THULE OUTSET: New type of tent! - Hitch-mounted car tent

[hemiarch]

Did any of you all watch the smurfs growing up?
https://dodoutdoors.com/products/kinoko-mushroom-tent

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[EWELON]

Now that’s exciting. So how much was it out the door?

about 4150 - added the anticondensation mat as well which was also 20% off. so in the end got in for less than a rear rack, rtt, and awning that I thought I was originally going to get #winning lol

 

[EWELON]

picked it up today! it really is quite easy to use.

https://www.thule.com/en-rs/rooftop...ar-mounted-tents/thule-outset-towbar-_-901520

it allows the tailgate to open completely flat when hitched:

it totally blocks the rear view camera but fsd is usable, you just have to to take it out of trailer mode.

comfortable. the seat height platform is a game changer.

it uses a clever clamping system so that it comes over top of the hitch:

ive already forgotten how expensive it was.
charging at some superchargers is going to be a challenge until someone makes a legit extension cable.

 

[EWELON]

took a drive from philadelphia to atlantic city tonight with the tent attached, fsd with no intervention all the way in hurry mode here are my stats:

also used this product recommended on another thread to mount a camera to the back of the tent and the sides of the truck. they stayed attached the whole way.
https://a.co/d/cThAH9A

not the best cams for night in the rain though:

in the day the cams work well.

 

[RoboTaxi]

That’s going to greatly effect basic off road capability. Going to scrap/bend the crap out of the tent since it overhangs off the back. Hope it works for you.

 

[EWELON]

That’s going to greatly effect basic off road capability. Going to scrap/bend the crap out of the tent since it overhangs off the back. Hope it works for you.

agreed. im a national parks, rv site type camper. no offroading for me at the moment. still have the scorpions on it.

 

[Urander]

Any issues at the V2 or V3 chargers?

 

[EWELON]

Any issues at the V2 or V3 chargers?

if its one of the short cord ones where the charger is directly behind the truck there will be. that will be my next update

 

[RM Rilke]

Personally, I’m glad you are having fun with it and that a new optionality space exists. Eventually, the price will come down on these as the refinement goes up and I suspect quite a few people will use them. My main argument in favor of something on the truck is that the self leveling in camp mode is pretty sweet. But to me these are an RTT/tent trailer hybrid sans storage and mounting difficulties. If I had unlimited cash, I would buy one just for my dogs. Or I should say my wife and my dogs because she would rather sleep with them.

 

[EWELON]

Personally, I’m glad you are having fun with it and that a new optionality space exists. Eventually, the price will come down on these as the refinement goes up and I suspect quite a few people will use them. My main argument in favor of something on the truck is that the self leveling in camp mode is pretty sweet. But to me these are an RTT/tent trailer hybrid sans storage and mounting difficulties. If I had unlimited cash, I would buy one just for my dogs. Or I should say my wife and my dogs because she would rather sleep with them.

im pushing 50 so the idea of rtt definitely became more and more attractive but at most of the places we camp, you have to drive places to do stuff. being able to set up and drive away became a thing. then having the tent off the ground but at bench height is just one of those “why didnt they think of this sooner” type things it really is cool. I think that will allow us to use this tent much further into the future. range hit is a bit less than other camper tops too. theres definitely a thule tax but it ends up being comparable to a premium rtt plus a rack, and its easier to get back to oem-mode.

 

[TyPope]

BLUF: This is about an 8'x 6' tent set up at tailgate height that weighs 126 pounds and is $630. Or it costs $2,630 with the lone option available from me.

I don't see any value in spending so much for a tent that fits over the bed of the truck or is attached to the vehicle somehow. That just makes camping harder. You'd have to break down the tent any time you needed to drive to a trail head or other local attraction.

"The tent must be connected to my vehicle or it isn't cool enough"

I see nothing wrong with wanting to be off the ground a bit. So, I pondered some. Here's my "I'm thrifty but I have a Cyberbeast" take:


Two of these: Centipede 4'x6'x30" $209.99 x 2
4'x6'x1/2" sheet of plywood $45.55 x 2
One tent: Tent 94.49"L x 82.68"W x 76.77"H for $109.99 x 1
Dog stakes 4 pack sells for $20 on Amazon (big spring shaped screws with an eye for tying things down.

To set up:
Open tailgate and tonneau cover (tonneau cover optional)
Array the two Centipedes next to each other just beyond the tailgate.
Slide the two 4x6 sheets of plywood onto the centipedes (very close in height)
Put tent up.
Screw in the tie downs and tie the thing down to them. (5 of these tiedowns kept our trampoline from becoming a projectile in the 19 years we lived in Montana, Utah, North Dakota, and Nebraska so four of them will easily keep a tent in place.

