Although rooftop tents are rapidly becoming mainstream camping gear, to some people, there still are many mysteries concerning how this essential gear works. Some popular questions people are concerned about are how to choose a rooftop tent or even what type of tent to choose.

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In this article, we will address popular rooftop tent questions to help you make the most of rooftop tents.

Rooftop Tent Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Rooftop tents have grown to be an integral part of camping as more and more people make the switch from regular traditional tents to these more modern options. In fact, ever since rooftop tents entered the market a few years ago, their demand has continued to increase, and the market has gone nowhere but up.

And for great reasons too!

Investing in a rooftop tent is an excellent option when you are constantly in pursuit of one outdoor activity or the other. It is a great way to make your camping or overlanding trips more convenient while enjoying the luxury many other ground texts do not offer.

Rooftop tents are rapidly gaining popularity, but many people still have many questions that fuel their skepticism about switching from traditional tents to rooftop tents. If you are among the many people who have questions about rooftop tents, we are here to help!

Below, we have compiled a list of possible questions you might have and detailed answers to these questions.

1. How do I make a rooftop tent more comfortable?

Your rooftop tent is your home away from home and should be made as comfortable as possible. Some easy ways you can do this include:

• Invest in a high-quality waterproof mattress 

• Buying absorbent sheets and connection mats to keep wetness out

• Buy comfortable pillows

• Buy a rooftop tent in the correct size

• Bring a ground mat with you on camping trips to keep the mud out of your tent

• Light up your tent with power-saving LED lights

• Keep your tent cool with a cooling fan

• Use mosquito nets for protection.

2. How much does a rooftop tent weigh?

A rooftop tent&#;s weight depends on the materials it is made out of and its size. Generally, rooftop tents weigh between 100-200lbs.

A rooftop tent&#;s weight capacity varies with the type of tent. On average, rooftop tents can hold 200 lbs per occupant. 

For example, the Tuff Stuff Alpha II Hard Top two-person tent has a weight capacity of 800 lbs, while the Tuff Stuff Ranger three-person tent also holds 800 lbs.

4. Where can I camp with my rooftop tent?

There are many advantages of rooftop tents, and one essential one is the ease of camping anywhere.

You can camp anywhere your vehicle goes! It doesn't matter if you find yourself in the desert or on a grassy plain, as long as you find a safe and legal place to park your vehicle, you can use your rooftop tent.

5. How can I level a rooftop tent?

An uneven rooftop tent can be very uncomfortable and frustrating. To make the most out of your text and enjoy a comfortable night's rest, you need to level your RTT. To do this:

• Choose a flat place to park your vehicle. If camping uphill, find an area with only a slight incline to pitch your tent.

• Level your vehicle, not just your tent

• Use leveling blocks if necessary. Use rocks if you don't have blocks 

• Position your rooftop tent ladder toward a hill

6. How do I keep a rooftop tent warm?

A chilly tent is uncomfortable. However, sometimes it can not be avoided, especially when camping in the winter.

To keep your rooftop tent warm:

• Use insulation

• Invest in electric blankets

• Use a portable heater

• Buy an insulating mattress

• Use diesel-powered heat exchangers (

  you can also create your diesel heater

  !)

7. How do rooftop tents work?

Rooftop tents are camping gear fitted to, you guessed right- the roof of a camping vehicle. However, some rooftop tents are also fitted to the bed of a motor vehicle.

Rooftop tents were designed to offer shelter like regular camping tents but in a more convenient, comfortable, and safer structure. With standard tents, your tent is on the ground, but with rooftop tents, your shelter is atop your vehicle.

8. Why are rooftop tents highly sought after?

There are many reasons people choose to switch their traditional camping tents to rooftop tents. Although rooftop tents are generally more expensive than conventional tents, they offer more game-changing benefits that many campers find essential to their outdoorsy lifestyle.

