Cars built for camping

hikeorbike

New Member
Messages
100
Points
0
Do they still make those cars that come with a built-in tent for the hatchback? Have you ever owned one, and how was the experience of camping using your car?
 

alex k

New Member
Messages
72
Points
0
Location
NE Pennsylvania
think it was the astec that had a tent option . back in early 2000. remember the tent as a very expensive option and the car was ugly .
i would do a small suv or pickup with cap and the tents that go on the back
 

Joe S.

New Member
Messages
247
Points
0
My friend bought a really nice tent designed for the back of his open bed pick up truck. We put a really nice air mattress in there and slept like kings.
 

Hazel

New Member
Messages
117
Points
0
My Subaru station wagon worked out just right in the 90s. That Aztec thing was ghastly to look at.
 

bsmit212

Member
Messages
621
Points
18
Location
Kennesaw, GA
A few other options that I saw at a Kayak fest I went to was using PVC and a trap to make one, sorry no picture yet but wanting to make one for myself and will post pics once done. The guy was still workings out his desinge, but he just had two long pipes that he tied in the bed of the truck and then did a tarp over it and tied it down, it looked like a covered wagon. He did say that he has had some issue with wind, and not when driving he did not drive with it up. My idea, 1) to add structure to hopefully solve the wind issue and 2) so it will fit better in the back of my truck (he had a big trailer since he brought a big smoker to make BBQ for the fest), is to actually use joints and have more of a tent look to it. I would just put together and break down like a tent too so the longest piece of PVC I would have would be the one that ran across the top and is the length of the bed. That weekend I also saw several people with SUVs that just took opened their back door, tied one end of the tarp to the front roof rack, tied the other end to some trees they back up to and then staked out when they needed to on the bottom.

It was the Aztec that had the tent option and I agree with everyone else it was ugly, so if you dont want that car, or can’t find one, you do have some other options like above.

**Edit: With the above options you could also get a truck or SUV that is better built for rough roads and trails depending on where you want to go. My memory of the Axtec was not very rugged and was meant more for campground camping,
 
Last edited:

carmen

Active Member
Messages
1,051
Points
38
Location
In a house with a tin roof
I have seen a few of them mostly on TV but never any up close. I guess my neighbors like normal tents instead of something that looks like its growing out the backside of your car.
 

ppine

Forester
Messages
3,957
Points
113
Location
Minden, NV
I don't get the logic of climbing around up in the air. The ground is a much better alternative. Attaching a tent to a vehicle just makes it hard to move the vehicle.

Smaller trailers can go anywhere a 4x4 can go if you flip the axles and raise the ground clearance and have car sized tires.
 
Last edited:

bsmit212

Member
Messages
621
Points
18
Location
Kennesaw, GA
I don't get the logic of climbing around up in the air. The ground is a much better alternative. Attaching a tent to a vehicle just makes it hard to move the vehicle.

Smaller trailers can go anywhere a 4x4 can go if you flip the axles and raise the ground clearance and have car sized tires.
I think people would be surprised by how far a small trailer can go with out this modification. Watch the American Top Gear: Death Vally episode. They haul some traliers pretty far on some rough trails.
 

ppine

Forester
Messages
3,957
Points
113
Location
Minden, NV
bsmit,
The dirt roads in Death Valley are excellent. It is a great place to take a trailer to get out of the wind and blowing sand.

Rough roads are those with boulders large enough to smash your differential and transmission, deep ruts and steep enough to have traction problems. Backing a trailer down a rough road is doable but tedious. It is usually easier to disconnect and move things manually.
 
Last edited:

Lamebeaver

New Member
Messages
1,005
Points
0
Location
Colorado
rough is one thing, steep is another, and God help you if you need slowly back down a rough, steep jeep trail with a trailer.
 

littlefire

New Member
Messages
100
Points
0
I've never heard of anything like this. If I were to do a vehicle tent, I'd like to do something over the flat bed. I like the thought of the tent being on top of the truck, too, though.
 

ChadTower

Active Member
Messages
1,906
Points
38
Location
Massachusetts
I have a truck bed tent. It's okay if you aren't going to move the vehicle for a couple of days. It's about the same amount of work as a regular tent but doesn't come with something to cover the bed ridges. If you aren't aware enough to put down a piece of plywood under the tent floor, or have an air mattress or similar, you're in for a REALLY BAD NIGHT. It stinks to sit on those ridges. Now sleep on them! :)
 

TroyS

New Member
Messages
285
Points
0
I don't get the logic of climbing around up in the air. The ground is a much better alternative. Attaching a tent to a vehicle just makes it hard to move the vehicle.
I complete agree with you ppine. I'm just guessing that it's meant so that you don't have to worry about your stuff getting all moist and wet when the rains come unexpectedly. But I don't think I would be comfortable having one with three kids camping with me in that.
 

Lamebeaver

New Member
Messages
1,005
Points
0
Location
Colorado
The logic is that you can pop it up in about a minute, and your tent now has standing room for cooking, getting dressed, etc. I don't have one, but I would get one of these before I would purchase a conventional tow-behind camper.
 

ejdixon

New Member
Messages
513
Points
0
think it was the astec that had a tent option . back in early 2000. remember the tent as a very expensive option and the car was ugly .
i would do a small suv or pickup with cap and the tents that go on the back
A friend of mine and I came across one of those before and you're right! It was quite ugly. Pretty much saving up for a truck where I can set up my tent at the back.
 

ChadTower

Active Member
Messages
1,906
Points
38
Location
Massachusetts
Putting the tent on the vehicle does make it a pain if you have to move the vehicle. They are great, though, for group trips where other vehicles are present. Especially if you're in a fairly space limited situation where there is a lot of people. Once you have your tent set up you're not going to want to drive away but if someone else has a car you're all set.

Really, in this situation, a cap is preferable but if you don't have a cap this is decent.
 

Cappy

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,747
Points
113
Location
South Louisiana
I am a hunter/fisherman sorta camper. For years I had a small coleman pop up and a 4 wheel drive toyota with a camper shell on back. The pop up was jacked up the bottom was fiberglassed and i had a skid plate protecting the axle. I dare say there were places too rough for me to go in with that rig but I never found them and wouldna wanted to. When a hurricane finally killed that ole camper I actually had tears in my eyes.
 
Top