Charlie W. and Bryce M. took a fishing trip in the Kimberley Region of Australia.
On the trip, their vehicle became stuck in the mud.
As the men tried to free the vehicle, they had a close encounter with a crocodile. This forced the two men and their dog to get on the roof of their vehicle to stay safe.
The men spent the next four nights on the roof as the tides brought water spilling over the roof in the crocodile-infested area.
Each time the tide overcame the vehicle, the men kept a lookout for the deadly beasts.
A massive land and air search were launched after the men failed to return home. On day five, the men were found dehydrated and exhausted.
They were nearing the end of their water supply and wept with joy upon being rescued.
Sergeant Mark Balfour said, “They were quite happy to see us and quite upset, crying.”
“Being out there for five days in this kind of country and with the weather being quite hot, I don’t know what would have been going through their heads.
“They were quite fatigued, dehydrated, and heat-struck.”
The Broome police officer added…
“They stayed on top of the vehicle and went through about six tides, which covered the vehicle on several occasions.
Being stranded on your car roof would be a very stressful situation – especially with crocodile’s surrounding you.
But, these days a lot of campers are turning to something that would make it at least a little more comfortable – rooftop tents.
Rooftop tents are designed to set up on the roof of your car.
They’re becoming popular among campers that want to set up camp wherever they can park their car.
If you like to travel, camp, or even for bugging out, here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to rooftop tents.
Pros:
Camp anywhere:
Whether you want to camp in a remote desert or your backyard, a rooftop tent allows you to camp just about anywhere.
You don’t need to find an established campground with a nice flat area to pitch your tent.
A rooftop tent gives you the flexibility to make camp anywhere you need, which is especially useful while bugging out.
Easy setup:
Rooftop tents don’t need trees or a hard surface to stake your tent into. They are easy to clamp and set up since they are designed for a vehicle rooftop.
Once you have the tent set up, you can tie down the straps, and add the ladder and poles.
Height advantage:
A rooftop tent can keep you safe from dangers on the ground.
For instance, like the men above, it could keep you safe from animals or rising floodwaters.
It can also help you see things coming from a distance.
Of course, it also means that people will be able to see you and that you are camping.
But some people feel more safe sleeping in an elevated tent.
Cons:
Weather:
A rooftop tent is going to be more open to bad weather.
What I mean is, wind can make rooftop tent camping miserable. Of course, it will still protect you from water on the ground.
Added weight:
Rooftop tents come with added poles that go to the ground so your vehicle isn’t supporting all the weight.
Depending on the specific tent, most can hold 400 lbs.
But this also means that the tents can be heavy themselves. They can also be bulky with poles and other setup gear.
Camp must be cleaned up:
If you’re using a rooftop tent and need to run to a nearby store, you have to break down camp.
Conversely, if you are camping on the ground, you can leave the tent set up and run around in your car.
But with a rooftop tent, you will always have to break things down to move your car.
This could be a pain if you have to move your vehicle often.
For life on the road or bugging out, when you have nowhere specific to go, a rooftop tent might be a good option.
Rooftop tents offer a bird’s-eye view of your surroundings.
They can bring peace of mind that allows you to see what is coming in your direction.
So, if a rooftop tent is something that might fit your bug-out or camping plans, here are a few to consider.
Thule Tepui Foothill:
Thule’s Foothill is a two-person tent that has a panoramic rear window and skylights. It provides plenty of airflow for warm nights.
The tent has a high-density foam mattress with internal pockets. The tent is UV and mold-resistant.
It takes about 10 minutes to set up and takedown.
It does require a few tools to set up and sits about 9 inches taller than a car’s roof rack.
Yakima SkyRise Medium:
The SkyRise is a three-person tent that is similar to many backpacking tents.
It is made from 210D nylon that is lightweight for airflow, and has aluminum poles for added stability (the poles are pre-set and flip open).
The tent has a wall-to-wall 2.5-inch-thick mattress and covers for easy cleaning.
The SkyRise works with the same hardware as Yakima roof racks. It can be easy to use if you are familiar with their other products.
iKamper Skycamp Mini:
The Skycamp is the best option if you have a smaller car.
It is one of the smallest rooftop tents and also one of the easiest to set up. It takes less than two minutes to set up and takedown.
The Skycamp Mini’s hardshell cover flips open to become one wall of the tent. It’s the only wall without a window.
The sidewalls, front, and ceiling of the tent all have oversized canopy windows for airflow.
The Skycamp Mini is made from breathable and insulating polycotton canvas. It also has a waterproof polyester rainfly.
Rooftop tents are not cheap, but they can serve a purpose when bugging out.
If you plan to bug out but have nowhere safe to go a rooftop tent might be your best choice.
