Editor&#;s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring .
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Sunday Campers.
I still remember how -57°F felt, a cold beyond description, as if all life had escaped along with my body heat. I recall fighting against the cover of the roof tent, the vinyl becoming hard as stone in the frigid temperatures of the northern Canadian winter, and how good it felt to crawl into the tent with its thick mattress and heavy canvas protecting me from the arctic chill. Another time, I distinctly remember the sound of a lion grunting as he paced the perimeter of our camp&#;it&#;s burned into my memory, along with how grateful I was to be in a roof tent, far above the South African bushveld. So many times I have praised and cursed these overlander tree forts, bemoaning their weight and complexity, or sighed in relief as I set one up in the rain, amidst a campsite swamped with mud and rocks.
As with any accessory, there are pros and cons to fitting something to our vehicles, with few items earning such compelling arguments for and against at both extremes. Despite this, rooftop tents (RTTs) are more popular than ever, now on display in REI and frequently seen mounted to the tops of Subarus. Also gone are the days when the only high-quality and expedition-grade RTTs were made in South Africa and Europe. But more importantly, we are finally seeing innovation and unique solutions for the wants of RTT buyers. The style, weight, quality, and setup now varies significantly from the original Brownchurch rack tents of 50 years ago&#;all the better for buyers in the 21st century. At Overland Journal, we love a good test, so we took a few months and dozens of nights in the field to set up, tear down, and generally beat about six popular models from reputable brands.
Choosing a roof tent is no longer the easy process of deciding which canvas color you like best, as there are now over 50 different brands and hundreds of models. We are seeing soft-shell tents utilizing hardshell covers or no covers at all. There are tents available for under $500 on Amazon and other units costing nearly 10 times that much, with everything in between. The quality gap has also narrowed considerably, with ruggedized units now being manufactured in Asia, along with discount models currently being produced in South Africa. Despite all this, several attributes are critical for long-term use and reliability.
Dozens of accessories are often included with the model along with greatly increased complexity and weight: massive overhanging annexes, heavy and difficult to set up awnings and walls, and a litany of nets, straps, loops, and even motors to potentially fail in the field. Certainly, a wall set or annex can be a valuable addition for large families desiring additional sleeping space, but in most cases, accessories like this are a giant pain. They also add notable weight and setup time to the RTT and are rarely needed in practice. All of the tents tested are shown without walls or annexes.
It is easy to exceed the roof load limits of most SUVs once a RTT and fullsize rack are affixed. There are only a few vehicles with roof load ratings that exceed 200 pounds, yet we often see oversized tents mounted to full-length metal racks complete with fuel cans and Hi-Lift jacks. This means that smaller and lighter tents may have to be selected and often mounted to simple crossbars. And there are units that weigh in at only 100 pounds or so, which will still allow the use of a proper aluminum rack too. Total up the weight of the tent, rack, accessories, and any bedding to be sure the vehicle roof is not overloaded.
Some tents can take 15-20 minutes to set up if the annex and all poles are utilized. That is often not practical for how many overlanders travel. This process can demand significant time and effort each day just preparing or closing up a tent; even more so if conditions are poor. Pay extra attention to the cover, which can be a struggle in certain models if constructed too tight to pull over the bows and fitted with undersized or difficult to operate zippers.
One of the best arguments for buying a roof tent is for a good night&#;s rest, so test out the mattress at an overland event or read reviews and comments on comfort before buying. I have seen buyers need to install memory foam and even air mattresses to augment the poor support of the stock pad. Look for 60-millimeter minimum thickness and preferably dual density. Even better, some tents are now using a padded floor or underlayment to facilitate comfort. Also, thicker canvas walls reduce light ingress, allowing for the luxurious option of sleeping in well after sunrise.
As with anything we count on in the backcountry, quality and durability are paramount, or we are better off not having it at all. Like the cheap winch that doesn&#;t work when we need it, a roof tent that fails in the first heavy wind is a liability. In reality, an $800 ground tent will be superior on all counts to an $800 RTT, so avoid the bargain RTTs all together. The devil is in the details&#;the best things to look for are zipper size, cover thickness, tent wall stitching, and method of waterproofing.
While much of evaluating a roof tent is subjective, many elements can be reviewed objectively, and the goal was to incorporate both sets of criteria. Even 10 years ago, the landscape of roof tents was vastly different to today, with nearly everything following the South African design model of a traditional clamshell and supporting ladder. The abundance of model choices now available is a huge win for consumer selection, but does muddy the water and make it challenging to determine real quality and innovation above the marketing rhetoric. As a result, we selected six models from known and proven manufacturers, while also allowing for representation from newer companies that have demonstrated genuine innovation. Our lineup includes everything from the wood and canvas Eezi-Awn to the innovative iKamper and many options in between.
