The Ultimate Guide to Roof Top Tents - iKamper

What is a roof top tent?

Roof top tents have been making headlines as one of the best ways to camp, but what is a roof top tent? A roof top tent is a portable shelter mounted to the roof of your vehicle or rack system. They are quick to deploy, favored by overlanders, and bridge the gap between a traditional tent and a recreational vehicle.

If you're looking for a roof top tent that will fit your vehicle and sleep capacity, you can use out Ultimate Tent Finder Tool.

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How roof top tents came to be

The first roof top tents originated in Europe in the mid-20th century. Independent travel was growing hand in hand with car tourism, and these new tents solved multiple frustrations. The everyday adventurer no longer needed to worry if the roadside hotel was fully booked when arriving in an unfamiliar town. Roof top tents also saved travelers money by forgoing the expense of formal lodging.

The first designs were a pop-up style with a hard shell and a fold-out canvas tent, now known as the ‘soft shell’ style. These roof tents were commonly referred to as “Air Camping” due to their elevated position on top of a vehicle. The appeal of air camping was clear from the start, though it has seen a resurgence in recent years as new designs have transformed the market potential. These include fold-out hard shell tents like the Skycamp, hybrid tents utilizing a book fold design, wedge-style tents, and even miniature tents that can mount to a compact car.

How does a roof top tent work?

Today, most roof top tents practically pitch themselves, so even the most inexperienced camper can set up in under five minutes. Modern RTT designs feature gas struts to lift the tent shell once the latches have been released. Depending on the model, you may also need to unfold an expansion panel and deploy the ladder.

What is the point of a roof top tent?

Roof top tents present many advantages over other options, most crucially how accessible they are. If you’re still wondering what is the point of a roof top tent? Here are 10 reasons why they’re worthwhile.

• They remove intimidation barriers to camping because of their simple design and ease of setup. No specialty experience is required to hop in the car, drive to a campsite, and lift the latch on your tent.
• They offer the opportunity to car camp while still sleeping under the stars in the fresh air of the outdoors. Many roof top tents feature a skylight which gives the experience another layer of romance.
• The views are better. No need to imagine what the scenery looks like without the picnic tables and the neighboring camper’s setup. From on top of your vehicle, you can bask in the views you drove out to see, entirely unobstructed.
• Roof top tents free up storage space inside your vehicle, allowing your gear to be better organized without blocking the rear view or blind spots.
• Roof top tents can go anywhere your car can go. This makes them especially popular for overlanding and dispersed camping because there’s no trailer or bulky recreational vehicle to maneuver.
• The average roof top tent includes a mattress that can be stored inside the tent, reducing the amount of extra gear to pack. (Goodbye cots and air beds!) Some RTTs have a generous enough shell that you can also store sleeping bags and pillows inside the tent between destinations, freeing up even more room inside the car.
• Camping in a roof top tent offers greater comfort and convenience than a traditional tent and is a more affordable alternative to an RV or camper van.
• They get you up off the ground. Quite literally. You won’t need to worry about finding a level spot to pitch your tent. You also won’t need to worry whether there are rocks or roots under your sleeping bag. You might even find there are fewer uninvited guests (of the critter variety) walking right through the tent door.
• Weather conditions are more forgiving from an elevated position. It is much more comfortable to camp in shoulder seasons if your tent canvas isn’t wicking up mud, rain, and snow. The cross breeze on summer nights isn’t bad, either!
• As the roof of your vehicle serves as the base of the tent, it is comparatively warmer than sleeping directly on the ground. Hard shell roof top tents can also serve as a windbreak, further sheltering you from the elements.

Do I need a special car for roof top tents?

With so many options to choose from, there’s a roof top tent for every vehicle. You do not need a special car or even an off-road vehicle to join the club. There are roof top tents like the X-Cover 2.0 Mini suited to compact cars and truck bed racks, as well as king-size tents like the Skycamp 3.0 suited to larger vehicles like SUVs. The best thing you can do is research the options, then seek out a style that fits your needs, your car, and your budget.

