Rooftop tent camping: A beginner’s guide to gear, installation, and more

Rooftop tent camping: A beginner’s guide to gear, installation, and more

From roof racks to tent installation, setup, and storage, here are a few things I learned while getting started in the adventurous world of rooftop tent camping.

Vehicle compatibility

Much to my surprise, rooftop tents can fit a wide variety of vehicles, even sedans and other smaller cars. But just because a tent will fit on your car, doesn’t mean it’s ideal for every vehicle. Having a tent on top of your roof can create significant wind resistance, subsequently affecting steering capabilities and lowering your fuel economy. You also have to ensure that your roof is equipped to support the added weight of both your tent and those camping inside of it. 

Check your vehicle’s owner manual for the roof rack’s load capacity information, and when in doubt, reach out to tent manufacturers to inquire about compatibility. Companies like Roofnest, Thule, Front Runner Outfitters, and iKamper (to name a few) are extremely knowledgeable and always willing to offer advice. I relied heavily on product experts at both Thule and Roofnest to ensure my vehicle was equipped and capable of handling my camping gear before making my purchase.

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Roof rack system

On top of your vehicle needing to be compatible with your tent kit, your roof rack system needs to check out too. Owning a Toyota 4Runner with OEM raised rails, I just assumed I could throw this tent on top of my roof, lock it down, and call it a day. I soon learned that not only was I wrong about this assumption—this impending purchasing decision would prove to be more stressful than buying the tent itself. As it turns out, most OEM roof rack kits aren’t designed to handle the weight of a rooftop tent. This is especially true for heavier tents, like my 160-pound Condor XL. 

Most likely, you’ll need to upgrade your roof racks to safely accommodate the added weight on your vehicle. While I opted for Thule’s Raised Rail Evo kit and SquareBar Evo crossbars, there are numerous systems out there that will meet your vehicle and tent needs, outside of a simple crossbar upgrade. Many of the online forums I referenced for advice urged me to purchase a more sophisticated rack, like the Front Runner Slimline II. However, this type of system is significantly pricier than a crossbar kit, and unfortunately not in my budget. But for campers who plan to keep their tents mounted and in use throughout the year, a low-profile, steel roofing system can be worth the investment—especially if your travels tend to be off-road, as these racks are designed to withstand the wear and tear of adventure. 

My Thule Evo raised rail roof rack kit and SquareBar Evo crossbars. | Photo: Samantha Lechlitner-Lewis

At the end of the day, you’ll at least need crossbars that can take on the weight of your tent. If you’re like me, that means purchasing additional load carrier feet for your crossbars, to attach to your vehicle’s original raised rails. Whether you’re mounting your tent on your vehicle, truck bed, or travel trailer, having the right rack system designed for the right amount of support is crucial to protecting your vehicle, tent, and other surfaces from damage. 

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Installation

What started out as a task I was confident my dad and I could handle, turned into a four-person endeavor that called for additional assistance from my father-in-law and brother-in-law. Between the height of my 4Runner and the weight of the Roofnest tent, my dad and I quickly realized we were going to need more muscle when it came to lifting the tent onto my roof racks. Fortunately, Roofnest provides detailed installation instructions on its website, making this project fairly easy, after everything was said and done. 

My family lent a helping hand during the installation process. | Photo: Samantha Lechlitner-Lewis

Keep in mind that most rooftop tent installs will require two or more people if you’re planning on lifting your tent manually. With a quick online search, you’ll find that rooftop tent owners have concocted all types of ways to help streamline the installation process. The most common being the use of a pulley or hoist system, like those you’d use to lift off a Jeep top or roof cargo carrier. If you want to go this route, just make sure you buy (or build) a system that can sufficiently hold the weight of your tent. While these systems alleviate the need to lift, you can easily damage your tent or vehicle if your hoist isn’t designed properly for your load capacity.

During installation, you’ll also want to consider what type of security system (if any) you want for your tent. Since my vehicle will be parked in my driveway during camping season, I bought Thule locking straps to keep my tent securely locked to my roof. There are also various types of locking bolts, mounts, and keyed systems that might need to be integrated during the initial installation process. Many of these security accessories will depend on the type of tent you have, so check for compatibility before you purchase. I chose straps so I can lock up other pieces of camping gear while I’m at my campsite and my tent is being used. 

