If you are thinking of going camping, the very first image that pops up in your head is probably one of a tent built in the sky. Although camping tents are the traditional shelters for campers, there are newer, more advanced tents to enjoy on subsequent camping excursions. One of these is a rooftop tent.
A roof camping tent that is placed on top of your truck or SUV. It’s an essential camping equipment for the overland that is widely becoming popular among overlanders and campers- and with good reason! Below, we’ve provided the main reasons why a rooftop tent is a must-have tent of choice.
What Is A Rooftop Tent?
A rooftop tent is a tent erected on the roof of your overlanding or camping vehicle. Similar to traditional tents, it comes in various sizes, types as well as colors and designs.
The rooftop tent was designed to be a convenient camping solution. In contrast to a traditional tent, which needs poles and knots before they can be mounted in the dirt, roof tents can be easily set up to the top of your car to prepare an elevated sleeping area that you can share with your loved ones.
Rooftop tents are fantastic travel companions since they can be fixed to the top of the vehicle. This is the most crucial benefit.
What are rooftop tents made of?
Rooftop tents, like any other tents, are made with different materials to accommodate different camping needs. The materials your tent is made from will determine numerous aspects including the size of your tent, to its suitability for the season.
Some of the materials rooftop tents are constructed from. They are:
Cotton: Rooftop tents constructed from 100 percent cotton fabrics are usually flexible, abrasion-resistant and sturdy. They allow air to pass, making campers need extra insulation to withstand windy and cold days. The more cotton used, the greater the weight of the tent, as well as the less breathable. While cotton tents are durable but they can be difficult to dry after they get wet. They are able to absorb moisture and make them difficult to use in the rain. Overall, cotton rooftop tents are great for camping during the summer months.
Polyester: Polyester rooftop tents are a light, stretchy and naturally water-resistant. They’re tear-resistant, and dry quickly which makes them a good option for any season. While they’re great but polyester tents aren’t very breathable and are prone to abrasion easily.
Poly-Cotton: Poly-cotton rooftop tents are made with a mixture of cotton and polyester fibers. They share the characteristic features of both fibers, rapidly making them the best rooftop tent option that campers should consider purchasing. Poly-cotton fibers are breathable to some extent, resistant to abrasion, tear-resistant and lighter than cotton tents, and water-resistant.
Nylon: Nylon rooftop tents are a cheaper alternative to polyester and cotton rooftop tents. They are more durable external elements and resistant to fire and abrasion. Rooftop tents made of nylon are lightweight and flexible, which makes them simple to carry and set up. They are water-resistant, dry quickly after rainfall, and can be chemically treated to become UV-resistant.
Alongside the tent’s material, which is used to create the tent’s canvas and offers protection, rooftop tents feature other components like the frames, which give it structure and support the tent when it opens.
How are Rooftop Tents Mounted?
Rooftop tents are camping tents which sit on the roof of your camping van or truck. However, contrary the perception of many campers who aren’t familiar with tents for rooftops might think, rooftop tents do not place themselves directly on the roof of your vehicle as this could be dangerous. Instead rooftop tents are placed on your vehicle’s roof racks.
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Rooftop tents connect to the existing roof rack. However, in the absence of one, your roof tent could be mounted on crossbars purchased separately. Before you get into the process of buying and installing your rooftop tent, you must comply with specific guidelines to ensure your safety as well as the safety of your vehicle.
When purchasing a tent for your roof, you need to buy an item that your vehicle and its racks or crossbars can support. This means you have to know your vehicle’s weight limit, crossbar dimensions and weight limits, and the tent’s weight.
There are two kinds of tent weights: static and dynamic weights. The dynamic weight is the weight that your tent has supported by your vehicle when the vehicle is in motion and the tent isn’t being used. The dynamic weight affects and affects your vehicle mileage dag, mileage, and the fast you burn gas.
Static weight is, in contrast is the weight that is supported by your vehicle while your tent is raised and you’re inside it. The static weight will typically be heavier and is more evenly distributed that the weight of dynamic.
After you figure out the weight limit you need to meet, ensure you have the correct crossbar or roof rack. There are different types of roof racks and if you’re looking to purchase one on your own because you don’t own a vehicle rack, or if the one that’s on the roof of your vehicle is not the right size make sure the one you purchase is of the correct size.
