Best Roof Top Tents: Enjoy the Outdoors from Your Vehicle
Here’s our top list of rooftop camping convenience and comfort.
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There's nothing quite like experiencing the great outdoors from the comfort of your own vehicle. Especially with a commanding view from its roof—which is why we especially like rooftop tents, as they have all the convenience of camping without leaving the premises of your own vehicle.
Finding the right rooftop tent requires a little bit of research beforehand, so here's our handy guide to get you started.
Tepui Explorer Kukenam Rooftop Tent
- Good overall construction
- Fairly easy to set up and use in any weather conditions
- Comfortable interior
- Pricey compared to many other similar roof tents
- Might not fit all roof shapes and sizes
Smittybilt Overlander Tent
- Fairly straightforward installation that can be done alone
- Good overall quality
- Popular, well-regarded brand
- The cover is prone to tearing in windy weather
- Might incur damage over time from careless assembly and dismantling
Front Runner Roof Top Tent
- Ample comfort
- Spacious
- Lightweight
- Sturdy vinyl main layer
- Priced a little high for its features
- Weak cover
- Weak zipper that can get caught on material
Summary List of Rooftop Tents
Our Methodology for Selecting Rooftop Tents
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
Learn moreWe scoured the world wide web for well-reviewed products and determined the best mix of value, ease-of-use, strength, and weatherproofness at varying price levels. These are all top-name companies, too—there are plenty of cheap products out there, but considering the fact that competition is currently so good among well-known names, we erred on the side of sticking with what any outdoor enthusiast would call a household name.
For more on how we came up with our lists of products, read more about our methodology here.
Best Rooftop Tents Reviews and Recommendations
- Occupancy: 3-person
- Material: Cotton/Mesh
- Weight: 135 Lbs.
Pros
Good overall construction
Fairly easy to setup and use in any weather conditions
Comfortable interior
Cons
Pricey compared to many other similar roof top tents
Might not fit all roof shapes and sizes
- Occupancy: 3-person
- Material: Polyester
- Weight: 145 Lbs.
Pros
Fairly straightforward installation that can be done alone
Good overall quality
Popular, well-regarded brand
Cons
The cover is prone to tearing in windy weather
Might incur damage over time from careless assembly and dismantling
- Occupancy: 2-person
- Material: Vinyl
- Weight: 137 Lbs.
Pros
Ample Comfort
Spacious
Lightweight
Sturdy vinyl main layer
Cons
Priced a little high for its features
Weak cover
Weak zipper than can get caught in its material
- Occupancy: 2-person
- Material: polyester
- Weight: N/A
Pros
Strong aluminum base for stability
High load capacity
Includes mattress
Sturdy outer shell
Cons
Optional annex sold separately
Might not fit all roofs
- Occupancy: 2-to-3-person
- Material: polyester
- Weight: N/A
Pros
Guy lines and D-rings for attaching gear and accessories
Sturdy ripstop polyester construction
Included mattress
Easy to deploy
Cons
One of the most expensive options
Too many features could confuse some users
- Occupancy: 2-person
- Material: polycotton
- Weight: 90 lbs.
Pros
Very lightweight
Great value
Simple construction
Cons
Not the most weatherproof or sturdy option
Lack of features (though, this could be a benefit for someone embracing the no-frills life)
- Occupancy: 2-3-person
- Material: Coated polycotton
- Weight: 155 lbs.
Pros
Roomy
Solid construction
Included gear storage
Included features for attaching gear
Cons
The most expensive of the entire lot
Boxy shape might struggle in high winds
Heavy
Our Rooftop Tent Verdict
The pick of the litter when it comes to rooftop tents is the Tepui Explorer Kukenam Rooftop Tent. It's an overall easy-to-set-up unit with good protection from the elements, is built to last, and is worth its higher price.
Rooftop Tent FAQs
You've got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q. What are some tips for selecting a rooftop tent?
A. Keep in mind that you will need the right roof racks for the tent to fit properly and securely on the top of your vehicle. Be sure to keep an eye on the weight of the tent and its occupants. Most roof racks are designed to take a few hundred pounds alone. Select a four-season tent if you want some weatherproofing for harsh climate conditions all year.
Q. How do I install the tent?
A. Because each tent is different in the particular installation process, but most secure to the roof racks using supplied hardware and (sometimes) tools.
Q. What is the maximum weight of the roof?
A. This depends on the roof racks you have. Most are limited to a few hundred pounds, so you will need the right rack or platform to hold more than 500 pounds if necessary.
