Attention adventure seekers! Are you itching to head into the wild to experience the colors of nature? Have you planned your next trip and can’t wait to get started?
Well, even though your answers to the above questions are yes, there seems to be something that’s holding you back. Since you are here, it’s pretty much evident that that “something” is the absence of a rooftop tent.
Don’t worry! You don’t need to dig through various websites to find the best rooftop tent as per your requirements because we’ve got you covered.
In this post, we’ve compiled a list to help you find the best rooftop tents for your convenience, so without further ado, let’s get started!
- Raptor Series Offgrid Voyager
- ARB Series III Simpson Rooftop Tent and Annex
- Smittybilt Overlander Tent
- Thule Tepui Explorer Ayer 2 Rooftop Tent
- Tuff Stuff “Ranger” Overland Roof Top Tent & Annex Room
Raptor Series Offgrid Voyager
Features
• Accommodates 1-2 people
• A few seconds set up and tear down
• 300gsm poly-cotton canvas, and a double-layered Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) shell with 1” insulation
Specifications
• Weight: 159 lbs
• Dimensions: 4’5” W x 7’2” L
Among the thousands of rooftop tent options available, one of our favorites is the Raptor Series Offgrid Voyager.
Multiple reasons convinced us to label it as our top choice, with its quick and easy setup at the top of the list. The tent fits a stock roof rack, aftermarket crossbars.
The following is included with the tent:
- Heavy duty telescoping 8 foot aluminum ladder
- 2 hanging shoe and storage pockets
- A high-density 78” x 48” foam mattress
- Heavy duty cover for when the tent is closed
- Air vents with quick adjust control feature
- Built in awning
Now, let’s talk a bit about materials. The tent’s floor is constructed from honeycomb aluminum panels. Its outer layer is made from a breathable 300gsm poly-cotton canvas and a double-layered Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) shell with 1” insulation. Also, the tent comes with a waterproof vinyl cover.
As far as its capacity is concerned, it can easily accommodate one to two people, thanks to its king-size mattress.
Unfortunately, you don’t have an option to choose your own tent color. It only comes in one.
ARB Series III Simpson Rooftop Tent & Annex
- Manufactured from high quality, waterproof, poly/cotton rip stop canvas
- Incorprates oxford polyester flysheet with excellent water shedding ability
- Fine insect screened windows and door protecting from the smallest insects for better night sleep
- Uv stabilized laminated welded pvc cover with high quality vision zippers
- Great for everyday u
Features
• Comes with an annex
• Accommodates 4 people
• Weatherproof
• Bungee cord system for rapid installation
Specifications
• Weight: 154 lbs
• Dimensions: 4’7” W x 7’10.5” L
If you rely on reviews to decide while shopping, then your best bet is the ARB Series III Simpson Roof Top Tent and Annex, which has garnered 5.0/5.0 stars in its selling history. It is the improved version of Series II.
As you would have gathered from the name, this tent comes with a 100% waterproof and UV-protected poly-cotton annex for extra space and convenience.
The ARB Series III tent provides superior weather protection via its waterproof, 300gsm poly-cotton ripstop PU impregnated canvas and oxford polyester flysheet. In addition to this, ARB sealed the tent’s seams so that water doesn’t enter through them.
Another major attraction of this gem is its simple setup procedure, which only takes a few minutes, thanks to the bungee cord system. This mechanism also eases the packing down process.
The ARB Series III Simpson rooftop tent has a fine insect screen over every door and window to prevent insects from interrupting your peaceful sleep.
The parcel includes the rooftop tent, mounting hardware, wrenches, an aluminum ladder, UV stabilized laminated welded PVC cover, and an instruction manual.
Smittybilt Overlander Tent
- Standard size tent (sleeps 2-3) with high-density 92 x 55 foam double/full mattress and 661 lb. max load
- 600D heavy-duty waterproof top and rain fly; sunroof; side windows with mosquito netting; anodized aluminum tent frame poles; telescopic ladder; interior LED strips and many more features
- Easy to set up and take down; heavy duty PVC cover keeps tent dry and free from UV rays when not in use
- Smittybilt Tent Annex (sold separately #2788) with removeable floor can be attached with heavy duty zippers for privacy
- Tent also available in Size XL (sleeps 3-4 #2773). Ladder extension also available (#2785).Ladder capacity:265 lbs
- Mounting brackets inclu
Features
• Sunroof and side windows with mosquito netting
• Made from weather-resistant ripstop fabric
• Accommodates 2-3 people
• Interior LED strips
Specifications
• Weight: 116.5 lbs
• Dimensions: 95″W x 56″L x 51″H
If you are on a budget but don’t want to compromise on quality, then you should check out the Smittybilt Overlander Tent.
Even though it is one of the cheapest among our top 5 rooftop tents, it has excellent features, with its light-weightiness topping the list. It only weighs 116.5 lbs and can accommodate two to three people with plenty of room for movement.
This tent is made from poly-cotton ripstop fabric, which is water-repellent and wear and tear-resistant. In addition to this, it comes with a rainfly, made from waterproof and UV-resistant 600D polyester oxford fabric.
Now, let’s talk a bit about the interior. The Smittybilt Overlander Tent comes with a high-density 92″ x 55″ foam mattress. You don’t have to worry about it getting dirty because it comes in a cover made from washable and moisture & mildew-resistant polyester oxford fabric.
The tent is accompanied by mounting tracks, universal mounting plates, an aluminum ladder, and all the other required installation hardware.
