The ruggedized version adds diamond plate base, heavier fabric and frame, and some other features and costs $1950 to the regular $1400. Add to … The Kukenam is available in Sky, Camo, Siberian Camo, Ruggedized, and Ruggedized XL. Having the option to have a view and maybe more importantly some venting for the hot & … Our 3-man Tepui Kukenam model roof top tent is our most popular model and is great for those looking to get into the wilderness with comfort and protection of a roof top tent. Convenient access … The Kukenam Ruggedized TM is similar to the XL with a smaller footprint and is one of the toughest new tents on the market. Editorial Director Sean McCoy is a life-long outdoorsman who grew up hunting and fishing central Wisconsin forests and lakes. But after a few nights, it’s now easy and second nature. With the identical ladder, but without an entrance awning, the Kukenham requires a little less time to convert. We had several days on end of rain while pounding up the ALCAN, then we enjoyed a few balmy days of sunshine. While we're setting up camp, included ground stakes help us stabilize the corners of this shelter. It is one of the best rooftop tents, which has created a storm in the outdoor industry. But despite the small damage it’s seen, even if water leaks into the cover the tent still won’t get wet inside; the tent is “closed” even when it’s folded, so this cover is really for nothing more than protection as you drive. None of the small signs of wear affect the performance of the tent in any way, but I do expect the tent may require a new cover every couple years, and that small maintenance stitches could be needed in time. $237.96. A note on Yakima rack systems: Thanks for making a beast of a rack Yakima, because this is no light add-on. It feels grandiose for two people, and would be sufficient for three (although snug). Once up, there are windows and awnings that can be opened or left closed, and even guy lines for extra stability. I went with the Kukenam XL ruggedized after finding out that Tepui added the sky option to all ruggedized tents recently. The Tepui held strong, and kept us warm and cozy while rain lashed outside. Based in GearJunkie's Denver office, McCoy is an avid trail runner, camper, hunter, angler, mountain biker, skier, and beer tester. © 2021 The Ranger Station - 959 Media LLC, Driveshafts, Transmissions & Transfer Case, Tepui Kukenam Ruggedized: Review Thoughts, Rooftop Tents Explained – A Roof Top Tent Changed The Way I Camp, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqaZGcLBvvE&t=147s, Size (closed) 56 x 48 x 12 (L x W x H) inches, Size (open) 56 x 96 x 52 (L x W x H) inches, Canopy Fabric 360g Polyester Cotton (canvas); 600D ripstop fabric with waterproof ventilate coating, dual stitched taped seams, UV and mold resistant, Rainfly Fabric 420D Polyester Oxford with taped seams and PU coated, Mattress 2-1/2-inch foam with removable cotton cover, Base Construction Aluminum tube frame with diamond plate cap sheets. Good enough, and the results have always proven better in terms of flatness than even most great camp spots. It’s now been a few weeks, and the Tepui continues to impress and open my eyes to a new way to camp. The outer cover shows several spots where small holes have worn through. While I’m happy to sleep on the ground, I’m on the long end of 40 and at an age that I appreciate deep sleep and memory foam in a larger way than a decade ago. Related products. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Thule Tepui Annex for Kukenam Rooftop Tent at Amazon.com. You must have a solid rack rated for the load or this whole rig could get dangerous rolling down the highway. Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2019. The ladder is stable, but you need to swing your legs out of the tent to step down, It’s not hard, but those with poor mobility or balance should probably pass on this system. was $575.00. Verified Purchase. This comes in handy in Alaska, where there are currently more than 18 hours of light every day. The ladder is a little fussy to get to the right height, and it does need to be extended properly to help support weight. All the camping lovers just go through all features this tent offers to make your adventure an overwhelming one. Yes, it has one that remains inside when the tent is folded for travel. But after just one night in the Tepui Kukenam Ruggedized tent — and then over the course of a week-long road trip to Alaska that followed — I became