Some of these benefits are:

• Easy set-up and pull-down

• Ease of mobility as you can camp wherever you go with your vehicle

• You can make the most of your vehicle space with your rooftop tent installed on top of your car. 

• Many rooftop tents are made of more durable materials (like

  aluminum

  ) than some traditional tents.

• Better sleep off the ground, you do not have to deal with rocks poking into your back as you sleep, water pooling in your tent as it rains, or mud splashing all over your tent. 

• They offer a vantage point of the ground which keeps you out of reach of animals like snakes creeping into the camping area.

9. Will installing a rooftop tent damage my vehicle?

When appropriately installed, rooftop tents do not pose a risk to a vehicle&#;s roof.

Rooftop tents are installed using roof racks or rooftop bars. The tent is not placed directly on the roof of the vehicle. 

Of course, rooftop tents are heavy, so your concerns are valid. However, if you stick to your vehicle&#;s and roof rack&#;s weight limit, you should have no problem using a rooftop tent.

10. How do I know my vehicle&#;s weight limit?

Although a vehicle&#;s weight limit is an overlooked feature, it is one of the many important factors to consider when installing a rooftop tent. Your vehicle&#;s weight limit determines how safe it will be to install a rooftop with a certain weight.

Your vehicle&#;s weight limit is categorized into static and dynamic weight. Static weight is your vehicle&#;s weight capacity when it is immobile. It is how much weight your vehicle can support when it is not moving. 

The static weight capacity is often at least three times the dynamic weight capacity. To know if your rooftop tent is suitable for your vehicle, ensure that the tent&#;s weight and your weight is less than the static capacity figure.

For example, many SUVs have a static weight capacity of more than pounds. If your rooftop tent weighs 250 pounds, you must ensure that the combined weight of you and your camping company- and your camping gear- is less than 600 pounds.

On the other hand, dynamic weight capacity is how much weight your vehicle can support when in motion. Your rooftop tent&#;s weight should not exceed this weight limit.

You can find your vehicle&#;s weight limit by talking to your dealer or checking your manual. Either way, you must factor these numbers into your rooftop tent needs.

11. Will any roof racks do for my rooftop tent?

No! You should never purchase a roof rack for your rooftop tent without ensuring it has the correct specifications.

Some vehicles come factory-equipped with roof racks pre-installed. You might think you do not need to purchase another roof rack, but this isn&#;t the case. Pre-installed roof racks are not strong enough to support rooftop tents.

So, what roof racks should you buy?

There are different types of roof racks with other specifications. The roof rack you should buy depends on your vehicle type and rooftop tent requirement.

Many rooftop tent manufacturers often detail the best rack fit for their different rooftop tents, so this should not be a problem. They usually offer a guide so you know the correct roof rack weight limit, material type, length, and breadth is perfect for you.

12. Can my pet sleep in a rooftop tent?

Yes, your pet can sleep in a rooftop tent! Many rooftop tents are animal friendly and are comfortable for human and pet campers.

All you need to do is find a rooftop tent that will hold you and your pet(s) comfortably and probably invest in a rooftop tent ramp to help your pet get up and down the tent quickly.

13. How do I store my rooftop tent when I'm not camping?

Many people wonder what to do with their tents when taking a break from outdoor activities. While some people prefer to leave their rooftop tent installed on their camping vehicle, we do not recommend doing this. Like regular camping tents, rooftop tents need to be stored properly to ensure it retains their durability and is in an excellent state for your subsequent camping trips.

One common misconception that people have about storing rooftop tents is they can leave them lying on the floor. However, this is not a practical option, as even if the floor is dry, small amounts of moisture can still find their way into your rooftop tent. This poses a high risk of degradation and can damage your tent.

So what are the best ways?

• Flat on the garage floor: Instead of placing the tent directly on the floor, create a wooden platform and set the tent on it. Remember to store the tent and accessories in an airtight bag or thick blankets.

