For those that want to take their vehicle over-landing, camping in a roof top tent is a considerable advantage. These shelters are easy to set up and take down in a few minutes and they offer a high degree of comfort in all weather conditions. The elevated sleeping platform improves airflow and the ground conditions have no effect on sleeping. Another important aspect of roof tents is the elevated position that actually improves the view when you’re parked in a scenic spot. But, like any outdoor activity, there are tips and tricks that can improve the experience further.
Plan Ahead For Camping in a Roof Top Tent:
When you’re camping in a roof top tent during an over landing trip, you can avoid using organized camping grounds if you prefer. You can plan a trip around the things you want to experience and campground availability is a secondary consideration. Most National Parks have a surrounding forest where camping for free is an option.
But, you do need a level parking spot for your vehicle or you may roll out of bed during the night! So, you need to plan ahead for some level areas or take leveling blocks to level the vehicle for a night of worry free sleep.
Set Up Your Roof Top Tent Properly:
One of the most useful characteristics of a roof top tent is that it’s simple to put up and take down in just a few minutes. Before you start a trip, it’s a good idea to install the roof top tent on the roof rack and practice setting it up and taking it down again.
This will ensure that you fully understand how to use the latches and struts in a calm environment. This practice will also break in some of the stiffer moving parts and zippers which can make those first setups more difficult.
If there is strong wind, the vehicle should be parked into it to ensure that it’s hitting the most aerodynamic surface. This will also prevent lateral movement during the night when you’re trying to rest. Always look for a great view to take full advantage of the roof top tent windows because it can make waking from restful sleep into a magical experience.
Make The Most Of Your Space in the Rooftop Tent:
Many roof top tents come with a memory foam mattress as standard. Of course, you can choose to swap this out for a different sleeping mat if you prefer. This can add extra padding and support for a night of truly restful sleep outdoors. The additional layer of insulation will make the tent warmer, but adding an extra mattress can reduce the available tent space.
The best 4×4 sleeping mats have a PVC and high-density foam layer and extra insulation if they are inflated. When you’re done with it, you can pack it and roll it and place it back in the vehicle when you’re driving to your next camping spot.
Camping Tip: Before you choose an extra sleeping mat, check the roof top tent dimensions carefully to ensure that it will fit.
Keep Your Shoes In A Plastic Bag:
It’s a great idea to place your shoes in a plastic bag inside the roof top tent. This is equally true for wet items of clothing too and you may even want to hang them on the ladder under shelter.
Why? Well, you want to keep dirt and moisture out of the tent, and with fewer traditional tent amenities for storage some compromises need to be made. It’s also a good idea to keep a trash bag outside the tent to avoid creating a mess in your sleeping area.
Consider The Weather:
When the weather is warmer, it’s natural to unzip the tent to improve airflow, but this can make the tent more comfortable in winter too. These tents are usually made from thick canvas which is good for insulation, but condensation can form on the inside of the tent.
This is natural, when we breathe moist air comes into contact with a cool surface, and condensation forms.
A little condensation is tolerable, but if there is too much, it can drip and the inner surfaces of the tent will be wet. Ventilating the tent will give this warmer air a place to escape and make the inner and outer temperatures more equal.
To find the perfect balance of ventilation and warmth can be tricky, but some airflow is always good for sleep. The roof top tent will get wet and although it should be designed to handle wet packing it should be set up again and thoroughly dried at the first opportunity.
A wet tent can become moldy, the fabric will degrade and the lifespan will be much shorter than expected.
Be Mindful Of Weight Distribution:
When you’re camping on the ground in a traditional tent, there is no need to consider weight distribution. But, when you’re using a roof top tent it’s extremely important to remember that weight is distributed in two ways. It is evenly distributed across the crossbar length or it may be concentrated at a single point on the roof rack.
The exact method can vary depending on the specific design, but you need to be sure that the crossbars can handle the weight. Every crossbar must be evenly spaced apart to spread the weight across the entire length of the roof. If crossbars are unevenly spaced, there will be more strain at specific points that may be unable to handle that load.
The mounting points for the crossbars are usually the locations where the strongest roof points are located. At different distances, the installation may have an unknown weight capacity and this can even damage the vehicle roof.
Before you install a roof top tent, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s instructions for the roof rack to make sure it’s properly installed and that it can handle the load.
Camping in a Roof Top Tent- In Conclusion:
Camping in a roof top tent is one of the best experiences when you’re exploring the great outdoors. There are a number of inherent benefits for overland campers. But, the roof tent must be carefully researched and matched to the roll bars to avoid damage to the vehicle. If you choose the right roof top tent you can look forward to the best camping experience yet.