Tent setup

Once your tent is fully installed and secured to your roof, practice setting it up before taking off on your maiden voyage. This way, you can see what adjustments will need to be made or what additional gear you’ll need before arriving at the campground. Plus, this will help you familiarize yourself with your new equipment for smooth operation. Even though Roofnest’s setup instructions were clear and easy to follow, I found that I would either need to grow a few inches or purchase a step of sorts to open and close my tent. I bought a car door step that installs inside my door frame. This allows me to reach the top of my tent without hauling around a step ladder or other bulky gear. 

This door step attachment makes it easy to reach the top of my vehicle’s roof. | Photo: Samantha Lechlitner-Lewis

It’s adjustments like this that you’ll want to try and square away early on, so you know you and your camping companions can easily unfold and store your tent while in the great outdoors. While most rooftop tents have straightforward setups, requiring little to no strenuous effort, you don’t want to be caught off guard on your first trip. 

Storage

If your tent isn’t going to be a permanent staple on your vehicle, you’ll need to have a plan for uninstalling and storing your gear during the off-season or in between trips (if you feel like removing it that frequently). Some hoist systems will allow you to store your tent suspended inside your garage or other storage facility. But again, make sure your hoist is designed for holding that type of load, especially for extended periods of time. While most people opt to store their tents inside garages, sheds, or basements, there are a few things to keep in mind before simply setting it on the floor and leaving it.

Lay the tent on top of some type of platform (wood, foam, etc.) instead of storing it directly on the floor.

Use a large mattress bag or some other covering to protect it from dirt, dust, and other debris in your storage area.

If you don’t have room to store your tent flat, you can tilt it on its side. Just be sure to use a platform for padding for this type of storage. 

Keep it away from heat sources that could be damaging to your tent’s outer shell.

Try to avoid heavily-trafficked areas of your storage room to reduce the chances of the tent being damaged.

While uninstalling and storing your tent can be a hassle, proper storage will help increase the longevity of your gear. Since these camping kits aren’t cheap, it’s worth the extra time to give it a break from the elements. 

Additional beginner tips

Diving head first into rooftop tent camping, I learned a few valuable lessons first-hand. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when it comes to rooftop tent camping.

Measure your garage entrance. The inside of my garage has exceptionally high ceilings, so I’d assumed I’d be able to drive my 4Runner inside with my tent installed. However, before we started the install process, we realized that the actual frame of my garage door wasn’t going to provide enough clearance. Thankfully we noticed this before installing the tent inside the garage. If you’re wanting to keep your vehicle stored inside, make sure you account for your tent height and the additional roof rack height before assuming everything will fit. I bought a Roofnest cover to help protect my tent since it will be spending more time than expected out in the elements. 

Upfront investment. While I knew buying a rooftop tent wasn’t going to be cheap, I wasn’t planning to spend quite as much on other gear needed to get me going. Make sure to budget for things like roof racks, steps (if needed), security accessories, protective covers, and more. While the roof racks were the most essential items purchased for my tent, the other gear will undoubtedly give me peace of mind and make my camping experience smoother. 

Cargo storage. Roofnest and other manufacturers design tents with cargo racks on top of the tent’s shell. And while this was an option for me, I chose the Condor XL due to its larger sleeping capacity. My tradeoff for this tent was sacrificing cargo space—meaning I can’t haul my kayaks and other gear up top. If you plan on bringing along any type of equipment usually stored on your roof, be sure to shop for tents that come with roof racks or have that option.

While it’s easy to get our dog inside the tent, the exit process is a struggle. | Photo: Samantha Lechlitner-Lewis

Pet solutions. If you’re like me and plan on bringing your four-legged friend with you, consider coming up with a plan to get them up and down your tent ladder. My 50-pound pup isn’t the easiest to pick up and simply set inside the tent. With a little guidance, I can help him get up the steps, but going down is an adventure on its own. I’ve seen plenty of DIY ramps online that rooftop tent owners have built to help their dogs. There are even products that fit over your ladder to give them a stable space for going up and down. While some of these products are a little pricey and will take up storage space, if you have a bigger pup, the investment might be worth it in the end.

Is rooftop tent camping right for you?

I was confident rooftop tent camping was my next outdoor adventure, and I stand by that decision. It’s less of an investment and commitment than RV ownership, and it’s easier to set up camp than a traditional tent—once the initial installation has been completed. If you’re on the fence about investing in a rooftop tent kit, consider renting one to test before you buy. 

