Are Rooftop Tents Worth it?
If you own a car, have a destination in mind, and hate the tedious time consuming errand of setting up a grounded tent, then yes, a rooftop tent is 100% worth it.
The idea behind rooftop tents is that the set up is time efficient and you rid yourself of all of the problems associated with camping on the ground.
Up high, there is a lower chance of bugs crawling into your sleeping bag, you won’t have to struggle with poles and stakes, and you won’t wake up with back pain because of bothersome roots.
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With your rooftop tent, you can park your car anywhere. So pick the perfect parking spot and that’s the scenery you’ll wake up to. No need to seek out super flat ground. It comes included.
Are Rooftop Tents Safe?
Like anything in life, safety is mingled with some risk. If we are talking about the safety of your rooftop tent from being stolen.
Anyone could steal your gas cap, so if you’re not worried about that, don’t worry about theft.
My best suggestion is to enjoy it and go on your adventure without overthinking it.
If we are talking safety of your physical person, like any product, rooftop tents come with some warnings and risks, but overall, rooftop tents are built to be durable, easy to mount, and safe for use.
Why are Rooftop Tents so Expensive?
Rooftop tents are expensive because of their quality, amount of parts, size, comfort, and other important factors. There are low budget and high budget rooftops.
Those who have purchased low priced rooftops have had them for years and are happy.
Of course, it will be hard to find a super cheap rooftop tent because they are generally built to last and have safety measurements set in place.
Rooftop tents are an investment and essentially a travelling home.
The high end tents can start at $2000. Affordable tents are around the $1000-1500 price range.
How do Rooftop Tents Work and Mount?
They have a quick setup that allows you to enjoy your adventure without the need to worry about tangled poles or accidentally nailing your finger.
Watch this video to see how to install and the benefits of a rooftop tent:
The first part of the setup is a little bit more time consuming, but you’ll only have to do it once! The rest is a piece of cake.
The first step is to install the rooftop tent onto the roof rack of your car. This is so your rooftop tent is secured perfectly and safely.
The rooftop tent comes with the specific instructions on where to screw it in and how to put the parts together appropriately (every rooftop tent has different measurements and requires a certain roof rack as well).
Make sure to take the time to read and follow those instructions carefully.
You will most likely require a team of friends to help you finish this first part, since mounting it will be a risky maneuver on your own.
After that, it can be packed up and expanded very simply for easy and efficient travels.
How Much do Rooftop Tents Weigh?
Depending on the rooftop tent purchased, the weight will be different according to what parts came with the product.
Most rooftop tents weigh more than 100 pounds or around 45 kg.
Make sure to check the specific tent measurements, as well as vehicle and rack specs.
Ask the manufacturer or salesperson these sorts of questions so that your vehicle is compatible with the rooftop you are planning on purchasing. Especially if you want to buy online.
What is the Largest Rooftop Tent?
The largest rooftop tent measures 94.5” by 79” of which will accommodate for a group of four or more.
The name of this rooftop is “Elite” and is sold by Tuff Stuff® in their Overland rooftop tent series.
What Types of Rooftop Tents are There?
There are two types of rooftop tents available: hard-shell and soft-shell tents.
Depending on the tent it will be lighter or heavier and will provide different seasonality travel times — Either all year round or just meant for warmer weather.
What is the Cheapest Rooftop Tent?
The one rooftop tent that I keep seeing being bragged about online for affordability, quality, comfort, and size (fits four people comfortably) is the Smittybuilt Overlander XL.
It is one of the most affordable well packaged rooftops, however the models get sold out quickly. I mean, with a price like $1199, it is a reasonable grab.
What do Rooftops Tents include?
The coolest thing about these rooftop tents is that they include everything you need to begin camping.
For example, the Smittybuilt Overlander XL, comes with a 2.5” thick mattress, rainfly, travel cover, sliding aluminum ladder, interior LED, mosquito net, CE approved cig, lighter adapter, and a shoe bag.
Which to me is insane and an amazing starter pack for a spontaneous adventure that needs to happen.
Where to buy Rooftop Tents?
You can buy them online and in select camping/nature stores.
Adventure is Out There!
Overall, rooftop tents will make your camping travels feel ruggedly luxurious and allow you to easily prepare for more adventures with less hassle.