There are multiple considerations to account for, such as:

• The static and dynamic weight your car can support vs the weight of the tent.
• The dimensions of the tent vs the roof of your vehicle.
• How you will mount the tent to your vehicle. Does your car already have rails or cross bars? Do they align with the mounting hardware on the tent? Maybe your car is the right size, but the cross bars don’t quite work, and a roof rack is a better option to get the tent you have your heart set on.

Each tent manufacturer will have comprehensive specifications so you can make an informed decision. If you’ve never explored roof racks or static and dynamic weight, the customer service team of any RTT brand should be able to walk you through it all. If you want a complete showroom experience to see the tents up close and better understand the finer points of each model for comparison, many RTT makers have dealer locations where you can do just that.

Do I need anything to go with a roof top tent?

Depending on the experience you’re seeking, you can take a minimalist or maximalist approach to camping in an RTT. You want to be sure to cover your basic needs, so there are a few key items to pack for your next adventure.

Check the weather forecast and consider what clothes will be appropriate, as well as any topical toiletries like bug spray or sunscreen. Lights (flashlights, lanterns, headlamps) are not only a creature comfort but also a safety consideration to navigate camp once the sun goes down. Not every campsite will have running water, latrines, or communal waste stations, so be prepared. Pack 1 L of water per person per day. Bags to pack out your garbage and recyclables. Toilet paper and any toiletries and hygiene items appropriate for where you’re camping. If you’re unfamiliar with best practices for camping without a bathroom, give this a read. Looking for tent accessories to take things to the next level? Definitely consider an Annex that can provide shelter from wind or elements when you’re not sleeping. Storage Racks or Shoe Racks are a popular choice to keep essentials within arm's reach (and out of your bed).

Of course, you’ll need to pack something to eat and a way to eat it while camping. Kitchen systems can take whatever shape is most relevant to you. Maybe you just want a way to brew your morning cup of coffee and heat water for dehydrated backpacker meals. Though if you fish or hunt - or just like to eat well - you may want a more robust kitchen system like the Disco Series that allows you to prepare meals from scratch. If your meal plan includes perishable provisions, a cooler and ice should be added to your packing list. As well as dishes and utensils.

While roof top tents universally include a basic mattress, you’ll need a bit more than that to get a restful night’s sleep under the stars. You might have sleeping bags, pillows, or blankets at home that will work just as well as any you may find at an outdoor equipment store. We can promise that no RTT camp counselors are coming to do bed inspections and judge you for bringing an old comforter over a -20 mummy bag. However, some sleep system items are worth the splurge for the comfort and convenience they offer. Down blankets and sleeping bags can compress to a fraction of their size, allowing them to be stored inside your RTT. This means less time making and unmaking your bed, as well as fewer items to pack inside your vehicle. The RTT Sleeper is specially designed for use in roof top tents with more fill in the top half of the bag to keep you warmer where it matters most. If you’re thinking you might want to upgrade your mattress, or any other bedding for your tent, check out the Sleep Systems collection.

Thinking about a roof top tent?

If you’re keen on spending the maximum amount of time exploring the great outdoors with the minimum amount of fuss (not to mention finance) then you might well be considering buying yourself a roof tent.

There’s a roof tent to suit almost every vehicle, every holiday type - and every person, couple or family. But how do you choose? Get started on your search with our guide to the top 5 considerations when you’re buying a roof tent.

Are you interested in learning more about Car Top Tent Manufacturers? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Can your vehicle handle it?

If you carry a bike rack or roof box on top of your car, there’s only one load figure you need to worry about - that’s the ‘roof load’ limit which you’ll find in the car’s handbook and usually on the manufacturer’s website. Technically, that’s a ‘dynamic’ load, which means the car can cope with that extra weight even during severe manoeuvres and emergency braking. With a roof tent, it's a little different. When the tent is packed down for travelling, it must still be within that dynamic roof load limit (including the weight of the roof rack or bars that it’s attached to). Many cars have a 75kg or 100kg roof limit, which suits most models of roof tent, but smaller cars may have less capacity.

