Rooftop tents are generally very compact and fold up into a double bed. Most of the people we sell this model of tent to are travelers who don’t want to tow a caravan, so they pitch the tent on top of their vehicle.

The advantages of this type of tent is that they stow out of the way, meaning you keep all of your vehicle storage space free for your camping gear. They’re also elevated, which means you don’t have to worry about finding a nice, clean ground to pitch your tent, which can save time. In fact, many people who buy rooftop tents travel to Northern Australia and want a tent that doesn’t touch the ground so they don’t have to worry about crocodiles.

Rooftop tents have the mattress included inside the tent, which means you can pack them with your bedding inside. This means that you can save a lot of time when setting up the camp, since by the time the tent is set up, it is almost ready.

The downsides of rooftop tents include having to go up and down a ladder in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, which some people find difficult, and setup time can be a bit long on some brands. We found that by mounting the rooftop tent correctly, setup time can be reduced, so it’s not a big deal. It also helps to have your vehicle set up correctly, as the hardest part of setting up and packing up your roof tent is having to get into your vehicle to do it. Installing good side steps on your 4WD makes accessing the tent much easier and will alleviate any frustration with setup and packing.

A good quality travel cover is also important for keeping dust and water off your tent bedding, so make sure you select a model that has a good one.

Rooftop tents need to be set up on a set of crossbars or a full roof rack if you have one, but are generally pretty easy to put up. It is also great to put a 4×4 awning on your vehicle as this will act as a shade during the day while you stop for lunch and also at night makes for a more complete campsite.

Most rooftop tents also have an optional canopy at the base of the tent that covers the stair area and also gives people a private area where they can change while standing.

These tents are also used in many other applications, including boat trailers and utility trays, making them a very universal product. To find out more about roof top tents and see if they will suit your needs, check out the roof top tent listings which have more information and pictures of the tents in use. We also have a video of installing a rooftop gazebo, which is great for first-time customers unfamiliar with the product.