Bundutop Roof Top Tent Fails
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- In this video I undertake a review of the failures that I have had with my Bundutec Bundutop roof top tent. I have owned the Bundutop roof top tent since 2018 and spent countless nights under the stars with this setup installed on my 200 Series Toyota Landcruiser. During that time I have had a few failures along the way. This video details those failures. I have also performed a full review of the Bundutec Bundutop roof top tent and after watching both these videos you should be able to determine if this setup is of interest to you or not. The link to my review video is here:
• Bundutec Bundutop Roof...
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Hi Terry, thanks for your insights with the BunduTop! All listed issues have since been resolved, they don’t use turnbuckles on the ropes inside the tent anymore, but a 10/12mm shank bolt through the main arm with a little hole through it for the rope. Problem solved! Yes the ropes run next to the rollers in the roof.
Cool😎
Add locking nuts to both thread ends of the turnbuckles, That's usually how they are sold. Have been using turnbuckles for years. Great video as usual..
Thanks for the kind words and great suggestion mate, I sincerely appreciate it 😎👍
Thank you Terry.
No worries at all mate, go well👍😎
Always great to rewatch these videos Terry I am going to get one
Thanks very much Cheers
Good stuff Barry. I am 2.5 months into a 5 month remote WA trip and have been using the tent day in day out over that time. Still going strong👍😎
As usual, good video. I couldn't help but notice a big lumpy thing covered on the chassis beside your presentation, looking forward to that too. Enjoy your trip up north and stay safe mate
Thanks Greg, I sincerely appreciate your kind words. Indeed there are a few horsies under that particular blanket. That video will drop in the next week or two😉😎👍
Thanks again, good insight. I suppose one step further with the turnbuckles would be pulling them all apart and installing a nut to each thread to lock it off when it’s at set length.
Cheers
Yes indeed that would work but you would need to find a left hand threaded nut for 1/2 of each side, and they are not that freely available. I understand Bundutop have since sorted the problem on their current tents. Cheers
Awesome review mate I’m really thinking of buying one, looking forward to your videos on your cape trip enjoy 👍
Thanks Peter, having a blast and the tent is problem free. Cheers😎👍
Hola Terry, your mic is picking very well the winch motor… that creepy noise scared the shit out of me…
Hope for you it will survive your next adventures trip! Safe trip and welcome to shout out to us also with some short episodes.
Greatings from a newly started 2 week lockup Hotel quarantine. Cheers
Too funny mate. You will be smashing the RUclips videos from as many content creators as possible given 2 weeks of lockup. Good luck and go well Holger. Cheers😎👍
Love it mine is getting installed on the 10th of July can't wait awesome
You will not be disappointed, it’s a great unit. Enjoy your experience 😎👍
I personally prefer less mechanical devices when I travel but these appear to be a good unit overall. Appreciate your honesty. Cheers mate.
I agree with you, less mechanical the better but I have never been let down. Thanks for watching and commenting mate, I sincerely appreciate it 😎👍
Cable tie the turnbuckle to the arm and it won’t unwind. Worked for me 👍🏼
Good idea, someone else suggested that too and it would probably be easier than getting a lock nut in there. Given you had to do this am I right in concluding you had the same issue? Thanks for watching and commenting mate, I sincerely appreciate it 😎👍
Yes same issue. Many KM’s on corrugated roads and one of them unwound itself. I now have 2 small cable ties on each turnbuckle and they haven’t moved since.
Good to know it’s a reasonably common issue with a simple fix. Thanks for sharing 😎👍
Had mine 2yrs as part of installation tough touring Melbourne fit cable ties as standard never had a problem
Great video Terry. Love mine too 👍
Good stuff mate, and thank you for the kind words. Have you experienced any of the issues I noted in the video mate? I would be interested in others experience. Cheers😎👍
Another great clip Terry. Cheers Steve
Thanks Steve, I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to watch and comment. Cheers😎👍
Love your thoroughness
Thank you sir that is very kind of you to say. Have an amazing weekend😎👍
thank you for the vids that you shared..coz, im planning to buy one of this days....
