Mathieu Godin
Sleeping on top of my 4WD in a RTT is by far my favorite setup.
By Mathieu Godin @math_godin
If you’ve been in the market for a roof top tent (RTT) to purchase, you know they are not cheap and those at a bargain price are usually not worth it. With all the versatility, constant use, and the ability to provide additional comfort on the trail, it’s one of those overland items I would recommend to invest in as you really do get what you pay for.
Having slept inside my overland rig, beside it and now on top of it in a RTT, the latter is by far my favorite setup. While I found sleeping in my previous rig was convenient and allowed me to save some money, it was a pain to always remove most of my gear from the cargo area to create my sleeping platform. Plus, packing up in the rain was the worst, and my cargo area would get very dirty, very quickly.
A ground tent was even more painful. I had a compact, two-person tent that I used, and crawling in and out was no fun. Add some rain into the scenario and I had to then crawl in and out in the mud – No fun at all.
Looking at my options, I found a Nova Scotia-based company – Wild Coast Camping Gear – that specialises in RTTs made specifically to withstand the Canadian climate. I picked up its two-person Firefly model last July when I covered its customer appreciation event for the magazine. The plan was to test it during my overland season, then decide if it was a good fit for my Jeep and overlanding lifestyle.
Just after my first night in the Firefly, I was hooked. The high density 60 mm mattress was perfect in terms of softness. I’m a light sleeper, yet I enjoyed my first, best sleep while camping. Not only did it look great, it was super comfortable. Getting in and out was easy via the aluminium telescopic ladder, and a strap that’s attached to both sides of the tent over the mattress made it extra convenient to climb in and out.
Its RTTs are not just pretty and comfy. Just set one up with the easy-to-follow instructions and you’ll quickly realize its high-quality materials and solid design. What’s more, company owners, Peter and Trish van Delft, always listen to customer feedback and their tents are constantly upgraded with new and improved features. So, when I asked Peter what version of the Firefly was available, he could only tell me it was their latest. Good enough for me.
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Mathieu Godin
All Wild Coast Camping Gear RTTs come with an Annex, storage bags and all the necessary hardware as well as cords for extra tie-downs in windy conditions.
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Mathieu Godin
With a RTT, #homeiswhereyouparkit
All Wild Coast Camping Gear’s RTTs come with an Annex. Peter gave me the option to install the RTT slightly on the side to get more room for the Annex, or in the middle. I had never noticed anyone’s RTT being on one side, but it made sense. So I gave it a try. As a result, it truly helps when setting up with the Annex as it keeps the wall by your vehicle straighter. We also installed the RTT so it would open on the passenger side.
However, since I was on the move every day during my overland trips this season, I didn’t even get to use the Annex after the event. As for having the RTT set more on the one side, I discovered it’s not ideal when off-roading, as more clearance is often needed. So, next time, I will install the RTT center on the roof rack.
I didn’t time myself, but I’d say it takes less than 10 minutes to set up solo (once its mounted to the roof rack). Closing it back and installing the travel cover takes slightly longer, but I got better at it over time. However, installing the travel cover back on is not my favorite part. At one point, I had to turn my Jeep around as I couldn’t flip the cover over the RTT due to the wind (but the direction of the wind is just one variable to take into account when setting up camp).
The travel cover is made from UV-resistant PVC and has a snug fit. It stays in place thanks to a heavy-duty zipper around its base and two straps with stainless steel clasps that go over the top. Unless it’s windy, as I mentioned, it isn’t doesn’t take much of a fight to get it installed.
One of the downsides of camping in a RTT is that when you want to move your vehicle, you have to close it back. Regardless, I like the fact that I can basically set up camp anywhere I can park my Jeep on relatively level ground, and it doesn’t matter if the ground is rocky or muddy.
After speaking with other customers at the Wild Coast Camping Gear event, and spending my overland season using the Firefly, I decided to get myself a unit. It’s a great fit for the Jeep and my travels, so I don’t see a reason to try any other model from a different manufacturer.
There’s another advantage of buying an RTT from Wild Coast Camping Gear. As a customer, you will receive their invite to attend its annual customer appreciation weekend, which is a weekend filled with activities for the whole family. Plus, you get to hang out with other RTT enthusiasts. How cool is that?
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Mathieu Godin
Well protected from the elements.
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Mathieu Godin
On a mission to explore the east coast of Canada with my new RTT.
Firefly Roof Top Tent Specifications
Colour: Orange with black trim
Dimensions (open): 142 cm (56 in) W x 244 cm (96 in) L x 122 cm (48 in) Ht.
Dimensions (closed): 142 cm (56 in) W x 122 cm (48 in) L x 30 cm (12 in) ht. (Closed)
Sleeping Footprint: 142 cm (56 in) W x 244 cm (96 in) L
Weight: 56 kg (135lbs)
Price: $2,577.33 CDN (including the Annex)
All Wild Coast Camping Gear RTTs are covered by a two-year warranty.
For more information about the Firefly’s latest features visit www.wildcoasttents.com
Mathieu Godin