If you are thinking of camping, the initial image that pops into your head is probably one of a camper’s Tent built in the sky. While camping Tents are traditional shelters for campers, there are more modern and sophisticated tents you can take advantage of on subsequent camping excursions. One of these is the roof tent.

A rooftop camping tent built on the roof of your truck or SUV. It’s an essential camping gear for overland travel that is gaining popularity for both campers and those who are overlanders- and with good reason! Below, we’ve given the main reasons why a rooftop tent is your ideal camping gear.

What is a Rooftop Tent?

A rooftop tent is a tent set to the ceiling of your camping or overlanding vehicle. As with conventional tents, it comes in various dimensions, styles of colors, designs, and styles.

Rooftop tents are designed to be a handy camping solution. Unlike a conventional tent that requires knots and poles before they are able to be set up in the dirt, roof tents can be easily mounted on the roof of your vehicle to prepare an elevated sleeping space in which you could sleep with your companion.

Rooftop tents make great travel companions since they can be connected directly to the roof of your car. This is probably the most significant benefit.

What are rooftop tents made of?

Rooftop tents, like any other tents, are made out of different materials, to satisfy various needs for camping. The materials your tent is made of determine a variety of features such as the weight of the tent to its appropriateness for the season.

Some fabrics rooftop tents are made from are:

Cotton: Rooftop tents constructed with 100 percent cotton fabrics are usually comfortable, abrasion resistant, and tough. They allow air to flow in, which is why campers need more insulation to keep them warm during cold and windy days. The more heavy the fabric used, the greater the weight of the tent, as well as the less breathable. Although tents made of cotton are sturdy but they aren’t always easy to dry after they get wet. They can absorb moisture quickly which makes them difficult to use in the rain. Overall, cotton rooftop tents are perfect for camping in the summer months.

Polyester: Polyester rooftop tents are lightweight, stretchy, and naturally waterproof. They’re tear-resistant and easily dry which makes them a good option for any season. While they’re fantastic tents, they’re not very breathable and are prone to abrasion easily.

Poly-Cotton: Poly-cotton rooftop tents are made with a mixture of polyester and cotton. This causes them to share the characteristic features of both fibers, quickly which makes them the top rooftop tent choice any camper could invest in. Poly-cotton fibers are breathable up to some extent, they are resistant to abrasions, tear-resistant as well as less heavy than cotton tents and water-resistant.

Nylon Rooftop tents made of Nylon are a less costly 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 light and pliable, making them easy to move and to erect. They are waterproof, dry quickly after rain, and are able to be chemically treated to make them UV-resistant.

Besides the tent material, which forms the tent canvas and protects the roof, rooftop tents have other components, such as the frames that give it structure and assist in supporting the tent when it opens up.

What is the best way to have Rooftop Tents Mounted?

Rooftop tents are the type of expedition camping tents that sit on the roof of your camper vehicle or van. Contrary to the misconceptions that many amateur campers unfamiliar with rooftop tents may be thinking rooftop tents don’t stand directly on top of your vehicle since they pose a danger. Instead the rooftop tents sit on the roof racks of your vehicle.

Rooftop tents are attached to your vehicle’s roof rack. However, in the absence of one, your rooftop tent may be mounted on separately-bought crossbars. But, before getting to the task of purchasing and putting up your roof tent, you must comply with specific guidelines to ensure your safety as well as the safety of your vehicle.

When buying a rooftop tent you must choose a tent that your vehicle and its racks and crossbars can handle. This means that you must know the weight of your vehicle, crossbar dimensions and weight limits as well as the weight of the tent.

There are two kinds of tent weights, which are dynamic and static weights. A dynamic weigh is the weight of the tent supported by your vehicle when the vehicle is in motion and the tent isn’t being used. The dynamic weight will determine the mileage of your vehicle, dag, and how your gas consumption is.

Static weight On the other hand, is the weight supported by your vehicle once your tent is up and you’re in it. The static weight is usually heavier and is more evenly distributed in comparison to the dynamic weight.

Once you’ve determined the appropriate weight limits ensure that you have the correct roof rack or crossbar. There are various types of roof racks, and if you are buying one separately since you don’t have a vehicle rack, or the one on the roof of your vehicle isn’t what you want then you must ensure that the one you buy is the right size.

