One thing you’ll consider before buying your own rooftop tent for overlanding is weight. The rooftop load capacity of your car, the dynamic weight capacity of your roof rack, how much weight the rooftop tent can hold, and how much the rooftop tent weighs.
Weight is actually one downside when you upgrade from the traditional tent to a rooftop tent. Because it’s situated at the top of your car and not on the ground, you might be wondering whether it can hold your weight, the weight of your companion, and the weight of the other items you plan to put inside it. This is what this article is all about.
If you’re searching for how much weight a rooftop tent can hold, consider your problem solved! The smallest rooftop tent you can find fits two people inside, and this rooftop tent can hold a weight of at least 200 pounds per camper. In general, rooftop tents can hold a total weight load of 400-900 lbs. The number is not exact, because the load capacity varies depending on the type and brand of the rooftop tent.
Let’s take a closer look at the weight capacity of rooftop tents.
How Much Weight Can a Rooftop Tent Hold?
Rooftop tents are made to hold about 200 pounds per camper. So, if a rooftop tent can fit 2 people inside, it can hold a total weight of 400 pounds. If it’s a 3-person rooftop tent, its total weight limit is 600 pounds. We’ve said earlier that the weight limit of rooftop tents varies according to the type and brand, and some are much stronger that they can hold a weight of more than 200 pounds per camper.
Let’s mention three popular brands and see how much weight each of them can hold.
1. Roofnest Sparrow
Roofnest Sparrow is a hard shell rooftop tent, which means that it has a durable outer shell. Both the ceiling and the flooring are made of ABS plastic, made stronger with fiberglass. What you can expect from hardshell rooftop tents like this is that, although they weigh a little heavier than softshell RTTs, the materials are sturdier, which makes them able to support even heavyweight loads.
The wall is a polyester and cotton blend that has a waterproof rating of 3000 mm. The fabric material of this rooftop tent is much thicker and tougher than the typical rooftop tent. This will give you a much warmer and quieter sleeping area despite the strong winds. The base of the Roofnest Sparrow is a foam mattress that is 7 cm thick. Inside is a space that is 83″ long and 49″ wide. This rooftop tent can fit 2 people inside and is able to support a total weight load of 650 pounds.
2. Smittybilt Overlander Rooftop Tent 2783
Smittybilt offers affordable accessories for overlanding. In fact, their Smittybilt Overlander Rooftop Tent is the cheapest rooftop tent on the market. When there is a sale, promo, or discount, you can buy this item for less than $1000 with free shipping. A low price doesn’t mean low quality, at least not with Smittybilt.
This tent is a softshell rooftop tent that is constructed using waterproof polyester fabric and aluminum frame poles. It also comes with a foam mattress that is 60 mm thick. When you open this RTT, it can give you a space that is 95″ in width, 56″ in length, and 51″ in height. The Smittybilt Overlander Rooftop Tent sleeps 2-3 people and has a load capacity of 661 lbs.
3. Raptor Series Offgrid Voyager
The Raptor Series Voyager Rooftop Tent is the lightest manual rooftop tent on the market. Just look at those thick aluminum frames that support the tent. This RTT is no doubt strong enough to give you a peaceful sleeping area despite heavy rainfall or a windy evening. Its unique design makes it easy to set it up and close it in just seconds.
This rooftop tent may look small outside from the outside, but inside is a space that is 83.5″ in length, 52″ in width, and 48.5″ in height. The Voyager Rooftop Tent can fit 1-2 adults inside. This means that it can support a load that weighs around 400 pounds.
How Much Does a Rooftop Tent Weigh?
Rooftop tents are known to be heavier than traditional tents used for camping, especially hardshell rooftop tents. It’s mainly because of the outer shell that is made from fiberglass, ABS plastic, or aluminum, which softshell RTTs don’t have.
Rooftop tents weigh between 100 and 220 pounds depending on the type, features, and size. This weight is more than 10 times the weight of traditional tents, which are only 2-3 lbs up to 12 lbs if it’s a 4-person ground tent. Let’s look at the most remarkable RTTs in terms of weight.
GFC SuperLite 50
The Superlite Rooftop Tent () manufactured by Go Fast Campers is the lightest RTT on the market despite being a hardshell RTT. No wonder, after it was released in July 2020, many overlanders immediately placed an order to test the rooftop tent offroad.
Superlite is a wedge-style tent that is lightweight despite its sturdy outer shell. This tent is also aerodynamically engineered. The low profile of Superlite will have no effect on your gas mileage or your car’s maneuverability.