Thule Tepui Explorer Ayer 2 Rooftop Tent
- Can accommodate up to two people
- Constructed from coated 600 denier and a 260g poly-cotton blend made to withstand the elements of any season
- Tent fabric is UV resistant and withstands the elements of any season
- Mesh panels offer plenty of ventilation and open for more airflow
- Four, large internal pockets for storing gear and camping accessories
- Includes a high-density foam mattress for added comf
Features
• Made from 600 denier and a 260g poly-cotton blend
• Lightweight
• Mesh panels for ventilation and more airflow
• Includes a foam mattress
Specifications
• Weight: 105 lbs
• Dimensions folded: 42”L x 48”W x 11”H
This tent will sit perfectly on your car because the manufacturers will sculpt it based on your vehicle’s make and model. In addition to being a perfect fit, it only weighs 105 lbs, and thus, won’t be a burden to carry around. It has capacity of a minimum 165 lbs and maximum of 400 lbs.
As far as the materials are concerned, the Ayer 2 rooftop tent is made from 260g polyester cotton, making it breathable and lightweight. It has mesh panels, which enhances ventilation and provides a peaceful stargazing experience.
Don’t worry, these mesh panels won’t be a problem during harsh weather because the tent comes with a 600D ripstop fabric with water resistant ventilate coating. This tent can house from two to four people based on your size selection.
It has a stress-free set up as all the hardware comes in the parcel, and the complete procedure takes a maximum of 15 minutes.
Rugged Ridge Outland
- Roof Top Tent: The Rugged Ridge Outland Roof Top Tent is designed to sleep 3 people and has a 660 pound weight capacity. Can be mounted to any vehicle utlitizing a rack hauling system
- Overlanding: Designed for camping or overlanding, the Outland Tent features a strong aluminum base and a 600D waterproof shell
- Includes: System includes 3 foam mattress, rain fly, and weatherproof cover for storage
- Rugged Ridge Jeep Parts: Count on Rugged Ridge to provide you with proven Jeep parts and accessories like bumpers, lift kits, wheels, interior accessories, floor liners and more for varying Jeep models
- Five Year Warranty: Our Rugged Ridge products are covered by industry leading 5 year warranty and Rugged Ridge Floor Liners have Limited Lifetime Warranties providing customers with repair or replacements subject to certain common exclusi
Features
• Sleeps 3 people
• Made from superior quality poly-cotton windproof fabric and accompanied with a polyester rainfly
• Includes 3 inch foam matteres
• Excellent ventilation
Specifications
• Weight: 125 lbs
Our final suggestion in the list of the best rooftop tents is the Rugged Ridge Outland Roof top Tent.
The tent can accommodate up to three people with a maximum weight capacity of 660 pound.
The tent is made from superior quality poly-cotton windproof fabric. It is accompanied by a polyester rainfly for protection against harsh weather. In addition to being weather-resistant, this tent provides excellent ventilation, thanks to screened windows and awnings. The frame of the tent is made from sturdy aluminum.
As far as the installation is concerned, this tent is the most time-consuming one compared to other options discussed in this post. You’ll need at least two hours and help to install. However, the good thing is, all the hardware is included in the package.
Buying Guide
As you would have gathered by now, rooftop tents are expensive, and buying one without thorough research wouldn’t be a wise move by any means.
Don’t be scared, “thorough research” isn’t as scary as it seems. All you need to do is analyze a few factors, and you’ll be good to go. What are these? Let’s have a look:
Material
The material of a rooftop tent is probably the most essential element in determining its quality. The tent material’s scrutiny isn’t just limited to the exterior for countering weather conditions; it also includes the interior bedding, the frame, and the ladder. It would be best if you considered the following material properties while choosing a rooftop tent:
• The exterior of the tent should be weatherproof. In this regard, the best option is ripstop nylon, which has a special reinforcing mechanism that reduces wear and tear
• The tent’s ladder and frame should be made from a lightweight material. The most suitable choice is aluminum
• The interior bedding material should be soft and comfortable
Size
A tent’s size depends upon two factors: the size of your car and its weight carrying capacity.
Most of the time, a rooftop tent is only suitable for a maximum of three people with some room for movement. If you plan to camp out with more than the quantity mentioned above, then a rooftop tent might not be the best option.
Setup Ease
It is a no-brainer that no one wants to ruin their trip out in the wild by wrestling with their rooftop tent in a bid to set it up. You can avoid this fate by ensuring that your chosen tent’s setup isn’t very technical.
First of all, go through the product description to make sure that an installation setup accompanies the tent. Next, figure out the hardware required for setting up, and whether you have it or not. In the case of the latter, make sure that you get it before your trip.
Once your parcel has arrived, go through the setup guide thoroughly to understand the procedure.
Weight
Considering factors: the weight of the tent itself and how much it can sustain. It would help if you keep the following things in mind while deciding the weight:
• The tent should not weigh more than the car
• Estimate each person’s average weight and add it to figure out the tent’s minimum capacity
Accessories
Just having a rooftop tent isn’t enough for you to survive in the wilderness, you need a few accessories for maximum comfort. These include:
• A rainfly or canopy: for protection against weather
• A ladder: for ease of movement
• An annex: for extra space
These are our picks for the top 5 best rooftop tents. If none of them fulfilled your criterion, then make sure to check out our buying guide before ordering from anywhere else. Happy camping!
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