Here are a few ways you can rent rooftop camping equipment:

Roofnest partners with several rental companies across the U.S. to let campers test out their tents before buying. 

Rove is a rental service where you can test out small travel trailers and rooftop tents, depending on the type of adventure you’re looking for. This company has locations in North Carolina and Oregon. 

Outdoor Gear 2 Go lets you rent Thule Tepui rooftop tents with an optional annex room attached.  

Escape Campervans allows you to rent a Jeep with a rooftop tent already installed at select locations across the U.S. This makes it easy to test a tent out, without worrying about installing it on your personal vehicle. 

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The Ultimate Guide to Roof Top Tents For Families

After countless hours of research, owning three different rooftop tents from three different companies, spending some 60+ nights camping in our rooftop tents as a family and answering hundreds of questions about them at campgrounds and on social media, I have compiled all our information and experience into this blog post! This is the complete guide to finding the right rooftop tent for your family where we answer all the questions you might have about rooftop tents. If it is possible to still have questions after you read this article, please leave them in the comments so we can both answer them and add that information into the post.

Every time we stay at a campground, I end up with an audience as I open up or pack away our rooftop tent. If you are one of those people who has thinking about getting one for your family, keep reading! This guide will go over all the ins and outs of rooftop tent camping along with everything you need to think about when selecting the perfect rooftop tent for your family and adventure style. Let’s start at the beginning!

This post contains some affiliate links. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. We have not received any products in exchange for our coverage and all thoughts are our own.

Table of Contents

What is a rooftop tent?

A rooftop tent is a tent that attaches to your roof rack on top of your vehicle. It can look like a storage pod that is flatter and covers the entire roof. It folds open to reveal a tent with a sturdy bottom and canvas-like dome. It has windows or vents to help control air flow and temperature and long stakes to help prop open the door and windows. They have a rain fly for added protection that can be removed and reinstalled as needed or stay on the tent when you pack it up.

Rooftop tents have a collapsible ladder so you can climb in and out of the tent. The ladder helps support the tent floor that hangs over the car. It is adjustable and most ladders open to 7 feet so it will serve the same function if your tent is on a smaller wagon or a lifted truck. Double check that your ladder is locked open before climbing into your tent.

Rooftop tents have a mattress inside that stays put as you fold away the tent. They can be set up and stashed away quickly and make a camping or off-roading adventure convenient and comfortable. They range in size, style, durability and price

All rooftop tents will have a 2-3 inch foam mattress pad, some with a durable removable waterproof covering, that will stay in your tent all the time. The rest of your bedding choices are a personal preference. Inflatable pillows take up less space in your car but take time to set up. We prefer to camp with our comfy pillows from home and simply wash them when we return from a trip. If you are looking for a way to keep your pillows out of the way in the car, check out this handy cargo net that attaches to the handles to create extra overhead storage in your car.

Sleeping bags are an easy way to keep everyone warm and cozy and make sure there are enough blankets to go around. Because my kids are still very little we use one or two sleeping bags opened like a quilt over us but will likely switch to personal sleeping bags as they get bigger. We love blankets like this Rumple that are water resistant, warm and stash away small but you can set up your tent bedding any way that works for you!

When you fold away your tent as you pack up camp, you pull out your pillows and blankets but leave the mattress in the tent. There might be enough space in your tent to leave your blanket or open sleeping bag/quilt flattened out over the mattress when you fold up the tent but make sure the tent closes completely and is properly latched shut before driving away.

Rooftop Tent vs Ground Tent

What are the advantages of a rooftop tent over a ground tent?

Comfort: You have every right to be worried that a rooftop tent will ruin sleeping in a ground tent for you because it just might. A rooftop tent mattress might be as close as you can get to a real bed while car camping. Because the tent is elevated on a solid platform, you don’t have to worry about clearing all the rocks from your tent site to find the best possible tent position for comfort. That random root under your back that you didn’t notice when you pitched the tent won’t bother you when you are sleeping on a memory foam mattress on top of a steel plated base.

Set Up Ease: Rooftop tents are designed to set up quickly. Once you find camp, you can release a few straps or unzip the cover and pop the tent open with ease. No more unfolding multiple tent poles and figuring out which one is only slightly shorter and goes in front. No struggling to roll up your tent and rainfly to get it back in the stuff sack that never seems to fold back the same way it came out. As someone who has regularly set up ground tents and rooftop tents while camping alone with two small kids, I can confirm how much quicker and easier it is to set up and break down our Roofnest compared to our ground tents.

