Feature Friday: 11 Hardshell RTT Setups on the 5th Gen 4Runner

Pictured: Devonte’ Jones (@Naughty_rnr) Go Free Spirit Recreation (GOFSR) Evo Tent 55.”

For this week’s first Feature, Friday, we’re showcasing some AWESOME Hardshell RTT (Rooftop Tent) options for 5th Gen 4Runners. This post ended up featuring many iKamper and CVT hardshell tents; however, there are many other brands out there to choose from, such as GFC (Go Fast Campers), Alucab, Roofnest, James Baroud, Auto Home, and the list goes on. For each build listed below, you will find an overview of the owner’s RTT setup, RTT product specs/details, and what roof rack these rigs are running. If you are looking for some hardshell inspiration for your 5th Gen 4Runner, these featured builds might help you in your journey to get out there and start exploring a little more.

Hardshell tents can be quite the initial cost at first; however, once you get accustomed to camping in a rooftop tent, it’s pretty tough to go back to ground camping. Hardshell tents are incredibly easy to set up and break down, which makes your time at camp a bit more enjoyable. If you are considering a rooftop tent, hardshell tents offer a much better overall user experience than soft-shell rooftop tents. Softshell tents are cheaper but take longer to set up and often weigh much more. But one of the upsides of softshells is that they usually let you carry more gear. In any case, good luck on your journey as you search for a rooftop tent!

This list is in no specific order, just a general list of awesome 4Runners running some rad tents! Be sure to check everyone out on Instagram and give them a follow! If you have any questions for a particular build, you can reach out to them directly on the gram.

1. Jon Lauzon (@magneto.trdpro) iKamper Skycamp 2.0

• Rooftop Tent: iKamper Skycamp 2.0
• Weight: 155lbs
• Floor Size: 85.8″ x 82.6″
• Height Size: 13”
• Roof Rack: Frontrunner Slimline II

Our family of 4 absolutely loves camping and exploring the country. Camp life is so much more enjoyable with the iKamper Skycamp 2.0! There is more than enough space for all of us, and we still have room for additional gear. The roof tent is mounted on a Front Runner rack using the provided iKamper mounting hardware.

2. Rithy Pen (@rithagram) CVT Mt. Hood RTT

• Rooftop Tent: CVT Mt. Hood Single Channel Medium
• Weight: 160lbs-200lbs (200lbs fully loaded with crossbars)
• Height Size: 6.25″ on the Single Channel – 8″ on the double channel *Add 2.5″ if using crossbars
• Width Size: 50″ Small – 56″ Medium – 60″ Large
• Roof Rack: Prinsu full-length roof rack

I went with the CVT Mt. Hood RTT because of its low-profile design. I went with the medium size, 56″, and it suits me well. The tent also has “T” channels around the perimeter to mount accessories like an axe or shovel. What I really like about this tent is that it has crossbars mounted on top. I mounted Maxtrax on it, and it’s easy to access in certain situations. The tent also includes a shoe bag that you can hang outside the tent to put your muddy or sandy shoes in. Overall, I would recommend the CVT Mt. Hood, just as convenient and versatile as the RTT is.

3. Tylor Calhoun (@4rkhai) iKamper Skycamp 2.0 Mini

• Rooftop Tent: iKamper Skycamp 2.0 Mini
• Weight: 125lbs
• Floor Size: 80.7″ x 50.4″
• Height Size: 13”
• Roof Rack: Prinsu full-length roof rack

I built it with the intent of being a multipurpose rig: to work, to go to/over/through the mountains, and to cross-country. It’s done all that plus some. I wanted to build this up but keep the natural 5th generation look, and so far, I think I’ve kept to it. But probably the most interesting thing about my build is the mix-and-match suspension setup. Everything was purposely placed to do a job and nothing more. I don’t need flashy blue shocks or extra reservoirs. I know my limits and am not trying to rally race a trail. Also, I’ve been able to keep everything under $6.5k (yes, including the RTT), being attentive to the Facebook marketplace, selling old parts, and patiently waiting for sales from big companies, literally pays off.

4. Rovie Flores (@Adobo4runner) Ikamper Skycamp 2.0 – Rocky Black

• Rooftop Tent: iKamper Skycamp 2.0 rooftop tent in Rocky Black
• Weight: 155lbs
• Floor Size: 85.8″ x 82.6″
• Height Size: 13”
• Roof Rack: Prinsu full-length roof rack

I love my iKamper because it’s very comfortable to sleep in. It’s very roomy, and the included mattress is top-notch. This rooftop tent is very simple, and I love the quick setup and easy fold-down. It does pretty well in hot, cold, and even super windy conditions.

