Nissan Rogue Tent Accessory

[philipa_240sx]

After looking at the photos on the Nissan USA website, I dislike their tent design:



I have spent many a night during the past 15+ years in both good and bad tents. After getting tired of being wet, I know what works and what doesn't.

That tiny fly sheet with simple flaps over the zippers is guaranteed to leak. The fly sheet is supposed to protect the main body of the tent from the elements. The fly sheet should be larger extending close to the ground on two or more sides and provide a sheltered vestibule for the tent door. Open sides should have awnings that cover the window openings so you can leave them open for ventilation.

The Eureka! Timberline series is a good example of a basic A frame tent with the features I mentioned:

Image courtesy Eureka!

If a dome tent is more your style, the Eureka Sunrise series is nice but sacrifices some all weather capability for more ventilation with a smaller fly sheet. This tent design is more suited for sheltered campgrounds and not some rocky outcrop on a lake:

Image courtesy Eureka!

There are other good makes out there. My personal experience has only been with Eureka and MEC (Mountain Equipment CO-OP in Canada) both of which are good. The no name brands at found at big chain stores I stay away from as I have had generally bad experiences.

For the Canucks out there, IMHO nothing beats MEC for thier tent designs.I personally own 2 MEC tents:

My spacious Wanderer 4 for campgrounds:Image courtesy mec.ca

My beloved Tarn 2 for lightweight back country camping:Image courtesy mec.ca

Happy camping!

[pedror]

Thanks for the review - very good information!

We were considering the tent accessory for our new Rogue, but it looks like we should shop around...how about this Sportz Dome model from Costco:



http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Pr...&Sp=C
Modified by pedror at 9:33 AM 7/9/2008

[roguetoad]

Phil's tips re the fly is *very* important. Get one with a top-to-grpud fly that's got plenty of guy points.

FWIW, over many, many years, we've found Eurekas to be very rugged. heavy yes, but very strong. (Too heavy for backpacking, however. For that you'd want an MSR, REI, Tarn, etc, etc.)

We used to carry a Eureka exposed on the back of a Kawasaki Z1 through all kinds of road crud and whatnot and it just kept on keeping us cozy for years. IMO they're possibly the most cost-effective portable shelters out there.

Note the awning on the above Costco picture. That's a very useful gizmo that'll greatly enhance your camping. They're available on several kinds of tailgate tents.

See if you can get one on a trial and see if: A) it has enough interior height to make things easier; 2) Has good ventilation. 3) Has a rain fly [very important for many reasons]; 4) Is easy to erect. 5) is not too bulky; 6) Doesn't tear heck out of the paint on your R. 7) Is pegable for those nights with high winds; 8)has really good quality bug netting.

Then when you get one, be sure to seal all the seams with quality seam sealer. Clean it every so often. Unfold it and air it out for a day or so at least once each year. Store loosely (not rolled tightly). Good care will help it last for years. (Also see if the manufacturer has a decent replacement arrangement for poles.)
Modified by roguetoad at 12:49 PM 7/9/2008

[philipa_240sx]

The Sportz series of tents are made by Napier Enterprises. They are the supposedly the OEM mfg for the Nissan accessory tent. (BTW, Napier Ent. is based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.)

Here is thier catalog:

http://napierenterprises.com/s...g.pdf

The one pictured in the Nissan literature appears to be the larger Sportz Model 81000 (10x10') tent. The one you've shown is the smaller Sports 86000 (8.5x8.5').

The smaller 86000 will fit 3 adults and some gear, maybe 4 in a squeeze. I prefer this model's longer fly sheet. The 'awning' shown also appears to have the option of zipping it back down if the weather gets bad. This will help keep the rain out. You also have the option of zipping down the top part of the windows to ventilate without letting rain in. The sleeve that connects to your hatch can then be easily converted and the tent can be used stanalone. Nice feature.

I searched around and there aren't a lot of 'hatch-style' tents. If you really like the option of using your vehicle as part of your tent, then the Sportz tent is one of the few out there. IMHO a conventional tent is better, but the choice is yours. If you decide to purchase this one, I would suggest the following:

- Buy some seam sealer/waterproofing (spray works best for large areas, brush on works for small seams) and seal every seam on the tent from both sides. By seams I mean anywhere 2 fabrics join together by stitching. Let the sealer dry for several hours before packing the tent away.- The awning's design will just collect water in bad weather so I suggest keeping it closed if rain is in the forecast.- Use a ground sheet (a simple tarp works) under the tent to protect the floor from punctures. Here is the trick: the groundsheet MUST be smaller by at least 4-6" all around than the floor itself otherwise it will collect rainwater as it falls down the sides of the tent.- This one should be obvious: Don't operate the car while the tent is attached... lest you want carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, let the exhaust cool before attaching the tent to the car to avoid melting the tent and possibly start a fire.

Happy camping!

[philipa_240sx]

See if you can get one on a trial and see if: A) it has enough interior height to make things easier; 2) Has good ventilation. 3) Has a rain fly [very important for many reasons]; 4) Is easy to erect. 5) is not too bulky; 6) Doesn't tear heck out of the paint on your R. 7) Is pegable for those nights with high winds; 8)has really good quality bug netting.

Then when you get one, be sure to seal all the seams with quality seam sealer. Clean it every so often. Unfold it and air it out for a day or so at least once each year. Store loosely (not rolled tightly). Good care will help it last for years. (Also see if the manufacturer has a decent replacement arrangement for poles.)

