Perry Mack
The SkyeTent ready for inspection on the trailer after its first battering journey.
Words and photos by Perry Mack
We eagerly awaited the arrival of our new roof top tent (RTT). Four days turned into 14 after the shipping company misplaced it somewhere along the way. When the delivery truck finally dropped it off, the box it was in looked like it had been dragged around the world and drop-kicked on every continent.
Every side was scarred and every corner crunched as though Godzilla and King Kong were using it to play catch. There were holes big enough for our bulldog to crawl through. To put it mildly, this wasn’t good.
Signing off on the delivery with the words ‘box damaged, review upon inspection’, we resigned ourselves to receiving a battle-worn, damaged RTT. Placing the box on one of our farm trailers we peeled back the weathered cardboard with little hope.
Perry Mack
The entire box looked like it was from the set of Kong vs Godzilla.
The new hard shell tent by Canadian Manufacturer SkyeTent made us do a double-take right from the name. Multiday overland trips require setting up multiple camps through the journey and for us, four is the magic number. Fewer than four days away doesn’t feel long enough to relax and more than four means we must take serious time off.
Four is also the number of persons the tent is said to sleep. To be very comfortable, I need two persons worth and so does my dog. Wife/girlfriend/partner you ask? Refer to the above word ‘relax’.
The BaseCamp4 is a hard shell RTT. The shell is made of a durable, yet lightweight, ABS and the bottom half is reinforced with a double layer of moisture-resistant, insulating honeycomb aluminum to offer strength and rigidity that doesn’t add kilograms to the tent’s mass. The beefy construction results in a 340 kg (750 lbs) static weight rating (static meaning unmoving, not flying down the trail).
Perry Mack
We were shocked to find the hard shell unscathed after seeing the battered box.
The tent portion consists of a 280 grams per square metre (GSM) rip-stop poly-cotton canvas and 600-denier oxford cloth rainfly with a waterproof rating of 3000 mm. For RTTs, 280 GSM is considered the sweet spot between weight (durability) and breathability. The 3000 mm waterproofing (the material is designed to hold a column of water of 3 m (10 ft), is considered to be on the upper end of the waterproofing scale for rainflys.
Hard shell RTTs typically come in two styles. The first and original is a wedge-shaped clamshell design, which hinges on one edge and sets up quickly while providing a hard waterproof roof. Although they are extremely convenient, the angled roof does limit interior space with zero roof height at the hinged edge, and floor space is limited to the square footage of the shell as well.
The second style is an evolution of the clamshell design in which the hard top shell pops up vertically while still providing floor space that is equivalent to the length and width of the shell. It also offers a larger interior thanks to the flat roof. In both cases, these tents are essentially ideal for one or two people.
Perry Mack
The sleek low aerodynamic profile reduces wind noise and helps maintain fuel economy.
Soft shell RTTs typically flip open and the hinged floor doubles the floor space of the closed tent. The design of the BaseCamp4 is an evolved hybrid between previous hard shell and soft shell tents. It can provide the interior space with the durability and quick set-up of a hard shell.
We decided to set up ours on one of our farm trailers so we could get a closer look at it. When we cut the box open lo and behold, the SkyeTent appeared undamaged! But what about its interior?
The upper shell is securely closed by three locking buckles. When they were undone, the lid lifted of its own accord courtesy of the gas struts. We grabbed hold of an interior strap that allowed us to control the speed of the tent opening.
Perry Mack
It’s hard to believe but the tent does set itself up. We did nothing other than open it.
From the hard shell, it appeared as though we were opening a pop-up book. The tent - as well as the accompanying rainfly - set up quickly with the exception of the fly’s six support rods. Inserting the rods was utterly intuitive. One end fitted through a grommet in the tent and into the base and the other fit into a grommet in the rainfly.
Even with a light wind blowing, it took only a few minutes. Anyone who has ever had to set up camp in the dark (never mind wind and rain) can appreciate what a godsend this feature is.
We didn’t get to use the 245 cm (95 in) telescopic ladder yet, but the extension and retraction were very smooth. We also gave it a good shakedown without seeing any signs of weakness.
Perry Mack
Inside is a cozy space for four on the size of a king-size bed.
The mattress filled the interior space and is 200 x 200 cm (79 x 79 in). This is roughly the dimensions of a king-size bed, which is 193 x 203.5 cm (76 x 80 in). The RTT has a maximum headroom of 120 cm (48 in). The interior did need to be cleaned of aluminum shavings, but we took off our shoes, climbed in and stretched out.
The windows have double-sided zippers for everything, including interior canvas covers, bug mesh screens, clear windows, and the exterior rainfly. The door is the same except for the clear windows.
Despite the beating the BaseCamp4 took during delivery, the fit and finish was spot on. There were no scratches, cracks, dents, or broken components and all the moving parts functioned smoothly. The complete kit also came with rack installation hardware (and a bag for the ladder).
Perry Mack
A quilted liner on the top adds insulation to the wind and the waterproof shell. Setting it to the windward side will help provide a good, restful sleep.
Factory options are not available yet for a rack or solar panels to compliment the top shell of the BaseCamp4, but SkyeTent’s Adventurer3 has roof rails for extra storage to accommodate a bike, canoe etc. It’s also capable of attaching solar panels.
Our next review will be the Adventure and we’ll mount it on one of our 4x4s for a shakedown run, heading into the bush to hit the trails and share some tales around the campfire.
Stay tuned to 4WDrive Magazine and our YouTube channel.
For info on other SkyeTent models and available accessories like an awning or annex room visit www.skyetent.com