So I went to bass pro today and purchased a Kamp-Rite double tent cot. After much debate, we just couldn't bring ourselves to spend over $1k on a RTT that is going to add so much weight to an already bogged down truck. We figured for the price we would try out the tent cot route.

My thoughts so far, after setting it up at home:

It's a little bigger than I thought it would be folded down, however its still much smaller and lighter than an RTT coming in at around 35lbs, so thats nice.

The set-up instructions were a little confusing, but I'm confused easily so it could have just been me. There were no pics (I'm a visual learner!) so I had to read and re-read the steps a few times which took extra time setting up. Hopefully the next time I can figure it out a little faster.

It's a pretty good size on the inside, but the foam padding is pretty worthless...I did throw my thermarest in there and it was cozy so I'm satisfied. It also has enough head room to sit up, which will help when changing clothes (we are both 6ft).

I am not too happy about the dome roof pole set-up, instead of having clips you have to slide them through sleeves which is a pain. I haven't attempted the rainfly yet.

Took a few minutes to figure out how to get it in the bag, but I'm pretty happy with the bag quality and I think it will hold up ok on the roof.

I'd like to be able to at least store our thermarests in there, if not our sleeping bags too...

I'm sure because it's bigger it's a little more cumbersome than the single units for transport and setting up.

I'll be taking it solo on it's maiden voyage this Friday so we will see how it does in action.

I have been looking at this same tent. Any thoughts on the pole that runs down the center of the two bed areast? That is one of the only bad reviews I have heard. It seems better than Cabela's in that it has the dome on top to help shed rain. Thanks for the review.

You wouldn't sleep on that. It's really made for two people sleeping on their individual cot. Unless of course you put something like a inflatable mattress in it then it probably wouldn't matter. I'm interested to hear Heidi's experience with it this weekend. I'd like to hear about how convenient it actually ends up being next to a normal tent.

Ya the bar kind of sucks, but many people have either thrown in foam or air mattresses and that seems to take care of the problem. I might cut down an extra piece of foam and take it with on Friday to test it out.

It is about 20 lbs lighter than the Cabela's according to the two websites.

I myself have decided to go this route as well. I've opted out of roof top tent and decided to replace it with an Engel/Arb frigde. After seeing speedy's...how can I not get one.

Good choice!

Cool. Interested in the reviews.
My only thoughts of sleeping off the ground is the air flow under you will make for cold nights! (which is a good thing this time of year). I guess you can always have the extra thick pad in there for winter/fall camping.

Does the rain fly go all the way to the ground? (that would be perfect for storage of shoes, etc.)
How much does it wiggle when you move around? (I have heard rooftop tents cause the entire truck to move which is no fun for camping buddies.)

I didn't notice much wiggling when I moved, but I'll probably get a better review of this after Friday, and maybe one night MR. R2 will actually join me in there!

The rainfly doesn't go all the way to the ground, it fits snug like a sheet around the tent:



There are little pockets at the top of each end inside for things like cell phone, or whatever random small stuff you carry with you. If you need something for shoes or whatever they offer this bag accessory that attaches under the cot:

Whoa that thing is crazy!

So this last Friday I loaded up the tent cot and took it out to Table Mesa for a solo sleeping trip...well I wasn't there by myself but I was in the tent cot by myself! My thoughts so far:

Here it is loaded on the roof. It's about the same weight as my massage table (35lbs) so I was used to having to maneuver that kind of weight around and it wasn't hard at all to get it up or down off the roof by myself. It did make quite a bit of noise having it loaded long-ways like this so on my way back I turned it and this cut down on the noise dramatically.


Here it is set up at camp, no rainfly:



What I like:
It's light
Easy load/unload
I can store the thermasrests and sleeping bags inside (one less thing to carry in the car!)
Comfortable sleep
Quick tear-down
Opens on all 4 sides
Enough room inside to sit up and change clothes
Pockets on the inside at each end for your small gear storage

What I don't like:
Still hate the dome roof poles
Had problems with two of the plastic feet stoppers falling off
No place to put your shoes!
Too large and awkward for a single person to set up
Clipping mechanism to hold down sides could be improved somehow
Hate the end that locks into 2 positions for chair option...who wants to use this as a chair?
The bar in the middle sucks!

I think if I was spending more time going on solo trips I would definitely pick up one of the single tent cots...easy to handle for one person. This one was a bit much, I struggled setting it up by myself but I'm sure this was because of the fact that it was dark, I was trying to remember the directions having only set it up one other time, and there was just me. I did however mess around with it tonight in the garage and came up with a much more efficient way to set it up than what the directions want you to do. I think things will be a lot easier with two of us the next time around...more reviews after trip two with it up to Sedonafest!

Well Sedonafest is over so here are my final thoughts on our Tent Cot experience:

It was much much easier to set up/take down with two people. We still had it up and down in about 5 mins, and one clear advantage we had over both a traditional tent and an RTT was that we were able to set up anywhere we wanted. We slept right next to Oak Creek, on the rocks and were lulled asleep by the water every night. Those with traditional tents had to find one of the sandbars to set up, and those with RTT's or in cab sleepers had to stay in the parking lot away from the water.



I think both Josh and I found it comfortable to sleep in with our bags and thermarest, there was lots of room, but the bar down the middle really sucks and keeps you from spreading out. I searched and searched for an air mattress to use, but the inside measurements of the tent cot were always just a few inches too small.



We were able to keep both of our thermarests and bags inside when we folded it up, but just barely and not without some effort. It was a bit of a struggle to get it back into the bag, and after only two trips the bag is starting to show wear and some rips, so I don't think it will last too much longer.

We didn't have Caesar on this trip, but there is probably no way he would be able to sleep in there with us. I'm not sure we could get him up into an RTT, but at least we know he would fit once inside.

I guess my conclusion is if you are a single person who doesn't want to build a sleeping platform in the back of your truck, and wants something easier than a traditional tent a single version of the Tent Cot is the way to go for the price. As for us, we have fallen victim to the shear coolness and convenience of the RTT, so I will be returning the tent cot this weekend.

I'm sad to see it go. I'm getting the single once I get the roof rack.

I think you will like it. It it was just me, that would be the way I would go.


Wait you had 50 tix at Sedonafest and didn't win anything?? I'm so sorry, especially since I was the one to pull the numbers. I think there was a bit more competition this year!

I have to say a BIG plus of this thing is that you really can put it ANYWHERE. It's a huge plus to be able to put your tent in a location out of the sun, yet still have the ability to quickly pack up like a rooftop. Not to mention it can be placed on nearly any ground surface. These are very large pluses. The double is large and it has to be put on the roof, there really isn't space in the FJ for the double. You might be able to get it in there if you didn't have anything else to carry, but with our normal expo load the roof was the only option.

While on the roof it can be VERY noisy, to the point of being rather obnoxious. I'm sure more careful placement would make it much nicer though.

Double what the Miss says on the bag though. I'm not sure how many trips that thing would survive on the roof of the vehicle. It really did not hold up well.

As for the size, I would say I was comfortable while sleeping. I have a mummy bag and honestly I could sleep in a foxhole and not notice it in that thing. It really doesn't allow me to move around much. However, it is a small area. I wouldn't plan on doing anything in this thing other than sleeping. Changing or naked cartwheels are pretty much out of the question.

Acutally I was referring to the 50 prizes given away. I had more than 50 tickets

Not a big deal