Reviews

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

Entering our 7th season of /DRIVE on NBC Sports, and with millions of YouTube and Facebook followers, The Drive is a leading authority of all things automotive.

The Drive on NBC The Drive on YouTube The Drive on Facebook

The Review Team

  • Product Network

    18 Products

  • Clock

    8 Hours

  • Reviews

    13 Reviews

How We Decided

The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Read more.

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
Check Latest Price  
LEARN MORE
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
Check Latest Price  
Best Value
Smittybilt Overlander Tent
Smittybilt Overlander Tent
Check Latest Price  
LEARN MORE
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
Check Latest Price  
Honorable Mention
Tepui Explorer Ayer Rooftop Tent
Tepui Explorer Ayer Rooftop Tent
Check Latest Price  
LEARN MORE
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
Check Latest Price  

Written by Austin Fracchia

Published October 8, 2019

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.

Learn more

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.

MORE TO READ