping (I know it's different than a swag) pretty much forever. I just bought a roof top tent and will put it on this weekend. I went back and forth on it for over a year before deciding, yep - gonna get the RTT. The main reasons were mostly what you were talking about with the burning of extra fuel and the extra weight on the roof. With that in mind I managed to find a RTT that was under 45Kg and only has a 7 inch height when collapsed... however, it's still a soft shell. The main reason I decided to get one instead of something like the OzTent was we often do multi day trips, in fact our next trip is going to be 9 days long and breaking down our tent and bagging all of our sleeping stuff is not how we wanted to spend our time. With me and my partner traveling we have 1 tent, 2 sleeping bags, 2 sleeping pads, and 2 pillows - all this stuff goes back into it's bags every tear down and it gets really time consuming. For example, the tent has it's bag, then a bag for it's footprint, then a bag for the poles, then another for the stakes all said and done we have like 20 bags for stuff to go back into every tear down. Ultimately by like day 3 we are just throwing stuff back in the truck and all the organization gets lost. I felt like we would continue to have this issue with something like the OzTent (not to mention that the tent is extremely long and would have to go on the roof rack...) because we would still have to pack and unpack all our sleeping gear. We briefly experimented with sleeping INSIDE the truck but that too required a lot of rearranging and shuffling stuff around... it' works great on overnight trips where we don't have a lot of gear, but not for longer trips. Anyways, long story short - we're trying out a soft shell RTT. You were saying that the putaway is a pain in the ass, I've head that a few times - I've also read that you can make it easier if you attach bungie cords inside of the tent that pull the walls inwards when you are putting it down. I'm also pretty tall, and it should be interesting to see how difficult it is to pack up considering I drive an SUV and getting to all parts of the roof is already a little challenging. I think this trip will be a good shakedown on the product - if we don't like it we can always return it!

[@PaulMcCabe]

I’d be interested to hear how this all worked out as I’m new to camping after just buying a Landcruiser 95 & was looking at RRTs.

[@baasdup5094]

@brookesrook how did it go for you with the RTT??