iKamper’s newest RTT, the Blue Dot Voyager, is the model’s most versatile but. It’s veritable Lego set with spectacular adaptability you can even construct your self. Oh yeah, it’s comfy, too — and strikingly inexpensive.
My truck appears to be like good with a hat — for years I had a James Baroud Grand Raid RTT mounted on prime. I cherished it however grew bored with hauling 160 kilos off my roof any time I wished to haul surfboards, lumber, and many others. I used to be stoked to get again into the rooftop tent sport with iKamper, as its new mannequin solves this gear storage situation.
The iKamper Blue Dot Voyager (BDV) contains a rugged aluminum exoskeleton. It’s a key promoting level for me as a result of you’ll be able to mount tools to any aspect and have the choice for added load bars on prime. The BDV isn’t the primary RTT to supply mounting rails on prime, nevertheless it’s a compelling mixture of versatility, consolation, and value — at the least on paper.
We, after all, don’t imagine the advertising hype with out testing out the gear ourselves. We received early entry to a assessment pattern of the iKamper BDV, put in it on a Land Rover LR3, and took it out for some weekend tenting within the Columbia River Gorge. Right here’s how our first expertise with this RTT labored out.
iKamper Blue Dot Voyager (BDV) DUO Evaluation
Blue Dot Voyager: Specs
- Open measurement: 56″ x 106.25″ x 59″
- Closed measurement: 56″ x 90″ x 6.75″
- Max load: 600 lbs.
- Tent supplies: Again-Out 300 gsm natural, recycled poly-cotton canvas tent with 75D ripstop polyester rainfly and aluminum extrusions holding an FRP shell with an insulated honeycomb aluminum panel ground
- Mattress: 2.75-in.-thick insulated polyfoam, 7 ft. lengthy x 50 in. extensive
- Weight: 150 lbs. listed (155 lbs. as examined with out mounting brackets)
- MSRP: $3,399 assembled or $2,999 unassembled
Blue Dot Voyager Identify
Carl Sagan noticed an image of Earth from 3.7 billion miles away, taken by the Voyager 1 house probe, and described the planet as a “pale blue dot.” He particularly stated, “From this explicit vantage level, the Earth could not appear of any explicit curiosity. However for us, it’s completely different. Look once more at that dot. That’s right here. That’s residence. That’s us … historical past of our species … on a mote of mud suspended in a sunbeam.”
iKamper named its newest RTT with this identical thought in thoughts, “that we’re vacationers on a blue dot voyage.”
iKamper BDV Set up
You should buy this iKamper RTT preassembled or as a “construct it your self” equipment. If you happen to do the build-up your self, you’ll save a couple of {dollars} — $400 fewer to be precise. The preassembled tent ships vertically on an extended, skinny pallet and in a really sturdy cardboard field.
You’ll discover the ladder, rainfly poles, and mounting {hardware} contained in the tent, which suggests you’ll have to pop it open on the bottom earlier than mounting it. We for certain scrambled at first, as we thought the mounting {hardware} wasn’t included, however don’t fret, it’s contained in the tent.
If you happen to go together with the construct it your self choice, this useful set up video exhibits you how one can do it, step-by-step. It’s additionally a great reference in the event you ever want to regulate something on the tent, because it exhibits precisely the way it’s all put collectively.
The preassembled BDV tent nonetheless took about 2 hours of ultimate meeting/set up earlier than adventuring might start. At the least two match people are wanted to raise the tent into place. You’ll need to funds some wrenching time right here for the usual sandwich-style plate and bolt mounting technique.
The brackets are an actual ache to put in into the tent rails the primary time, however as soon as positioned, they’re simple sufficient to regulate. Whereas the tent comes with the wrenches you’ll want, a 13mm ratcheting field wrench or a combo of quick and deep sockets will assist pace issues up significantly.
When mounting the tent one nut cross-threaded midway up the bolt — not an encouraging begin. Luckily, it seized at simply the suitable spot, as we had been nonetheless in a position to mount the tent securely.
iKamper’s quick-attach mounting brackets “2.0” sadly aren’t but accessible for the BDV. This shall be an enormous improve if and once they can be utilized on the BDV.
After some cautious eyeballing and measuring, my Land Rover LR3 had a brand new hat. This hat could be very sq., industrial-looking, and never essentially the most elegant — full composite hard-shell RTTs just like the James Baroud are sleeker for certain — however we’ll take the performance over vogue.
Roof Racks Matter
Whereas I’ve received nice plans to outfit this RTT with equipment, my LR3’s Yakima Jetstream bars are simply barely ample for the load of the iKamper BDV. The Jetstream bars are rated at 165 kilos, and this RTT weighs 155 kilos — not together with mounting {hardware} or bedding.
Load scores ought to at all times be taken severely, and I’ll be upgrading to Yakima Professional bars or a platform rack system earlier than including further mass to the highest of my roof. If you happen to’re ever uncertain, iKamper has a rack fitment information on its web site.
iKamper will quickly have a full vary of equipment for the BDV. Particularly, it’ll have mounts for traction boards, axes, photo voltaic panels, storage containers, and hopefully some crossbars for journey gear like kayaks and bikes.
The tent can open with its gasoline help struts with a 100-pound exterior load, at the least within the “Load Zone,” the entrance half of the tent closest to the hinge level. Greater than that and also you’ll must take the gear off earlier than popping the tent open.
On the Street With the BDV
On-road manners had been about as you’d anticipate. A little bit of wind noise, however nothing {that a} small fairing wouldn’t clear up — or a few clicks up on the stereo. I additionally don’t suppose I misplaced greater than 1 mpg of gasoline financial system, spectacular for such a boxy-shaped RTT.
