Hey folks, jumping in here as another newbie to the rooftop tent world-I’ve been drooling over the Oz Tent RV-5 pics too, especially for those family setups. From what I’ve pieced together from reviews and a few YouTube vids (I’m no expert, so correct me if I’m wrong), it does mount pretty straightforward on most standard SUV roof racks like Thule or Yakima systems. They come with these adjustable aluminum poles and mounting plates that clamp right onto the crossbars-no major mods needed, but you might want to double-check your rack’s weight rating since the tent plus people can get heavy (around 130 lbs empty). I think some folks add a custom platform if their rack is super narrow, but that’s not the norm.
On the wind and rain front, it seems like a beast compared to those budget hardshells I’ve seen on Amazon. The canvas is ripstop and treated for water, plus the awning-style design lets it hunker down better in gusts-I’ve read it holds up to 50mph winds without flapping like crazy, unlike some flimsier pop-ups that turn into kites. Rain-wise, the seams are sealed, and it has a good floor mat to keep moisture out, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s actually tested it in a real storm. For our first trip, I’m tempted by the durability, but yeah, the price tag stings-worth it if you’re doing rough overland stuff, or should I look at something like a Roofnest for similar protection at a lower cost?
Anyone got install pics or real-world stories on setup time? I’m planning a test run on my Subaru Outback soon.