Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

I'm really looking forward to doing Faces of Namib trip in May.
But have a few small decisions to make regards my accomodations etc...
I have a very nice roof-top-tent - never used! and I also have a 3x3 dome type tent. Some guys have recommended to ground tent instead of Roof solution, mainly due to higher c-of-g.... So, thought I would start this post to hear what experience and advice is out there form you knowledgeable and experienced guys relating to this sort of thing.
Any inputs welcome!

Hey Chris

I don't personally have experience with an rtt but have gone camping with my friend who uses it quite frequently, the only time I get nervous on his behalf about the center of gravity was during grade 5 4x4 obstacles, he drives a 2.7 ifs hilux so with the suspension travel the patrol has already makes it quite safer on a 4x4 track and the Patrol is very heavy. The previous owner of my previous Patrol loaded 300kg on the roof and he claimed didn't even notice the weight. I know the Patrol is actually rated at 100kg.

December my friend was in the Kruger and it rained quite a bit, if it was not for the rtt everything would have gotten wet and muddy during setup but because everything is enclosed in the rtt there was no problem, never mind all the creepy crawlies also looking for shelter. During my Namibia trip I used as ground tent and while at Sesriem quite a wind came up and I was quite upset when I found most of the dunes inside my tent, but that all depends on what tent.
If I camp for more than 2 nights on the same spot a ground tent makes much more sense since everyone else always waits for the guy with a rtt to pack up his camp just do drive his vehicle.
A rtt saves so much space because the bulkiest items I have in my vehicle is the mattes, tent, sleeping bag and all of it can stay inside the rtt.
I am quite for a rtt and would probably be my next big investment before a trip such as yours.

Hope I helped.

Roof top for site hopping ground tent for long stays ....centre of gravity. ....not so much a problem on the patrol. ....

Not an easy choice

I think it all depends on the trip and how many nights you will be sleeping over at every stop. Like Tinus mentioned, if it's a one nighter then RTT otherwise a dome might be the better option.

On a trip like the river trip it is much easier to use a roof top tent as you have to pack up camp every day. On the last one I did I started to hate pitching my tent every night, but it made things easy when you needed to get up at night for a pee.
The downside of a RTT for me is that it takes most of your roof rack space which is a big problem for my family.....there is no way I can fit everything in the boot.
And of course, you have to pack up your camp everytime you want to drive somewhere.

For now, I am using a dome tent only, but would love to get a roof top tent at some point so I have best of both worlds and can use the right tent to suit the trip I am going on.

Thanks for the inputs guys... Im leaning towards the RTT for this trip as its single nights in different places...
First time using the RTT so lots of new lessons and experience to be gained... this trip is gonna be awesome by all accounts of buddies who done it previously... cant wait!

Any tips from any other guys who done it??

Cheers

Do you still need to get a rooftop tent?

If yes then my first choice will be a clamshell, they set up soooooo much easier than the convencial rooftop tents, definitely on my list to get one.

Rain should be you last concern in this neck of the woods.

I would also like to get n alucab clam shell tent one day. Not a fan of the conventional rtt. I pack up camp quicker with my 3x3 canvad ground tent than most guys with convention rtt. Plus guys tent to remove them after trips. So they have to install them again before trips. And that is more than a one man job. I just chuck my tent bag in and of I go.

So if I do get a alucab clam shell fitted. It aint comming off.

Good inputs - thanks guys!

JoshJ wrote:Rain should be you last concern in this neck of the woods.

I would also like to get nalucab clam shelltent one day. Not a fan of the conventional rtt. I pack up camp quicker with my 3x3 canvad ground tent than most guys with convention rtt. Plus guys tent to remove them after trips. So they have to install them again before trips. And that is more than a one man job. I just chuck my tent bag in and of I go.

So if I do get a alucab clam shell fitted. It aint comming off.

Alu is bloody expensive - have a look at the leisuretech one, the one I want and Ive seen how it looks and works

This morning at the tire repair shop in Walvisbaai, we came across a nice 4.8 GRX, with a row of jerries across the back of his roof rack. We got talking, and it turned out the guy had just finished a Faces trip.

There had been another 4.8 on the same trip. That guy had his 135l standard tanks and 5 jerry cans. His reserve light came on 60km before the end of the trip. He made it, but must have been on fumes at the end!

So it seems like you need at least 250l of fuel for that trip.

Myself, if driving a Patrol with standard fuel tanks, would not want anything more on the roof than those six jerries...