In this age of hyperbuilt and overcomplicated overland vehicle builds, it is all too easy to forget that, above all else, your build should be affordable, practical, and straightforward. The rooftop tent (RTT) is not a new invention; we have all seen the images of overland vehicles built in the early 20th century equipped with basic but sturdy canvas rooftop tents, and the addition of a rooftop tent instantly converts almost any vehicle into an overland vehicle. I have spent more than my fair share of time traveling the world in a rooftop tent, more than four years of permanent, full-time living on the roof with my family, and years of short-distance travel before that. During that time, we learned to love our Howling Moon tent but also realized the limitations of the roof tent. We have also explored a hard-shell, wedge-type Quick Pitch roof tent and an ancient Maggiolina and have developed a clear preference when it comes to the nest on the roof. Whether you travel with a hard- or soft-shell rooftop, there are many factors to consider, from selection to purchase, installation, use, and maintenance. In this article, we will guide you through the entire process and share pearls of knowledge to help you get the most out of your new nest.
Where and When is a Rooftop Tent Most Practical
Three elements render an RTT impractical. Have a look in your closet and garage. Do you see a ton of winter gear: skis, snowboards, snowshoes, thermal base layers, and wolf-fur mittens? If yes, the rooftop tent may not be the best option for you if you like to travel to winter wonderlands, as the vast majority of RTTs are designed for fair-weather use. Yes, you can pipe hot air into the RTT and bundle up in thermals and down duvets (been there, done that), but the reality is that canvas and transparent plastic do not fare well in extreme cold. Another nemesis of the RTT is high wind and gusts, which can tear canvas, bend poles, and make an awful racket all night long. There are few worse experiences on an overland journey than a night spent with your head wrapped in a pillow, trying to sleep while the rain cover flaps and the base of the 50/50 split RTT lifts, ladder(s) clanging, and crashing. No thanks. The third Achilles heel of the RTT is rain, and more than once, we have been caught in a deluge which has either damaged the tent as water collects in canvas reservoirs or has kept us up all night as the fabric finds the limit of its water-resistant properties and leaks appear which soak the mattress and the occupants. Back in 2012, our Defender arrived in Uruguay, and a hurricane marred our first weekend on the road; we spent three long, wet, and windy days in our roof tent (with annex) and eventually decided to find refuge when the trees in the forest beside us began to tumble. Drying and repairing the RTT took nearly a week, and we learned some valuable lessons. In summary, the RTT can be used in almost any climate but is best suited to a dry, warm, not too windy environment. Later in this article, we will share more tips and tricks for getting the most out of your RTT, but first, let’s buy a tent.
Choosing an RTT
The most critical factor for most of us when choosing an RTT is cost, but there are other significant factors to consider. Will you be using the RTT occasionally, or will you be driving down to Patagonia? Are you traveling solo, with a partner, or as a family? How important are comfort and ease of set, and which RTT suits your vehicle? Naturally, our advice when buying gear is to “cry once” and invest in the highest-quality RTT you can afford, and making the right decision from the outset will save you time, money, and effort in the long run. If you have never spent significant time in an RTT, we suggest that before making a purchase, you beg, borrow, or rent a tent (if possible) for at least a weekend. Remember that overlanding with an RTT means you will spend most of your time outdoors instead of a live-in, hard-side camper with amenities such as a kitchen, seating, and a bathroom. The purchase of an RTT will often be accompanied by the purchase and installation of an awning, a drawer system, and an outdoor cooking setup (at least). Traveling as a family of four, we sourced the largest, four-sleeper RTT available on the market, which proved an excellent investment until we decided that we would commit to a life lived on the road and converted our Defender into a hard side camper at a considerable cost. Had I been traveling alone or with my wife, I would have likely downsized to a smaller RTT and spent more time in Airbnb and hostels; your style of travel dictates your needs, so it helps to establish your requirements from the outset.
There are generally two types of RTTs: soft-shell and hard-shell. Soft-shell tents tend to be bulky and more demanding in terms of setup and packing but are larger when deployed and offer more comfort and space than the hard-shell RTT. Depending on the brand, the hard-shell RTTs tend to set up and pack away with minimal fuss and are more aerodynamic than the soft-shell while taking up more roof real estate and sleeping fewer people. One of my least favorite daily activities when traveling with a large soft-shell RTT was clambering onto the Defender to open the tent or working up a sweat to pack it away, dealing with straps and zips, tucking and folding, pushing, pulling, and yelling at the tallest kid to get off their butt and give Dad a hand. By contrast, the hard-shell tent we used to tour the US was much easier to set up and close but slept only two and was mildly claustrophobic compared to the volume of a large soft-shell tent. I also worried about a strong gust of wind blowing the wedge tent closed and squishing our melons, but obviously, that never happened. Hybrid soft-shell and hard-shell RTTs are available and tend to offer the best and the worst of both worlds.