5. Dustin Smith (@calrunr) iKamper Skycamp 2.0 – Rocky Black

• Rooftop Tent: iKamper Skycamp 2.0 rooftop tent in Rocky Black
• Weight: 155lbs
• Floor Size: 85.8″ x 82.6″
• Height Size: 13”
• Roof Rack: Prinsu full-length roof rack

With a family of 4, the options for a hardshell rooftop tent are a bit narrow… which is why I opted for the roomy iKamper Skycamp 2.0. About two years ago, when I was looking for an RTT, my daughter was 11, and my son was 16. We needed something that would fit them, plus my lady friend and me. The Skycamp 2.0 was by far the best option on the market for us, and it just so happened that Rhino Adventure Gear sold them out of their NorCal office.

The main features that drew me to the iKamper were the space, the rocky black hardshell, the ease of setup and takedown, the tastefully designed interior, comfort, and reputation. I paid more for the iKamper (about $4500 when it was all said and done) for all of these things, knowing I had a company like Rhino that would help with the install and assist me if I had any issues. The iKamper has held up solidly and lived up to all the reasons I bought it.

The hardshell looks great after two years, and I’ve had no issues with the finish, cracking, leaking, or anything else. It doesn’t show dirt as much as a gloss shell. It also looks (and is) much tougher. It sets up in literally a minute or two and takes down almost as fast. I’ve had to experiment with how much bedding I can store inside and have settled on two sleeping bags, plus the three foam sleeping pads I added under the mattress to improve insulation and reduce condensation. With four bags and pillows up there, you can force it shut, but it’s too much effort, and I get paranoid that I’m going to wreck the latches.

The interior of the Skycamp is super simple with a tasteful world map on the ceiling. My family of four was snug inside, but two years ago, when the kids were a bit smaller, it was just right. Now, with two teenagers, we end up taking a one-man tent, and the oldest gets his own “room” away from the rest of us. This gives us a lot more space and gives him a little privacy. Adding the three sleeping pads under the mattress not only helps with condensation but also protects your knees when crawling around in the RTT. The foam mattress is comfortable enough when sleeping, but your knees still feel the metal platform underneath.

The only real issue I’ve had with the Skycamp was with the ladder when beach camping. Sand got in the telescoping parts of the ladder, making it harder to close, and I broke some of the plastic parts, forcing it. But iKamper and Rhino replaced the full ladder within a couple of weeks. And now I use my compressor to blow off the ladder before closing it.

Sidenote… I’ve had two rack platforms for the iKamper. Gobi and Prinsu.

The Gobi held the iKamper nicely and solidly. No issues. But it stuck up quite a bit, making the rig look like a mushroom. I switched to a full Prinsu rack a while back, and it feels just as solid, but sits closer to the roof and looks a bit sleeker. If you go this route, make sure to add some rubber weatherstripping between the iKamper mounting rails and the Prinsu load bars to prevent squeaking and rattling. This is a very common issue with this combination, and it is easily and affordably solved.

6. Carlo Quezon (@cqadventures) iKamper Skycamp 1.0 (White)

• Rooftop Tent: iKamper Skycamp 1.0 (White)
• Weight: 160lbs
• Floor Size: 83” x 77” / 44.3 sq ft
• Height Size: 13”
• Roof Rack: Gobi Stealth Roof Rack

Features:

• 1-minute setup-Aerodynamic hard shell design.
• King-size mattress and can fit up to 4 people.
• The windows, including the Skyview, have 3 layers: a clear vinyl window, a mesh window, and the outer polyester window.
• Canvas is thicker and has breathable, water-resistant poly cotton.

With four people in the family, our options for RTTs were quite limited at the time, as most rooftop tents can only accommodate two adults, or maybe three at a stretch. The iKamper Skycamp was the best option for my needs when it came out onto the scene and had everything I was looking for on an RTT. I love how the tent can be set up and stowed away in a minute or less. This is a game-changer, especially when you’re setting up camp at different locations every day. The inside of the tent is huge!!! Comes with a king-size mattress and can easily fit 4 people. I can store my king-size 0-degree sleeping bag and a couple of pillows inside when closed. The quality of the tent is amazing, with that premium feel. My iKamper Skycamp is mounted on my Gobi Stealth roof rack and is equipped with a 100W solar panel to keep accessories running all night, making every adventure more comfortable. The only downside I see is that the tent can be difficult to remove and store because of its size, and I’m running out of favors with my neighbors. That said, I am having to leave it on the rig until I come up with an easier way to remove it. Last but not least, another downside is that it’s more expensive than other rooftop tents.

