Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT

transmutated · Oct 6, 2024

Ford F-150 Lightning Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT IMG_4916 copy

Scooped up a Naturnest RTT to do some adventuring. Having the built in electric generator sure does make camping extra nice! Did some solo camping in Hoosier National Forest and had a great time. Coming from my Model Y…it sure is easier to do this kind of stuff with a truck.

Im also attaching a night timedrive way pic and some of the ladder I built to get this 180lb box on the bars. Not nearly as bad as it looks, but I can do it solo with no real struggles.

Ford F-150 Lightning Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT IMG_4905

Ford F-150 Lightning Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT IMG_4860

Ford F-150 Lightning Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT IMG_4861

Bed rack and cover are from an Amazon seller under the brand name bestwyll. Great quality stuff if you are in the market for it!

B177y · Oct 6, 2024

I have been contemplating something like your setup vs. a used small tent trailer since I brought my Lightning home last weekend. I have a big travel trailer for trips with the entire family but I want something more nimble and efficient for solo trips or just my son and I. Looks like you have a great setup!

transmutated · Oct 6, 2024

I’d love a travel camper but I can’t justify storage fees since I’d have to store it since I live in an HOA. I also considered a tent trailer setup as well but I didn’t want to have to deal with the hassle of registration, insurance, and ultimately storage in the garage. This was the perfect compromise in my opinion. Easily holds two adults. I’m 6’1 and was very comfortable. For storage, I plan on building wall storage in the garage for it so it’ll occupy just 7” of depth from the wall but it’ll fill about 5ft x 7ft.

stickyfingers · Oct 6, 2024

Nice setup.

I have a similar setup with my elevate racks and Thule Tepui tent. My wife hated having to climb down the ladder to go use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

I then get low profile yakima rack and put the tent on top of that so it's much closer to the ground and even still she hates that ladder - lol. I guess north of 50 years old I need to start thinking of a different solution - camper. She was happy the bed based tent though. Plus we have a furry friend but he usually bunks with the kids on a ground tent.

Jimbalf · Oct 7, 2024

This opiion works great for me. Love having the pull out step to get in and out.

Ford F-150 Lightning Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT 1728304638080-55

Ford Motor Company · Oct 7, 2024

transmutated said:
Scooped up a Naturnest RTT to do some adventuring. Having the built in electric generator sure does make camping extra nice! Did some solo camping in Hoosier National Forest and had a great time. Coming from my Model Y…it sure is easier to do this kind of stuff with a truck.

Im also attaching a night timedrive way pic and some of the ladder I built to get this 180lb box on the bars. Not nearly as bad as it looks, but I can do it solo with no real struggles.

Bed rack and cover are from an Amazon seller under the brand name bestwyll. Great quality stuff if you are in the market for it!

The F-150 Lightning is built for any adventure! And it's awesome to see it embarking on this outdoor adventure!

Ford Motor Company · Oct 7, 2024

Jimbalf said:
This opiion works great for me. Love having the pull out step to get in and out.

Wow, Jim! That is a beautiful F-150 Lightning and an awesome camping set-up!

Grease Lightning · Oct 7, 2024

transmutated said:
Scooped up a Naturnest RTT to do some adventuring. Having the built in electric generator sure does make camping extra nice! Did some solo camping in Hoosier National Forest and had a great time. Coming from my Model Y…it sure is easier to do this kind of stuff with a truck.

Im also attaching a night timedrive way pic and some of the ladder I built to get this 180lb box on the bars. Not nearly as bad as it looks, but I can do it solo with no real struggles.

Bed rack and cover are from an Amazon seller under the brand name bestwyll. Great quality stuff if you are in the market for it!

Love your unloading rack. That is one thing I still need to put together for mine, but it will stay on for another month.

How much hit did you see to your efficiency?

Having mine at the bedrail level I have not seen any impact.

Ford F-150 Lightning Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT IMG_6452

As it stick past the tailgate a little, I am thinking of mounting an old tuner wing for the fun of it.

jmb01 · Oct 7, 2024

Jimbalf said:
This opiion works great for me. Love having the pull out step to get in and out.

I'm with you...

Ford F-150 Lightning Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT Camping-test

mb0220 · Oct 7, 2024

jmb01 said:
I'm with you...

Ooh - I want to know more about your wheels/tires/suspension...

jmb01 · Oct 8, 2024

mb0220 said:
Ooh - I want to know more about your wheels/tires/suspension...

Gen1 Raptor beadlock take-offs, LT35X11.5r17 Kenda Klever R/T, just a 2" level up front but that's going to change, not sure to what yet though.

hajalie24 · Oct 11, 2024

You guys need to list the names of these tents with your photos!

transmutated · Oct 12, 2024

I love that we all of the options! Roof top tents, bed tents, all of them!

hajalie24 said:
You guys need to list the names of these tents with your photos!

I’ve seen a few brands of this tent, but I bought this from naturnest on Amazon. They have sent a missing part and also are sending custom sized mending plates to fit my bed rack. Great customer service!

https://www.naturnest.com/products/roofttop-tent-04?variant=46083741745453

iam-s-Hon · Oct 14, 2024

transmutated said:
Bed rack and cover are from an Amazon seller under the brand name bestwyll. Great quality stuff if you are in the market for it!

Did you notice much of a range hit?

Was planning on something like this vs towing when I get the Lightning, but was leaning on the low or mid-rise racks for better aero.

I like this loading solution and could have me rethinking hardshell over soft.

transmutated · Oct 14, 2024

I could lower my rack, but the problem then would be how much was hanging over past the tailgate. Since that was the heavy side, aka where your upper body is sleeping/getting in and out of the tent, I wanted to make sure it had supports under it as best as possible which meant that it had to go over the cab.

Honestly for range, I didn't feel like it impacted much! Sharing a screen from ABRP showing SOC and speed which most folks care about. On the highway, I was cruising at 70 most of the time. Looks like for the lions share of my trip, I was getting around 2.31kWh which is pretty awesome. It wasn't especially windy and weather was nice. Elevation in Indiana isn't much until you get closer to the southern part of the state which is where i was heading.

Regardless, range was awesome for this sitting above the cabin! And the loading situation is rock solid. Drill winch is clutch and makes this a one dude job.

Rooftop Camping Setup -- Naturnest RTT

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