Rooftop Tent - Very useful modification: A balcony

Roof top tents are practical - but they are also very impractical.

Roof Top Tent - Table

Where do you keep your shoes after climbing up the ladder?  What about that first morning brew? Who gets the job of exiting the tent and making a cuppa before climbing back inside?

Wes Craiglow, owner of Central Overland, recently blogged about a wooden shower mat that he had been given.  Thinking through the endless possibilities of the design, Wes started modifying the original shower mat - first he turned it into a table, but then started thinking how this modification could be used as a 'balcony' for his Eezi-Awn tent.  He blogged the following:

in addition to its use as a table, I have developed a way to attach the AJIK mat against the front edge of my Eezi-Awn roof top tent using some string for support and two 3/8″ steel rods secured by four similarly-sized pipe straps as braces.  It basically creates a “balcony” for dirty shoes and sandals just to the left side of our ladder.  (I can’t tell you how nice it is to not bring them into the tent anymore.)

 Read the full blog post: This Shower Mat is a Jack of All Trades

This simple and very practical roof top tent modification will benefit any traditional style rooftop tents but won't work with the 'Tourer' style tents.

Thanks to Wes Craiglow for the use of his photographs and for 'thinking outside of the box' and coming up with this unique idea.  Be sure to visit the Central Overland website.

Spotted: Toyota Land Cruiser Troopy - unique roof conversion

Overland vehicle modification is big business. Just look at the number of 4x4 garages, retail outlets and online sellers.  Even with all of these professional outfitters offering similiar products and services, independent overlanders always tend to find a unique way of modifying their vehicle.  Take for example this Land Cruiser
HZJ75RV Troopcarrier (6 cylinder Diesel Aspirated 4.2L)

1994 Land Cruiser Troopy

Spotted on Gumtree Australia, this 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser Troopy has had an interesting roof conversion.  Unfortunately no photos of the interior were posted online, however, the exterior photos make it look interesting.

Here is the detailed information as posted on Gumtree:

Unique conversion . Pop top with flip over roof carrier creates platform for bed above ground giving full standing space inside, on top of full length pull out drawers.
Complete with winch, limited slip diff. Compressor for tyres and diff. Spots front and rear. Tow bar (unused). Two radios – vhf and other. Completely treated under side at last rego.

Cost 24k 8 years ago. Used only for holiday trips not as a main car. In excellent running order.

Source: Gumtree AU Owner: Guy Baker (unconfirmed).  Asking AU$14,000.

A few more photos from the advert:

What do you reckon?  Neat idea or to cumbersome to setup?  I will follow up with the current owner to see if I can get a few more interior photos.

Rooftop Tent accidents...

The rooftop tent has many benefits for overland travel and one major detractor: The Ladder.
The Overland ZA forum has an interesting topic on accidents relating to rooftop tents... All the accidents on the topic related to the ladder... Read more via Overland Forum

My wife, whose left hand is pictured, slipped off the rooftop tent ladder whilst refitting the mattress the day before we headed to Cameroon.  The Nigerian doctor did a good job of stitching her wound but it was a nervous hour as I patiently waited in his office.  Adding to the tension were before and after photos of all the doctors patients and his awesome surgery he performed....  gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

A posting by a South African called Johan van Heerden on his recent trip to Mozambique had an interesting story on another rooftop tent fall...  One paragraph stands out: