Cars built for camping

[hikeorbike]

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]

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.]

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]

My Subaru station wagon worked out just right in the 90s. That Aztec thing was ghastly to look at.

[Lamebeaver]

If I were thinking about doing this, I would get something like this:

[eyebp]

Originally Posted by Lamebeaver

If I were thinking about doing this, I would get something like this:

I like those. Somebody makes a trailer that resembles that but I cant think of the company right now.

[bsmit212]

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,

[Lamebeaver]

Originally Posted by eyebp

I like those. Somebody makes a trailer that resembles that but I cant think of the company right now.

Ths nice think about the truck - you can go places with a small 4x4 that you'd never be able to haul a trailer.

[carmen]

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]

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.