Protection from the elements: Rooftop tents use a heavier materials than ground tents. The floor of a rooftop tent isn’t just one sheet of plastic, it is reinforced steel and you are feet off the ground so there is no risk of waking up to find water rushing into your tent because you didn’t realize you were sleeping directly in the path of rushing water. You can ask my kids about that time I woke them up in the middle of the night to sleep inside the car because there was a puddle in our tent another time. Rooftop tents offer more protection from rain and wind than ground tents. We have slept in our RTT on some insanely windy nights in the open desert of New Mexico and the plains of Oklahoma. While the noise of the tent rustling kept me awake at night the tent held up great and the poles never moved. If I know there is severe weather, I will not prop our windows or door open and make sure all the flaps are secured before going to sleep.

Sleeping well off the ground means that critters aren’t getting in your tent. You should still practice leave no trace principals and pack out all your trash. Avoid eating in your tent to make sure there is no incentive for critters large or small to try breaking in.

Durability: The durability of the solid frame and thick canvas like walls means that your children are less likely to destroy the tent when they are wrestling, I mean getting ready for bed. We have had our fair share of collapsed ground tents as little bodies run into them full speed but haven’t had that issue with our rooftop tent yet (knock on wood).

Space: The rooftop tent frees up precious trunk space you can now use to pack some of the more luxurious car camping items. Set up time. Most rooftop tents can be set up by one person in a few minute and some boast a 1-minute set up time. No more futzing around with collapsible tent poles like that infomercial lady who drops her spaghetti in the sink.

What are the disadvantages of a rooftop tent compared to a ground tent?

Price: There is no way around it. Rooftop tents are more expensive than ground tents. I find it easier to swallow the cost of a rooftop tent if you compare it to the nightly rate of a cabin or hotel across however many nights you plan on camping in the rooftop tent for the next few years instead of comparing it to the one time cost of the ground tent. You can find decent deals on roof top tents on Facebook marketplace. Many people think that the comfort of a rooftop tent will turn them (or their spouse) into a camper and decide to sell after only a few uses. If you have the patience to wait for the right tent to pop up or no preference on which tent you purchase, shop used first.

Roof Space: While you are freeing up precious space inside your car by moving the tent to the roof, you are losing your roof rack space. This is a big adjustment for those who are used to storing excess gear in a storage pod or attaching bikes or kayaks to your roof rack. Some tents have capacity to add crossbars on top of the tent to alleviate extra hauling concerns. We talk about it more in the accessories section.

Initial Attachment: The first time you install the rooftop tent to the car is a pain. It takes two people to lift the tent onto you vehicle and it takes some effort to get all the brackets in the right place and screwed down. Once you do it, you’ll get the hang of it and you won’t need to move it frequently. Depending on where you live you might keep it on your car year round. We live in New England and take the tent off of my car for the Winter from November until the spring or our first planned camping trip of the year.

Impact on gas milage: You are going to lose some efficiency on your gas milage. The heavier the tent, the greater the impact on your gas mileage. The negative impact on your gas milage is exacerbated the faster you drive so keep that in mind if you have a heavy foot.

Climbing the ladder: I don’t personally think climbing the ladder in and out of the tent is enough to negatively impact our enjoyment of the tent. It might be for those campers who take frequent bathroom trips or if your child needs assistance going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

It Complicates Quick Trips: Because it is attached to your car, you can’t just leave your set up at camp for a day trip and come back at dinner time without having to pack up and unpack the tent. Each time you need to drive away from camp, you have to pack up the rooftop tent. This can be a real pain depending on your camping style. If you like to camp in one place for multiple days and drive to hikes or activities beyond camp, setting up and breaking down your tent everyday can get tiresome.

Rooftop Tent vs Trailer

What are the advantages of a rooftop tent compared with a trailer?

Price: A rooftop tent can seem wildly pricey when compared to a ground tent, but compare it to a tow behind trailer and all of a sudden the cost starts to look pretty reasonable.

Weight: Have you looked at how much travel trailers weigh? Towing a trailer requires a bigger car or truck and can seriously impact your gas milage. Sure there are some lightweight compact trailers on the market around 2500 pounds (before you put all your possessions and water in there) that can be towed with a premium engine Subaru Outback but you could buy 5+ rooftop tents for the same money. The lighter the trailer, the more expensive they get.