Awesome mate, I don’t think you will be disappointed. Thanks for watching and commenting mate, I sincerely appreciate it 😎👍
Being a ex ski racer lock nuts on turn buckles. Fitted them on our Bundutek
Excellent feedback Errol, thanks for that. Cheers😎👍
I have been very happy with my bundutop king size tent that has had a lot of use. I have had a couple similar small issues. The orignal shock cord did brake a few times on me. I ended up replateing it with a slightly bigger diameter cord which was all I could get from my local bunnings but it still fitted through the holes in the aluminium and canvas. I think that the sides actually pulled in better than original with the bigger cord.
My tent is slightly newer and it doesn't have the turn buckles which is something that they must have improved on.
I did start to have problems with the up button for the tent. I ended up rewiring the control box to use relays to do the main current switching for the winch and not having the current going through the push button switch. I have not had a single issue since.
I think that part of the issue is that it is a king size tent which is heavier than the standard size tent to lift up and I also have quite a large and reasonably heavy solar panel on the roof as well. The winch may have had to work slightly harder to lift the first little bit which was just slightly more current than the switch wanted take.
I am not too critical of these problems because it has been set up and packed up daily for probably a combined 8 months of use at least.
Excellent feedback mate, thanks for sharing. There has been some changes to the Bundutop tents, the removal of the turnbuckles being one as you noted. I too have found the replacement shock cord pulls the sides in better. I still love my tent, use it every few weeks, the last time last evening! Thanks again for sharing 👍😎
I will look out for you guys at Cape York 👍
Awesome Dan, that would be cool if our paths crossed. Cheers😎👍
Interesting review for those of us who don’t own one (yet). Seems like all minor things I could repair with the little knick-naks in the toolbox, but my question is how stout does it feel when it comes to wind. I live in sunny Southern California, so rain will rarely be a factor. But when we do out to the sand dunes, we do get strong gust that sometimes even exceed 40mph. Wondering if the tent would hold up to something like that so that we wouldn’t have to wake at 3 am, close up and climb into the car.
Good question Arthur. In my opinion very sturdy. I have been in some seriously windy conditions 40-50 knots constant) and never felt like the tent could not handle it. You can sit up and lean full weight on the sides and not budge it. I’m very comfortable with its wind resilience 😎👍
Cheers for the time and effort in showing us the negs, mate. I'll be getting the Bundy, but there's just so many things yet to go before, lol.
Please keep churning the vids. I enjoy them thoroughly 👍
You are very kind, thank you for sharing and taking the time to comment. I hear ya mate, the procurement list is never ending😂. To add to your list, I will be doing an install video of the solar panels in the coming weeks. I have three 115w panels on the roof and one failed on my last big trip. I will be replacing it and will detail how I mount it and run the wiring in that video. If you are subscribed with notifications turned on you will not miss it. Cheers😎👍
@@JafffaAdventures Looking forward to it. I'll be bunging solar on top of the Bundy too so all your tips will be welcomed as always. I'm still yet to get the EC off-road console, but will in time. Airbox and snorkel from Moonlight is next then in order: lockers, rock sliders, Manta exhaust, HEMA X-2, Bundatop, EC off-road.
I thought you were running 500w solar? I thought I heard that from your lithium battery vids?
I can't remember (sooo many videos to watch on the tube) you losing your panel, if you posted that particular trip, but sorry to hear it. The rundown about it will be interesting to hear. Cheers 👍
Oh, and how are the mice?
That’s a long list mate! I have 345watts on the roof and an additional 150w with a blanket giving 500w total. Cheers
About that washer you was talking about,I would design a washer that looked like a coat button out of light gauge steel drill four holes,sailer knot.