Quality Comes at a Price, Generally
Not all RTTs are created equal. The South African and Australian brands, in particular, tend to be excellent, but that quality comes with a price. With the march of time and the growing popularity of overland travel, the market is now flooded with RTT options, and naturally, the quality of materials is a consideration. I would not choose an RTT solely based on an entry-level price, especially if I intended to use the RTT regularly over an extended period. A more costly, well-built, and maintained (more on that later) RTT can last decades, but a cheaper RTT can do most of the things the expensive RTT can, with an almost certain sacrifice in longevity.
The quality of the materials and how it is stitched, glued, screwed, and assembled into the tent base (skilled labor) is where the majority of the cost is incurred in the manufacture of an RTT. The average RTT is constructed with a combination of materials including but not limited to canvas, cotton, polyester, poly-cotton (a blend of cotton and polyester), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon, rip-stop acrylic, fiberglass, fiber-reinforced plastic, aluminum, honeycomb aluminum panels, wood, marine plywood, metal, plastics, and rebound or memory foam. The large RTT then has to be transported globally or nationally, which adds significant expense. The RTT market is competitive, and margins are tight for distributors, which is great news for consumers. Generally, a higher purchase price is directly related to the quality of materials and the cost of manufacture and transport. Yes, you can take a drive up to Canada and buy an RTT for $1,000 from Princess Auto, but don’t come crying to us when it doesn’t stand up to the test of time when compared to a pricer 23Zero Armadillo or a Howling Moon Stargazer, for example.
The moral of the story is to purchase an RTT for how long you need it to last and serve; the price can then be spread mentally over a decade if that helps ease your pain.
The space on the roof of your vehicle is prime real estate for overland travel. A roof rack can house a (literal) ton of helpful gear, including, but not limited to, fuel and water cans, camping chairs, duffel bags, hard cases, firewood, a spade, solar panels, a spare wheel, and your favorite camping axe. An RTT not only takes up valuable space but also increases wind resistance and body roll, and some RTTs, particularly the two-person hard-shell RTT, can occupy the entire roof of a midsize vehicle. While you may be able to mount solar panels on the top of the hard-shell, along with a duffel bag or two and a few bolt-on accessories, you will need to find room within the vehicle to store gear that once had a home on the roof rack. The larger the vehicle, the more space and carrying capacity you have; this is where the full-size pickup shines, but with increased size comes less maneuverability. It stands to reason, then, that if your style of travel is to explore 4WD trails and get far from the beaten track, you will need to outfit your vehicle accordingly. This is why we loved our Defender 130 (the Gladiator is a similarly practical option), as we had the benefit of a long wheelbase that accommodated a large RTT and all of our gear for a family of four but was still able to cross the Amazon in the rainy season and tackle challenging mountain trails in Baja. Before investing in an RTT, you will need to have a good look at your base vehicle and the demands you will place on it, then consider your options for gear layout and storage and the placement of an awning and/or a shower cubicle as well as the weight of the RTT. Remember, less is more.
Buying Your RTT
Having taken the time to scour the internet for RTTs, having read all the forums and checked with the bank whether they are up for it, now is the time to pull the trigger. Remember, when calculating the total cost of your purchase, include necessary accessories and transportation. If you are fortunate, you will live close to a reputable distributor and can either collect or have the RTT delivered at a reasonable cost. A secondhand RTT may be a more affordable option, and again, you may be fortunate to be located close to a reputable seller; if not, you may be in for a drive or an expensive delivery. Buying a secondhand RTT is not without risk, as you may receive a tent in a condition much less pristine than advertised, and mounting kits and brackets may need to be repaired or sourced. The previous owner may have missed more than a few showers while traveling with the tent, leaving an odor that lingers; ask me how I know. You might also have sent a relative to measure the tent before purchase, and they used the toe of a boot to measure instead of a tape measure, and the tent arrived missing a foot. Again, ask me how I know. When purchasing the roof tent, you may also need to buy an annex, an addition that some use regularly and others never use. A good-quality annex with a built-in floor is an excellent option for those needing an extra area for sleeping or cooking. Likewise, a large awning with zip-on walls can be a worthwhile investment as it creates an ample and relatively secure living space. For our journey across the USA with a Range Rover Classic, we used a wedge-style, hard-shell rooftop tent for the girls to sleep in while my son and I deployed the 270 awning with walls and slept on cots. The advantage of the annex with a built-in floor is that most awning/wall combos do not come with one, and skunks and other critters can sneak in while you are sleeping. Once again, ask me how I know. Modern RTTs come with a range of accessories, and we have found the hanging shoe bags, USB, and 12-volt power ports to be the most useful. If you are traveling to a hot, bug-infested area, take a small USB or 12-volt fan along for the ride. You will be amazed at how much relief a small fan can offer on hot, still, and muggy nights. It may also be wise to purchase a spare rainfly if you intend to travel far from home.
