Camping is a great way to experience the great outdoors, unfortunately, there are some disadvantages to overcome when you’re stuck at ground level. But, what if there was some way to sleep off the cold ground to improve the entire experience? For people that take an SUV or car with them on camping trips, there is a solution. In this article, we will answer the commonly asked question, “what is a rooftop tent?”.
What is a Rooftop Tent?
The basic description of a rooftop tent would be that it’s a tent that’s assembled over a vehicle to sleep off the ground. There are various pros and cons to this type of tent design but it has become a popular option in recent years.
The first thing to comprehend when you’re trying to understand “what is a rooftop tent?” is that there are two basic types: soft shell and hard shell. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages to consider:
Soft Shell Roof Top Tent
These are made from canvas or nylon waterproof fabrics and they are designed to fold open to extend at the sides beyond the vehicle edge. They are fixed to a hinged platform and held up with poles. When a soft shell rooftop tent is set up it’s generally larger than the vehicle underneath.
They tend to have poor aerodynamic characteristics due to their larger size and they can cause significant drag when driving. On the plus side, soft shell tents tend to be more affordable and they offer a lot of extra camping living space for the money.
Hard Shell Roof Top Tent
These rooftop tents have a rigid ceiling and floor made from aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic and waterproof fabric walls. They pop out upwards to form a box shape or some models have a hinge at one end which forms a wedge shape. Hard shell tents tend to have gas struts to make setup faster and easier. These are more expensive than soft shell tents, but they have a more aerodynamic profile and improved durability.
How Do Rooftop Tents Work?
There are many designs, but the general functionality of rooftop tents is pretty similar. The rooftop tent is installed on the roof rack and secured with the supplied mounting hardware. When you reach your destination and park there are two basic tent configurations: pop-up and fold-out.
The pop-up option is more common in hard shell tents and all you need to do is unlatch the latches and the tent will do the rest. The fold-out option is more common with soft-shell tents and the process takes a little longer. Remove the travel cover, pull the ladder out, unfold the tent, and adjust the ladder.
With both options, the rooftop tent will be set up within 3-4 minutes which is significantly faster than most traditional tent designs. Most of this time will be spent adjusting the ladder for access and setting up rain fly rods on soft-shell tents.
There are Seven Main Rooftop Tent Advantages to Consider:
1. Improved Warmth in the Tent at Night
When you camp on the ground on a warm summer night, there are no real drawbacks. But, when the weather is colder the ground conditions will have a dramatic effect on the warmth of the tent. Because a rooftop tent is elevated off the ground, it is not subject to the same changes in ground temperature. The floor of the tent will not become colder at night and some models have an awning to protect the tent when rain sets in for the day.
2. Elevated Views: Looking out from Your Bed
Life really does look different when you’re living a few feet off the ground. This is especially true if you have a rooftop tent with multiple windows and you’re parked in an area of stunning natural beauty.
3. More Comfort
The best rooftop tents have a memory foam mattress that improves comfort for a night of deep rest. In most cases, there will be no need to leave the tent to access key gear that you have in the vehicle. There should be plenty of space for extra sleeping bags and bedding to stay warm and comfortable.
4. Enjoyable Winter Camping
Winter camping can be a lot of fun, but let’s face it, trying to set up a traditional tent on hard frozen ground and sleep in it can sap a lot of enthusiasm. The best way to experience winter camping on an over-landing trip is to use a tri-layer rooftop tent. With some comfy bedding and a heater, you can experience wonderful winter views in comfort.
5. Taking a Break
A rooftop tent can be used for more than sleeping comfortably and winter camping. It’s a great place to hang out on a hot day when you need some shelter from the sun and rain. So, if you want to take a nap or read a book until the rain stops or the temperature has dropped, this is a great option.
6. A Conversation Starter
If you set up a rooftop tent, you will garner a lot of interest and many people will want to talk to you. Over-landing and rooftop camping is still a relatively new activity and you’re likely to get plenty of questions. This is a great conversation starter and it can lead to new friendships on your next overlanding trip.
7. Spontaneity
One of the main drawbacks of traditional tent camping is the need to plan the itinerary carefully for each step of the trip. This isn’t necessary with overlanding because you’re not restricted to organized campgrounds to set up your tent. This can make a trip more spontaneous because you can organize around things you want to see and do and not the availability of campgrounds. Many National Parks have a National Forest area where people can camp for free.
What is a Rooftop Tent– In Conclusion
As you can see, the question “what is a rooftop tent?” is pretty easy to answer, but the applications for overlanding and relaxing are virtually limitless. This is a great option for families with young kids, couples, and solo travelers that want to take a vehicle with them. Regular trips outdoors are a great way to stay grounded and the extra comfort and convenience of a rooftop tent make this accessible for anyone with a suitable vehicle.