The total is just under $630 and gives you a 6'x8' tent 30 inches off the ground. For those who just have to have it connected to their truck, I'm willing to offer a non-load bearing hitch attachment for $2,000. It doesn't do anything, but it may make you feel cool.

The Cybertruck tailgate is about 31 inches off the ground and this tent set up is about 30 1/2 inches off the ground so it's possible to use the truck as a patio for the tent.

I can't attach pictures here (it's the computer I'm on at this location) but the centipede things look dinky but support 4,500# each with 12 legs spreading out the force on the ground.

It's heavy though. 2 sheets of 4x6x1/2 plywood total 64#, 2 centipedes total 52#, and the tent I picked here weighs just under 19#.

This setup weighs 125 pounds and costs $630. The heaviest piece is the two partial sheets of plywood at 32# each.

It would all fit in the truck but would probably be under whatever else you were carrying around but the boards really don't take up much room once in the bed of the truck and the tent and centipedes are decent. This won't affect range much at all.

Oh, I forgot, if you want it connected to your truck, it'll cost $2,610. Man's gotta make a buck.

 

[EWELON]

BLUF: This is about an 8'x 6' tent set up at tailgate height that weighs 126 pounds and is $630. Or it costs $2,630 with the lone option available from me.

I don't see any value in spending so much for a tent that fits over the bed of the truck or is attached to the vehicle somehow. That just makes camping harder. You'd have to break down the tent any time you needed to drive to a trail head or other local attraction.




"The tent must be connected to my vehicle or it isn't cool enough"

I see nothing wrong with wanting to be off the ground a bit. So, I pondered some. Here's my "I'm thrifty but I have a Cyberbeast" take:


Two of these: Centipede 4'x6'x30" $209.99 x 2
4'x6'x1/2" sheet of plywood $45.55 x 2
One tent: Tent 94.49"L x 82.68"W x 76.77"H for $109.99 x 1
Dog stakes 4 pack sells for $20 on Amazon (big spring shaped screws with an eye for tying things down.

To set up:
Open tailgate and tonneau cover (tonneau cover optional)
Array the two Centipedes next to each other just beyond the tailgate.
Slide the two 4x6 sheets of plywood onto the centipedes (very close in height)
Put tent up.
Screw in the tie downs and tie the thing down to them. (5 of these tiedowns kept our trampoline from becoming a projectile in the 19 years we lived in Montana, Utah, North Dakota, and Nebraska so four of them will easily keep a tent in place.

The total is just under $630 and gives you a 6'x8' tent 30 inches off the ground. For those who just have to have it connected to their truck, I'm willing to offer a non-load bearing hitch attachment for $2,000. It doesn't do anything, but it may make you feel cool.

The Cybertruck tailgate is about 31 inches off the ground and this tent set up is about 30 1/2 inches off the ground so it's possible to use the truck as a patio for the tent.

I can't attach pictures here (it's the computer I'm on at this location) but the centipede things look dinky but support 4,500# each with 12 legs spreading out the force on the ground.

It's heavy though. 2 sheets of 4x6x1/2 plywood total 64#, 2 centipedes total 52#, and the tent I picked here weighs just under 19#.

This setup weighs 125 pounds and costs $630. The heaviest piece is the two partial sheets of plywood at 32# each.

It would all fit in the truck but would probably be under whatever else you were carrying around but the boards really don't take up much room once in the bed of the truck and the tent and centipedes are decent. This won't affect range much at all.

Oh, I forgot, if you want it connected to your truck, it'll cost $2,610. Man's gotta make a buck.

leveling the outset is pretty straightforward with 4 legs. its a one person setup in minutes and once its set up, you can unhook from the truck and drive the truck away with the tent in place. two boras is twenty four legs. and youd be at worktable height which would be just low enough to be frustrated that you werent at bench height. and yeah lets unpack all the stuff ontop of these 4x6.5 sheets of ply so we can pitch at tent on these legs would be interesting. you would definitely be getting what you paid for, kinda like waiting in an hours long line for costco gas. id rather spend the time doing something else.

 

[EWELON]

charging: as suspected, as long as you’re at a SC that isnt directly behind the spot, youll be ok:

until someone makes a completely and totally, 100% safe, non-singularity-generating extension cord, youll have to use a pull in spot, or demount the tent which is actually easy to do.

the cameras from amazon work great during the day, ill probably just get an extra because it just feels weird to have an unused channel. ill probably put it in the bed - the area that the tonneau disappears into will support a magnet:

on chill fsd mode on the way back from the shore I got 417wh/mi.

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