When you think about going camping, the first picture that pops in your head is likely to be one of a camping tent built in the sky. While camping tents are the most common shelters for campers, there are newer and more advanced tents to enjoy during your next camping trip. One of these is the rooftop tent.
A rooftop tent is a tent set up on the roof of your SUV or truck. It’s a game-changing camping equipment for the overland that is becoming increasingly popular among campers and overlanders- for good reasons too! Below, we’ve listed reasons why a rooftop tent should become your go-to tent option.
What Is A Rooftop Tent?
A rooftop tent is a tent set onto the rooftop of a overlanding or camping vehicle. As with conventional tents, it comes in various sizes, designs colours, designs and colors.
The rooftop tent was intended to provide a practical camping solution. As opposed to traditional tents, which requires poles and knots before they are able to be set up in the dirt, rooftop tents are able to be easily erected to the top of your vehicle to provide a higher sleeping area in which you could sleep with your loved ones.
Rooftop tents are fantastic travel companions because they are connected directly to the roof of the vehicle. This is perhaps the most important advantage of all.
What is the material that rooftop tents are made Of?
Rooftop tents, like any other tents, are made of various materials that can be used to meet different needs of camping. The materials your tent is made from will determine numerous aspects including the capacity of your tent to its season suitability.
Some of the materials rooftop tents are made of. These include:
Tents for roof tops made with 100 percent cotton fabrics are generally comfortable, abrasion resistant, and sturdy. They let air pass in, which is why campers need more insulation to keep them warm during cold and windy days. The thicker the cotton fabric used, the more heavy the tent as well as less breathable it will be. While cotton tents are durable but they aren’t always easy to dry once they become wet. They easily absorb moisture and are therefore difficult to use in rain. Overall, cotton rooftop tents are perfect for camping in the summertime.
Polyester Roof tents made of polyester are light, stretchy, and naturally water-resistant. They are tear-resistant and dry easily, making them an excellent option for any season. Although they are fantastic tents, they aren’t breathable and suffer from abrasion easily.
Poly-Cotton: Poly-cotton rooftop tents are made from a blend of cotton and polyester fibers. This causes them to share the common characteristics of both fibers, quickly making them the most suitable rooftop tent choice any camper can invest in. Poly-cotton is breathable to some degree, and are abrasion-resistant. They are also tear-resistant and more lightweight than cotton tents and water-resistant.
Nylon Roof tents made of nylon are a cheaper alternative to polyester and cotton rooftop tents. They are more durable than external elements and resistant to fire retardant and abrasion. Rooftop tents made of nylon are lightweight and pliable, making them simple to carry and erect. They’re waterproof and dry quickly after rainfall and are able to be chemically treated to make them UV-resistant.
Alongside the tent’s material, that is the canvas for tents and protects the roof, rooftop tents feature other components like frames that provide structure and assist in supporting the tent as it expands.
How are Rooftop Tents Mounted?
Rooftop tents are camping tents, which are set on top of your camping car or truck. However, contrary to the misconceptions that many amateur campers who are unfamiliar with tents on rooftops may believe rooftop tents are not designed to sit directly on the roof of your vehicle because this is dangerous. Instead rooftop tents are erected on the roof racks of your vehicle.
Rooftop tents can be attached to your vehicle’s roof rack. In the absence of one, your rooftop tent can be mounted on crossbars separately purchased. However, prior to going into the business of purchasing and mounting your rooftop tent, it is necessary to be able to meet certain standards that will ensure your safety as well as that of your vehicle.
When purchasing your rooftop tent it is important to purchase the right tent for your vehicle’s racks or crossbars are able to support. This means that you must know the weight of your vehicle, crossbar size and weight limit and the weight of the tent.
There are two types of tent weights: static and dynamic weights. It is the dynamic tent weight that is supported by your vehicle while your vehicle is in motion, and the tent isn’t in use. The dynamic weight will determine the vehicle’s mileage dag, mileage, and the fuel you burn.
Static weight is, in contrast, is the weight supported by your vehicle while your tent is raised and you’re inside it. The static weight is usually higher and more distributed over the load of the active weight.
Once you’ve determined the appropriate weight limits, ensure you have the right crossbar or roof rack. There are many kinds of roof racks. If you’re buying a separate one due to the fact that you don’t have vehicle rack or the one that’s on the top of your car is not the right size, you should ensure that the one you purchase is of the correct size.