• Lean it against a wall: this option is best if you do not have enough garage floor space. Create a stable platform along the bottom of the tent. Place the tent&#;s base on the wall and lean the top part against the wall. For added security, use ties to support the rooftop tent to the wall.

• On the ceiling: Using a pulley system, you can store your rooftop tent overhead. This method saves space but will require more effort and financial investment than previous options.

• Use a cart: Do you have a cart-like structure that your roof-top tent will fit in? Try storing your tent in it!  

14. What size tent should I buy?

Rooftop tents are long-term investments which is why you should buy a rooftop tent that will serve you for years. This means you should take in several factors, like the tent size.

There are one-person, two-person, and even five-person rooftop tents with varying weight capacities. When choosing the size to buy, you should consider if you will be camping alone or will have companions with you. If you are not sure, you can &#;size up&#;! After all, it's better to be stuck with a bigger rooftop tent than a small one.

15. How do I clean my tent?

Maintaining a rooftop tent is easy. Ensure you never store it wet, and remember to clean out all dirt on or in it. 

To clean your rooftop tent, remove all your sleeping gear. Clean the tent&#;s floor or base and air out the tent. Depending on how often you use the tent, deep clean your RTT to eliminate build-up. Remember to let it dry properly before putting it in storage.

16. Will installing a rooftop tent affect my vehicle&#;s mileage?

Any car owner&#;s primary concern about installing a rooftop tent is how it affects mileage. After all, an object that is bulky on the roof of a vehicle is bound to create a drag effect.

A study shows that even roof racks impact fuel consumption. So, will rooftop tents do the same?

For more information, please visit Outdoor Hard Shell Roof Top Tent supplier.

The short answer to this question is yes. Yes, installing a rooftop tent will affect your vehicle&#;s mileage. However, there is no specific formula you can use to calculate how much change in mileage occurs. To make it easier, we have provided all you need to know about how much rooftop tents affect gas mileage in this detailed article.

17. Will installing a rooftop tent affect my speed?

No, it doesn't. Installing a rooftop tent does not affect the overall performance of your vehicle when it comes to speed. However, it would help if you kept in mind that this depends on your vehicle&#;s capacity. It is also important to remember that going too fast while a rooftop tent is attached to the roof of your car will decrease your mileage.

18. What kind of vehicle can I install my rooftop tent on? 

There are so many vehicles out there, so it can get confusing trying to figure out if a rooftop tent can fit on your car. As an unspoken rule of thumb, RTTs are more commonly seen on SUVs and trucks. However, theoretically, any vehicle with a dynamic weight capacity of over 165 pounds and can fit the necessary roof racks can hold a rooftop tent. Regardless, rooftop tents are more commonly seen on off-road capable vehicles.

19. Should I buy a soft-shell tent or a hard-shell rooftop tent?

Both types of rooftop tents are great options. However, it would help if you considered your needs before choosing one.

Hard-shell rooftop tents are more compact and have smaller weight capacities. However, they are also more aerodynamic, durable, and easy to set up.

On the other hand, soft-shell rooftop tents are usually bigger but less aerodynamic and more challenging to set up.

Weigh your options and see which rooftop tent type best suits your lifestyle!

20. How long do rooftop tents last?

Rooftop tents are more durable than regular ground tents. When well maintained, you should be able to enjoy using your RTT for at least five and as much as ten years.

21. Should I leave my rooftop tent on my vehicle in the winter?

Unless you are camping in the winter, it is not advisable to leave your rooftop tent installed on the roof of your vehicle. Leaving your rooftop tent installed on your cars throughout the cold months can cause moisture to seep in. This moisture can be challenging to expel during the winter and damage your RTT.

Additionally, unless you plan to abandon your vehicle with the RTT installed, there is no point driving around with the tent installed. This will decrease your mileage.

22. Can I drive my vehicle through an automated car wash with my tent installed?

No, you should not. This can damage your rooftop tent.

