Slightly off topic but still about small camping.

[Hillmann]

I am kind of interested is building a car top camper to put on top of my Subaru outback, that way I can sleep in the back of the car and the kids can sleep on top. I am thinking of something like two pieces of plywood hinged at the front with canvas sides and back, to pop it up it would only take one or two poles at the back corners between the top and bottom sheets. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this type of set up looking online the only information I can find is for expensive ones that fold out and then set up a tent on top of that.

[rebapuck]

Simplicity works. Might be hard to keep dry.

[mary and bob]

A few years ago at a car show I met a couple who had a sleeper on the top of their car for the kids to sleep in. However, it was a 1928 Graham Paige, and they had drove it from South America, I think Argentina, to Alaska, and wrote a book about the trip. I have the book, autographed by them, but have yet to read it. Good book to take camping this year! Bob

[mary and bob]

Another idea to look at, go onto Tearjerkers, Off Topic, and look at the post subject "can you take everything camping". That's just what you need on top of that '59 Ford wagon!

[robfisher]

I built one a few years back. Built it for a mini van but it will fit on a Subaru. Built it in a real hurry because we were getting ready to leave on a vacation and a week before we received two new kids into our family.

It very water tight having served many miles and sleeping nights throughout midwestern and southern Florida monsoons. Here is the only picture I have available right now but I will get some more ASAP. The hinge is at the front, It opens from the back and is held open with two sticks. There is a canvas panel the velcros in. Takes 2 minutes to be sleep ready and another 1 minute to be road ready. A few times my wife and I used it and let the kids sleep in the teardrop just for kicks. Works very well.

[schaney]

Here is a link to a few Vintage Designs.

I maybe bias, but folding rooftop style tent units are a nice lightweight way to get a "mobile bedroom".


One way to keep the cost down on a folding style tent unit is purchasing a tent body and a few components, then fab up a platform and bows yourself.

[bobhenry]

FROM VINTAGE PLANS ABOVE......

http://www.mikenchell.com/VintagePlans/ ... edroom.pdf

[Hillmann]

robfisher, something like that is pretty much what I had in mind with the top having sides about eight inches tall that when folded up would fit over the bottom and keep the canvas from being exposed to the wind when driving, and the rounded front as well. I would love to see some more pictures of it.

schaney, when looking online I found many like what you linked to, but to be honest I don't really understand the reason for them. You still end up having to set up a tent, and most of them require putting a cover over them when folded up to keep them dry when driving.

[schaney]

Hillman, Here is a blog post I wrote one the topic, Is a Folding Style Rooftop Tent Unit Right for You? Not for everyone ... like I said I'm a little biased.

[Hillmann]

The more I think about it the less appealing the idea of a cartop camper is to me, either hardtop or like the ones schney linked too. I had thought that it could be used as a stop gap for the summer until I get a teardrop built. Other than that I can't picture myself using it very often or ever once I have a camper.

But I would still like to see pictures of robfissher's cause it is always fun to build things in my head.

[rowerwet]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Roof-top-car-camper/
here is one guys idea of how, even the parts he calls for could be made with plywood/epoxy and other stuff.

[the other side]

robfisher! What is yours made of? Still have it? How does it connect/hook to the top of the car? on a luggage rack?