Guest Contributor: Craig Fitzgerald
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Rooftop tent on a Jeep Wrangler/Image Courtesy: QuadratecRooftop tents have some distinct advantages over traditional ground tents. Auto manufacturers are now offering either the racks and bracketry required to bolt on an aftermarket rooftop tent or their own branded tents through their accessory catalogs.
Along with the advantages, we’ll be discussing the things to look out for when you’re buying a rooftop tent, both from the tents themselves and from your vehicle, and the accessories required to attach one.
When your author sampled a Tepui Low-Pro 2 rooftop tent attached to a Subaru Ascent a few years back, the biggest question we got was “What’s the point of having a tent on the roof when I could spend $35 on a tent at Walmart and sleep on the ground?”
First of all, you’re not sleeping on the ground. If you’ve ever camped on a night when the rain was pouring down in sheets, you know that your tent can pretty quickly turn into a part of a river system, with water channeling past your sleeping bag. Getting the tent off the ground avoids this entirely.
Second, you end up freeing up cargo space for other stuff. Your sleeping bags, sleeping pads (if necessary, we’ll get to that in a minute), and tent are all self-contained inside the folded tent, so your cargo area in the vehicle can be devoted to coolers, backpacks, and all your other necessary camping gear.
The worst part of camping is all the detritus you end up dragging into the tent. Sure, you can kick off your shoes before you get inside, but you still end up bringing in all kinds of leaves and dirt. The fact that you climb a ladder to get inside means that a lot of that woodland debris ends up falling off of your clothes and shoes before you get inside the tent.
Finally, having a tent like this is a major timesaver. After we’d unfolded it once, getting it knocked down and reassembled took minutes. In our example, the ladder attaches to the bottom of the unfolding half of the platform and you use it as a lever to pull the platform open. Other tents use gas struts to unfold the tent.
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. There are some disadvantages of a rooftop tent to keep in mind before you decide on purchasing one.
The biggest one is cost. You’re looking at a $1,000 investment, at least. The larger and more sophisticated you get, the steeper the price of entry, though we’ve noticed that the price has come down quite a bit as these have become more popular. The Thule Tepui Low-Pro 2 we used initially had a price tag of around $1,600, but you can buy one of these direct from Thule for $1,295 today.
While setup and knockdown are easy, it’s still something of a hassle to have to fold the tent and set it up again every time you want to go somewhere. The nice part about a regular ground tent is that you can leave it at your campsite and drive anywhere you want. Not so much with the rooftop version. It’s at its best if you leave your vehicle at the campsite and explore by bicycle, dirt bike, or on foot.
You need to understand just how much weight your vehicle’s roof can support, in both static and dynamic capacity. Static capacity is how much weight the roof can hold when the vehicle is parked. Dynamic capacity is how much weight it can handle when the vehicle is in motion with the tent folded. As an example, most of Subaru’s outdoor-oriented vehicles have had their static roof capacities increased to 700 pounds over the last few model years, specifically because older models were well past the capacity with a tent, rack, and two occupants on board.
You also may notice a fuel mileage penalty. Some of the tents are tucked into aerodynamic hard-shell boxes that help this a bit, but it’s still a big sail up on the roof that can lower your overall fuel economy.
Finally, you need to purchase the correct roof rack or rails for the tent to mount to, which can also add to the expense.
Dometic by Front Runner
Capacity: 2
MSRP: $1,169
You can probably find a cheaper tent on Amazon, but this is an example of a good quality tent that isn’t insanely expensive.
This tent is described as “super low profile,” folding down to just 330mm (12.99 inches), meaning that it’s going to catch the wind a bit less than others. That said, it folds under a nylon cover, not a hard shell, so if it rains on your way to your location, things are going to get wet.
The tent includes a flysheet, a full tent cover, a collapsible aluminum ladder, mounting hardware, and a cover that protects the tent in transport. It also includes a mattress – an important consideration with any of these tents. The built-in 2.25-inch thick mattress ends up being warmer than an air mattress and a lot more comfortable than a crash pad.
There are also a million other inexpensive accessories like a vestibule than hangs under the platform, allowing you a standing space for changing clothes and keeping shoes and your other gear.
OVS Bushveld II
Capacity: 4
MSRP: $2,799
At almost three grand, the OVS Bushveld II is a serious commitment. But it’s one of the more affordable hard shell tents we came across. Most of these come in at closer to $3,200.
Hard shell tents do have some advantages. They close entirely under a hard cover, which can be more aerodynamic, and protect your tent more effectively when you’re on the road. In a driving rainstorm on the way to a remote location, a tent under a hard shell cover is going to stay dry while one under a nylon cover has the chance to get soaked.
The disadvantage is the form factor. The hard shell on all of these examples becomes one wall of the tent when it’s unfolded. Some unfold up at a 45-degree angle. Others – like this one – unfold almost vertically. It’s not a bad thing, but instead of a soft wall with a zippered screen, the person stuck at that end of the tent has a solid wall and might not get the access to the breeze that other occupants might.