It is important to place your roof racks at the least 32 inches from each other, except as stated elsewhere in your rooftop tent’s manual. For the installation of your rooftop tent, ensure you have the right materials and tools. Check your roof manual for directions and purchase the tools required to begin the process of mounting.

To put up your rooftop tent:

Verify that the tent’s components are all present. From knots to bolts ladder brackets, be sure to have all the items listed in the manual present.
Attach the tracks to mount the roof of your car
Install and secure the ladder
Attach the cover
Make sure you secure your tent to the roof according to the instruction manual suggests.

And, voila! You have a fully-equipped tent to use for any future camping trips. The amount of time you’ll need to spend putting up your tent is different. As long as you have the proper equipment and assistance it is possible to set up and set up your rooftop tent in an hour or two.

Types of Rooftop Tents

There are two primary types of rooftop tents and these are the soft shell as well as hard shell rooftop tents. Hard and soft shell tents are excellent rooftop tent options, with various advantages and disadvantages. What features you’ll need in your tent, such as durability, space, price and the easy set-up will assist you in determining what kind of rooftop tent is best for you.

Tents with Soft Shell roofs

Soft shell roof tents are light and simple to carry. Even though they’re lightweight but they are quite difficult to put up and then deflate since you need to make sure that each corner of the shelter is securely tucked to the cover.

Softshell rooftop tents can be an excellent alternative if you’re looking for a roof tent with more space for sleeping. They are larger and have larger floor space that is foldable, and they also offer the possibility of an attachment to an annex that is purchased separately for additional space.

Soft shell roof tents however, are not an excellent aerodynamics option. They create drag, which can slow your vehicle when driving and make you use more fuel.

Hard Shell Rooftop Tents

Hard shell roof top tents feature a rigid floor and ceiling structure which make them appear like boxes. They are the most popular choice for campers because they are more durable over soft shell tents, and are simpler to set up. But, they are more expensive than soft-shell roof tents.

The rooftop tents that are made from hard shells tend to be constructed with an aerodynamic style. This means they create lower drag resistance, and do not affect your vehicle mileage as much as soft shell tents.

The rigid structure of this type of tent is a limitation on the space that it can be used, but makes it simpler to install in less than an hour. They’re also easy to take down with no hassle making it easier to pack up and go.

There are various styles of roof tents made of hard shells that decide features like the opening of your tent, the structure of your tent and its height.

The benefits of Rooftop Tents

Rooftop tents are rapidly increasing in popularity as more campers come to notice and understand the benefits of this essential camping gear. More convenient than traditional tents for conservation, the comfort and comfort that rooftop tents offer is unmatched and could be as good as none. Some reasons you should adopt rooftop tents during your next camping adventure include:

1. Ease Of Set Up

If you are using conventional camping tents, you’ll must locate a tent site where you can set up camp. In the next step, you’ll need find a flat surface and clean it of any stones or sticks before beginning the gruelling process of using poles and knots to set up your tent.

With roof tents are not required to worry about these grueling procedures. Since rooftop tents are mounted to the top of your car the only thing you need to do is find a spot to park and take off the tent cover and away the straps set up the ladder and unfold your tent. You can put up your tent and then go to bed in minutes.

As opposed to a traditional tent that will require multiple trips to get your car there and to return, some rooftop tents can be used to store mattresses blankets, pillows, and mattress even if they’re collapsed. If you have to connect your annex to complete the set-up, it is simpler and more efficient as compared to setting up a conventional tent. Making a rooftop tent is an easy process that is rewarding after a full day of having fun in the wild.

2. Ease of Transport

If you are an overland camper, or a camper who is always in motion and needs to move frequently, you’ll enjoy the ease of transport that tents on rooftops provide. With this tent option, you can no longer be confined by the geography or the place of residence.

Rooftop tents are a great alternative if you wish to camp out to sleep in and then carry on the journey in the morning. It is easy to set up and removal time, which allows quick movements to different locations each day. Making a tent for the ground with knots and poles, then filling it up with your sleeping equipment only to tear it down within a couple of hours is an experience that you should not endure when you are using tents on rooftops.

Explore camping in unconstrained destinations that aren’t suitable for tents on the ground. If you’re in the forest, or on rocky terrains, in the event that you locate a safe place to put your stuff, you’ll have a shelter for your head.

