I do know. I do know that a couple of weeks in the past I simply did a assessment of a rooftop tent. However, I believed we might discuss in regards to the variations between the 2 several types of rooftop tents. The fold-out kind that I already reviewed and the TopOak Overland Galaxy 1.0 which is a wedge kind.
As I discussed within the assessment of the Yakima SkyRise rooftop tent, we’ve had that very same kind of fold-out model tent on our earlier Jeep. We had it for a very long time and needed to attempt one thing totally different. Particularly, we needed to attempt a wedge-style tent on our new Jeep, however they’ve at all times been so cost-prohibitive. Till now.
TopOak Overland Galaxy 1.0 Rooftop Tent
I really like an excellent cut price and let me inform you, the TopOak Overland Galaxy 1.0 rooftop tent that I’m reviewing is a complete cut price. So I obtained one. I used to be somewhat weary of grabbing one as a result of generally a worth may be “too good to be true” and high quality may be questionable. However, for this model tent with any such price ticket, I believed I might take the possibility on it. So, far I’m glad I did.
It appears very near being the identical tent as a RoofNest Falcon Professional rooftop tent, however the TopOak Galaxy 1.0 retails for under $1,299, not $3,995. You may purchase three Galaxy 1.0 tents for the value of one of many Falcon Professional tents.
The Galaxy 1.0 is a wedge-style rooftop tent, with a tough aluminum shell. It makes use of externally mounted, self-opening struts, and has three totally different mounting spots for the included telescoping ladder.
It additionally comes with an adjustable built-in LED gentle, a shoe bag that hangs outdoors the tent, and a boatload of inside storage pockets.
I just like the storage that’s on the within of the roof. It has six suspended pockets that you should utilize, or you may pull it away from the ceiling and retailer garments or one thing behind it.
It has two locking clamps on the opening. The locks are somewhat bit wonky and don’t appear tremendous safe and it got here with bizarre, giant keys. It’s not the very best safety, however it does the job.
The tent additionally has a novel function the place the entrance of the tent expands out to offer you rather more room contained in the tent than a regular wedge-style tent. That “kick-out” part additionally has a detachable rainfly and a built-in skylight, so you may stargaze whereas mendacity within the tent.
Delivery the Galaxy 1.0
Delivery the tent wherever within the contiguous US will value $299, and is claimed to reach inside 7 days. TopOak has a warehouse in Los Angeles, permitting for pick-up in case you are native. I opted to get mine shipped, and it arrived in 2 days, by way of a freight firm.
The freight firm referred to as me the day earlier than it could arrive and gave me a 2-hour window for after I might count on it… and really confirmed up on the entrance finish of that window. That was good.
When the tent is packed to ship, it’s large, and weighs roughly 220lbs, based on the freight man. I used to be on my own the day it got here, and he was sort sufficient to drop it in my driveway.
After inspecting the field, it didn’t have any signal of being dealt with roughly. TopOak says they insure all the tent when it’s shipped and can ship a full substitute if it reveals up broken. That was good to know.
I began the unpacking and was happy to see the tent sandwiched between two items of plywood, with dense foam positioned between the wooden and the aluminum arduous shell. It was packed very nicely and arrived with out a single scratch.
Set up
I wanted to ask for assist to carry this dangerous boy onto the Yakima Load Bars on our Jeep. The tent, by itself, with nothing in it, weighs 172lbs. Not loopy heavy in the case of rooftop tents, however not gentle both. As compared, the Yakima SkyRise HD Medium rooftop tent that I reviewed weighed 114lbs.
Ensure that the load bar/roof rack system in your car has a dynamic weight capability of a minimum of 172lbs prior to installing this tent in your car. The Yakima Rib Cage Rack System for the Jeep JL has a dynamic weight ranking of 330 kilos, so that’s a lot.
As soon as the tent was on the load bars, I simply slid it round to seek out the fitting spot to start out putting in it with the supplied {hardware}. I’ll be aware that the tent solely got here with knobs to lock the steel straps across the load bars. I opted to go to the ironmongery shop and swap them for some good Nylock nuts.
Additionally, the metal straps appeared somewhat skinny for my liking, so I will likely be swapping these at a later date for a thicker chrome steel model. However, for essentially the most half, I’m very happy with how straightforward the tent was to connect to our loadbars.
Galaxy 1.0 First Impressions
After getting the tent mounted on our Jeep, I did some opening and shutting apply runs. It’s extremely straightforward to arrange and shut down. I’m storing some sleeping luggage (laid out flat), the included shoe bag and ladder, in addition to some small pillows up within the tent when not in use.
With that stuff saved in it, the tent was somewhat bit more durable to shut, however nonetheless closed up simply superb. This comfort is far simpler to cope with when closing the wedge-type tent when in comparison with the fold-out kind tent tent.
We’ve executed round 600 miles with the Galaxy 1.0 on the roof, in addition to a couple of offroad trails, and to this point it’s felt stable and has been quiet. I didn’t discover the additional 60lbs on the roof whereas driving round with the tent. I didn’t assume that may occur, I believed it could be noticeable.
Higher MPGs
One of the vital noticeable variations between the fold-out and the wedge-type of tents is highway noise. The TopOak Galaxy 1.0 has a tough aluminum exterior shell that appears to glide by way of the wind. This makes it a lot quieter than the gentle cowl of the SkyRise HD Medium tent.
The Galaxy 1.0 sits a lot decrease on high of the Jeep than the SkyRise did. At solely 8″ tall when closed, the Galaxy 1.0 has a full 9″ decrease profile than the SkyRise. Not solely is the Galaxy 1.0 a lot quieter, however it’s additionally allowed me to achieve again between 2 and three miles per gallon placing me very near the manufacturing unit fuel mileage for the Jeep. That was stunning.
I’ve obtained a bunch of small desert journeys deliberate for the tent within the subsequent few months, together with an enormous multi-day Dying Valley run and an enormous run by way of North East Nevada and Virginia Metropolis.
These journeys will put this tent to the check. I’m curious how nicely a $1300 tent will do whereas operating some tough trails by way of an unforgiving desert panorama. Keep tuned right here for the complete assessment of the TopOak Galaxy 1.0.