7. Daniel Chamlern (@Omgsosteezy) Roofnest Falcon XL

• Rooftop Tent: Roofnest Falcon XL
• Weight: 160lbs
• Interior Size: 88″L x 58″W
• Exterior Size: 90″L x 60″W
• Roof Rack: Outgearsolutions low pro-RTT crossbars

It features a 58” Interior width / 60” Exterior Width, it sleeps 2-3 (2 adults, 1 child comfortably), and it’s fully integrated with LED lighting.

8. Brandon Hegg (@expo_t4r) Roofnest Falcon XL

• Rooftop Tent: Roofnest Falcon XL
• Weight: 160lbs
• Interior Size: 88″L x 58″W
• Exterior Size: 90″L x 60″W
• Roof Rack: Gobi

Roofnest Falcon setup, sitting on a Gobi rack. The tent is attached to the rack with @wheeleveryweekend security mounts. Also attached to the rack is an Alu-Cab 270 shadow awning. I keep my Maxtrax attached to the roofnest accessory rails with the @uptopoverland Maxtrax mounts. I love how slim and compact it is. I also love how easy it is to set up. The 2 latches in the back allow opening in about 15 seconds. It’s incredibly easy and lightweight.

9. Austin Walker (@t4r_canyoncrawler) CVT Mt. Hood Single Channel

• Rooftop Tent: CVT Mt. Hood Single Channel Medium
• Weight: 160lbs-200lbs (200lbs fully loaded with crossbars)
• Height Size: 6.25″ on the Single Channel – 8″ on the double channel *Add 2.5″ if using crossbars
• Width Size: 50″ Small – 56″ Medium – 60″ Large
• Roof Rack: Prinsu full-length roof rack with Prinsu 1” Tent Mounting Feet

I’ll tell you what got me all sorts of hot and excited was the Mt. Hood! It’s a tent that you can take down and put away in 15 seconds. After having a traditional rooftop tent, this alone left me mind-blown. Even better, I’d say that the mattress is as soft as sleeping on a box of kittens.

The only drawback to this setup is that if you’re much bigger than 6 feet tall, you’ll feel a little cramped. I comfortably slept up there with my 80-lb Pitbull. I’d definitely say that this sleeps a maximum of two people for the Medium Mt Hood. Also, the storage capacity is minimal, as it keeps its lady-like features of being slim and slender; you’re not able to fit pillows or any sleeping amenities, as it’s very tight for space.
Now for the Prinsu Rack, it was a no-brainer. It’s light and easy to install. They’ve literally thought of every option to help use their rack. Their 1-inch feet made it super easy to tighten once it was mounted up top, and easy to remove the tent if needed.

Unfortunately, it seems the Prinsu wasn’t built for rugged use. I’d really say it’s made for light duty. The rack failed on me during my last trip. It broke on some soft roading that left me in a bind. I don’t believe the aluminum structures were built to withstand a constant load year-round, since it’s a softer metal. Don’t be fooled by its good looks; it has its structural drawbacks that have left me needing a new rack.

10. Devonte’ Jones (@Naughty_rnr) Go Free Spirit Recreation (GOFSR) Evo Tent

• Rooftop Tent: Go Free Spirit Recreation (GOFSR) Evo Tent 55”
• Exterior Size: 60″W x 87″L x 9″H
• Interior Size: 55″W x 83″L x 43″H
• Height Size: 14” H
• Weight: 172 lbs
• Roof Rack: Gobi

I have the first-gen GOFSR Evo 55” hard shell tent. I’ve been in the market for an RTT for the past 2 years and haven’t found one that fits my style. Back in November 2020, this tent became available, and I immediately fell in love with it. For me, the design was perfect! After talking to the guys at Free Spirit, I knew they put time and effort into the design. I’m not the biggest guy, but I’m 6’2, so I needed something with the perfect amount of room and headspace.

When closed the tent is 60 inches wide, due to my Gobi rack having a smaller profile there is a bit of overhang which wasn’t a deal-breaker for me. This tent makes up for that: when it’s opened, the interior provides plenty of room, with a mattress just slightly larger than a full-sized bed and an interior height of 43 inches. I normally go camping with myself or with my girlfriend. Between the 2 of us, we can easily set up in under a minute, when I’m alone I can have it popped up and ready to go in just a little over a minute.