All good points roguetoad. The Sportz 86000 looks to be very tall. It should be fine for sheltered wooded campgrounds. But you definitely want to peg it down and use guy lines esp in high wind conditions.

Maintenence is key to tent longevity. Dry and clean it after every use and you will have it for years to come.

[roguetoad]

I agree re the separate tent. That way you don't have to unhook everything each time you leave the campsite.

Plus, you have the advantage of using tent-only sites which are usually much more pleasant, IMO.

*Definitely* use a groundcloth. It'll save a lot of fatugue on the tent, moisture problems, mildew/fungus bothers, etc.

Plus, in really wet conditions it'll prevent other problems.

That's a great point about overhead clearance.

[Leo2005]

I bought this tent about 2 months ago and a few weeks ago went camping. The tent by itself looks in my opinion just like all other tents. Same idea and pretty much standard design. The tent is huge. Inside i putted a queen size mattress and I'm sure I can put another single mattress. Also you can always take couple belts off the car and leave the car alone. Of course this is not the best tent but I think it was made very nicely.

[Phil'sFrontier]

The more I think about it, the more I think it's not a great idea to have a tent attached to you CUV/SUV. zer...06968#http://forums.nicoclub.com/zer...68#On a windy night you could have issues with rubbing against the vehicles paint. And like was stated above, there are much better tents out there. I personally have a MEC North Wind tent. I wouldn't get a tent without a good vestibule. I think the tent for the Frontier has a little better fly on it....here's a picture from http://www.clubfrontier.org sorry about the large image size people.

At least the fly covers most of the tent exposed as well as having a decent awning. Again I wold worry about paint/rubbing issues though.

[wifes rogue]

Hey, I just wanted to say something about the tent, I picked one up when I bought the car, and agree with leo2005, it is huge! I have put some pictures for all to see. It rained when we used it, but no water inside.Going again in a couple of weeks for the weekend, lets hope for some good weather.

[Elton Noway]

Hey, I just wanted to say something about the tent, I picked one up when I bought the car, and agree with leo2005, it is huge! I have put some pictures for all to see.

Bummer... I was flipping thru your photos waiting for the money shot ... the one showing the interior shot of the tent looking "into" the back of the Rogue. In other words, I was hoping for a photo like this one... but with the hatch open. I can envision it ... but would like to have seen it anyway. If you happen to have one… would appreciate you posting it. My wife envisions using the cargo area in the back end of the Rogue as a Pantry... and/or a place for the nephews to sleep so they won't bother us in the main tent. Was hoping to show her a pic.

[wifes rogue]

Elton,Heres your money shot.....

There is also another room that would be great as a pantry, there is no floor though, it is just the roof and sides. You can also us it as a sitting area also.

[Leo2005]

Wow. You have a different tent. And your is actually bigger. I don't have this extension on a side but it is still big. Here's my shots:

[Chas1]

I don't get out much but was wondering... Whats the point exactly? Ie, can;t you just pitch a tent and walk between the car and the tent?

[Leo2005]

That's the whole point. Get access to the car without leaving the tent. I folded all the seats and during night our mattress lost some air so as you can see from picture I had a power cord in the trunk to pump some air. I have a 120v inverter and that was actually very helpful. I modified my cigarette lighter near radio so it doesn't go off when I take out the key. Because of that I didn't even have to get to the car.

[wifes rogue]

With what Leo said, that was the main point I got it, in case I needed something at night I dont need to get out of the tent. But on the other hand, I thought it was something different, like the rogue, so I got it for that reason.

[Chas1]

Ok, I sort of get it :-) And it does look kind of cool. In my camping days.. I blew up the air matresses with my mouth. No need to get in the back of the car for that lol.

[philipa_240sx]

Sigh, I no longer car camp anymore. Perhaps it's a lack of privacy, or just too many drunk teenagers?

I prefer to do my camping in the backcountry... as far away as my canoe will take me.

[Big_Joe]

I looked on the forums but didn't see any posts about the hatch tent that can be bought for the rogue. Does anyone have any info on it? Maybe I just didn't look hard enough but was curious if it actually fits inside the cabin or if you need the roof rack for it? I was also curious as to the quality of the tent? I am 21 and looking to get into some outdoor stuff and was curious if this would be a good purchase or if i would be better off just buying another tent from like Gander Mountain or something.

Any info would be appreciated! Thanks!

'08 Indigo Blue Rogue!!

[Leo2005]

It's expensive but I think it's worth it. Good quality and nice design. Look at some pics over here: zerothread?id=350656

[wifes rogue]

Hey Big Joe,The tent is a good size and works well. When I used it, it actually rained that weekend, but didn't get any water inside. Mine came with an extra room that would come in handy for some extra privacy.You do not need the roof for the tent.... the tent came with clips that can attach to the hatch itself.Hope this helps out.

[AznJohn22]

how much does the tent cost?

[Leo2005]

About $200...- or +$50 depends on a tent.

[mpattdu]

wife's rogue, can your tent be set up without the side room?

[AznJohn22]

oh ok. not too bad. Pretty cool to have the tent attached to the car.

[wifes rogue]

mpattdu; If I recall correctly, it is attached with a zipper, even the part that attaches onto the Rogue can be removed by a zipper.

[Sweetlock]

I really like the looks and functionality of this tent, my only concern is that my rogue is the S trim and doesn't have roof racks. It looks like the tent fastens to them. Is there might option to attach it to the back?

[wifes rogue]

Sweetlock; I have not used the tent this year however i think there are clips that are attached to the straps that can be mounted on the top of the hatch.