The Mall Crawler Race heats up.

[Soup DeVille]

I think the rooftop tent is really popular in Australia because of snakes and dingos.

Anyways, Rupert makes good points. The problem with having all your stuff attached to your vehicle is it then makes it hard to walk anywhere. Plus, what happens when you can't find a level spot with enough space?  Some of the things there are really cool, but they seem to me to be pretty limiting.

[Rupert]

Also what happens when you find out the hard way that your 27 year old Toyota is still a 27 year old vehicle and you have to buy a new one? Goodbye sweet mods, start again.

[Rupert]

I totally understand and agree with your points.  Like, a normal tent for two adults fits in a tube bag that's 4' long and maybe a foot in diameter.  Why sacrifice your entire bed space to carry a loft? heh

I do like the idea of a bed topper for camping, though. Makes it similar to sleeping in an SUV...but that's what tents are for. Aggggh!

Sleeping in the back is actually a time saver and comfort increaser (and safety too if you find yourself in a rest area on the side of the freeway or camping in griz country and are paranoid about it). You can leave your bedding set up in the back while you drive around for the day or to the next spot, and that saves a fair bit of time setting up and taking down a tent (I also just hate setting up and taking down tents). If you have to go through a lot of rigmarole to get the back ready, or to set up your roof tent, though...

[Soup DeVille]

Most roof top tents seem to be pretty easy to setup. Don't have any real experience there, but most look like a flip open kind of thing. Still you have to set up your bag and mat in it, but they don't look bad for setup. And as long as you get another vehicle with a roof rack, it'd be transferable.

Still looks like a lot of expense without a lot of benefit. Unless you know, snakes. Or dingos.

[Rupert]

I think they usually have supports you have to  deploy as well? And the weight and aero disadvantage...

Dingos and snakes, though. Scorpions and baby lions, too.

[Soup DeVille]

I think they usually have supports you have to  deploy as well? And the weight and aero disadvantage...

Dingos and snakes, though. Scorpions and baby lions, too.

You know, I don't know. There's a ladder, but that doesn't seem like much trouble. It could be interesting to find out how much they rock around in the wind.

[Rupert]

The other draw of sleeping in the back of an SUV is that it's really really weatherproof if it needs to be.

[BimmerM3]

Most roof top tents seem to be pretty easy to setup. Don't have any real experience there, but most look like a flip open kind of thing. Still you have to set up your bag and mat in it, but they don't look bad for setup. And as long as you get another vehicle with a roof rack, it'd be transferable.

Still looks like a lot of expense without a lot of benefit. Unless you know, snakes. Or dingos.

I've never actually used one but I watched someone fold their's up a few months ago. It was super easy.

Something like that isn't even on my radar (way too many other things I'd rather spend money on), but I see the appeal.

[giant_mtb]

The other draw of sleeping in the back of an SUV is that it's really really weatherproof if it needs to be.

So true. I'd like to get a topper some day.  But dirtbike.

[Rupert]

Lil' trailer?

[Raza]

Just lay it down in the bed, like a bicycle in a trunk. 

[68_427]

[Soup DeVille]

Really diggin that one. Don't know about the snorkel (seems goofy on anything that doesn't have a stripped out interior), but the bumper and tire/wheel setup is spot on.

I'd want some protection around that fairlead though.

[AutobahnSHO]

Apparently that's what some Jankels are.

http://www.jankel.com/protected-suvs

Ours were newish trucks, kind of like the 200 pictured there, but I don't think it was that company's work. But yes, same idea.

Someone blew up a car bomb in a convoy in 2007, everyone in both our trucks walked away with only scratches, trucks were really beat up, 8 civilians died, city block all the windows were broken.

[Soup DeVille]

Well, this thread ended poorly.

Car caught fire today. Totaled. I don't know why, fire started on left side of engine above the exhaust manifold.

[FoMoJo]

Holy crap!  Sorry to hear about that happening.  Hope that your insurance covers the loss.

[CaminoRacer]

WTF

[Soup DeVille]

Holy crap!  Sorry to hear about that happening.  Hope that your insurance covers the loss.

It looks like it will. I paid below market for it and insurance will cover it.

[68_427]

Wtf!  Were you driving or did it happen when parked?

[Soup DeVille]

Wtf!  Were you driving or did it happen when parked?

I was picking up the kids at school. Started smoking as I was leaving the driveway, so I stopped, and when I opened the hood it burst into flames.

[Soup DeVille]

Hope I can cancel the fog lights I just ordered...

[RomanChariot]

That really stinks. It's probably best that it is totaled as repairing damage from engine fires can be a real mess.

[BimmerM3]

Well, this thread ended poorly.

Car caught fire today. Totaled. I don't know why, fire started on left side of engine above the exhaust manifold.

Holy shit. Maybe oil that leaked onto the manifold? 

[Soup DeVille]

Holy shit. Maybe oil that leaked onto the manifold? 

maybe but I doubt it. Engine was actually super clean, and no drips to be found anywhere.

I almost wonder if some animal or something got up under that huge stupid assed plastic cover Toyota puts over these engines.

[BimmerM3]

maybe but I doubt it. Engine was actually super clean, and no drips to be found anywhere.

I almost wonder if some animal or something got up under that huge stupid assed plastic cover Toyota puts over these engines.

Was it too clean? I've been warned to be skeptical of clean engine bays because the seller might have cleaned it up to try to hide a leak.

[Soup DeVille]

Was it too clean? I've been warned to be skeptical of clean engine bays because the seller might have cleaned it up to try to hide a leak.

Well, it was still clean two days ago when I had the hood open last, and I'd been driving it for a month.

[CaminoRacer]

Mouse chewed the fuel line

[MrH]

Woah.

That's a shame. At least you'll end up ahead a bit? Get that old one Nick posted.

[Soup DeVille]

Cruiser guys suspect this was a starter failure (I forgot the starter is in between the cylinder banks and under the manifold). Apparently the starter contacts weld together and leave the starter engaged while the engine is running and eventually overheat the cable.

[Soup DeVille]

Woah.

That's a shame. At least you'll end up ahead a bit? Get that old one Nick posted.

I hope so. Still I'm a bit bummed out. I was really starting to like that vehicle.