This tent comes with all the goodies on the inside and out. The interior comes with a bright LED strip that can be powered by a small USB battery pack, 4 clear pouches that can hold everything you need for the night, and 2 outer pouches for shoes and whatever else you need that you don’t want to take in the tent, 4 windows so you have a great 360-degree view. The one thing I love most about this tent is the tri-layer fabric that comes standard on the Evo tent. Hence the name “tri-layer”: there are 3 layers of insulation that’ll keep you warm in the wintertime but won’t make you too hot during those warm summer months. The fabric is also heat-stitched, so you don’t have to worry about water getting inside when it’s raining. Also, the windows have a bug net on the outside that helps with bugs while still allowing plenty of airflow when you need it.

Time to talk about the mattress: the tent comes with a 3.5-inch mattress consisting of 2 layers: 2-inch PPE foam and a 1.5-inch foam layer. Personally, I needed a little more cushion, so I bought a 2-inch memory foam topper to go with the mattress. The mattress has a removable cover that you can unzip, which makes it easy to add the extra cushion. One good thing to note about this tent is that, because it’s 9 inches tall when closed, I haven’t had any issues storing my sleeping gear inside. I normally keep my comforter, 2 regular-sized pillows, and a light blanket, and I have no issues closing it.

The outside of the tent is made of aluminum and features T-slot rails for adding accessories such as auxiliary lights. There are 4 really strong gas struts, so you don’t have to worry about the tent ever coming down while you’re sleeping or relaxing in the tent. You can also buy roof rails that attach to the top of the tent in the upper T-slots. This tent will most likely take up all of the space on the roof rack, so buying the roof rails for me was a no-brainer. Because the tent pops straight up, you can’t put much weight on top when it’s open, but a set of MaxTrax and other lightweight accessories will be fine. Once the tent is set up, you can use the outer frame to hook on the ladder.

Overall, this tent has been awesome and has been put to the test. The tri-layer fabric has kept me warm during the cold winter nights in central Missouri, has withstood 35-mph winds out in Big Bend National Park without any issues, and stays put on the trails. I’d highly recommend this tent to anyone who’s in the market for a high-quality RTT. Go Free Spirit Recreation offers amazing customer service and is willing to answer any questions and help with whatever you need.

11. Darith Duong (@elevationrnr) CVT Mt. Hood Single Channel

• Rooftop Tent: CVT Mt. Hood Single Channel Medium
• Weight: 160lbs-200lbs (200lbs fully loaded with crossbars)
• Height Size: 6.25″ on the Single Channel – 8″ on the double channel *Add 2.5″ if using crossbars
• Width Size: 50″ Small – 56″ Medium – 60″ Large
• Roof Rack: Prinsu full-length roof rack

I got the CVT Mt. Hood (single channel) when they first came out on pre-sale. I love the simplicity of it, low profile, quick setup, and takedown. The setup and takedown are my favorite parts of the tent; we usually roll into camp late or leave camp early, so it makes life easy. Show up, drink booze, pop up a tent, pass out, repeat. Life is great.

I mounted the tent directly to the crossbars with the included brackets. If you don’t put some insulation between the crossbars and the tent, the tent squeaks like crazy! I added 1/4″ rubber pieces on top of the cross rails, and that seems to help a lot. I’ve done a lot of winter camping, and this tent creates a lot of condensation, not as bad during the summer months, but there is still condensation if you don’t crack the windows open. (I got the first version before they carpeted the ceiling, which is supposed to help with that.

The mattress is just ok, it’s firm. I thought I would break in after a while, but it’s still quite firm. I ended up removing the mattress, keeping the condensation mat in, and adding a 1.5″ memory foam pad. Now I can leave a double sleeping bag, 4 thin pillows, and 2 thin blankets in there full-time. We fit two adults and a 6yr old in there just fine.

I’ve got my awning, shovel, and waterport mounted directly to the outside channels, traction boards on the crossbars up top. LED light strips are inside the bottom channel under the tent. It’s to the point where I don’t even need a roof rack because I can attach so much to the sides of the tent. I’ve run this tent for over a year now in some pretty harsh conditions, extreme cold, extreme heat, rain, snow, and high winds. The only thing that’s changed is that the black canvas has faded to grey. Other than that, the tent is in great condition! The more I get out and adventure, the more I want things simple. This is one of them.

Final Thoughts

Pictured: Brandon Hegg (@expo_t4r, @rigtalk, and others) Roofnest Falcon XL

Well, did you all happen to notice the common theme with all these hardshell RTT’s? EASY SETUP! These hardshell tents are incredibly easy to set up and take down (some in less than 15 seconds)! Hopefully, this overview on builds gave you some ideas for outfitting your 4Runner.

Next week, we’ll be covering aftermarket front bumpers. Have a great weekend!