Dec. 23, 2024
For me, my biggest concern with tent camping is safety. The vulnerability of being in a simple canvas structure during a rainstorm or in the woods always leaves me uneasy. These worries significantly diminish with a rooftop tent. Positioned high on your vehicle, it creates a barrier against potential threats from wildlife and weather. The fear of critters crawling in is alleviated, and if floodwaters rise to your tent's floor, it’s likely that survival wasn’t meant to be anyway.
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While I’m not an expert in winter camping, I have experienced very chilly nights. I recall shivering in freezing temperatures on thick air mattresses while bundled in layers. However, in our rooftop tent, we found warmth even when the temperature dropped to about 37°F. We were snug despite using a sleeping bag that wasn't designed for the cold, making the experience much more pleasant than traditional tent camping. There’s an ongoing debate about whether to use two separate cold-rated sleeping bags or stick to our combined setup, but either way, the rooftop experience surpassed my expectations for comfort.
The design of a rooftop tent includes mechanisms such as hinges, which do not create a perfect seal. There is a slight opening that can serve as an entry point for pesky insects. During heavy rainfall or extreme weather, it's essential to be cautious, as the canvas loin cloth secured by Velcro might not hold up against terrential downpours. These small gaps may allow crafty mosquitoes to sneak inside, particularly if you plan to camp in areas notorious for their swarming presence. This doesn’t apply uniformly to all tents, though, as some pop-up models tend to provide a better seal against unwanted visitors.
It's important to consider the potential impact on fuel efficiency when adding a rooftop tent. The added weight and wind resistance from a 100lb tent can lead to a notable drop in fuel economy, typically observed around 7-9%. Installing a wind deflector can mitigate some of the aerodynamic challenges since it smoothens airflow around the tent. However, a driver's habits also play a significant role; higher speeds lead to increased drag. Such losses may be more pronounced in vehicles like our Subaru that tend to cruise quickly on highways. Keep in mind that some rooftop tents are designed to be more aerodynamic and might offer better fuel economy, although these models can also come at a premium price.
Many people believe that only large, reinforced vehicles can accommodate a rooftop tent, but this isn’t entirely true. Despite its towering look atop smaller cars, the weight distribution is manageable and often within the limits of most standard roof racks. Most tents weigh around 100lbs, balanced against a roof rack capacity of approximately 150lbs. Double-check the vehicle’s weight ratings for dynamic weight because static weight limits differ significantly. Vehicles equipped with upgraded rack bars can often support much more weight without compromising stability on rugged terrains.
*Be careful when comparing weight ratings. Static weight is how much weight something can support standing still, while dynamic weight is the force applied to your roof rack while driving (turning, stopping, etc.).
No grass needed, whether you're on a mountain track, sand dune, or a Tesco car park, a roof tent allows you to camp just about anywhere.
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You're far less hindered with a roof tent; you can travel places you could only dream of with trailer tents, camper trailers, caravans, campervans, and motorhomes, especially if you have a 4×4.
Attaching a rooftop tent is easy, and will fit most vehicles that meet a few requirements. See our page, can I fit a roof tent to my car? Set-up time is very quick and can be done in a few minutes. You will be the envy of your traditional tent friends when you are all set up and sipping cold water, beer, or wine.
Roof tents are constructed from a heavy-duty canvas made to withstand nature and its elements. This material is waterproof as well as UV and mould-resistant. A strong aluminium support structure makes for a long-lasting and very durable tent.
A good rooftop tent will have mesh windows and doors for ventilation, great on a hot summer's day or night. A comfy high-density foam mattress should come as standard, and some tents even have a sky view window for stargazing at night and extra light during the day.
Being up on your vehicle's roof means you are out of the way of insects like scorpions, ants, and spiders. Nobody wants to find something crawling around in your tent or sleeping bag! Wildlife in the UK is less of a threat but if you are abroad in a country where there are snakes, tigers, bears, wolves, etc., you will be out of their reach in a rooftop tent.
You have your very own viewing platform with great views that you can't get with ground tents. Waking up to the view of the ocean, lake, river, mountains, or forest is always better from higher up. You'll never camp on the ground again.
Compared to the price of a campervan, motorhome, or trailer tent, a roof tent is a lot cheaper to buy and maintain.
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