For years, when heading off-road on an adventure, I slept in a tent. Good tents - really good tents. Storm proof, I could climb Everest sorts of tents. I've used this one, my trusty North Face VE-25, for the past 8 years or so.
The problem with a tent is that pitching it requires a location that is flat and level. Flat, meaning no big rocks, sticks, etc. can be a challenge in many locations. Level is almost always a challenge. Flat and level has, often, been impossible, meaning your night is spent sliding to one side with a tent. Maybe at age 63 I'm getting old and soft, but it seems as though finding a spot that is flat and clear is getting harder and harder. Or, maybe it's because I'm venturing farther into the backcountry. Whatever the reason, I made the decision to go with a rooftop tent. And it's been a great decision. I can easily level the FJ with rocks, boards, or the plastic leveling kit I bought from Walmart. I can also park almost anywhere - no need to find that piece of flat, clear ground for the tent, which means I can position the FJ for optimal view lines!
After spending a good amount of time researching various brands, I bought a Freespirit High Country series. It's lighter than most other tents, very well made, and it's a four-season tent, with a soft internal lining to prevent condensation. Setting it up is a breeze - pull on the ladder and the entire tent unfolds and it's erected. Extend the awning, and you're done - about 2 minutes! These tents are sold by Freespirit in Bend, Oregon. On a trip through Bend, I stopped at the shop and they helped me install it on the FJ:
Adding the rooftop tent has been a game changer - I'm more comfortable, more flexible in my choice of campsites, and being up high, the view is awesome. In a tent, your view is typically to the next bush - in a rooftop tent, your view is typically to the horizon!
