JÜRG SOLLBERGER

Jürg Sollberger is a traveller who has often done things ahead of time. A free spirit and innovator, he has worked on projects and in situations that later became a must for adventure travel. A dreamer, a rebel and certainly a man of courage: a tour leader for all kinds of destination, with every sort of itinerary. You might think that such a man is solitary, a true loner, but Jürg is quite the opposite: to begin with, he is accompanied on his adventures by Doris Sollberger, who shares his achievements. An explorer at the cutting edge, open to dialogue and capable of strong friendships: unsurprisingly, he is an excellent cultural and technical advisor. Including for Autohome. Indeed, he was one of the first travellers in the 90s to severely test Autohome products in Asia, contributing to the beginning of adventure travel in the Far East. His famous tours include long trips in extreme conditions in China, Myanmar, Tibet and other countries in the Far East. In numerous expeditions and events, he has publicly thanked Autohome and spoken of its “Superior rooftent”. A significant homage to the products her himself uses on his adventure trips. Since 1986, he has been an expert instructor in the trans-Africa tour, but his lasting passion has been for the silk-road, which he often uses to illustrate his “no limits” journeys.

The impressions and recommendations of a true “Marco Polo”



COLUMBUS

This is my favourite rooftent because it is higher than conventional tents. Personally, I like the fact that the two shells are hinged together, so the roof is closer to the base when closed and there is no need for a support mechanism. This means that when I close the tent, I don’t have to worry about the elastic folding the fabric inside the shells: there is no fabric at the front, and I think this is a definite advantage. In addition, no hooks are needed to keep the shells closed. In terms of the features of the rooftent, as I said, I appreciate the height, as much as 160 cm. There is nothing like it in the market. I know how comfortable it is; I’m over 190 cm tall and am fairly thick-set but I’m perfectly at ease in the Columbus! I can change, even put on a formal suit for the evening! I’m not joking, I’ve done it once or twice. More often, I’ve just changed into something clean and fresh after hundreds of kilometers of travelling. It’s a great pleasure. Because I’m tall, I chose the Columbus X-LONG (2.30m.), to be even more comfortable. I also like the large rear opening which I can arrange as I like; sometimes I turn the car round and use the tent to sunbathe. I like the design, with two arch-shaped doors which are also windows. So, it’s the height and the hinged closing. But here are some of the advantages I’ve found in my many trips:
1. Roof integral with the base
2.
Excellent stability despite the more than average height
3.
Quickest ever opening and closing
4. Nothing in the way inside to raise the tent: there are just 2 gas springs at the side you hardly notice
5.
The gas springs aren’t hidden in the mattress when the tent is closed. So, the mattress is undisturbed and doesn’t have to be shaped around any mechanism to make room for the springs or their movement. But that is not all! The fabric too is important: Airtex, technological, perfectly waterproof and of high quality, but above all compact: it folds away easily inside the tent. To sum up: Columbus is a dynamic and practical tent for adventure trips, for anyone who is on the move day in day out but doesn’t want to forgo comfort. Which also means the ability to choose the best location: the fact that it doesn’t jut over the sides of the vehicle means it can be used anywhere. Just one piece of advice: make sure the ladder is inside the wing-mirrors.

WINGS

When I saw them for the first time, I immediately thought of bat wings and that these were just what the Maggiolina range needed. They create a cover of 160 cm at the entrance to the tent, which is a benefit for a number of reasons, above all making it easy to enter. It’s a great idea, and doesn’t require any changes to the tent, such as holes in the shell. Nothing! The Wings can be added using a support clipped under the shell run-off. All standard fittings. Let me explain the advantages of this useful accessory, which I strongly recommend: it doesn’t take up much space and can be set up quickly and easily.
1. It makes a large entrance sheltered from the rain, so you can change your shoes, for example, without getting wet. It keeps everything dry, including the mattress. In the morning, when you wake up, you’re perfectly dry.
2.
The hooks for slippers or boots – in one corner of the covering - are very useful.
3.
When it is very hot, the tent doors can be fully opened to change the air, while the tent is still protected from the rain, the sunlight and prying eyes, ensuring the utmost privacy.

THE WINTER HOOD

Conceptually this practical accessory by Autohome is like the hoody or jumper you wrap round your shoulders in cool winter evenings or when the temperature suddenly drops. If you need to travel north or to a place of high altitude, this hood is very useful, particularly in springtime when the evenings are quite cold and it may be raining, because it acts as an excellent shelter. I’ve tried it out and it certainly keeps in the heat in the early morning. The material is very practical and the heat and shelter make it easy to sleep a little longer, if you want to. One piece of advice: when you fit the hood, keep one or two windows half-closed to get a change of air and let the moisture out. It’s very compact too: it’s contained in just a small bag, so you can put it anywhere and it doesn’t get in the way; I always leave it hooked up inside the tent when I’m travelling.

FEET

These supports are classic accessories and come in really handy. Especially in a campsite after midnight. Most campsites in Europe close at midnight, for the peace and quiet, so if you think you won’t be back until after midnight, it’s a good idea to leave the tent on these ground supports in the allotted area. If you’re staying somewhere on holiday for any amount of time, the supports are indispensable: the rooftent can be used as a traditional tent on the ground.

CHANGING ROOM

I know how useful it is to have a changing room next to the tent. It can be used on a thousand different occasions: to change clothes, of course, but also to keep your personal belongings, store accessories or fit some equipment such as a table, chairs or a fridge, shopping bags, a dressing gown or beach wipes, and so on. Safety and privacy: a protected area closed on all four sides, away from prying eyes morning and night. It can be fitted on just a few poles and attached rapidly to the rooftent.

AWNINGS

This accessory creates a large entrance to the tent, protecting against the sun and the rain. It reaches as far as the ground so also acts as a windbreak and keeps out the dust and fumes from passing vehicles in campsites. Of course, the vehicle needs to be parked properly to get the most out of these benefits. The protection is excellent: for a bike, a barbecue or table and chairs. Or a dining room or area for relaxation in the shade. The awnings can be fitted both sides of the tent and can be used together with a changing room or veranda. A complete system for protection against the sun and rain.

VERANDA

You’ve found somewhere you want to stay for a week. Or you’re in a campsite that has everything you need. What could be better than a veranda? It’s like having another tent, with its independent and self-standing structure. It doesn’t need to be near your vehicle. With a veranda, you can go to eh seaside or explore the local area without having to put everything back into the car. You can go shopping without having to take things with you. It’s particularly useful for quickly storing sports equipment, whenever the need arises. The fact that the veranda is a stand-alone structure means you can keep your place in the campsite even when you’re away.

Cabina spogliatoio Maggiolina