a believer.. It’s now been a few weeks, and the Tepui continues to impress and open my eyes to a new way to camp. But that’s not to say I haven’t noticed signs of wear. But once mounted on a sturdy and capable rack, the setup is rock solid, and I’ve barely noticed it while driving my Ranger. The cover is a rubber-coated material that gets blasted as you drive — think 5,000 miles of 70MPH winds, flying debris, rain, snow, on our trip — and it also gets folded off every time you use the tent. If you spend a lot of time on the road, this tent will provide you a luxurious night sleep just about anywhere you can park your vehicle. Run the zipper around the edge of the rig, remove the fitted cover, and undo a couple buckles. The Kukenam 3 is slightly more expensive, however the materials are slightly thicker too. The heavy weight dual stitched rip-stop fabric of the main body (360g compared to 260g) is just where we started. But once mounted on a sturdy and capable rack, the setup is rock solid, and I’ve barely noticed it while driving my Ranger. If there’s a slight slope, I point my head uphill. So far, we’ve camped in the tent in some pretty intense weather. We’re always looking for new information as well as modified Ford Rangers to share with other Ford Ranger enthusiasts. Rooftop tents, which sit on your car or truck, are part tent camping, part RV camping, and totally awesome. I had to drill holes in my topper, mount some rails, and then attach Yakima Landing Pads, Skyline Towers, and finally Core Bars to the rig. That whole process took a few hours. Getting the system installed took several hours as I had to mount tracks, and a complete Yakima Core Bars system, on a tough old fiberglass topper. $279.95. Next, you remove a heavy cover attached with a burly YKK zipper. In Alaska, we were again blasted by powerful winds while camping on the Homer spit. View our honest review for the Thule x Tepui Annex for Ruggedized Kukenam 3. It is awesome, not quite as good as my bed at home, but a darned close second place. So far, I’ve found this super easy, and am befuddled by those who claim this is a hard task. Customize your space by adding or removing the floor and opening or closing the windows and entry door. While this may sound small, our testers found this to be a significant bonus. GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Thule Tepui Mosquito Net Walls for 6′ Awning $ 199.95. There are lots of pockets to organize gear, and even one large enough to stow sneakers. Our very first night was spent in howling winds with snow and sleet somewhere along I-25 in Wyoming. The Tepui is a bomber structure, with much, much heavier materials than a standard camp tent. The Tepui Kukenam 3 is an all-around softshell rooftop tent that’s made for four-season camping and comfortably fits up to three people with extra space for gear. The cover is a rubber-coated material that gets blasted as you drive — think 5,000 miles of 70MPH winds, flying debris, rain, snow, on our trip — and it also gets folded off every time you use the tent. As I noted, mounting a rack and installing the Tepui was a bit of a chore, mostly because no rack systems are made specifically for a 2000 Ford Ranger. Be the first to review. Find where to buy and who has the best price on more Thule products. Oh, I didn’t mention the memory foam mattress? Mounting the tent on that took about an hour, plus the help of a couple strong friends. This is another point worth keeping in mind. Related: Why Camp On Car? Rooftop Tents Explained. He joined GearJunkie after a 10-year stint as a newspaperman in the Caribbean, where he learned sailing and wooden-boat repair. Camped on the spit in Homer, Alaska, a normal tent is battered by the wind while the Tepui stands strong. An attached ladder telescopes from the back of the tent (I have mine set up to unfold backwards so it covers my tailgate), and use the ladder to leverage the tent open. Find where to buy and who has the best price on more Thule products. The weather outside is legitimately frightful. I don’t. versions. A note on Yakima rack systems: Thanks for making a beast of a rack Yakima, because this is no light add-on. Yes, it has one that remains inside when the tent is folded for travel. But after just one night in the Tepui Kukenam Ruggedized tent — and then over the course of a week-long road trip to Alaska that followed — I became a believer. Tepui does offer better weather proofing, but of course this review is of the