Rooftop tents, or RTTs, are the new trend in overlanding. If you are an experienced overlander, you’ve probably seen lots of overland vehicles on the road with a rooftop tent mounted on their roof racks. RTTs are also the most often recommended, even for just a weekend getaway or a short trip.
Well, rooftop tents are popular for a reason. They give you a comfortable and convenient camping experience anywhere you want, even in the middle of muddy or snowy ground. Mounting a rooftop tent on your 4×4 is indeed a much wiser choice than packing up a ground tent that takes a long time to set up.
But can rooftop tents go on any car, or do they only go well with those vehicles that are mainly for off-road driving that can carry them? Do not lose hope because, with a wide variety of rooftop tents as a result of their popularity, you’ll find one that is a perfect match for your overland vehicle.
In general, any car can support a rooftop tent, but larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks better fit rooftop tents than those smaller automobiles such as sedans and hatchbacks because of their larger load capacity.
What Do You Need to Install a Rooftop Tent on Your Car?
Will a rooftop tent work with your car? Your vehicle holds the key to this question. Before you search for rooftop tents online, you have to first assess your vehicle to see if it is able to carry and fit a rooftop tent. You have to consider things such as the weight capacity of your car’s roof, its rack system, and most importantly, your budget because RTTs can cost you a lot, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 US dollars. These are the three things you need to have to be able to install a rooftop tent on your car. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Rooftop Load Limit
You can find two main types of rooftop tents on the market. Softshell rooftop tents vs. hardshell rooftop tents. Fold-out or pop-up. Overlanders are torn between these two models. Others prefer soft-shell rooftop tents because they are more affordable and are lightweight. Those who are in favor of hard-shell rooftop tents love that these rooftop tents are easy to set up and are more tougher and durable. Which one is for you? The load limit of your car’s rooftop can tell you which.
Rooftop tents work with cars that have a rooftop load limit of over 165 pounds. Most cars have a rooftop load limit of over 165 pounds, so chances are your car can support a rooftop tent because you can find one that only weighs 100 lbs.
Add the weight of your roof rack and other things you plan on putting on your roof to know which type of rooftop tent you can go with. If you drive an SUV or a truck for overlanding, you can choose the most durable and toughest rooftop tents, which are the most iconic ones in the world of overlanding. Larger vehicles can support the heavyweight of these hardshell rooftop tents.
Roof Rack System
The roof rack system of your car is another factor that determines whether your car is able to fit a rooftop tent of your choice. The original roof rack of most cars cannot hold a rooftop tent, and some don’t even have one. This is why others prefer to install an aftermarket roof rack system instead. Whether a rooftop tent will fit on your car will depend on how much weight your installed roof rack system can hold.
The dynamic weight capacity of your roof rack system refers to the weight it can carry while the car is moving. Static weight capacity is the weight your roof rack can hold when your car is not in motion. Cars have greater static weight capacity, so you don’t have to worry about this. The dynamic weight capacity of your roof rack system is one thing that can hold you back from having your dream rooftop tent. A car can support a rooftop tent if its roof rack’s dynamic weight capacity is greater than the weight of the rooftop tent. So if your roof rack has a maximum dynamic weight capacity of 165 lbs, you can easily fit a 140 lbs rooftop tent or ones that weigh lighter.
Budget
Many are discouraged from installing rooftop tents because they see them as a luxury. They believe that true camping is setting up your own camp on the ground, and nothing beats the achievement felt after successfully assembling a ground tent. Rooftop tents can be expensive, but still, the price depends on the size, the materials, and the type of rooftop tent that you choose. This is the part where those who have smaller cars benefit the most because they only require smaller rooftop tents, thus a low price.
You can find a good rooftop tent for just $1,000. In fact, you can even find a rooftop tent that is under $1,000(at the time of this writing) yet can fit up to 3 people. Softshell rooftop tents are more affordable and offer more space than hardshell rooftop tents. Always keep in mind that you get what you pay for. If you pay a lot, you’ll get the best rooftop tent on the market. Treat rooftop tents as an investment, and if you are a full-time adventurer, rooftop tents are worth the investment.
What Cars Can You Put a Rooftop Tent On?
The most common overland vehicles are jeeps, trucks, and SUVs. And because they are popular, the aftermarket supports them. You can easily find the gears, spare parts, accessories, components, and other tools needed to upgrade your car into a vehicle that can tackle different terrains on your overland journey. It’s the same case when you try to find a rooftop tent that can fit onto your 4×4. You can easily find one.
Large Vehicles
Can your car fit a rooftop tent? Definitely yes, if it’s an SUV, a truck, or a jeep. If your vehicle is common in the world of Overlanding, you can easily find a rooftop tent that is supported by your vehicle. The aftermarket has already calculated for you the weight capacity that your vehicle can carry. They used that as a basis for designing roof rack systems and rooftop tents that are a perfect fit with your car model.
Below are some commonly used 4x4s in Overlanding.
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Land Rover Defender
- Land Rover Discovery
- Mercedes G-Wagon
- Jeep Wrangler
- Toyota Tacoma
- Jeep Gladiator
Small Automobiles
Sedans, hatchbacks, and other small cars are a bit difficult ones. Some don’t have a roof rack system, and even if they do, the dynamic weight capacity of these roof racks cannot hold even the lightest rooftop tents. Small cars also don’t have the minimum rooftop load limit that is required to be able to hold a rooftop tent. But this doesn’t mean that if you have a smaller car, you can’t get to experience camping inside a rooftop tent. Here are some rooftop tens that can fit your sedans and hatchbacks.
- Ikamper Mini: This rooftop tent weighs only 125 lbs. It is 101″ long and 51″ wide.
- Thule Tepui Explorer Ayer 2. This only weighs 108 lbs. It’s 84″ long and 48″ wide.
- Frontrunner Feather-Lite. This weighs 95 lbs. It’s 134″ long and 53″ wide.
Do Rooftop Tents Ruin Your Car?
Rooftop tents are a great vehicle modification, especially for those who find it hard to sleep in unfamiliar places. They also offer protection from snakes, foxes, coyotes, and bears lingering around your camping site. You can sleep comfortably and peacefully with a rooftop tent. With all these perks some are still not quite convinced about installing a rooftop tent on their overland vehicle. The high cost is the number one reason and this is followed by the belief that rooftop tents can ruin a car.
Rooftop tents are made to help you camp comfortably and safely anywhere you like. They are not made to cause damage or harm. Rooftop tents do not ruin your car because they are vehicle modifications to upgrade your 4×4 and make it ready for some camping adventures in the wild. They can only cause damage if you force them to fit onto your 4×4 even if their weight is beyond your rooftop load limit or the dynamic weight capacity of your roof rack system.
They can also harm your car if you install them the wrong way. As long as you follow the instructions on how to mount the rooftop tent onto your vehicle carefully and follow the load limitations of your car, rooftop tents do not ruin your car.
Final Thoughts
So, can rooftop tents go on any car? It greatly depends on the rooftop load capacity, budget, and roof rack system of the vehicle. If you drive an SUV, a truck, or a jeep, you can find lots of rooftop tent options that are supported by your vehicle’s weight capacity.
Always remember that the total rooftop weight capacity of a common overland vehicle is over 165 pounds. Do some simple math calculations first before you fit a rooftop tent on your vehicle. For a rooftop tent to not cause damage to your vehicle, follow the instructions carefully and seek help from a friend for easy installation. Do not miss camping closer….a little closer… to the stars. Install a rooftop tent and experience a whole new level of camping adventures in the wild.
