Moving Up In The World Of Sleep

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!