It is important to place your roofing racks at a minimum of 32 inches from one another, unless stated otherwise in your roof tent’s manual. For the installation of your rooftop tent, ensure you have the correct devices and materials. Consult your rooftop manual for the instructions and then purchase the necessary tools to begin the process of mounting.
To put up your rooftop tent:
Ensure the tent’s components are complete. From knots to bolts and ladder brackets, make sure you have everything that are listed in the manual.
Attach the mounting tracks onto the roof of your vehicle
Make sure the ladder is secured and installed.
Attach the cover
Attach your tent to the roof in accordance with the manual’s instructions suggest.
And, voila! You now have a tent that is ready for the next camping adventure. The amount of time you will need to put up your tent varies. As long as you have the right tools and help needed to set up and put up your tent on the roof in a matter of minutes or less.
Types of Rooftop Tents
There are two main types of rooftop tents. these are the soft shell or tough shell roof tents. Hard and soft shell tents make great rooftop tent options with varying advantages and disadvantages. The features you need in your tent, like space, durability, price and the simplicity of putting it up, can help you decide which kind of rooftop tent is suitable for your needs.
Soft Shell Rooftop Tents
Soft shell rooftop tents are light and simple to carry. Although they are light however, they are extremely tricky to set up and take down as you need to make sure that each aspect of the tent secure within the cover.
Soft shell rooftop tents are a great option if you are looking for a rooftop tent that offers more room for sleeping. They are larger and have greater floor space that can be folded away, and they also offer an option to attach to an annex purchased separately for additional space.
Soft shell roof tents however, aren’t an excellent aerodynamics option. They create drag, which could slow down your car while driving, and could cause you to increase the amount of fuel you use.
The Hard Shell Rooftop Tents
Hard shell roof top tents are made of the rigidity of their ceiling and floor structure that makes them look like boxes. They are a common choice among campers as they are more durable as compared to soft shell tents and are simpler to set up. But, they are more costly than soft shell rooftop tents.
The rooftop tents that are made from hard shells are often designed with an aerodynamic look. This means they create lower drag resistance, and do not affect your vehicle’s fuel efficiency more than soft shell tents.
Its rigid design of this tent type limits the space available but can be install in less than one minute. They’re also easy to take down with no hassle which makes it easy to pack up and go.
There are several styles of roof tents made of hard shells that determine features like the opening of your tent and the design of your tent, as well as your tent’s size.
Benefits of Rooftop Tents
Rooftop tents are gaining popularity as more campers come to notice and understand the benefits of this essential camping gear. More convenient than conservation tents, the comfort and ease that rooftop tents bring can’t be beat and are compared to none. Some reasons you should adopt rooftop tents on your next camping trip include:
1. Easy To Set Up
When you use conventional camping tents, you first require a designated tent campsite to set up camp. Then, you must find a flat surface and clean it of any stones or sticks before beginning the gruelling process of using poles and knots to put up your tent.
With tents that are roof-top that are roof-mounted, you don’t have to be concerned about these stress-inducing processes. Because the rooftop tents can be set up in the roofs of car the only thing you need to do is locate the best spot to park and remove the tent cover and take away the straps set up the ladder, and fold your tent. You can set up your tent and go to bed in minutes.
Unlike a conventional tent that will require multiple trips to get your car there and to return, some rooftop tents can hold your mattress or blankets even if they’re collapsed. If you do need to join your annex for your set-up, the process is less time-consuming and easier as compared to setting up a conventional tent. The process of setting up a roof tent is a straightforward process that will pay off after a full day of playing in the wilderness.
2. Ease of Transport
If you’re an overland camping enthusiast or someone who is always moving, you will enjoy the ease of transport the rooftop tents provide. With this option for tents you won’t be limited by geographical terrain or even location.
Rooftop tents can be a good option for those who want to set up camp for the night and carry on the journey in the morning. It allows for quick set-up and removal time, which allows swift travel to different places throughout the day. Making a tent for the ground with knots and poles before filling it with sleeping gear, only to take it down in just a couple of hours is an experience you shouldn’t have to go through when you are using tents on rooftops.
Unconstrained camping trips are a great way to explore locations that will not be ideal for ground tents. If you’re in the forest, or on terrains with rocks, so long as you locate a safe place to store your gear, you’ll have shelter over your head.