Good idea mate, I like it👍😎
Hey mate, like your review. I’ve had mine now for 4 years now. It has done many thousands of kms, as I’m sure you have. I have had a turn buckle detach so I added lock img nuts to the thread and that has sorted that issue. I washed this review trying to see if anyone is having the same issue. Yours does not appear to be doing it. I have had various electrical issues with it. Non of which have resulted in not being able to use it as the bypass always does the trick, but seriously! Supply power is good, fuse good. However my actual black buttons no longer work at all. Diodes are good, relay replaced. They worked lowering the tent, drove 400odd kms of the Gibb, pulled up at camp spot…no longer working. Trying to get it sorted, if you have any ideas on this please let me know.
Thanks for the kind words mate, I sincerely appreciate it. I have not had any similar electrical issues with mine. It sounds like you have done a lot of diagnosis that I would have done as well. There would be two other areas worth checking if you have not already. I’m not sure how the buttons actually work, but if they are like a normal switch there is a contactor in there somewhere. Is it possible this contactor is not completing the circuit even when the button is pressed? If you bypassed the black buttons and put a different switch in place just for testing purposes, does the replacement switch work? If it does, there is an intermittent fault in those black buttons. The other thing I would check is the limit switch on the seat belt type strap on the winch. Does that little arm that is attached to and controls the limit switch need tweaking by bending it slightly? Mine got knocked once by accident and the down function did not work until I bent the little arm back in place. I trust you get it sorted mate, I know electrical issues can be very frustrating. Let me know if find a solution. Cheers😎👍
none of those issues are unacceptable though and all are easy fixed.
Yes agree on both accounts. However, they ARE issues and the purpose of the video is to make the viewer and potential purchaser aware. Now you and everyone else who watch this are👍😎
Good video - how does vehicle cope with heavy weight. What about dynamic weight.
Runs well Gary. The tent itself is lighter than a lot on the market. I have upgraded suspension (not for the tent, just to improve off road capability). It goes everywhere I point it, and that’s done some pretty hairy tracks as you can see by my travel vids. Cheers👍😎
So many issues even if they are small.. I'm making my own clam shell rooftop tent and so far no issue with the shell. Getting crazy dog canvas to do the canvas work.
Awesome, I love it when someone has a go themselves. Perhaps the issues I have outlined here will help inform your design and construction. Thanks for watching 👍😎
just a thought I would put a lock nut on the turn buckle top and bottom and tighten them up then it shouldn't come undone
Glenn you are a friggin genius mate, why didn’t I think of that? Sheesh I can be an idiot sometimes mate. Thanks for sharing Glenn😎👍
@@JafffaAdventures You'll have fun sourcing that LH nut required for one side of the turnbuckle. Run cable ties or twine through the turnbuckle like they do to secure turnbuckles on aircraft.
Another fantastic idea, love it! Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate it😎👍
@@jebw actually it is sufficient to locknut only the rhs thread side to stop it turning. Cheers
Great video Terry i have 2 questions 1 i have a rhino taddie roof rack do i need to change to a flat rack
2
and what size can i put on a 150 Prado.
Keep the videos coming Terry.
Hi Colin, couple of good questions mate. 1. I don’t think the tent will fit in between the rails of the tradie. To confirm, just measure between the two rails then jump onto the Bundutec website and find the dimensions of the tent.
2. Can’t help mate. I know nothing about the Prados other than what they look like. Thanks for watching mate, I sincerely appreciate it. Cheers😎👍
@@JafffaAdventures thanks all the best Terry.
My pleasure mate😎👍
Great info, thank you! Do you know if the current version of the tent has updates preventing some of these issues?
I know they have sorted the turn buckle issue, not sure of the others. Thanks for watching mate, I sincerely appreciate it 👍😎
Will a screw nut fit within the turn-buckle? If so, why not just put one or two? Tho the mechanism seems far too complicated for me personally. Great it's working well for you. All the best for Cape York.
Great idea mate, another user also suggested that and it’s a ripper. My only challenge would be finding a left hand threaded but for the one side. I’ll definitely look, that’s for sure. Thanks for watching mate 😎👍
Great video mate. Who made the platforms you have coming off it?