Installing Your RTT
Top Tip: RTTs are best mounted on load bars as opposed to a full-size roof rack, reducing weight, mounting height, and cost. A smaller roof rack may then be installed on any space left on the roof for the storage of bulky, light items. When mounting the tent with the relevant mounting kit, it is best to enlist a friend’s help, use a few squirts of WD40 to assist with bolt placement, and be careful not to damage the vehicle’s roof. It is also a good idea to use a drop of thread locker when affixing the bolts; once the tent is square, the last thing you want is for the bolts to rattle loose on those long, corrugated roads. If you need to remove the RTT when not traveling, install either the roof tent, load bars, or a roof rack with a quick release. Some choose to mount a hoist system within the ceiling of their garage to easily remove and conveniently store an RTT when not in use.
Some companies, such as iKamper, supply two versions of their BDV Solo RTTs: assembled and unassembled. The difference in cost is significant (up to $500) as labor is expensive these days, and you may have to assemble your tent before installing it on your vehicle. Don’t be a dude; read the instructions. The placement of the RTT depends on how you “live” with the vehicle while traveling, and it is important to consider weight distribution—the vehicle’s center is optimal. You may have to adjust your load accordingly if the tent is mounted far forward or behind the vehicle’s center. Loading an RTT over the bed of a pickup is practical so long as the vehicle is not overloaded with gear; this configuration also opens up the vehicle’s roof for a roof rack.
Living With and Maintaining Your RTT
Now that you have installed your new RTT, you will want to get out there and enjoy the views and breeze that come with having a nest 6 feet off the ground. Out on the road, you may notice increased body roll, fuel consumption, and some wind noise from the tent (soft-shell tents tend to be noisier and less aerodynamic than hard-shell tents). On the trail, you will likely experience the dreaded body roll and should remember that you have a large and expensive piece of gear on the roof, which you probably want to avoid scraping against rock walls and tree branches. Keep this in mind when entering parking garages or your garage at home, too. Installing an “aerial” cut to the maximum height of the vehicle on the bush bar allowed me to enter low areas confidently.
That first night sleeping in the tent will likely be fantastic. Don’t forget to take up a Nalgene-style pee bottle and a wee john for the missus; the walk of shame to relieve yourself at 3:00 a.m. is never fun. And don’t fall off the ladder. Watching the sunrise from your nest has to be one of the greatest joys of overland travel. When packing up, arrange your bedding so it can be left in the tent, and do not forget to take out your phone, power cables, wallet, and keys. Unfortunately, not all compact RTTs offer additional space for bedding. Once you are done closing the tent, walk around and ensure all the latches are secure and no fabric is left out and exposed. If you are using a hard-shell tent, packing up should take a few minutes; if you are using a soft-shell tent, the packing-up process could take much of the morning, resulting in some cussing and an argument.
Remember, moisture is your roof tent’s number one enemy. It is advisable not to pack the tent if wet, even if you will be opening it again in a few hours. Damp is okay for short periods; wet is not. If you have to, use your spouse’s towel to wipe the excess moisture and condensation from the walls and ceiling of the tent. If you have to leave camp with a damp tent, be sure to open it up entirely as soon as possible to make sure that it is fully dry before storage. To combat condensation within our roof tent, we permanently installed an alpaca wool sheet (from Peru) across the internal aluminum support beams; the wool sheet absorbed all the moisture (four humans breathing in unison all night in a tropical environment), preventing drips of cold condensation on our sleeping faces and providing a pattern to consider while lying awake, needing to pee but fighting the inevitable.
Once you have returned home, you must give the RTT (and the vehicle) some TLC; this small effort will ensure that your valuable RTT will last many years. The longer and more arduous the journey, the more intense the maintenance should be. Start by opening the tent up to air, removing sheets and bedding to be washed, and ensuring that no moisture is accumulated beneath the mattress, which may need to be removed and aired. Give the ladder and metal parts a rinse and treatment with WD40 or similar, and keep the tent zips well-lubricated. If there were any issues with the tent while traveling, such as leaks, now is the time to address them. With time, the fabric of the RTT may lose some of its UV and moisture resistance as the factory treatment begins to wear off. Scotch Guard and a few other chemical suppliers sell good moisture and UV treatments for canvas and fabric, and the occasional retreatment of your tent will ensure that the material stays in excellent condition. The manufacturer of your RTT will likely have good recommendations for treating and maintaining your tent; heed their advice; they are professionals.
A loved, well-chosen, and well-maintained tent will help you travel to the ends of the earth and back in relative comfort. Our large, family-size Howling Moon tent served us very well over the years as we toured Africa, circumnavigated South America, and traveled from Argentina to Alaska and across the USA. Thanks to regular cleaning and maintenance, we only had a torn rain fly (it lasted four years of frequent heavy wind, sun, and rain) and a broken cover zip. When we converted the Land Rover into a hard-side camper in Florida, we sold the tent to a Canadian family for $1,000 (including annex), and they are still enjoying that tent to this day. We miss that tent, but we don’t miss that tent.
Read More: The Versatile Freedom Mog 2.0 Overland Camper Gives Us the Fizz
Our No Compromise Clause: We do not accept advertorial content or allow advertising to influence our coverage, and our contributors are guaranteed editorial independence. Overland International may earn a small commission from affiliate links included in this article. We appreciate your support.
