SmittyBilt Gen2 setup and review

[@BeWise4Life]

2 years later and your video is still helpful. Go hawks!

[@jamesrulison557]

You are a life saver. I purchased my Gen2 XL from a person. Only used twice.(his wife hated camping) Only issue I had was no owners manual. I figured it all out for the most part, but there were a few little things I questioned. Your video answered everything. Great video. Great information. Thank you. Thank you.

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

That’s awesome, glad it was helpful! Really hope you enjoy the tent!!

[@Outlaw_Media]

Dont worry about the manual, I just got finished putting mine up and taking it down, took a total of 45 minutes for up and down.

[@MontanaEscapes]

Great Video, thanks! Only video that I have seen where the tent is put up and taken down by someone with experience. The window cover poles should be put in from in the tent and gently bent up and hooked. Also few people mention the bungies which make folding the tent much easier.

[@edmorris5007]

Excellent Video, clearly explaining setting up this Tent!

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Thank you! appreciate the support!

[@jefferykillian5367]

They should hire you this is the best video about their tents thanks

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

I appreciate that thank you

[@joeallison2779]

First off thanks for your service. Looks very nice indeed. Thanks for making this video. My only critique would be for you to slow down a little bit and let the individual picture segments last a little longer. It’s just a small thought nothing major otherwise great video and keep them coming

[@rivaled]

Its a video, pause it lol or change the playback speed.

[@whisht1961]

Looking at RTT. Between this and, what seems to be a new company, Go Overland Canada Expedition XL. Might go this route as Smittybilt have been around for a while. Either way this video is probably the best one on KZbin for the Gen2 , very well explained 👊💪

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Thank you! I really appreciate that! Hope you enjoy the tent!

[@R3dWolf24]

Thank you! I got one in January that I’ve used 3-4 times, but didn’t know some of what you mentioned. I’ve got some questions hopefully you can help! 1) did yours come with the bungee cords? I don’t recall seeing those. 2) do you leave your windows unzipped when storing? 3) where and how do you put your veranda poles when storing? 4) do you fasten that clip on the sides every time?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Awesome I’m glad it was helpful! Yes, mine came with 4 bungees I typically zip the windows up to prevent material bunching up when fold it away I store the poles exactly how they were packed when I first opened it, up where you put your head flat under the topper I put in there. I typically fasten the clips on the side out of habit to prevent bouncing but it’s not that necessary, it’s more for wind than anything.

[@R3dWolf24]

@@pnwoutdoors8873 thank you!

[@ryanegsi]

im having a hard time finding a video with how well this tent does in the rain. was hoping to see this in your video since you are from the pnw like myself, but unfortunately it was not brought up. tyring to figure this out since its a option for myself to use at hunting camp

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

It honestly does just fine in the rain. The tent material is very thick (not counting the rain fly - it’s typical tent material but does its job. You should have no problems.

[@droniedave7664]

Curious on why you mounted your recovery tracks on the inside?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Harder for someone to steal. it’s just two Velcro straps, figured on the outside too easy to steal quickly.

[@Devildog-lt7ne]

Would you be able to fit a small quad in the bed at the tallest setting on the rack? Looking for the same setup but was hoping to fit a small 4 wheeler

[@cwroadking]

Hello do you know if they are going to offer a inclosed room for the gen 2 ?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

You mean the annex? Yes I have it, have a video on it too, check it out

[@legendtrucking8934]

What bungee do you use for the inside sorry mine was bought second hand d didn’t come with any

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Dang that sucks! I use the ones that came with it. After some quick searching I can’t find anything. I would contact smittybilt directly.

[@sirjoshuafaw]

I noticed that you have your tent on top of what looks like a cage or metal frame. Does that come with the tent? I'm trying to gauge what this will look like on the bed of my Silverado and I don't have that cage around the frame of my bed.

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

It’s a truck bed rack, and no it does not come with the tent. Unfortunately you cannot just set the tent on the bed of your truck. You’ll require some kind of rack system for it to sit on.