3. Above-ground Shelter
Using a rooftop tent means sleeping in a comfortable position at a at an elevation above ground level. This ensures a peaceful night’s rest away from bugs, mud and wildlife.
Sleeping in ground tents leaves you at risk of being in the bites or hands- of buds and crawling insects. Additionally, it leaves you accessible to animals like snakes and lizards, which can compromise your security. A night of camping off the ground can help take away this problem. Some rooftop tents even feature mesh panels that are placed in the window to allow campers to enjoy sleeping in a safe, bug-free environment.
Sleeping above ground level also means you can keep dirt out of your sleeping space to a great extent, particularly during rainy seasons. The ground tent is coated with mud and water, leaving campers to track the mud into and out their tent. If you have a tent on the roof, you can remain in a safe, comfortable and dry after rain.
A tent that is roof-top is a safer tent that lets a camper to sleep above their truck while keeping the truck locked.
4. The most comfortable and relaxing sleeping space
If you’ve ever laid on a mat in an outdoor tent you’ll be able to agree that the sensation of rock and pebbles hitting at your back isn’t something you enjoy on camping trips. Although you can spend the money on a camping air mattress it’s not like the sensation of lying on memory foam inside a rooftop tent.
Many rooftop tents feature memory foam mattresses with high density to keep campers warm and comfortable. They also have a sturdy flat floor that is generally made from fiberglass, steel or any sturdy and durable material. This means that you won’t need to worry about discomfort from rocks or sticks.
5. Durability
Rooftop tents may be lightweight however they are usually constructed from strong and durable materials to protect the tent from damage. In addition, they typically have solid fiberglass panels or durable aluminum frames which provide the tent with structure and hold it in its position.
With roof tents, specifically ones constructed of highly durable materials, you do not have to fret about abrasions or tears. As opposed to ground tents that typically include a flapping canvas in the wind or rain and even sometimes blown off the campers, rooftop tents cannot be torn off from their structures and some designs have very little flapping in the wind.
Rooftop tents are large enough to withstand the strain of your issue. The canvas is stronger and guarantees security and safety that most ground tents do not offer.
6. More Space
If you are using tents with roofs you can make space in your car by storing your sleeping equipment in your tent, even when it’s closed. Since space is often a concern on camping and overland trips it will be easier to have more space in your vehicle to store the essential camping equipment.
In contrast to ground tents, roof tents don’t have to be removed or stored inside your vehicle every day. Because they can be hung on your roof, and then put under its cover, you can save additional space in your vehicle without any issues.
Some tents, specifically the hardshell tent, give areas to store gear on their surface. You can resolve a number of storage issues by purchasing rooftop tents.
7. Modifiable to Provide More Space
Rooftop tents can be made to add more space by providing means of attaching separately-bought awnings, awning curtains, and annexes.
Annexes are a similarly durable camping equipment that provides additional protection for a private space, changing area and kitchen setup. Roof tent annexes come in various designs as well as colors and can be affixed to your roof tent.
Awnings also provide extra shelter through casting shade to help campers build their own outdoor patio. They can be equipped with curtains to create an area to sleep beneath your tent on the roof.
8. Luxury
Who says you have to purchase an RV in order to have an extravagant camping experience? You can have a luxurious time in the wilderness without spending thousands of dollars for an RV by buying the right kind of tent for rooftops. Rooftop tents are a less expensive option that provide the same ease of use and comfort.
Although, obviously, you won’t have access to running water and the customized bathroom that RVs can provide, you will still enjoy electricity through solar panel fittings, as well as the luxury and ease of movement that RV users appreciate. Additionally, you’ll save a lot of money!
9. Year-Round Use
The majority of rooftop tents are constructed using durable materials, however some are made with heavy-duty materials that can stand up to all types of weather. The ability to handle various conditions with ease can make them suitable for any season every day of the year.
The tents on the roof are equipped with thick fabric, insulation mats for anti-condensation, as well as other essential features to keep campers comfortable all year. In this way, you will remain dry and warm during the winter months and cool in summer.
Benefits Unbeatable of Rooftop Tents
Rooftop tents are ten rungs ahead of traditional ground tents. They’re sturdy, economical, and designed to offer peace and comfort in the wild.
In order to fully reap the benefits of your rooftop tent and maximize its capabilities, it is essential to ensure that it is appropriate for your needs or your motor. Make sure you research the most appropriate rooftop tent and take a lavish camping experience.
