Dometic TRT 140 Rooftop Tent Review (Surprisingly Awesome)

[Riv_Ian]

Do small and large awnings work ok if the tent is mounted above the bed rather than on the roof?

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[mkhuffman]

Do small and large awnings work ok if the tent is mounted above the bed rather than on the roof?

I am a novice at this, but I think you would still want to put the awning on crossbars mounted to the roof so it is high enough to cover people who are standing. I am picturing the RTT on the bed and the awning coming out from the bed. Seems like it would hit me in the chest.

 

[Riv_Ian]

Thanks - that's what it looked like, but wanted to be sure.

 

[Liv 2 Riv]

Thank you for such a great and thorough review. I felt like it was well-balanced and honest.

I have 2 questions that are bugging me.

1). In some of the videos and pictures, I've seen, I see a tether across the middle of the tent attached to both of the mesh screens about half-way up. Other pics don't have that. Is that something that's required to keep the structure whole?

2). On the side that unfolds but doesn't have the ladder, how is that supported? I would imagine there would be some weight there when the two people are sleeping. How sturdy is that side or does it provide some "give"?

 

[LazyJZ]

Happy to help.

1. that is a removable elastic rope to hold the walls in when putting it away. It comes on and off easily.

2. all three panels (the one that is static onto your crossbars and the two that fold out) hinge onto one another and seem to support each other off the center panel. It's not an issue.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Hey! Going to resurface this older thread.

First, thanks for the post! One question I have on the Dometic is: Can you unzip the mesh panels, to give an obstruction-free view? I'm a photographer and I LOVE the idea of using a RTT as an observation platform, and the Dometic "windows" are huge so I love that, but I need to have a clear view; hence the need to unzip the mesh panels.

Thanks!

 

[FrankieJ]

Hey! Going to resurface this older thread.

First, thanks for the post! One question I have on the Dometic is: Can you unzip the mesh panels, to give an obstruction-free view? I'm a photographer and I LOVE the idea of using a RTT as an observation platform, and the Dometic "windows" are huge so I love that, but I need to have a clear view; hence the need to unzip the mesh panels.

Thanks!

Yes. The mesh panels can be opened to get an unobstructed view. There are also shades to cover the mesh panels at night.

 

[Rivncoaster]

Hey! Going to resurface this older thread.

First, thanks for the post! One question I have on the Dometic is: Can you unzip the mesh panels, to give an obstruction-free view? I'm a photographer and I LOVE the idea of using a RTT as an observation platform, and the Dometic "windows" are huge so I love that, but I need to have a clear view; hence the need to unzip the mesh panels.

Thanks!

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Thanks folks. Right now I'm between the Dometic and the Air Cruiser. Given that the Dometic is currently available for $1500 (I think it's being discontinued amongst the Dometic re-org) it's a really tough choice. About the only thing holding me back from the Dometic is that the tri-fold design makes it hard to take advantage of the open space on the crossbars (R1T) to permanently mount a locking hard case in that space. I really want quick setup & takedown, so the idea of having to unbolt/re-bolt something to the crossbars doesn't sit well with me. Have any of you Dometic users found a solution to this?

I also do like the blackout curtains on the Air Cruiser.

Anyway, good to have options.

 

[AirCruiser]

Thanks folks. Right now I'm between the Dometic and the Air Cruiser. Given that the Dometic is currently available for $1500 (I think it's being discontinued amongst the Dometic re-org) it's a really tough choice. About the only thing holding me back from the Dometic is that the tri-fold design makes it hard to take advantage of the open space on the crossbars (R1T) to permanently mount a locking hard case in that space. I really want quick setup & takedown, so the idea of having to unbolt/re-bolt something to the crossbars doesn't sit well with me. Have any of you Dometic users found a solution to this?

I also do like the blackout curtains on the Air Cruiser.

Anyway, good to have options.

Hi,

Just jumping in regarding the Air Cruiser

Firstly, the Dometic is a great tent and excellent value for money. Personally, I think it’s actually a better setup than the iKamper Mini. I’m not entirely sure why they’re discontinuing it — perhaps the sales just weren’t strong enough.

That said, the Air Cruiser has a much more premium feel overall. The Dometic uses a polyester fabric with a rainfly setup, which gives it more of a traditional “tent” feel. The Air Cruiser, on the other hand, uses canvas and doesn’t rely on a polyester rainfly, so it feels much more like a cabin space rather than a tent.

There’s also significantly more headroom in the Air Cruiser. Combined with the skylights, it creates a completely different atmosphere inside. I can’t emphasise enough how much this changes the experience. Most rooftop tents are essentially just a sleeping space — the Air Cruiser genuinely feels more like a small cabin.

With the Dometic, you need to set up a separate pump, which is fairly large and quite noisy. With the Air Cruiser, the pump is fully integrated, designed in-house, and runs very quietly. The Dometic system works perfectly well — the Air Cruiser just feels a bit more refined.

There are also a lot of additional features included with the Air Cruiser, such as:

• Interior and exterior lighting
• Glow-in-the-dark ladders
• A thermal peach-skin mattress cover
• Integrated media and storage rack
• Anti-theft systems
• Blackout blinds

In my honest (and slightly biased!) opinion, the Air Cruiser is the superior tent. But if price is the main deciding factor, the Dometic is still a great option and I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone from choosing it.

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