Rooftop Tents are the New Way

Although rooftop tents are growing increasingly popular, they are still relatively new to the camping scene. As a camper used to ground tents, it is normal to be skeptical about making the switch to rooftop tents.

However, ever since it became a mainstream camping gear, rooftop tents have offered nothing but benefits. Rooftop tents have consistently proven to be better options than regular rents. 

To help you make the easier choice, we have provided an answer to all the questions you possibly have. With this article, we hope you are finally confident in the knowledge you have of rooftop tents.

Roof Top Tent FAQs

Why are Roof Top Tents (RTT) popping up all over campsites these days?

As you can tell from the number of roof top tent installs we&#;ve done in our two California shops lately, RTTs are rapidly gaining popularity. Here&#;s why.

• Speed

  . Quick set up and tear down- today's roof top tents are a snap to set up. You literally just unsnap the locks, and up pops your tent! All of our roof top tents include gas-strut assisted opening. So there is no heavy lifting or finicky set up. These roof top tents cannot wait to go camping- you just have to set them free!

• Comfort.

  Roof Top Tents come with a built-in mattress. Forget about rolling off of your 2 ft wide sleeping pad or cursing the low battery on your noisy air mattress pump. Our high quality roof top tents come standard with a cushy, wall-to-wall foam mattress.

• Convenience.

  Sleeping bags and bedding can be left inside the tent when you are packing up. This also frees up space inside your vehicle for other camping essentials or companions. The speedy set-up, built-in mattress and bedding storage space really come into play for long road trips or campers who like to move around a lot.

• Elevation

  . The view from the roof is both more private & less obstructed by ground brush, offering you an entirely new perspective while lounging in bed. Panoramic view from above? Heck yeah!

• Security

  . Sleeping off the ground offers peace of mind from critters, bugs, and all sorts of things that go bump or rustle in the night. You're also way less likely to find a rock or pokey stick on your roof than you are on the ground. Meaning you'll sleep better and wake up refreshed & ready to explore.

• Style.

  They're really cool. It feels like you're in a treehouse. Yes, it's stating the obvious, but being awesome and looking great is a big reason why you're seeing them at all the epic outdoor camping locations!

Can I test out a roof top tent to see what it feels like before I buy?

Yup! Please get in touch to make an appointment at one of our two California Showroom Locations, located in San Francisco and San Diego. You can climb up in our demo models and have a thorough discussion with our knowledgable staff about fitment to your vehicle and any other questions you have. 

What is the best type of roof top tent- Hard shell or soft shell?

Hard shell all the way! (unless you have a small car)

• Hard shell (or hard top) roof top tents are: more aerodynamic (fuel efficient) while driving;

  much

  faster to set up & to put away; quieter on windy days (less material flapping about); better insulated; and frankly better looking (in our opinion).

• Soft shell roof top tents tend to have a smaller footprint when closed (making them great for small vehicles). But, if your vehicle can handle the size, we strongly recommend a hard shell roof top tent.

My roof rack says the load capacity is 200lbs, so... how can I sleep in the tent (which weighs 150lbs) on my car?

What, you weigh more than 50 lbs? And you want to use your tent for sleepovers? This is actually no problem. Roof rack manufacturers are referring to the &#;dynamic load capacity&#; in this case, which is the amount of weight the roof racks can safely withstand while driving the vehicle. When your car is parked and your roof top tent is open, the roof rack is not being subjected to abrupt changes in momentum caused by cornering, acceleration and breaking, so the &#;static load capacity&#; of rack systems comes in to play. The static load capacity is dramatically higher than the dynamic load capacity, since vehicles are engineered to withstand the weight of the vehicle itself, in case of a roll-over. For this reason, it&#;s totally encouraged to have sleepovers in your roof top tent, even if you weigh more than 50 lbs.

What you&#;ll want to watch out for as the limiting factor is that dynamic load capacity- the weight on your roof rack while you are driving. Be mindful that you mount your roof top tent on a heavy duty rack system- all the way from the crossbars to the feet of the rack. Otherwise you&#;re limited by the lowest capacity component in the system. And obviously, you should never be in a roof top tent while the vehicle is in motion, as this would exceed the dynamic load capacity.