Thanks Mark. I can’t recall the manufacturer off hand but I did an entire video on it so it’s there. Jump into the library and search the word “shoe” and you will find it. Cheers👍😎
Great tips.....in the aviation community those turnbuckle would be safety wired....
PS, nice shop....plenty of room for an aircraft, lol
Thanks mate, I do love my shed. I wanted to be a pilot since I was a little kid but as often happens, life got in the road. Good tip, thanks for watching and commenting mate, I sincerely appreciate it 😎👍
@@JafffaAdventures hey again, I'm looking at getting the super king and doing a floor mod so I can access it from my truck bed.....can you tell me how many and what are the spacing between the aluminum floor tubes? Thanks!!
A little bit tricky to tell as my rhinorack has wide runnings in the same direction but it looks like there are six aluminium square bar supports running front to back with approximately 200mm centres between them. Of course I have a standard, the king could be different so best check with Bundutop . Cheers
@@JafffaAdventures thanks!! I think the kink and super king are the same width. Appreciate the time! Happy trails
No worries mate😎👍
How did rooftop go on cape York trip with the Rhino rack ??? Thanks
Sensational Louise, no problems at all. We also just got back from 5 months and 20,000km off roading through WA. The tent was used at over 100 camp sites, never missed a beat. Cheers👍😎
Hello.
Excellent review and well spoken.
I will be installing the same on my new camper trailer soon.
Question - do you think the body of this RTT is strong enough to mount an awning ?
How do you manage toilet activity during sleep in this RTT?
What ladder do you use for this RTT?
Brand name of the solar panels?
Thank you
Thanks for the kind words Cameron, I sincerely appreciate it. I'm not sure if you have seen it but I have another video on the tent called "Bundutec Bundutop Roof Top Tent and Bunduawn Awning Long Term Review". The reason I mention it is because that video will provide additional information related to your questions.
1. Awning Mounting. Yes. I have two awnings mounted on it. See video I mentioned.
2. I threw the ladder they supplied in the bin and replaced it with one I got off ebay. Why I trashed it and what I replaced it with are detailed are in the video I mentioned.
3. I have 3 x 115w Allspark Panels. I am doing a video on this setup in the coming weeks so if you are subscribed and have notifications turned on you will not miss it.
4. My wife can sleep all night without have to toilet. I am up once or twice a night depending on how many beers I had during the evening! I sleep nearest the ladder so I do not disturb her when I go out. I also have a video called "Roof Top Tent Shoe Holder". That is part of the solution when exiting during the night as you need a convenient way to get to your foot coverings.
Cheers!
Many thanks Jaffa.
I shall review your other clips 😌
My pleasure Cameron
Thanks for posting Jaffa. Need info about installing solar panels to tent and also panel supplier please. Do you have FB channel?
Hi Phil, nope no FB, just my free and unsponsored RUclips channel. I do have a web page (Jafffa Adventures) and there is an email there. You can drop me a line that way. Cheers😎👍
I’m thinking of getting one 😅
I’m getting cold feet 🦶 only the part of it fails to open or close? But you said no issues with that you can manually close it or open it if the power fails… any advice? Oh I do love ❤it 😊
Yep, can manually close if you have to. Mines been up and down hundreds of times since I bought it, never missed a beat 👍😎
@@JafffaAdventures awesome thank you 🙏 for your fast response and I’m getting it lol 😂 we have high winds here in Vegas and we just wanted something different and quick but with top quality something to last long . Besides watching a lot of videos on this tent with small issues overall people are saying it’s a great tent so far. But hopefully with the newer models it should not have to much issues. But if you used the tent again please post more videos thanks 😊
No worries mate, I don’t think you will regret your purchase, and they are fantastic in high wind situations. Cheers😎👍
Do not use lock nuts, as these will loosen over time.
Because one side is right-hand threads and the opposite side is left-hand threads.
Use wire instead threaded through the turning hole and up to the hook or bolt it is attached to, this way you will have a maximum of 1/2 turn over time.
