The RT-4S is our largest rooftop tent, ever! Designed for crews who refuse to compromise, this 4 sleeper rooftop tent rethinks space efficiency without adding a ton of weight or impractical roof height. We sat down with Waseem Chothia to unpack how he tackled the physics of scaling up without weighing you down.
An industrial designer on the Alu-Cab engineering team, Waseem worked on the new 4 sleeper rooftop tent. For those familiar with the ModCAP Family Camper, this is a rooftop tent version designed for SUVs, vans or canopies and is our biggest tent to date. Scroll on to discover what went into the new product, as told by Waseem.
Product Origins
Demand stemmed from the success of the ModCAP Family Camper. Customers wanted a rooftop tent version without having to buy into the ModCAP platform. Our feedback showed interest in a more versatile, standalone option and so that is what we set out to create.
This new tent is significantly larger than our LT-50 and Gen 3-R tents. It’s spacious enough to comfortably sleep four adults, with added headroom, and unlike typical clamshell designs it features a flip-out section for extra sleeping space.
Design and Engineering Innovations
There are several technical considerations that are unique to the 4 sleeper rooftop tent.
Fold-Out Mechanism: This was needed to accommodate four people, with the ladder doubling as structural support.
Height Adjustments: The unit sits higher to stow the ladder internally.
Weight Reduction: We used 1.5mm sheet metal instead of the typical 2mm to offset the larger size.
Installation Consistency: We kept our integrated mounting rails for ease of use when adding accessories.
Key Features
This is a tent for dedicated overlanders, families or larger groups who camp frequently. The four sleeper RTT is ideal for those who prioritise space and comfort. There are a few standout features:
- Skylight for stargazing
- Capacity to sleep four comfortably
- Integrated cargo rails for add-ons like solar panels, load bars and other accessories
- Insulated breathable materials regulate temperature and moisture
Development Process
At 2.4m long, this tent is bigger than any of our competitors’. Those extra millimetres matter most for comfort. And we’re confident calling it “the biggest” four sleeper tent on the market.
70% of the “homework” was done after already designing the ModCAP Family Camper. Adaptations were needed and so we reinforced the base with stainless steel struts to prevent bowing. We then redesigned the main sleeping platform based on feedback received from our leadership team. The canvas team handled pattern adjustments for leak-proofing.
Collaboration and Feedback
Team critiques catch overlooked issues before we present to our CEO Warwick Leslie and founder Jeremy Bergh. Both are highly technical people and their feedback exposed flaws like bowing, which led to structural tweaks.
Likewise user experience is vital. We aim for intuitive use with no manuals required. Feedback from our team of experienced, and not so experienced, campers results in a better product for customers. It also allowed us to fix leak points, ventilation as well as the opening and closing of the tent.
Personal Reflections
It’s incredibly rewarding finally seeing this tent on top of a vehicle. After months of prototypes, we have been busy with final testing and vehicle fit leading up to the global launch in Germany.
The positive feedback on the Family Camper fuels my motivation. So does a collaborative work environment that makes problem-solving efficient. After seeing the design come to life in outdoor environments I’m confident that this new 4-sleeper RTT will be warmly welcomed by the market.
