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What's the story of the new OverLand
tents?
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This design has been
around forever. We even had a write-up in the Whole Earth Catalog for
a processor model. The ladder, folding system and fabrics needed to
be upgraded. The ladder was the tricky part, this is all new.
Zifer spent the last four years optimizing the system and they are now
ready and we are taking orders. Full details will be on the website
shortly
This picture was just sent in by a
film editor and will be in the leader to HBO's "Mind of a Married
Man" it is an early OverLand
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What is the availability of
these tents?
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AutoHome tents are built
in Italy by Zifer. We have warehouses in Hayward CA and
Newark NJ so we can easily ship direct to you. Check our prices page
for current status and availability of each tent
Yes, we do have
rack systems for even the venerable Hummer H1
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| Where can I see these tents? |
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These are rather new to North America,
even through they have been made since the 50's. We exhibit at many of the shows in
the West. Otherwise, there are many people
throughout the country who would be happy to show you their tents and how they
work. Give us a call and we will track down someone in your
area that has a tent similar to one you may be interested in and can
share it with you.
You may have seen these tents already
and not known what you were looking at. They have been distributed
here in the US for over 20 years. |
| Is my car's roof strong enough? |
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AutoHome tents are
designed to mount simply on a couple Thule aftermarket crossbars, the same
as you would use to carry your canoe or kayak.
The rack system transfers the weight to the structural
parts of your car's roof. All roof racks carry a dynamic weight
rating, to describe the tested limitations of the rack system when the vehicle is
in motion. Most racks carry a maximum 165 pound dynamic rating, which means the
rack can support 165 pounds of weight while driving down the road..
AutoHome tents weigh between 95 and 155 pounds, so the rack system can
easily handle the weight. When you are camping, this is a "static
load", much more gentle and the racks can easily handle this weight. Always check with the
manufacturer
of your car and of your roof rack to determine the applicable weight
limitations as they vary from vehicle to vehicle. |
| What other things do I need
to buy for my cartop tent? |
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They come complete with an excellent
mattress grade foam
mattress in a washable cover, pillows, ladder,
mosquito nets, even a night light on
some models. We have accessories available from awnings to lift kits to store your tent up in your garage's
ceiling above and out of the way but still ready in a moment's notice.
You can set
these tents up with sheets and blankets to be as comfortable as your bed
at home
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| Are these tents suitable
for winter camping? |
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Yes, All tents
are expedition quality and can be fitted with a winter hoods for
very severe weather. These hoods can even be useful in the desert where
there are high winds and extreme temperature drops at night. |
| Can I paint my tent to
match my car? |
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Yes, the Maggiolina and Columbus models are
marine grade fiberglass, you
can paint them. We strongly recommend you keep the top white because even though the
roofs are insulated, white will reflect the sun's heat better and keep
everything cooler inside your tent. AutoHome tents even shade
your vehicle's roof keeping it much cooler in sunny conditions. |
| How did these tents come
about? |
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These tents were
originally used in the Swiss Alps, so they are good cold weather tents. They now are used extensively all
over the world. The Maggiolina is especially well suited for
expeditions. The Columbus and Over Camp have also been used in
many expeditions. These designs have been evolving for close to 50 years
and are sold throughout the world.
Gianni Marcenaro and Ombretta Paladino (University of
Genova) use a Maggiolina Adventure to study the desertification of
Northern Africa
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Are these expensive to
ship?
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We can have a tent to
you in a couple days, Shipping is surprisingly inexpensive, We have
two warehouses, one in Oakland CA and another in Newark NJ so shipping
costs average $135. Sometime a residential surcharge of $55 is
placed on residential shipments which require an appointment.
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What advantage is there to putting a
tent on my car's roof?
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Your home is always
with you, which gives you a great deal of freedom, fast and easy setup,
even in the dark, equally fast and easy take
down in the morning, when wet and cold. Your vehicle stays cooler because the roof
is not in the shade. Ready storage of your bedding and
equipment. Great ventilation and view, Fewer worries about insects,
wildlife and greater security. Less sand and dirt to contend with.
Sleeping on rocks or puddles is in the past. You can camp anywhere your vehicle takes you. The list goes on,
you are only limited by your imagination............... |
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Why are there so many models of Maggiolinas?
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The Maggiolina has
been in production since the 50's. The first models here were the
Adventure and OnLine (now called the TopLine). They were designed
for maximum utility. The new AirLand and Extreme models are more
aerodynamic because of the higher speed the new SUV's and trucks can
go. Back in the 80's, 65 mph was screaming in a Land Cruiser or Land
Rover.
The fact of the small Maggiolinas is very interesting,
the small models are different lengths. The small Adventure is
roughly 6 foot 6 inches and is good for someone 6 foot 2 and under.
The small TopLine is roughly 2 inches longer and the small AirLand
adds another two inches. This is for cold conditions, a smaller tent
is more snug and warmed by your body heat. The small Adventure is
still one of our most popular tents. |