Thanks Geir, I just used zip ties in the end. Just finished a 20,000km off road trip and the tent was used at 106 different bush camps, never missed a beat👍😎
Nylocks nuts on turn buckle problem gone forever.
Good stuff mate👍😎
Hey mate, great video. How does the tent do with midgees after ur prolonged uses, as ive read its just normal flyscreen and not midgee proof. Do the bugs get in, Is it an issue thats annoying?
That’s a great question mate and you are correct, the screen is normal flyscreen and not Midgee proof. Surprisingly, my experience is that it really is not a problem and I have camped in some seriously infested midgee areas like in this series (ruclips.net/video/AEf6fBKHimo/видео.html). I’m not sure why that’s the case because I’m sure they could get in if they wanted to. I have found small flying bugs can get in and be annoying if you leave the light on at night for long periods of time. Thanks for watching mate, I sincerely appreciate it 😎👍
Put a locknut on the turnbuckles
I’ve got it sorted as per video, but yes a lock but would also work. One would need to be left hand thread and they are a bit tricky to find where I live. Cheers😎👍
Great product, just a bit to pricey for my liking.
Yep, that’s a disadvantage I noted in my Bundutop and Bunduawn review video, no getting around that one👍
Hi Terry,
Love your detailed videos especially the fj 45 as im just about to start into a HJ47
Just wondering do you have any problem with the switch at the winch as mine is moving out of place every time I put it up and then it wont go back down
Thanks for the kind words Liam and great question. My tent has a limit switch with a small spring steel arm that the winch cable activates when the cables go taut as the tent fully erects. I found that little arm on the limit switch got bent out of shape once a while back and the tent would not go down. I simply bent the spring steel arm on the limit switch back into position and it worked fine. It’s not the best of design in my opinion but having said that, I don’t know what I would do differently. Have fun with your HJ47 mate, they are a blast😎
@@JafffaAdventures Cam limit switch would be failsafe
Agree👍😎
Hi there.
I cannot see your video anymore - relating to your display of operating the bundutec RTT and bundutop awning.
Does this video still exist?
Also, can you show me close up pics of the mounting arrangement showing how the 270 awning is mounted onto the RTT?
Cameron
Hi Cameron. The video definitely still exists and is live so I do not know why you cannot see it. Perhaps try and reboot.
I cannot post pictures in RUclips comments. I would suggest you go onto the Tough Touring website and they have lots of photos of their mounting systems.
Cheers
Terry
Thank you.
My pleasure 😎👍
Hey mate have you had any dramas with the various aluminium poles wearing holes in the canvas in different areas?
Mine has a couple holes starting to appear & im unsure what to do about it
Yes, I noticed a couple on my last desert trip a week ago. I’m going to try gluing in small canvas patches. Cheers 👍😎
@@JafffaAdventures good idea, i was thinking some tape around the ends of the aluminium to soften the edge abit
That’s a great idea Ben. The patches I put on will be affixed from the inside as well so combining our two ideas will be a pretty decent solution I feel. Cheers😎👍
I spoke with the Sydney dealer today & he said to cut up the canvas ladder bag & use it to make patches as most people don't use them!! It would be even better if i could find mine..
Sounds like they have seen the problem before! I, like you, tossed my ladder bag (along with the original ladder) long ago. I have some spare canvas from on old Oztent patch that I will end up using. Thanks for sharing Ben😎👍
they must have updated these turn buckles as my tent doesn't have them
Well that’s interesting.
I wonder if complaints drove a change? Thanks for sharing, good to know new customers will not have this drama😎👍
My tent doesn't have the turn buckles either and it isn't much newer than your tent so you must have only just missed out on the update I think it is a good sign if a company is willing to make running improvements on a design. It provides that they are always looking to make the best product they can.
I think that they did improvements to the ladder design as well.