Once set up on site and all the campers are in, though, a roof tent will exceed the normal dynamic roof load limit for the car, but that’s not considered to be a concern, because it’s now a ‘static’ load, without the extra demands of cornering and braking forces from when the car's moving.

Roof tent suppliers generally suggest that the static roof load can be three to five times higher than the dynamic limit. That usually means most cars will accept a roof tent with two adults while larger cars may be fine with a heavier tent and more happy campers. You should do the sums to ensure you don’t put an excessive load onto the car, or talk to the tent supplier for advice before purchase if unsure.

Unfortunately, most car manufacturers don’t currently publish static roof load figures, as it's not part of the mandatory set of figures they need to provide and there’s no standardised test process to assess it.

What size do you need?

You’ll obviously need a roof tent that measures up, people-wise, but first you’ll need to take a look at the size of your vehicle. Most vehicles can accommodate a roof tent of some sort - 4x4s and SUVs are ideal as they offer higher load limits, roof strength and overall size. You want to be sure that your prospective roof tent sits comfortably on top of your car, and that it doesn’t hang over and obscure the driver’s view. You also need to be able to fix it without it affecting the vehicle’s balance and handling. Some roof tent manufacturers have a vehicle compatibility tool on their website, so that’s a great place to check if you’re unsure if a particular model is suitable for your car or campervan. 

Now it’s time to look at who’s going to be in your space. How many adults, children - or even pets - are you accommodating? And what are you going to do with all their clothes, boots and water bowls while you’re travelling or on site? Now’s also the time to consider whether your tent opens at the side or the rear of the car, and make sure that you have appropriate space for your awning if using one. 

Hard or soft?

If budget is your primary concern, then you’ll probably be looking at a soft-shell roof tent. Easy to set up, the fabric construction means they are lighter than their hard-shell counterparts. Soft-shell roof tents can also offer a larger footprint, and can accommodate an awning, thereby offering more living and storage space. Some feature skylights - so if you’re seduced by the idea of sleeping under the stars, that may well prove the clincher.

Undo the latches and your hard-shell roof tent will be up and ready for occupancy in as little as a minute, great if you’re planning on travelling often and moving around a lot. Typically a hard-shell roof tent is more expensive than its soft counterpart, but it will have a longer life. Plus you can always use it for storage or even as a rooftop cargo box if you’re not actually camping.

If you want to find out more about soft tops vs hard tops check out our Roof Tent Tips on YouTube.

Weather, storage and more

Be honest - are you a fair or foul weather camper? If you’re out in all seasons and ready to brave rough terrain you might want to consider how good your insulation is, or even whether you should add a thermal liner to your roof tent. Here might also be the point that you choose a hard- over a soft-shell roof tent - the former generally being more robust in bad weather, and certainly quicker to dry following the rain. If you’re camping in warmer weather, or even considering travelling further afield, to Europe or beyond it’s worth checking that you’ve got adequate ventilation and your windows are protected against bugs with decent mesh panels. British weather being what it is, you should consider whether or not you need an awning to provide some shelter from the wind or rain, and to offer somewhere to store muddy boots and wet coats (or even dogs). 

Can you get it up?

Not to put too fine a point on it, a roof tent will need to be lifted onto the top of your vehicle. Many manufacturers will do the job for you, but if you’re determined to do it yourself, you’ll need to consider the weight of the roof tent and who you have on hand to help you put it in place. Roof tents are usually supplied with the appropriate fixings, and sometimes the tools you’ll need. You’ll need to make sure you have crossbars that are compatible with your roof rails or mounting points, and these will need to be set between 80cm and 1 metre apart. If you are not intending to leave the roof tent on all year round you will need to consider how you will remove the tent and where you can store it.Ensure the tent is clean and dry beforehand. If storing flat it is best to avoid laying it directly on the ground, or you can put it upright, and cover with a blanket. Airing out the tent periodically can help prevent moisture build up. Avoid heat sources which can damage the material. Your roof tent provider will be able to answer any questions you have. 

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