[@TOTjaybin]

Thank you! Great video! Question, what is the height of the unit when its closed (including ladder)? Smitybilt website doesn't list but my guess is 12inches?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Hey there! Thanks for watching! So the answer is somewhat subjective. When considering the RTT height w/ ladder the height height is approximately 12-13” however, myself and others keep items in the tent which increases its thickness/height while stowed. I have a 2” memory foam topper in mine, so the overall height for me, while closed and stored is 14-14.5” w/ ladder overall. If you kept a sleeping bag up there then the height would be somewhere in the middle. Of course this is also subjective to how well you fold it up. If clearance is an issue, I’d say you’re safe to plan for 15” thickness though the reality is an inch or more less. Hope this helps!!

[@Outlaw_Media]

I just put mine up for the first time, not really a fan of the zipper for the cover, the zipper pinched the fabric and took me about 15 minutes to get back to where the zipper pinched to get it right again.. I have mine on a GoRhino truck tack mounted to a Jeep Gladiator. I also have a Smittybuilt awning mounted to the side of the rack, I guess Smittybuilt never thought people would use two of their products, the copper poles cant get the right angle to use them for the rain fly. You did have a better way to put the rainfly up by going from the insides, I will try that next time. I am also not a bit fan of the 1970s aluminum poles when fiberglass poles used on regular tents would have been better. After using this tent for the first time, I would not buy another one. Its easier and faster to put up a 9 person tent on the than this thing. Thanks for the video though, you make it seem easy.

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

So I have the OVS awning, and I had to alter how I mounted it to clear the brass poles. Wife and I are in our early 40’s and after using it for our honeymoon road trip, I think we’re done. They’re a really cool idea, but not for everyone for sure.

[@walkertexas6405]

When putting away do you just un tighten the rainfall straps are leave them tight ?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

I don’t know what you mean rainfall straps

[@walkertexas6405]

@@pnwoutdoors8873 I'm sorry I typed rainfly. But when fully setup I adjust the rain fly straps was wondering when going away is it best to leave tightened or to just lossen

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

I leave em as is

[@walkertexas6405]

@@pnwoutdoors8873 thank you.. you are the best . Instructions sucked did first camp in the driveway for test run.. looking foward to watching more of your content

[@gjm8220]

Well Done, Perfect - Thanks

[@Yogiman123]

Hey great videos, one question I recently purchased the same tent and I notice the walls of the tent inside and in the entrance are very sticky like if there is adhesive residue all over. Is that normal and did yours come like that too?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Huh, interesting. No mine did not feel “sticky” at all. I know that one side of the tent material has some kind of coating to prevent water penetration, like a polyurethane type product. To be honest, I don’t think the stickiness you feel is normal and is likely a manufacturer’s flaw. However, “sticky” is a broad term and means something different to different people. Is it sticky or tacky? Who’d you order it from? I’d recommend reaching out to smittybilt customer service, I’ve found them really easy to work with. If what your experiencing is kind of a “rubbery” like feeling inside the tent, I’d say that likely normal, but “sticky” is not in my experience, at least mine didn’t feel that way. I really hope this helps. Let me know what you find out.

[@turnersawman]

The covers on the poles inside are so when its cold those poles dont make you jump if you touch them in the night

[@rdnksami68]

walker valley?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

No

[@Captain_Kdawg]

what bed rails did you use?

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

What do you mean bed rails? You mean what the tent is mounted on? The Yakima HD overhaul bed rack.

[@Captain_Kdawg]

@@pnwoutdoors8873 yea the bed rack that the tent is mounted to.

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

@@Captain_Kdawg yeah it’s the Yakima HD OVERHAUL

[@quakingleaf]

Great vide- super helpful. Thanks!

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

awesome, I'm glad it was useful to you!

[@caseyhoke2362]

Nice and helpful video, thank you

[@davidpavely4539]

I use wool blankets. Thin and warm

[@walkertexas6405]

I literally can not get the open lock latch to latch no matter what I try

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

Describe in more detail exactly your problem

[@walkertexas6405]

Sorry for delay I got it to go I needed to just push the tent base inward and it snapped into its groove then side clips worked

[@walkertexas6405]

I didn't notice you zip cover in video do you only strap it?.. also double d ring is thier a proper way to do these straps

[@pnwoutdoors8873]

I definitely zip it and strap it

[@walkertexas6405]

@@pnwoutdoors8873 assumed so. Want to thank you for every response. You have gained a follower and I appreciate you tubers like you helping guys like me