Kukenam as it is. Granted, this is just the cover that surrounds the tent when you are driving, not the tent body. We added raw aluminum diamond plate base panels so the underside of the tent will hold up to dings from rocks, branches, and whatever else the trail throws at it. Tepui Ruggedized Autana 4 Annex. First off, the material, zippers, and stitching are all excellent quality that you would expect from Tepui. Thule Tepui Annex for Explorer Kukenam. The Tepui Siesta Luxury Mattress upgrades any camping experience with multiple layers of high-density foam to enhance any sleeping experience. If there’s a slight slope, I point my head uphill. The ruggedized is so worth it. But I was genuinely apprehensive about how it would work. NordicTrack wants to give you $7,500 toward your dream adventure. To expand the space of our car-camp lodging, we easily zip this extended annex right to the bottom of our rooftop tent. An attached ladder telescopes from the back of the tent (I have mine set up to unfold backwards so it covers my tailgate), and use the ladder to leverage the tent open. Includes a door and two windows complete with mesh netting to protect against mosquitos. Others will note that the weight will affect MPGs (it might a little), cornering (I don’t care, it’s a pickup) and stability, making it more prone to roll. Thule Tepui Kukenam Ruggedized SKY 3 Person Roof Top Tent - 2 Colors Fits 3 people comfortably. While I’m happy to sleep on the ground, I’m on the long end of 40 and at an age that I appreciate deep sleep and memory foam in a larger way than a decade ago. Features High-quality, 600-denier coated ripstop polyester / cotton material protects you from heavy rain and wind It has worked pretty much flawlessly in some pretty nasty weather, keeping my wife and I comfortable even when the winds howl and rains fall. Related: Rooftop Tents Explained – A Roof Top Tent Changed The Way I Camp. So far, I’ve found this super easy, and am befuddled by those who claim this is a hard task. Click here for the detailed review! Granted, this is just the cover that surrounds the tent when you are driving, not the tent body. The Kukenam Sky is available in regular and Ruggedized(!) from $373.75. The “ruggedized” designation means it comes with diamond-plated aluminum flooring and a condensation mat that keeps your mattress off moisture that may form on the floor, a great upgrade. In the month I’ve tested this tent, I’ve come to really enjoy it. Read more…. The poles and fabric are many times thicker and stronger than even a rugged camping tent. Winds whip across the open plains of Wyoming carrying snow and sleet at 50 mph. Enter before February 8th for your chance to win. By Sean McCoy. At $1,650, the Tepui is in an unusual new category for campers in the U.S. The Tepui weighs somewhere around 180 pounds, and it does get blasted by wind while riding up there. Tepui Explorer Kukenam Roof Top Tent. The ruggedized Kukenam 3 feature an all-aluminum tubular frame with fiberglass insulation, a heavy-duty diamond plate aluminum base bottom sheet, heavy-duty hinges, a thicker 3/4 in.-diameter wrapped aluminum tubular frame, and dual rainfly support rods for added protection and durability. The Tepui is easy to set up after the first few trials, although I do have to either crawl on my roof, or use a ladder, to unclip a couple straps. Once you pack up the wet tent fabric, it’s all going to rub together and remain wet inside the rubber cover. I usually bring them in and stow them in a pocket. I’ve basically left the tent on my roof since installation, mostly because it’s pretty darned heavy and not very easy to lift off without at least one (preferably two or three) strong friends. Thule x Tepui Annex for Explorer Kukenam 3. The Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam, for example, uses UV- and mold-resistant fabric to increase its lifespan, and Thule Tepui also has a dedicated lineup of “Ruggedized” tents that are made with thicker fabrics (360 vs. 260g canvas), sealed seams, and a heavy-duty aluminum base to guard against branches and rocks. Even though it is tiresome to take it on and off my vehicle (Subaru Crosstrek 2016) it's so worth it to not sleep on the ground and worry about bugs, rain, cold ground etc. If you spend a lot of time on the road, this tent will provide you a luxurious night sleep just about anywhere you can park your vehicle. The massive Explorer Series Autana 4 tent from Tepui Tents lets you take home to go.