It is important to place your rooftop racks at least 32 inches away from each other, unless specified otherwise in your rooftop tent manual. When you are installing your roof tent, ensure you are equipped with the appropriate materials and tools. Review the manual on your roof for directions and purchase the necessary tools to begin the mounting process.
To put up your rooftop tent:
Make sure that the tent’s parts are all present. From knots to bolts, and ladder brackets, ensure you have everything included in the guide.
Attach the mounting tracks to the roof of your vehicle
Secure and install the ladder
Attach the cover
Secure your tent to the roof in accordance with the manual instructs
And, voila! It’s a great tent to take on your next camping trip. The time that it takes to set up your tent is different. As long as you have the tools and help needed you will be able to mount and put up your tent on the roof within a couple of hours.
Types of Rooftop Tents
There are two primary kinds of rooftop tents, and there are two types: soft shell as well as the hard-shell rooftop tents. Hard and soft shell tents are excellent rooftop tent options with varying pros and cons. What features you’ll need in your tent, such as durability, space, price and the simplicity of putting it up, can help you decide which type of rooftop tent is best for you.
Soft Shell Roof Top Tents
Soft shell roof tents are lightweight and easy to transport. Even though they’re lightweight however, they can be surprisingly difficult to put up and take down as it is essential to ensure that every aspect of the tent firmly encased in the cover.
Softshell rooftop tents can be a great option if you are looking for a tent on the roof that provides more space for accommodation. They provide more room and more floor space that can be folded down and offer an option to attach to a separate annex for additional space.
Soft shell rooftop tents, however, are not the best aerodynamics choice. They cause drag, which can slow your vehicle when driving and cause you to burn more fuel.
Shell Rooftop Tents with Hard Shell Rooftop Tents
Hard roof top shell tents have a strong floor and ceiling structure which make them appear like boxes. They are a common choice among campers as they are more durable than soft shell tents and are more convenient to use. However, these tents cost more than soft-shell rooftop tents.
Hard shell rooftop tents tend to be built with an aerodynamic design. This means they create lower drag resistance, and do not impact your vehicle’s mileage in the same way as soft shell tents.
The rigid structure of this tent type is a limitation on the space that it can be used, but can be install in less than an hour. It is also simple to take down with no hassle, making it possible to fold them up and take them with you.
There are several styles of hard shell rooftop tents that determine features like the opening of your tent as well as the structure of your tent and its the height.
The benefits of Rooftop Tents
Rooftop tents are rapidly gaining recognition as campers come to recognize and appreciate the benefits of this essential camping gear. An easier option than conservation tents, the comfort and convenience that rooftop tents offer can’t be beat and are comparable to no other. The reasons you should consider rooftop tents during your next camping excursion include:
1. Installation Ease
When you’re using traditional camping tents, first you must locate a campsite for your tent to establish camp. After that, you’ll need to find flat ground and clear the area of stones and sticks before beginning the gruelling procedure of using poles and knots to put up your tent.
With rooftop tents, you do not have to stress about these procedures. Because the rooftop tents can be set up onto the rooftop of your vehicle the only thing you need to do is find a spot to park and take off the tent cover, take out the strings, set up the ladder, and unfold your tent. It is possible to set up your tent, and then be in bed in minutes.
Unlike a conventional tent that requires multiple trips to the car and back, some roof tents are able to hold mattresses, pillows, and blankets even if they’re collapsed. Even if you must join your annex for your set-up, the process is less time-consuming and easier than setting up a conventional tent. Making a rooftop tent is an effortless procedure that is worth it after a long day playing in the wilderness.
2. Ease of Transport
If you’re an inland camping enthusiast or someone who is constantly in motion and needs to move frequently, you’ll appreciate the ease of transport that tents on rooftops provide. With this option for tents you won’t be restricted by the terrain or location.
Rooftop tents are a great option for those who want to camp out for the night and carry on the journey later in the morning. It provides a quick setup and removal time, which allows easy movement to various places throughout the day. The process of putting up a tent on the ground with poles and knots before filling it with sleeping gear and then taking it down within a couple of hours is a great experience that you don’t need to suffer with rooftop tents.
Unconstrained camping trips are a great way to explore places that aren’t ideal for ground tents. If you’re in the forest, or on rough terrains, as long as you can locate a safe place to set up your tent, you’ll have shelter over your head.