I agree 100% mate, good to see a company making continuous improvements. Thanks for the comment Keryn, I sincerely appreciate it 👍😎
Hi, could you tell us what table that is which you have connected to the BunduTop? (its red and visible at time 0:29--> 0:34)
Search is your friend mate😎
Roof Top Tent Shoe Holder
ruclips.net/video/D3bmofsV9c8/видео.html
Ours is 8 years old and still going strong, no fans but we have leopard print roof lining and a genuine cigarette lighter…lol
Classic Scott, I’ve seen those roof liners, reminds me of upholstery on a train or bus seat😂. Glad to hear yours continues to perform well. Have you had any of the issues I have, or anything different? Cheers😎👍
@@JafffaAdventures only problems inflicted by me. On a cape trip it came unclipped and was bouncing Around and bent some of the bars. Pulled it apart straightened and all good. We have a bag with internal bridging bars that goes on top with 2 mallamoo tents and other gear, which needs to be unloaded first otherwise the overloads trip and required manual lift and reset only once you do that. We had it hinged across the front on a roof basket with gas struts for a Simpson trip.rivets let go near Poppels corner, re riveted it new base all good again. Now its on the roof of the 200. Just added some lights on remote control. We were about to set off today for central Australia and the hay river track out of Sydney and have had to cancel.
Good feedback Scott, I hear ya re self inflicted, that’s my life😂. Really sucks that your trip is affected by the lock down. Let’s hope it’s over quick and you can rescue all or part of it. The Hay is awesome, Lake Caroline was one of my highlights. Go well Scott😎👍
@Scott Lucas I have carabiners through the clips on the outside so they can’t unclip while driving.
Hi Terry, do you know what the weight of the tent is with the Tough Touring brackets installed and solar on roof?
I don’t mate but the flexible solar panels would be around 1kg each (x3) and the brackets 1kg max. You can get the weight of the tent on the Bundutop website. Cheers😎👍
Thanks Terry. Yes I knew the tent weighed between 70-75 kg.
Was curious about about the bracket weights.
Last question have you ever had any issues with the tent overhanging the width of the platform rack? I am wanting to mount my tent to the Rhino platform also but was told that the tent needed to be supported along entire width hence requiring load bars between platform rack and tent.
If I can do away with the load bars that would be my preference. Also saving on weight.
My rack is 1236mm wide.
My rack is the same. Definitely don’t need any load bars, the radius of the tent fits the rack perfectly. Cheers 😎👍
Hmmm mine doesn’t have turn buckles. There may of been a update
Sounds like there may have been. Possibly because of the issue I and others have had. Thanks for sharing Michael😎👍
Yes, the current models don’t have turnbuckles.
Thanks for the confirmation, good to see they are learning from issues and making updates😎👍
Well on your turnbuckles you might want to think about putting a couple lock nuts on there and that will solve your problem that's a simple fix
Yep, that will certainly work but my solution is holding up well. Thanks for sharing😎👍
Why don't you put a lock nut on them, if they keep on loosening up.
That’s one solution but difficult to find a left handed thread lock nut. Locktite still holding strong 😎👍
Hi Terry, just wondering whether you’ve had any issues with the flexible solar panels lifting whilst driving on highways or has the sikaflex been enough to keep them stuck down?
Just purchased the tent and am exploring options.
Cheers.
I have them fixed down to strips of a clear corflute type material to allow air flow, and then the corflute is fixed to the tent roof. Normal sika is not strong enough. I used Sika 252, that stuff is strong as. Never had a problem with them lifting.
1:11 Going inside in a semi erected state... I can see how that is a problem.
Indeed 😂
Boondoo top. It doesn't rhyme with sun. Everybody on the planet correctly pronounce it, except Anglophones.
Good to know mate, cheers. And it’s Toyota, not Teeota😉😂😎
@@JafffaAdventures I can pronunciate, as I was taught English RP at school. ESL, at that. I don't use that T-word. I don't cuss.
@@JafffaAdventures And kneekoh, not nighkon. Awwdee, not Owdy. Mercedes, not Mirsaydees.