Hello! New Trialmaster owner in NH and looking for rooftop tent/rack reviews.

[Flavor Hound]

We just drove our Sela Green Trialmaster home to NH, purchased at MileOne in Maryland. I’m in love, drove fantastic and now we get to set her up to go adventuring. Anyone have good/bad reviews on rooftop tents and a rack/what is needed to install it? The 4x4 Colorado Alto Mini is top of our list currently and I plan on calling them tomorrow to find out more about what is needed to install it.
Thanks in advance!
Heather

 

[Jeffrey]

Check out the dozens of RTT manufactures listed in the Overland Expo vendor list and then search for the reviews. Plenty of the same on the Tacoma and other vehicle owner forums. The info is out there and easy to find.

 

[anand]

Congrats on the new Grenadier!

There are lots of rack options, however, if the main goal is a RTT only, then look for something with fewer cross bars. Alu-Cab makes a specific mount for RTTs as does Leitner. That way you'll have an easier time mounting the tent.

As for tents, there are a lot of options, but many of them are the same tent with different colored fabric or different logos that are all made in the same place. If they look similar/the same, chances are they are the same (with drastically different pricing).

 

[Flavor Hound]

Check out the dozens of RTT manufactures listed in the Overland Expo vendor list and then search for the reviews. Plenty of the same on the Tacoma and other vehicle owner forums. The info is out there and easy to find.

Thank you Jeffrey! I will look to see if that vendor list is in this forum, if not will do a google search. Haven’t had a chance to look around here much and I’m looking forward to doing that tonight. I’m very eager to pick one and get on with it and it’s a bit of information overload (in the best of ways

 

[Flavor Hound]

Congrats on the new Grenadier!

There are lots of rack options, however, if the main goal is a RTT only, then look for something with fewer cross bars. Alu-Cab makes a specific mount for RTTs as does Leitner. That way you'll have an easier time mounting the tent.

As for tents, there are a lot of options, but many of them are the same tent with different colored fabric or different logos that are all made in the same place. If they look similar/the same, chances are they are the same (with drastically different pricing).

Really helpful, thank you! Jotting this down and will be researching tonight- RTT is the main goal so good point taken. I have noticed that they all look quite similar makes sense now. We don’t have the opportunity to see many (or any) RTTs in person so I love knowing what other Grenadier owners like. My 6’2” husband and I are over 50 yrs old so even though our son says we don’t need the queen- get the small- I disagree. I’d like to spend many nights on top of this lovely vehicle.

 

[LabRat]

I've got a Roam Vagabond sitting on 2 Leitner load bars. I actually have a total of 3 load bars because I also have a 270 awning and liked the attachment of that a bit wider than what is needed for the RTT.

 

[Brandtnm]

I've got a 23zero X3 (basically queen size), sitting on 2 Leitner load bars And Bernard’s good RTT mounts. I too have a total of 3 load bars to mount the iKamper hard shell 270 awning. I like 3 load bars spreading out weight. No bar has more than 100lbs dynamic and we get dynamic in Moab. Hard shells are a necessity in the southwest with 350 sunny days. The extra bar and width spread the load more than what is needed for a RTT, but it’s comforting knowing that the bed floor can now handle anything.

 

[LabRat]

Lots of pros and cons to RTTs. They are not for everyone. I got mine for a great price of FB marketplace. People are selling them all the time on there.

 

[anand]

Really helpful, thank you! Jotting this down and will be researching tonight- RTT is the main goal so good point taken. I have noticed that they all look quite similar makes sense now. We don’t have the opportunity to see many (or any) RTTs in person so I love knowing what other Grenadier owners like. My 6’2” husband and I are over 50 yrs old so even though our son says we don’t need the queen- get the small- I disagree. I’d like to spend many nights on top of this lovely vehicle.

One thing to consider, I don't know if they stock any RTTs, but Main Line Overland has a location in Bow, NH; if they do have any in stock that may help your selection/buying process; the best way is probably a show like Overland Expo that has every vendor there with all their product, but unfortunately there aren't any large shows in the North East

 

[grnamin]

I'm considering this one...