If you need help getting an appropriate roof rack and installing a roof top tent in California, please get in touch. We can help you assess the rack racks you currently have in place, or get you set up with a rack system if you don't already have one. Rhino Adventure Gear is an authorized Rhino-Rack dealer, and we also carry other rack systems that are popular with the off road community.

What is the best Roof Top Tent for sale?

Good question. We firmly believe in only selling the best of the best. This applies not only to roof top tents, but to all our overlanding and backcountry camping equipment. As outdoor lifestyle and roof top campers have exploded in popularity, so too have the number of companies manufacturing roof rack tents. We&#;ve been approached by numerous manufacturers asking us to carry their brands. But Rhino Adventure Gear is a family-owned, local California overlanding shop, not an online megastore looking to profit off a trend. We care about our customers&#; long-term satisfaction and want to be confident about every tent we sell, so we are extraordinarily selective about the roof top tents we offer for sale. If you see a tent on our site, you can be sure we&#;ve vetted it thoroughly, used it ourselves, and have demo units on hand in our two California Showroom Locations for you and the family to come test out.

Most of our customers come to our site specifically to buy a James Baroud, iKamper, or Camp King roof top tent. They've done their research and they're asking for a specific RTT by name. If this sounds like you please head on over to our Roof Top Tent shopping page, and select the tent you&#;re looking to buy. If you are just beginning your roof top tent buying journey, and want to do more research first, please read on to get caught up on the best roof top tents on the market.

iKamper Skycamp | The most innovative hard shell roof top tent

iKamper Roof Top Tents made a big splash with their historic Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $2.3 million. The brainchild of a father who was frustrated with cramped camping solutions for his family, the iKamper Skycamp was specifically designed with family camping in mind. After 20 iterations and design tweaks over years of development, the Skycamp was born. The folding mechanism of the floor is unique to hard shell roof top tents, in that it is the only hard shell roof top tent on the market where the footprint of the tent extends beyond the roofline of the vehicle.

Enlarging the sleeping area of a hard shell roof top tent to accommodate a king size bed required extensive engineering and use of cutting edge materials, like the aluminum honeycomb flooring that enables the platform of the tent to overhang the vehicle.

• King Size bed can sleeps 4 people (2 adults & 2 kids; or 3 adults)

• Hard Shell Tent with Skylight window

• Many modular accessories (annex room, awning, storage shelves)

James Baroud | The reigning champion of luxury and quality in roof top tents

James Baroud tents have withstood the test of time and come with all the bells and whistles included. These luxury touches enhance the comfort and ensure the longevity of the tent:

• Ultra thick, moisture-resistant foam mattress

• Solar powered, reversible ventilation fan

• Bright, removable LED flashlight

• Mosquito-proof screened windows & doors

• Storage pockets

• Market-leading 5-year warranty

• Available in hundreds of colors (New as of !)

The James Baroud roof top tent lineup includes 3 body styles- clamshell, extended clam shell, and full opening / flat top. Each of these are then available in standard or XXL size, and with or without an integrated storage tray on the exterior of the tent. The naming conventions can get a little bit confusing, so be sure to scroll through the photos on our Rhino Adventure Gear product pages where you&#;ll find a helpful model comparison chart, as well as dimensional information and feature summaries of each type of James Baroud Roof Top Tent.

Another huge selling point of the Baroud RTTs is the sweet line up of cleverly engineered awnings and accessories. For example, the new James Baroud Tunnel Awning, allows you to climb through the roof of the awning directly into your roof top tent via an enclosed tunnel as you ascend the ladder. Combine the Tunnel Awning with a 3-wall Awning Enclosure/Annex Room, and you get two separate but connected sleeping spaces (your RTT and the annex room on the ground).