3. Above-ground Shelter

A rooftop tent is sleeping comfortably at a vantage high above the ground. This ensures a peaceful evening’s rest free of bugs, mud and wildlife.

The ground tents you sleep in leave you exposed to the bites or handsof the buds and insects. Also, it makes you accessible to animals like snakes that could compromise your safety. A night of camping off the ground can help take care of this little problem. Certain rooftop tents also have mesh panels in the window so that campers can enjoy the peace of a bug-free sleep.

Sleeping above ground level also lets dirt out of your bedroom in a significant way, particularly in the event of rain. The ground tent is filled with water and mud and campers will be left with the mud into and out their tent. By using a roof tent, you can remain snug, secure, and dry after rain.

A roof tent is a more secure tent that lets the camper to stay above their vehicle while keeping the truck secure.

4. Relaxed Sleeping Area

If you’ve ever laid on the floor of an outdoor tent, you will agree that the sensation of rock and pebbles poking your back isn’t exactly one you’d like to feel on a camping trip. Although you can spend the money on an air mattress for camping however, its comfort cannot be as good as resting on memory foam in a roof tent.

Many rooftop tents come with high-density memory foam beds to keep campers comfortable and warm. They also come with a strong flat floor that is generally constructed from steel, fiberglass or any other sturdy and durable material. This means that you don’t need to contend with pain from rocks or sticks.

5. Durability

Rooftop tents can be light however they are usually constructed from durable and sturdy materials that protect the tent from damage. Additionally, they usually have solid fiberglass panels or robust aluminum frames which give the tent structure and keep it in the right position.

With roof tents, specifically constructed from robust materials, you do not need to worry about abrasion or tears. Contrary to ground tents, which typically have their canvas flapping in wind or rain and even occasionally, they are blown away by the campers, rooftop tents cannot be torn off from their structures, and several designs offer minimal flapping in the wind.

Rooftop tents are strong enough to support the weight of your challenge. The canvas is more durable and provides security and safety that most ground tents cannot offer.

6. More Space

If you use tents that are roof-top, you can save space in your vehicle by storing the sleeping gear inside your tent, even when it is closed. Since space is often a concern when you go on trips to the camping or overland there is more room in your car to carry the camping equipment you need.

As opposed to tents for ground, rooftop tents do not need to be dismantled or kept in your vehicle every morning. Since they can stay mounted on your roof, and then placed in its cover, you can save additional space in your car without any issues.

Some tents, particularly hard shell tents, provide places to store your gear on their hard surface. You can resolve a number of storage problems by simply investing in roof tents.

7. The Customizable Space To Give You More Space

Rooftop tents can be adapted to make more space by attaching awnings that are purchased separately, curtains and annexes.

Annexes are also durable camping equipment that can provide additional shelter for your private area, changing room or kitchen setup. They are available in various styles as well as colors and can attach to your rooftop tent.

Awnings also provide extra shelter by casting a shade that lets campers make their make-shift outdoor patio. They can be outfitted with roof tent annexes that provide a sleeping area below the tent’s roof.

8. Luxury

Who says you have to purchase an RV to experience a luxury camping trip? You can experience luxury in the wilderness without spending thousands of dollars on an RV simply by buying the right kind of roof tent. Rooftop tents are a less expensive option that offer equally great luxury and comfort.

While, of course, you won’t enjoy running water or the custom bathroom facilities that RVs have, you will still enjoy electricity via solar panel fittings as well as the luxury and ease of movement that RV users enjoy. Additionally, you will save a significant amount of money!

9. Year-Round Use

The majority of rooftop tents are constructed using durable materials, however certain models are constructed with high-end materials that can stand up to every kind of weather. The ability to handle various conditions with ease allows them to be used year-round.

These rooftop tents are fitted with thick fabric, insulation, anti-condensation mats, and other essential features to ensure that campers are comfortable throughout the season. So, you’ll be able to remain dry and warm during the winter, and cool in summer.

Profiting from the Unbeatable Benefits of Rooftop Tents

Rooftop tents are ten rungs above conventional ground tents. They’re durable, inexpensive, and designed to offer comfort and convenience in the wilderness.

To enjoy the full benefits of your rooftop tent and make the most of its features It is vital to ensure that it is the perfect fit for you and your vehicle. Make sure you research the most appropriate rooftop tent and enjoy a luxurious camping excursion.

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