Ground Tent, Hammock, Roof Top Tent Camping, and Now Finally a Hard-Sided Camper (Pros and Cons)

Over the years, my camping and overlanding setup has gone through some serious evolution. I’ve slept in ground tents, tried hammock camping, spent plenty of nights in a roof top tent, and now I’m making the move to a hard-sided pop-up camper. In this episode, I’m breaking down my real-world experience with each setup — the good, the bad, and the things you don’t always think about until you’re out on the trail.

Each style of camping has its place, and I’ve learned that what works best really depends on how you travel, where you camp, and what level of comfort and convenience you’re looking for. I talk through the biggest pros and cons of each setup including cost, setup time, weather protection, mobility, storage, and overall usability during overlanding trips.

I also share why my needs have changed over time and what ultimately pushed me toward switching to a hard-sided camper. This isn’t about saying one setup is better than another — it’s about helping you understand the tradeoffs so you can decide what fits your style of adventure.

If you’ve ever debated between a ground tent, hammock, roof top tent, or camper setup, this video should give you a realistic perspective based on actual use, not just specs or marketing claims.

Let me know in the comments what setup you currently run and whether you’ve ever considered switching. I always enjoy hearing how other people build their rigs and camp setups.

A huge thanks to my partners:

Top Oak (amazing roof top tents and awnings for budget prices): https://topoakoverland.com/?sscid=51k9_mt1ba&

Nitto (my Terra Grappler G3 tires are great for midwestern winters, wet weather, and all terrain use): https://bit.ly/41EJhbQ

Z1 Off Road (pretty much the spot for all things Nissan): https://www.z1offroad.com

All Dogs Offroad (amazing Nissan specific suspension options which I run on my truck): https://www.alldogsoffroad.com

ICECO Fridges (the best fridges for the money, hands down-Use code ALLTHINGSOVERLANDING for 12% off your order): https://icecofreezer.com/ALLTHINGSOVERLANDING

Moon Fab Awning (super flexible, non-permanently mounted awnings for all kinds of applications. This link will take you to more info on how I have it set up on my 3rd gen Frontier): https://moonfab.com/pages/experts/jason-fletcher

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Looking for budget light bars, rock lights, and LED strips for your rig? Check out Nilight and use code ATO for 5% off! https://bit.ly/3vuhN8F

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