INTERVIEW

By Eugenio Martignani

Roof tents: how to choose them?
A dialogue on the principles that characterize a mythical product of the journey in freedom, the roof tent, with the advice of Giuseppe Fercodini, founder and owner of Autohome.

Who is Giuseppe Fercodini, a life dedicated to roof tents?
Only by knowing the character can we understand the philosophy that led him to create a product that has become a status symbol and synonymous with adventure.
I have recently turned 60 and I can safely say that much of my life has been dedicated to knowing, improving and promoting the product "roof tents". Over the years, my brother Giacomo and I, with the Autohome brand, have always aimed at making us understand first of all what quality means in our sector. This is still a priority. In fact, today perhaps even more than once! We were pioneers in our field and we had in mind, since we created the legendary Maggiolina, that quality, which then means practicality, livability and durability of the product, should be our must have. We have built our market positioning on these principles. They require honesty and transparency. Because quality is a concept that goes beyond brands. The same applies to Autohome. I still consider myself an "artisan-entrepreneur". I am not a trader, much less an accountant or importer of products that come from abroad. I'm just a perfectionist, so at least they say about me! I think I am a person who loves beauty and beautiful things, created by man and nature. I have two passions that I believe in: freedom and travel. Each tent has its own soul, a story to tell. Our job is to help people achieve this goal: travelling in freedom. I don't even know exactly how many models and combinations we have in Autohome, between sizes and colours we may exceed 100 variations. If Autohome made and continues to make the history of roof tents, it is because since 1958 it has always been consistent with these principles.

Why does the roof tent like more and more and what is its charm?
First of all, it is a choice of independence, which opens up prospects that other ways of travelling cannot offer. Whatever the type of trip, discovery, adventure, relaxation, from the big stage raid to the short weekend, the roof tent can be quick and easy, transforming the vehicle into a house in a few seconds, wherever you are. The real roof tents, and I emphasize true, are stable and safe in the wind, they do not undergo installation constraints. They always allow a comfortable accommodation in the front row: by the sea, the lake, the river, in the pine forest... however in direct contact with nature.

What is the most requested and preferred tent by users today?
Take our offer as an example: Autohome shell tents are exported to more than 40 countries and account for 70% of sales; the remaining 30% is for fabric tents. Only a few years ago the sales quotas were the exact opposite. Why this reversal of trend? Because only a few years ago, "pure and hard" adventurers, Saharans included, who were prone to folding fabric tents, prevailed.

Africa and the desert were their main destinations, ideal destinations for explorers and itinerant travellers. We are talking about tents intended mainly for large 4x4-Off Road vehicles. It can rightly be said that the success that became planetary of roof tents began with the legendary Land Rover 109, thanks to the memorable feats of the legendary Nino Cirani, still today an icon of adventure for fans.

Over the Peruvian desert. Image by Nino Cirani, published in the book "Il raid automobilistico", editorial Domus.

The main reason for choosing the fabric tent was that it occupies half of the roof of the off-road vehicle, leaving the other half in space to carry jerry cans, spare tires and travel equipment. This was the main choice in the Off Road world that had distinguished the market. But that is no longer the case today. Shell-roofed tent took over. There are those who say: but it costs more. I am convinced that in our sector the priorities go to other aspects, at least for those who really love free travel. I remember a travelling friend who said, "... if you go to a good restaurant and eat very well, you will remember what you ate and not the bill".

This is Nino Cirani's share 3 - Land Rover 109.
It should be noted that the tent occupies half the roof of the vehicle, thus leaving space to carry spare tyre and other travel equipment.

Fitting the tent to Nino CIRANI.
The open tent does not come out of the shape of the car, which means that it is possible to camp wherever you are.

Let's first talk about the traditional fabric tent. What are the strengths and weaknesses, and on which particulars to focus your attention to make the right purchase?
The fabric tents are essentially very compact when closed, and become well habitable when open. But be careful though: they open with a cantilevered platform and then come out of the shape of the car.

Let's see some aspects not to be underestimated.
The first point is the ladder: it should not be considered as an element to be detached from the tent and stored in the trunk of the car, that is to say, to be hooked every time the tent is opened. Conceptually the ladder is a structural and load-bearing element of the tent in all respects. So I recommend checking that the ladder is integrated.
Second point: materials and structure of the platform. The Autohome fabric tents have waterproof and water-repellent melamine wood floors of high elasticity, thus ensuring reliability and resistance. Quality guarantees very different from tents of Asian origin that have the floors in... coated polystyrene! So, before every purchase, check this item very well.
Third point:windows. That they must be perfectly integrated and not have protruding structures, because let's not forget that we are high from the ground. Personally I hate any stakes to match the windows as well as you can notice in low quality competitors product. Another aspect that I do not share in those tents are the windows on the roof, because they can easily become a source a source of risks of rainwater infiltration risks. Over time it can prove to be a very serious problem. And then pay attention to the wind: a tent about two meters from the ground cannot have accessory elements such as canopies and anything else. The tent must be a single body, the roof must necessarily be integral with the walls. If you do not check these aspects during the purchase, there is a risk from the first use... to take the flight and go hang gliding! Not to mention the sailing effect of the fabrics: in many resting places the wind is a constant, which can create instability and noise, causing sleepless nights.

