Rooftop Tent Buyer’s Guide: 5 Simple Steps
Step 1: Determine Your Adventure Style
Decide how and where you plan to camp. Are you overlanding off-grid, doing weekend trips, or car camping at established sites? Your travel style helps narrow down what type of tent fits your needs.
Step 2: Choose the Right Tent Type
Compare soft shell and hard shell tents. Soft shells offer more room and comfort, while hard shells are faster, sleeker, and ideal for quick getaways.
Step 3: Check Vehicle Compatibility
Ensure your roof rack can handle the dynamic and static weight of the tent. Verify mounting options and fitment for your vehicle’s roof size.
Step 4: Consider Key Features & Accessories
Look at details like mattress thickness, setup time, weatherproofing, and extras like annex rooms or awnings to customize your setup.
Step 5: Sleeping Count
Check out the different options available for solo camping, couples camping, or family camping!
Find the Right Roof Top Tent
Answer four quick steps and we'll recommend the best tents for your vehicle and camping style. (Placeholders for images, links, and pricing included.)
Step 1 — Determine Your Adventure Style
Step 2 — Choose Your Tent Type
Step 3 — Vehicle
Step 4 — Key Features (Up to 3)
Step 5 - Sleep Count
Tip: choose up to 3 features. Results update based on all selections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a rooftop tent fit on my vehicle?
Most rooftop tents can fit on any vehicle that has a strong, compatible roof rack system. The key is to check your vehicle’s roof load capacity (both static and dynamic) and make sure your rack system supports the tent’s weight. Always verify mounting requirements with the tent manufacturer.
What’s the difference between a soft shell and a hard shell rooftop tent?
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Soft Shell: Usually larger and more spacious — great for families or long trips. They often include annex rooms and offer more interior space.
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Hard Shell: More compact, aerodynamic, and faster to set up — perfect for weekend adventurers or frequent travelers.
Can I leave my rooftop tent on all year round?
Yes, you can — but it depends on your climate. Hard shell tents are more weather-resistant and can stay mounted year-round. For soft shell tents, it’s best to remove and store them during long periods of heavy rain, snow, or inactivity to extend their lifespan.
How long does it take to set up and pack down a rooftop tent?
Hard shell rooftop tents can be set up in under 2 minutes, while soft shell tents usually take 5–10 minutes. The process becomes quicker once you’re familiar with it.