I’ve to present iKamper credit score for a slim tent. The BDV is simply 7 inches thick.
Tent Setup
When you’re at camp, setup is speedy. There are solely two latches to flip, and the tent pops up by itself with the help of gasoline struts. The latches have built-in locking mechanisms which might be simple to function and provides confidence that the tent gained’t determine to open by itself when bombing down tough roads.
Reposition the fabric keeper bungee wire, pull out the telescoping ladder, and set up the 2 rear rainfly poles and the tent is about up.
A fantastic characteristic is that the ladder may be positioned on three sides of the tent — this makes it simple to shift it such you can nonetheless open automotive doorways and dial it in in your particular automobile setup.
If you wish to transfer the ladder to a special place across the tent, it would take a couple of minutes, as you’ll want to maneuver some {hardware} round. The mounts themselves connect to the ladder with quick-release pins, which is tremendous simple and safe. After an extended day of adventuring, it was pretty to have the tent arrange and be enjoyable so shortly.
Contained in the Tent
Contained in the BDV is kind of roomy, however might be much more so. The design has the headliner/tent materials many inches away from the hardshell roof. When you nonetheless get loads of room for a 6-foot-plus-tall individual to take a seat upright with out situation, the foot room within the wedge of the tent is likely to be a problem for some.
Within the wedge space of the tent on all sides are additionally mesh pockets. We discovered them to be fairly helpful for stashing issues like clothes when going to sleep.
Sleepy Time
The included iKamper mattress is 7 ft lengthy and 50 inches extensive. It is usually 3 inches thick and has 9 consolation zones of assorted densities of froth throughout the mattress for optimum strain factors in a wide range of sleeping positions. At first really feel, it simply looks like an egg crate foam mattress wrapped in materials, nevertheless it actually is kind of comfy.
Mattress Improve: iKamper’s RTT Consolation 5087
Whereas the included iKamper mattress is basically good, we opted for changing it with iKamper’s RTT Consolation 5087 mattress. This mattress makes use of each air and open-cell foam to supply 4 inches of consolation and insulation.
The important thing for us is that the RTT Consolation mattress compresses so nicely that the BDV successfully turns into a skinny rooftop storage field. This makes it simple to suit full-size pillows and bedding contained in the tent when it’s closed, one thing that’s potential, however tougher with the usual mattress. The RTT Consolation mattress may also be left inflated contained in the tent, together with a skinny sleeping bag, however no pillows will match at that time.
Whereas the mattress self-inflates when the tent is open, you’ll need to prime it off to your required firmness like another air mattress. When you’re there, it’s a premium expertise — simply as comfy as my favourite tent pad, the Exped Megamat.
Sleeping Bag: iKamper’s RTT Sleeper DBL
We additionally tried out iKamper’s RTT Sleeper DBL, which by comparability was an actual letdown. It’s a two-season, 58 x 80-inch sleeping bag that’s solely rated for consolation to 61 levels Fahrenheit. I used to be simply barely comfy when in a single day lows dipped to 50 levels F at my campsite within the Columbia River Gorge — though it most likely would have been a lot hotter if my spouse was additionally alongside on this journey.
As soon as I sealed all of the zippers on the tent and the bag, my physique warmth warmed up the inside and I did sleep nicely, nevertheless. Temperature apart, the bag cloth — 30-denier ripstop nylon shell with 30-denier ripstop taffeta liner — feels low-cost and barely clammy. iKamper might up its sport right here.
After an extended day of putting in tents and path operating. I slept like a champ within the iKamper BDV Duo. The blackout canvas is legit, and I discovered myself snoozing nicely previous dawn.
Packup Time
Desperate to reap the benefits of good wing-foiling situations within the Gorge, I attempted to hurry by camp breakdown.
In precept, collapsing the tent is easy — simply pull down on a webbing strap and shut the 2 buckles. In observe, I discovered I wanted to spend a little bit additional time going across the exterior and tucking in tent cloth. Whereas there may be an elastic band to assist pull within the tent materials, it’s not 100% efficient.
That stated, I used to be performed in only a few minutes and had loads of time for “wing floiling” as my spouse jokingly refers to my comical newbie wing foil talents.
iKamper BDV: Availability & Pricing
Preorders for the iKamper BDV open on Oct. 5. Shipments begin in early November.
This RTT will set you again $3,399 assembled, or $2,999 unassembled. Both approach, you’ll have to funds an extra $199 flat fee delivery for all iKamper rooftop tents.
iKamper BDV Solo
You may as well get in iKamper BDV Solo, which is a slender one-person RTT. It weighs almost as a lot, at 140 kilos, and prices about the identical, $2,899 or $2,499 unassembled. It’s significantly narrower, nevertheless, at 40.25 inches extensive. This enables for extra gear storage room in your roof rack, with out having to place it on prime of the tent.
Is the iKamper BDV Proper for You?
Is the iKamper BDV rooftop tent a great match for you? In a really aggressive house, this RTT stands out for its mixture of versatility, value, and luxury, nevertheless it’s not the software for each job.
If you have already got an overland-built rig with a platform rack, or can direct-mount to manufacturing facility rails, it’s an incredible match. If you happen to’re trying to outfit your every day driver CUV, the BDV is probably going heavier and noisier than you’ll need. The SkyCamp Mini is a better option for small autos, as featured in our 2022 information to RTTs.
A stripped bolt and fussy cloth tucking are comparatively small annoyances for a system that packs a ton of RTT in your greenback. We’re wanting ahead to many extra nights beneath the celebs and enhancing our rack system to take full benefit of this candy piece of equipment.