Camp King Industries | Aluminum Roof Top Tents

The distinguishing feature of the Camp King RTT is its aluminum shell construction. A 2 mm thick, powder coated aluminum shell makes the Camp King RTT strong enough to support its own rack system and carry a gear load on top of the tent. Whether it&#;s a set of MAXTRAX, mountain bikes or surfboards, you can mount it on top of the Camp King RTT.

The most comparable roof top tent to the Camp King is the Alucab, which also has an aluminum shell. However, we sell Camp King RTT over the Alucab, because we believe the build quality is superior. Camp King Industries uses only premium Australian materials in their RTTs. The best way to appreciate the significance of quality materials is to make an appointment at a Rhino Adventure Gear Showroom and spend some time opening and closing tents, laying on the mattresses and operating the zippers. Below are some additional details on the Camp King Roof Top Tent features:

• Strong aluminum shell

• Breathable natural fabrics

• Eco-friendly foam mattress

• Ultra high quality seals

• Heavy duty struts for easy, assisted opening

How do you install a roof top tent? What type of roof rack is required?

Unfortunately there isn&#;t a simple, &#;one size fits all&#; answer to this question. It really depends on the type of vehicle you have, the type of tent you get, whether you have factory roof rails pre-installed or not, and what mounting configuration you&#;re looking for.

Some types of vehicles have tons of compatible aftermarket roof rack options; others not so much. Sometimes roof rack installation requires precisely drilling into the roof of the vehicle; other times it&#;s pretty simple.

If you&#;re in California and looking to get set up with a roof top tent but aren&#;t sure what rack system you need, fill out this form or get in touch to chat with our roof top tent installation teams in San Francisco or San Diego. They&#;ll gather information about your vehicle, and discuss options for how we can help get you set up.

How long will it take for the Roof Top Tent I bought to be installed?

We always do our best to give you an accurate estimate at the time of purchase, or when we send out a quote for a custom build project. If we have inventory of the specific roof top tent and roof rack you need, we can usually schedule you in for an install within a week or two, depending on how busy we are at the shop. Other times we have to wait for an incoming shipment of tents to arrive, and it&#;ll take longer.

If you have an upcoming trip planned, be sure to complete your order well in advance to give us enough lead time to acquire any backordered parts. Usually purchasing your gear 4 to 6 weeks before a trip is sufficient, but the more lead time the better. Again, we&#;ll give you an estimate specific to your order when you buy your equipment.

Even a basic roof top tent installation often requires coordinating multiple vehicle-specific parts- roof rack crossbars, feet, bracketry etc., and if just one of these is out of stock, we&#;re dependent on the manufacturer&#;s supply line and shipping times to get it in hand before we can complete the install. Manufacturers across the overlanding industry are struggling to keep up with rising demand and tariffs on raw materials, so we often experience backorder queues in the 4 - 10 week range if we have to custom order something for your build. We appreciate your understanding that there is a difference between sourcing quality overlanding products from around the world and buying diapers that you can have delivered within 2 hours from Amazon.

Will a Roof Top Tent fit in my garage?

Well, it depends on the height of your garage, your vehicle, and the profile/height of the roof rack you use to attach the tent. Some measuring tape and a careful look at roof top tent and roof rack dimension charts are probably your best bet to get an accurate answer this question.

If you have a large or lifted vehicle and a low clearance garage, but really want to keep your tent in the garage, you could consider mounting the tent to an off road trailer with an overhead rack system instead. This has the advantage of keeping the roof of your vehicle free for other cargo such as surfboards, kayaks or mountain bikes, and it means you can easily detach your camping equipment from your vehicle.

Still have more questions about Roof Top Tents?

Browse our selection of Roof Top Tents and scroll through some images to get a sense of what it would look like on your vehicle. Don't be shy about giving us a call if you have a question specific to your vehicle that wasn't addressed above!

Want more information on Outdoor Hard Shell Roof Top Tent wholesaler? Feel free to contact us.