The GFC Superlite 50 weighs only 80 pounds and will only take you 3 minutes to install and 30 seconds to set up. Two adults can fit inside, given its width of 50 inches, length of 90 inches, and headroom of 44 inches. It has durable fabric that is weather-proof and UV-resistant. This makes up the whole body of the tent. Given all these features, Superlite is affordable at a price of $1199.
iKamper Skycamp 2.0
When it comes to hard shell rooftop tents, no one can beat those coming from iKamper. Known as “the most iconic hardshell rooftop tent”, Ikamper Skycamp 2 weighs 160 pounds and sleeps 3-4 campers. The floor is a durable, insulating honeycomb aluminum panel with an area of 44.3 square feet.
When opened, the RTT is 48″ tall and when it’s not used, its height is 13″. The outer shell is a double-layered fiber-reinforced plastic. The mattress is 1.8″ high-density polyfoam.
What you get with Ikamper Skycamp is a 1-minute setup, a king-size mattress, a durable, thick, and breathable canvas, a waterproof rainfly, 3-layer canopy windows, and a 4-season rooftop tent. Given all these tough materials, Skycamp 2.0 only weighs 160 pounds, which is why it’s lightweight. Expect the price to be high given all these features and benefits. This hardshell rooftop tent from Ikamper costs $3699.
Tuff Stuff Elite Overland
Tuff Stuff Elite Overland is one of the largest rooftop tents on the market. This tent is a soft-shell rooftop tent that can accommodate 4 or more people.
At the top of the rooftop tent, 5 people can sleep in. This comes with a lower annex room where 4 additional people can stay.
If your dream overlanding trip involves you and your whole family, Tuff Stuff Elite Overland can be your temporary home in the wild.
The Elite Series from Tuff Stuff can weigh 176 to 233 pounds, depending on the accessories that come with it. It comes with 2 entry doors, 2 ladders, 2 windows, and 2 mattresses. The mattress is 77 x 96 inches and is 2.75 inches thick. This is a 4-season rooftop tent, so expect that it is durable and can withstand harsh environments. This RTT is affordable at a price of $2499.99.
Are Rooftop Tents Sturdy?
Rooftop tents are definitely sturdy just by looking into their design and construction. Rooftop tents are built to last. Because they are made from tougher and more durable materials, they last longer than your traditional tents. With proper care and maintenance, they can last for more than 10 years.
What are they made of that they can easily withstand the test of time? The fabric that makes up the body of rooftop tents is a thick poly-cotton fabric that is waterproof and UV-resistant. The frame is all heavy-duty aluminum. Hardshell rooftop tents are sturdier than softshell rooftop tents because of their fiberglass or ABS-plastic outer shell.
If you want the most sturdy rooftop tent, you can go with the Kingcamp Rooftop Tent. This hardshell rooftop tent has a stainless steel travel cover that can tackle all harsh weather conditions. Its tent fabric is mold-resistant and UV-resistant.
Do Rooftop Tents Affect Gas Mileage?
Rooftop tents affect gas mileage based on their added weight and drag. They can decrease your gas mileage by up to 17%. So, if your average fuel economy is 25.4 miles per gallon, after mounting a rooftop tent, your one gallon will only be able to reach 21 miles.
The decrease in gas mileage will depend on the type of rooftop tent because hardshell RTTs weigh more. If the RTT is lightweight and has an aerodynamic design, your car can go faster and use less fuel.
The Thule X Tepui Low Pro 3 is known to be the most fuel-efficient rooftop tent. This RTT is lightweight, weighing 114 pounds, but is able to fit 3 people inside. The ultra low profile design of this RTT folds down to 10 inches for better aerodynamics. The low profile also makes it easy to install and transport the RTT.
Wrap Up
When choosing the best rooftop tent that will fit your overland vehicle, the weight capacity and the weight of the RTT are two things that will guide you. The rooftop tent should have a weight capacity that is able to hold you, your companion, and any other things you plan to put inside it.
On average, a rooftop tent can hold at least 200 pounds. The RTT should not weigh more than the dynamic weight capacity of your roof rack system. This way, even if the ride is bumpy, the RTT will not crush your roof rack and damage your car’s rooftop.
Rooftop tents can weigh from 100-220 lbs. Keep all the things mentioned above in mind, and you’ll be able to find the RTT that is a perfect match for you and your overland vehicle.