For our objective review, we compared the weights of the units along with mattress thickness and deflection. We timed the quick setup, which is the minimum setup required to sleep, and also the full setup, which included every pole and vent. The third timed effort was stowing the tent properly, in ready-to drive- down-the-trail mode. The evaluation biased heavily toward setup convenience, as I have witnessed far too much frustration in the field from owners of cumbersome models as they fought fragile zippers and complicated wall sets. The final objective review included inspection of the hardware, stitching, and weatherproofing.
Subjective considerations are important to any test, but I worked to avoid those that might be heavily influenced by my own bias and eccentricities. I included notes on aesthetic and design, but they factor minimally in the final scoring. Of a particularly subjective nature is evaluating mattress comfort, which is heavily influenced by the sleeper&#;s preferred position, body weight, and preferences. As a result, I provide specifics along with my impressions. Despite all this, clear leaders arose early. Roof tents continue to grow in popularity and diversity, but the fundamentals remain: quality, durability, comfort, and setup rule the results.
The best tent for overall interior space and privacy.
PROSRemoving the tent from the packaging reveals a notably thick and durable cover made from UV-stabilized and welded PVC, held in place by a robust three-side zipper and three girdle straps. Installation was easy using the supplied captive bolts, extrusion plates, and spanning crossbar plates. Setup was straightforward but does take a little longer than the competition, mainly because of the three cover straps, cover zipper, tent compression straps, and the overall tight fit of the cover at the awning pole corners. Once set up, the unique features of the Simpson are more apparent, including the extensive weather protection the rainfly and awning provide to the tent and occupant entry. This also gives a sense of the unit being much larger overall, especially if the included annex is used and the user can gain access to the tent from within the privacy of the annex walls.
I found the 2.5-inch, high-density chip foam mattress to be comfortable, but less supportive than some of the best examples in the test. The interior is bright from the lighter-colored, poly-cotton ripstop canvas tent walls. The process of stowing the tent is started by collapsing the awning poles and then folding the tent over on the base. Some time is lost trying to fit the durable cover over the awning poles and then running the zipper around the edges. The Simpson III is a high-quality, high-value option, particularly when the free annex walls are considered for those that need the extra space.
$1,499 | ARBUSA.COM
The roof tent that your heirs will fight over.
PROS
Quality materials throughout
Easy setup with no cover zipper
Large doors and windows
Thick tent canvas blocks most light ingress
CONS
Insect screens allow gnats and no-see-ums in
Ladder requires optional extension for taller vehicles
Ladder adjustments need drilling
While roof tents may seem like a recent trend, they have been around since practically the first automobiles, and Eezi-Awn has been around for over 35 years. The founder, Jack Stuhler, and his son Jess are not just manufacturers, but passionate overlanders. This tenure and commitment are reflected in the quality of their tents and their reputation for product durability. I have used Eezi-Awn tents for hundreds of nights. The Series 3 is the latest model of their expedition-class roof tents, combining wood, canvas, and aluminum.
Setup is one of the easiest in the test, taking barely three minutes. The 700-denier PVC cover features welded seams and is removed by loosening a ratcheting strap and folding it up; this saves considerable time and energy. With the cover off, there are two compression straps to undo and then a steady pull on the attached ladder to pull the Series III open. The removable PVC flysheet and the two side windows are held open on both door ends by spring steel rods. I noted that the rods insert into steel sleeves; this makes fitment effortless and reinforces the attachment point.
Further inspection of the tent shows quality materials at every corner, starting with the ladder extrusions and extending to the double-stitched ripstop canvas tent body. The base is made from 9-millimeter marine plywood, reinforced with meranti timber and aluminum angle. Additional rigidity comes from long sections of extruded aluminum on both the rack side and ladder side. This all translates into a stable and durable structure. The ladder is extremely sturdy too but is one of the more difficult in the test to work with. The ladder length needs to be set by drilling into the extrusion for the height of the vehicle, but that can prove problematic in uneven terrain and necessitates an optional extension for taller 4WDs. The ladder is uncomfortable with bare feet, each rung a narrow metal step. Inside, the thick canvas proves a dark cave against light ingress, and the 2.5-inch, high-density foam mattress is covered in a fun African print&#;you can almost hear the lions roaring in the distance.
$2,540 | EEZI-AWN.COM, EQUIPT1.COM
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Wow, that mattress is comfortable, and no transit cover zipper&#;Valhalla!
PROS
Fast setup
Comfortable mattress
Supportive anti-condensation underpad
Low-profile design reduces overall vehicle height
CONS
Minimal weather protection on some windows
Full-length design uses all roof space for most vehicles
Less interior space than those with the same footprint
Freespirit came to the market with the goal of doing something unique, and their new Adventure Series achieves that for both the weekend warrior and year-round traveler. The Adventure lineup includes everything from the 55-inch-wide manual model tested here, to a four-season-rated, tri-layer unit, and even an electric unit that sets up with a remote. These tents are also different from the others in the test as the models do not clamshell open, but instead pop straight up, reducing weight and simplifying setup.