3. Above-ground Shelter
Using a rooftop tent means you can sleep comfortably from a at an elevation above ground level. This gives you a restful evening’s rest free of bugs, mud, or wildlife.
When you sleep in tents made of ground, it causes you exposed to the bites or handsof crawling buds and insects. It also leaves you easily exposed to animals such as snakes, compromising your safety. If you sleep off the ground, you can take the strain off of this issue. Some rooftop tents come with mesh panels inside the windows to allow campers to enjoy an enjoyable night’s sleep without bugs.
Sleeping above ground level also allows you to keep dirt out of your bedroom to a large extent, particularly during rainy seasons. The ground tent is filled with water and mud and campers will be left with the mud inside and out of their tent. With a rooftop tent you will be in a safe, comfortable and free of mud during and after rain.
A tent that is roof-top is a more secure tent option that allows a camper to sleep above their vehicle and keep the truck locked.
4. Comfortable Sleeping Area
If you’ve ever rested on mats in an outdoor tent and you’ll agree that the feeling of rocks and pebbles hitting your back isn’t exactly one you enjoy on camping trips. Even if you spend a lot on a camping air mattress but the comfort can’t be as good as lying on memory foam on the roof of a tent.
A lot of rooftop tents have high-density memory foam mattresses to keep campers cozy and warm. They also have a durable flat floor, which is usually constructed from steel, fiberglass or any durable and strong material. This means you do not have to deal with discomfort caused by rocks or sticks.
5. Durability
Rooftop tents aren’t always light but they’re usually made of durable and strong materials that shield the tent from being damaged. In addition, they typically have solid fiberglass panels or durable aluminum frames which give the tent structure and hold it in its place.
With rooftop tents, especially ones constructed of highly robust materials, you do not have to be concerned about tears or abrasion. Unlike ground tents that usually feature canvas that flapping in rain or wind and sometimes being blown off by the campers, the rooftop tents will not be pulled off of their structures as some models offer minimal flapping in the wind.
Rooftop tents are large enough to support your problem. The canvas is more durable and offers security and safety that many ground tents don’t provide.
6. More Space
If you’re using tents on the roof, you can save space in your car by storing your sleeping equipment in your tent even when it’s closed. Since space is a major concern for camping and trips overland You will have more room in your car to put in the essential camping gear.
Unlike ground tents, rooftop tents do not need to be removed or stored inside your vehicle every day. Since they can stay mounted on your roof and safely set up in its cover, you can save even more space inside your vehicle without any issues.
Some tents, such as the hardshell tent, have space to store equipment on their hard surface. You can address a range of storage issues simply by purchasing rooftop tents.
7. The Customizable Space To Give You More Space
Rooftop tents are customizable to add more space by attaching awnings that are purchased separately, curtains and annexes.
Annexes are similarly sturdy camping equipment, which provides shelter for a comfortable separate space, changing room or kitchen setup. They come in different designs and colors and can be affixed to the roof of your tent.
Awnings can also offer additional shelter by casting a shade that lets campers make their make-shift outdoor patio. They can be equipped with curtains to create an area to sleep beneath your tent on the roof.
8. Luxury
Who said you need to buy an RV to take the luxury of camping? It is possible to enjoy the luxury of the wilderness without spending thousands of dollars on an RV simply by buying the right kind of roof tent. Rooftop tents are less expensive options that provide the same comfort and convenience.
While you will not have running water and the customized bathroom facilities that RVs have but you will still be able to enjoy electricity through solar panel fittings as well as the luxury and ease of movement that RV users enjoy. Additionally, you will save a lot of money!
9. Year-Round Use
All rooftop tents are made using durable materials, however certain models are constructed with high-end materials that can handle all types of weather. Being able to handle different weather conditions without problems can make them suitable for any season throughout the year.
The tents on the roof are equipped with thick fabrics, insulation mats that prevent condensation, and other essential features to keep campers comfortable all year. In this way, you will stay warm and dry in the winter and cool in summer.
Affiliating With The Best Benefits of Rooftop Tents
Rooftop tents are 10 steps ahead of traditional ground tents. They are sturdy, cost-effective and are designed to provide comfort and ease in the wilderness.
To fully enjoy the benefits of your roof tent and optimize its features, it is essential to ensure it’s the perfect fit for you and your vehicle. Research to find the most appropriate rooftop tent and enjoy a luxurious subsequent camping excursion.