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LAST UPDATED: October 8, 2019

Best Roof Top Tents: Enjoy the Outdoors from Your Vehicle

The top choices for roof tents for sleeping on top of your car

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The Review Team

  • Product Network

    18 Products

  • Clock

    8 Hours

  • Reviews

    13 Reviews

How We Decided

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PUBLISHED ON October 8, 2019

There's nothing quite like experiencing the great outdoors from the comfort of your own vehicle. That's why we like rooftop tents: the convenience of camping without leaving 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.

  • Best Overall
    Tepui Explorer Kukenam Rooftop Tent
    Tepui Explorer Kukenam Rooftop Tent
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    Summary
    Summary
    A great rooftop tent designed to survive all four seasons.
    Pros
    Pros
    Good construction overall. Fairly easy to set up and use regardless of the weather conditions.
    Cons
    Cons
    Pricey compared to many other similar roof tents you can buy these days.
    • Best Overall
    Tepui Explorer Kukenam Rooftop Tent
    Tepui Explorer Kukenam Rooftop Tent
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  • Best Value
    Smittybilt Overlander Tent
    Smittybilt Overlander Tent
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    Summary
    Summary
    A standard-size tend with a good degree of weatherproofing to keep the rain out in the spring and summer.
    Pros
    Pros
    Installation can take some time, but it's fairly straightforward and can be done alone.
    Cons
    Cons
    The cover is prone to tearing after some use or in bad weather like windy conditions.
    • Best Value
    Smittybilt Overlander Tent
    Smittybilt Overlander Tent
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  • Honorable Mention
    Tepui Explorer Ayer Rooftop Tent
    Tepui Explorer Ayer Rooftop Tent
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    Summary
    Summary
    A quality two-person tent that can fit onto the roof of almost any medium-to-large vehicle with the right equipment
    Pros
    Pros
    There is a good amount of comfort when using the tent. The interior is spacious enough to fit two people comfortably.
    Cons
    Cons
    High price compared to other rooftop tents available on the market.
    • Honorable Mention
    Tepui Explorer Ayer Rooftop Tent
    Tepui Explorer Ayer Rooftop Tent
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    Written by Austin Fracchia

    Published October 8, 2019

    There's nothing quite like experiencing the great outdoors from the comfort of your own vehicle. That's why we like rooftop tents: the convenience of camping without leaving 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.

    Why Trust Us

    All of our reviews are based on market research, expert input, or practical experience with most products we include. This way, we offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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    Tips

    • You will need the right roof racks for the tent to fit properly and securely on the top of your vehicle.
    • Keep an eye on the weight of the tent and its occupants. Most roof racks are designed to take a few hundred pounds alone.
    • Buy a four-season tent if you want some weatherproofing for harsh climate conditions all year.

    FAQ

    Q. Why should I buy a rooftop tent?

    A. Keeping your tent on top of your vehicle offers a lot of conveniences when traveling. 

    Q. How do I install the tent?

    A. 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.

    Final Thoughts

    Our top pick for the best rooftop tent is the Tepui Explorer Kukenam Rooftop Tent.

    Want to save a few bucks without sacrificing quality? Check out the Smittybilt Overlander Tent instead.

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