Tuff Stuff Overland Rooftop Camping Tent With Annex Review

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Feature Pick


Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland Rooftop Tent With Annex Room

  • FOLDED CLOSED DIMENSIONS: 14″H X 96″LX 52″H
  • OPEN DIMENSIONS/OVERHANG: 56″W X 132″ L X 52″ H
  • MATTRESS SIZE: 56″ X 96″
  • MATTRESS THICKNESS: 2.75″

MATERIALS

  • DRIVING COVER: 1000D PVC (BLACK)
  • RAINFLY: 420D POLYESTER/ OXFORD WATERPROOFING

WEIGHT

  • WEIGHT ALLOWANCE: 685 POUNDS VARIABLE
  • WEIGHT INC ANNEX, POLES & LADDER: 132 POUNDS

ADDITIONAL INFO

  • NO OF WINDOWS: THREE
  • NUMBER OF PEOPLE: TWO TO THREE
  • EXTRAS AVAILABLE AN ANNEX IS INCLUDED PROVIDING A SMALLER EXTRA ‘ROOM’
  • OUR RATING: 4.5 STARS OUT OF FIVE
  • HOW MUCH: $1200+

SO WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

This is a good question, but to put it simply, in the view of Beach Baby, this is a tent for people who hate camping and tents. Perhaps it’s a bit nearer to having a caravan or motor camper without the hefty price tag.

Instead of having to set this up on dry (or not so dry) land, this affixes to the roof of your car or vehicle, making the surface flat and smooth and dry. It is also a dream to get out of its box and spring to life, as well as having a pretty quick turnaround time to pack it up again. Five minutes have been cited to get it into place – although we think this is probably when you have gotten the hang of it, and about twenty to fold back down again. This is pretty quick considering the sturdiness and quality of the item – it’s not some pop-up tent that will blow away with the next gust of wind.

This is a decent quality tent that won’t let you down, and can withstand a good old storm or two. You might even enjoy the storm / hurricane from inside this thing!

SOUNDS GOOD, TELL ME SOME MORE…

If you want to invest in something that can turn your car into a full-on luxury camping accommodation, without having to buy an expensive trailer, then this Tuff Stuff Overland Rooftop Camping Tent is for you.

tuff stuff roof top tent review

It is relatively cheap, and the plus points are that it is quick to get from ‘packed down to popped up’.

Unlike a lot of other tents, this is not a flimsy construction in the slightest. It is made from tough polyester with Oxford waterproofing and good sturdy zips. There are three windows which can be zipped down if you wish, to allow some daylight and air to circulate, or not, as you choose.

In terms of size, this will easily fit two adults and maybe one smaller person (a child) in the side annex, which comes free with this purchase, and is valued at around $200.

The Tuff Stuff Overland Rooftop Camping Tent with annex room comes with an included mattress, big enough for two adults of normal size, or maybe one adult and a couple of small kids. As mentioned, the annex (which is included with this tent) can fit a cot or other small bed.

Some people use it for dining; possibly you might use it as an area to use for changing, or a chemical toilet, where you might want more privacy.

rooftop tent tuff stuff

Because you’re not going to be camped a million miles from where your vehicle is parked, you can safely put things in your car as well, and utilize that space a bit more effectively than perhaps you might have done otherwise in a more ‘conventional’ tent.

Because this is actually attached to your car, there will be no cumbersome lugging it far from your vehicle to set up.

In short, it really is the tent for people that don’t like tents, particularly. Because it comes with a mattress, and you’re not sleeping on the hard floor, this is definitely an option for anyone requiring a bit more comfort than trying to bed down on the hard, bumpy ground.

tuff stuff

WHAT WILL I NEED FOR THIS?

You will need a roof rack capable of supporting about 500-600 pounds in weight.

DO I NEED A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CAR FOR THIS TO WORK?

No, there is no particular car type to make this work, just as long as you have the roof rack and can support the 600 pounds needed.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER?

Ideally, two people to affix this onto the roof of your car, unless you are some sort of Hercules.

LOOKS KIND OF TRICKY, WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED TO PUT IT TOGETHER?

None, they are all supplied. This is another good thing about the Tuff Stuff tent; you won’t suddenly find yourself miles from home, and suddenly requiring a thingamajig to screw some essential piece of the kit together – as long as you bring all the tools supplied in the kit with you.

Being the cautious type, Beach Baby would suggest you do a ‘dry run’ before you find yourself out in the wilds, but you would have done that anyway, right?

SO WHY SHOULD I BUY THE TUFF STUFF OVERLAND ROOFTOP CAMPING TENT WITH ANNEX ROOM?

rooftop tent reviews

In a word, money. Compared to some of the other, more well-known manufacturers, we can attest that this offers the same quality as the more famous brands. In short, it is highly recommended, and you cannot lose.

According to customers who own this, it is also interchangeable with the more expensive brands, so parts requiring replacing shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.

Rumour has it, according to several in the army of owners out there, that these might be made in the same place as the pricier versions!

However, other brands may well cost you quite a lot more.

SO WHAT DO OTHER CUSTOMERS THINK OF THIS THING?

Across the board (eg. the web), all the feedback left here has been either four or five stars. Whereas there is only (at the time of writing) a relatively small sample size if you see it on Amazon, this is still quite a good statistic.

It means that everyone is happy with this product, and as far as we know, there are no issues with this tent. This doesn’t happen often, in our experience!

About the author: Emilia is the fashion guru of Beach Baby, with a deep appreciation for anything that can be worn or adorned. She makes her own apparel as well, including everything from swimwear, to dresses, and even shoes.  She also owns over 100 pairs of sunglasses!  Emilia also loves to surf, boogie board, and partake in a number of water sports.