Deploying the tent starts with removing the zipperless PVC cover, which is accomplished by unclipping two girdle straps and four corner clips. The tent is then pushed up from the rear window side, and a crossbar is clipped into position. Lastly, the door awning is pulled out and held in place with a hinged rafter pole. There are no window rods to install, which makes the quick setup the same as the full setup. This convenience does come at the cost of limited rainfly protection for the side and rear windows if they are left open for ventilation. There are two large vents next to the front door that help with inclement weather airflow. Freespirit also sells a tri-layer interior wall set that converts this tent into a true four-season solution.
While it is easy to focus on the rapid setup, there are other benefits to the design, like the tall roof height and superior view out of the massive door and rear windows. The ladder does not support the tent, so it can be slid from front to back along the aluminum base extrusion, which allows for opening rear doors, etcetera. In my experience, the greatest advantage of the design is the additional space it affords to the mattress. This is without question the most comfortable bed in the test with a quilted 2.5-inch high-density foam mattress and underlayment pad. The pad rests on an aluminum frame grid that reduces weight and acts like a box spring&#;innovative indeed.
$1,695 | GOFSR.COM
For the minimalist overlander that actually reads roof load warnings.
PROS
Lightest in the test
Low profile when stowed
Minimalist design reduces set-up time
CONS
Cover zipper is lighter duty
Moderate wind can dislodge rainfly poles
In the world of rooftop tents, nothing divides the community more than the topic of what materials should be used to create your rooftop home. Fibreglass is the more traditional roof tent material, however in recent years many of the more established manufacturers have moved towards ABS.
Here at TentBox, we use ABS plastic to manufacture our Classic model, as it&#;s by far the more hardy solution for all your overland adventures. We switched from Fibreglass to ABS for the many benefits. However, in the interest of not being biased, we wanted to take a look at the pros and cons of both to weigh up which roof tent will be ideal for you.
When comparing ABS and fibreglass, it&#;s natural to consider which material is going to weigh more on top of your car. A lighter rooftop tent will be much more fuel efficient, and will be easier to get onto the roof of your car in the first place.
When it comes to which material weighs more &#; ABS or fibreglass &#; ABS is the lighter by far. For the average roof tent, ABS will weigh in at around 60kg, whereas a fibreglass tent of the same size will weigh around 90kgs.
This means that ABS rooftop tents are much more compatible with smaller and larger cars alike. If you&#;re wondering whether our roof tent will be right for your car, it&#;s worth considering that the TentBox Classic TentBox weighs 64.5kgs and the TentBox Lite weighs in at 50kg, so they are compatible with most vehicles.
Fibreglass is plastic that is reinforced with glass fibre, so in terms of it&#;s environmental friendliness, its creation process much harsher to the environment. It releases toxins in the manufacturing process, which is not only harmful to the people working with it, but also the wider atmosphere.
ABS on the other hand is much safer to form and is easily recyclable since it is a thermoplastic material. Fibreglass is impossible to recycle and ends up filling up landfills.
The UK is full of some amazing, rugged natural landscapes. If you&#;re planning on going on some off-grid microadventures on rocky terrain here in the UK, there is a chance that your rooftop tent will endure some impact here and there. This isn&#;t a problem with a sturdy rooftop tent, however it&#;s important to know which material will be right for the kinds of adventures you plan on going on.
ABS is a far more sturdy and impact resistant material than fibreglass, which can have a tendency to crack under impact. It is plastic-based and was created for the purpose of impact resistance and toughness, so it makes sense that it is a lot more impact resistant.
Fibreglass was accidentally created back in , and hasn&#;t evolved that much since it&#;s conception. Fibreglass can and does suffer from age. Whilst the deterioration sometimes feels minor, with microscopic cracks in the formed fibreglass plastic, overtime these cracks get bigger and separate the fibres and resin that hold them together.
In contrast, ABS is a more modern material that has been especially created to withstand more impact and damage. In this sense, ABS is able to withstand the vibration of the road and remain unscathed by adventuring for longer. You&#;ll be less likely to have to get your ABS rooftop tent repaired or replaced, compared to a fibreglass roof tent. We also use an anti-UV agent in our ABS, which helps reduce the effects of sun damage.
TentBox now uses ABS instead of fibreglass, due to the many benefits listed above. The ABS thermoplastic that we now use can be moulded into much more unique forms, is better for the environment and is much stronger than it&#;s fibreglass counterpart.
Our rooftop tents have an added UV treatment and a high gloss finish to help reduce the effects of sun damage.
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