Driving Ease: Driving with a tow behind trailer is challenging. People do it all the time, but it takes practice, skill and lots of spacial reasoning to get in and out of parking spots. The only time you might need to worry about your rooftop tent is when you are pulling through a garage or low overhang, but you would also need to worry about your trailer in the same situations. Make sure to measure the new hight of your vehicle with the rooftop tent before you enter any parking garages with low ceilings just in case.

Small Camp Footprint: You can set up camp in just about any space you can fit your car. If you have a pop up tent, you only need a little extra room for the ladder. If you have a fold out tent, you will need a few feet of space to one side for the tent to open up, then another foot for the ladder.

Set Up Time: Getting a trailer fully set up at camp can be a chore. Getting all the feet level, detaching it from the vehicle, reestablishing all the inside items that were stowed away during driving takes far more time than popping open a rooftop tent. Aren’t we camping to get away from things like chores?

Durability: Thinking of buying a used trailer to save on price? They can easily have hidden water and mold damage so inspect your used model very carefully. They are prone to deteriorating. One of the reasons they are as light as they are (you are basically towing a small house) is that they are made with lightweight (read: cheap) materials that can suffer from the wear and tear of even occasional family camping trips. I purchased our first rooftop tent used off Facebook marketplace. Another family used it for a few years, camping every chance they could get and it still felt brand new.

What are the disadvantages of a rooftop tent compared with a trailer?

Living Space: Sure, you can change your clothes in your rooftop tent or play a card game but it can start to feel cramped if you are stuck at camp on a rainy day or seeking safety from swarms of mosquitos. Adding an annex or separate screen room pop up shelter like this one to your camp set up can help create a protected hang out space that you are missing with a rooftop tent but it doesn’t have the same indoor space that you get with a trailer.

Kitchen and Bathroom: While you get the comfort of a real bed with a rooftop tent, you are missing the kitchen and bathroom amenities that you get with a trailer. We have a pretty solid simple camp kitchen set up that has served us well. A full blog post about it is coming soon but in the meantime you can check out our camp kitchen in this video. If you need a camp bathroom experience that more closely mimics a trailer or established campground than a squat in the woods, consider picking up one of these pop up privacy tents to and a collapsible toilet that can be used with a trowel cat hole or double doggie bags. You can also go for a portable toilet but be prepared to dump it when it gets full.

You Can Leave Trailers Set Up At Camp: You don’t need to pack up your trailer every time you want to go for a quick drive. This is especially helpful is you are boondocking at a dispersed campsite (camping off grid outside of an established campground) where you don’t want to lose your spot if you leave.

Types of Rooftop Tents

Soft Shell Rooftop Tent

Soft shell tents have a, you guessed it, soft shell covering the inside of the tent. The cover materials are heavy duty that protect your tent from the elements while it is closed. Some covers separate entirely from the tent as you open them up, like the Smittybilt. Some covers separate from the tent on 3 sides but stay attached to the tent frame and you can roll then up with straps to stay out of the way at camp, like the Yakima Skyrise 3. Some covers secure to the tent frame with heavy duty velcro and some with zippers.

Personally I found the detachable cover annoying. While it was easier to get back on over the tent because it was bigger and has wiggle room, you have to find a secure place stash the cover if there is wind or rain. Our cover got covered in dead bugs as we drove then hung out in the car overnight, which is less than ideal.

Hard Shell Rooftop Tents

Hard shell roof top tents have hydraulic arms that help the tent open with ease. Hardshell tents tend to have a handful of latches to snap open instead of zippers or velcro around the entirety of the tent. There are fewer pieces to mess with to get your tent open or closed to that can be difficult to secure with cold hands on brisk morning packing up camp. They take a fraction of time to set up and pack away. If you are traveling with out kids, the difference between 2 minutes and 5 minutes might not seem like a lot but you parents know a 5 minute task can actually take 20 minutes if you answer all the “mommy, I need a snack” calls.

Hard shell tents tend to be much heavier because of the . . . hard shell, surprise surprise. The heavier the tent, the more it will impact your gas milage which can add up on a long road trip.

Evaluating Your Roof Rack

Before you buy your rooftop tent, make sure you vehicle can handle the tent weight. You don’t want to get attached to one specific tent or even buy one only to find out that you can’t attach it to your car safely.

Does your car already have a roof rack? Some vehicles have a full roof rack integrated into the car already. If so, that’s great! Some vehicles might only have roof rails that run north south along the length of your car right above the door frames