An Autohome range tent is represented here.
A real windproof roof top tent. A serious, original and grand design project that does not generate turbulence and noise, much less "the sail effect" or "the ball effect" that are avoided.

In Autohome we have always known these problems and we solve them on our fabric tents with fabrics and designs that are the result of the experience of many years of activity. One day, an authoritative off-road character one day said, "You are Italian and you like cooking, so you know how to dose the ingredients to make a good dish." This joke has stuck with me, I still treasure it today and I apply it to my tents that must be made of heavy fabric, this is the first ingredient.

The second ingredient is that they must be simple and have little protruding fabric that generates sailing effect. It is usually preferable to stay in a private area or camping with a fabric tent. This is at least the law in force. The tent does not fit in the shape of the car, it comes out of the mirrors and therefore it is believed to occupy public land. They are therefore bound by the rules on the occupation of public land, a fundamental difference compared to the rigid roof tents, which are kept in shape. To recap: the great advantages are habitability and comfort. The most obvious problem is to have overnight limits in public areas.

Well, now let's consider the hard-shell tent. What are its strengths and how to choose it?
I believe that today these tents today really have something more than fabric tents. In particular, it is the roof that makes the difference. Having a roof made of rigid and suitable materials means having a more insulated environment: you are more insulated from the heat and cold, more protected from every point of view. It is no coincidence that experts call them ACTIVE HARD SHELLS, that is, TENTS WITH AN ACTIVE ROOF.

INSULATED ROOF

In fact, they have a little less internal habitability than fabric tents, but just choose a tent of the right size and the spaces become ideal. It must be considered that the shell tents are more compact and more stable than those in fabric, especially in case of storms. They completely prevent infiltration. Welded fabrics, double sheets and PVC cannot compete with a rigid roof, among other things made of fiberglass which is also equipped with an internal insulating membrane. So, to recapitulate sum up, I would say that the main advantages of shell tents are: an extraordinary stability without sacrificing the speed of opening and closing; to this is added the fact that the mattress is slightly higher and does not fold as for fabric tents. It is a single piece and has not been spliced. In addition, shell tents have no limits in deciding the location of overnight stays in public areas, because the tent and the ladder fall within the shape of the car.

The disadvantage, if we can define it that way, is only one: a higher cost of purchase than fabric tents. But I urge you to consider how much you can guarantee in terms of comfort and safety, especially in adverse weather conditions.

Let's go into the specifics of materials and talk about fabrics. What is the best material and how to recognize it?

It is a crucial choice in a tent, naturally affecting its quality and costs. In the market you can find everything: more or less heavy, breathable, waterproof fabrics. In detail, it ranges from high waterproof or watertight fabric such as PVC, to lightweight nylon such as Igloo tents, to coated, resin, synthetic, acrylic, eco-sustainable fabric to natural cottons and mixed fabrics. Autohome does not trust products from markets outside Europe, and this is because the quality is too variable. On this element, our purchasing department is particularly careful. In summary: for fabrics, yarn for seams and also for mosquito nets we turn to Made in Germany suppliers of great seriousness and specialist expertise. I consider it essential to use the most breathable fabric possible or in any case the one that transmits the best heat and condensation to the outside, of course it must also be waterproof. A well breathable fabric is definitely more expensive, but it is what allows you to get and it is a cooler and healthier environment. Autohome tents have a high degree of breathability and optimal heat transmission to the outside. That's why they don't need to use fans, vacuum cleaners or extractors to turn the air around. Next to the fabric, it is then necessary to consider the packaging and seams. We always try to avoid them at critical points. On this subject, I say that I have little confidence in the chemistry applied to fabrics: for example, hot tapes do not satisfy me; sometimes with temperature changes they lose grip. In my opinion, mechanical solutions or alternative packaging methods are better. The most exposed zippers, in particular, must be of high quality standard. Ours, the most exposed to water, are all waterproof and above all "spiral", to resist mistreatment and wear. As you can easily understand, in this case you need to check well before buying. Above all, do not be enchanted by certain prices offered by unknown brands or without a story, often present only on the Internet. The concept is almost trivial, but it is always important and must be remembered: even in our sector, nobody gives anything away and every decision has its price.

But an expert like you, Giuseppe, who has had the opportunity to thoroughly test and test all the tents in the Autohome range and knows their features well, which tent does he use personally?
When I was young, my first tent was the Maggiolina, which has always been my favourite. What memories! ... and that years of great enthusiasm and continuous discoveries... Initially I placed it on a Volkswagen Golf of 1982, then on a Passat Variant of the ’90s. I also used the mythical Air-Camping, but I did not have the right car to be in tune with what an extreme traveller did such as the great Nino Cirani, to be clear! Today that I am 60 years old, I use a Columbus shell with great joy. Exactly the X-long Land Rover model. This is because I want to be 100% safe and find myself in aesthetic harmony with my personal and timeless "Defender", year 2008. Also on this topic I would have a lot to tell... maybe next time, if you want.