The OVS Bushveld II has a couple of nice features that lesser tents don’t, including an integrated LED light strip and gas struts that open the shell, making setup even easier than some competitive tents.
iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Mini
Capacity: 2
MSRP: $3,699
These are kind of the Cadillac (forgive the expression) of rooftop tents, and the price tag lets you know it. The advantage here is that it’s small and light, tipping the scales at just 125 pounds. If you’re driving a vehicle with a less-than-optimal static roof capacity, saving weight on the tent itself is critical.
iKamper tents don’t have the most aerodynamic covers, but they do offer the advantage of a little more storage space inside for bedding. The hard shell opens at an angle and becomes the side wall of the tent. They also have a “SkyView” screened panel in the roof that offers an unobstructed view of the stars from your lofty perch.
Roofnest Sparrow EYE
Capacity: 2
MSRP: $3,195
The Roofnest Sparrow EYE is one of the hard shell tents that unfolds at a steep angle. It’s a weird look when the tent is unfolded, kind of like the A-frame cabin that Davey and Goliath lived in. But it does offer pretty substantial headroom of 44 inches inside. Are you going to be putting your pajamas on at full standing height? No, but it does provide a bit more room to maneuver than most tents of this cost and footprint.
There are a couple of other nice things here, too, including integrated LED lighting inside, and a memory foam mattress that’s about a half-inch thicker than most of the tents you’ll find.
Roofnest Sparrow
Capacity: 2
MSRP: $3,195
Same name, price, and manufacturer as the Sparrow EYE, the Roofnest Sparrow is a hardshell tent that opens straight up, rather than unfolding, so the tent itself is something of a cube when it’s open.
The setup is amazingly easy. There are two latches and one strap at the rear. With those unbuckled, the tent’s inner springs will open the tent fully with just a nudge of the cover front and rear. Seconds later, you have a space to sleep.
There are some nice additional features to the Sparrow, including an included waterproof storage bag that attaches to the cover, so you can stash bedding, clothing, and other gear inside on the road without worrying that it’s going to get wet. The hard cover is also designed to accept solar panels with a hook and loop fastener, providing power while you’re on the trail.
Smittybilt Overlander XL
Capacity: 4
MSRP: $1,529
The Smittybilt Overlander XL should really fall in our budget category, too. MSRP is $1,595, but on the street, we’ve seen this tent sell for less than $1,000.
It has a four-person capacity, meaning the whole nuclear family can stuff inside. If there are more of you, you can add one of the company’s mesh awning rooms that attach next to the tent, though you’ve kind of lost the advantage of camping on the roof at that point.
The downside to the Overlander XL is that it’s the least user-friendly in terms of unfolding. The tent is tucked under a water-resistant soft PVC cover and then held in the folded position with a bunch of nylon straps. Once you undo all of those, you unfold the tent with the ladder attached to the platform like a lever, and then the awnings need to be propped open with included tent poles. Not exactly difficult, but not the setup ease of the Sparrow. Users have also complained about the quality of the ladder, and the thickness of the mattress. In the rooftop tent game, it does appear that you get what you pay for.
There’s a definite reason that rooftop camping has grown exponentially over the last few years. If you’re willing to invest in the gear, it’s a more fun, comfortable and spacious experience sleeping on the roof. Just keep your vehicle’s roof capacity in mind (check your owner’s manual).
Are you still on the hunt for a new truck, SUV, or crossover to put your tent ON? We can help with that, too. Just use BestRide.com to narrow down your search to the vehicle that perfectly fits your needs and budget.
(Oh, and don’t forget you’re up in the air if you need to use the outhouse late at night.)
Craig Fitzgerald began his automotive writing career in 1996, at AutoSite.com, one of the first online resources for car buyers. Over the years, he’s written for the Boston Globe, Forbes, and Hagerty. For seven years, he was the editor at Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, and today, he’s the automotive editor at Drive magazine. He’s dad to a son and daughter, and plays rude guitar in a garage band in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Which RV is right for you? Is it an SUV with a rooftop tent or a 40-foot-long motorhome? This guide to truck campers and motorhomes will help you decide.
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With constant stress from the daily grind and endless email notifications demanding our attention, heading out on the open road is the perfect way to disconnect and recharge. Let’s dive into a few of the options we have for a rolling home away from home.
Whether it’s the thrill of an off-grid excursion or a road trip to a bucket-list national park, there are recreational vehicle (RV) options to fit virtually every budget, level of experience, and desired comfort.
You could choose a rooftop tent for your daily driver that costs as little as $1,000 or an ultra-luxurious custom motorhome that costs well into six figures (and up). Understandably, it’s hard to know where to begin. This handy guide provides a basic understanding of some popular options worth considering.
Let’s dive in!
If setting up a ground tent and sleeping on sometimes rocky, uneven terrain has lost its appeal — or if you were never a fan in the first place — then a rooftop tent might be a step in the right direction. Tents mounted on top of vehicles have been around for the better part of a century.
iKamper BDV Duo; (photo/Nick Schoeps)Imagine a canvas tent atop a rugged Land Rover parked in the heart of the Serengeti, its intrepid campers perched safely above curious carnivores wandering into their campsite.
These days, thanks to escape-fantasy photos on Instagram and the growing popularity of overlanding, there’s a wide variety of modern rooftop tents that fit on everything from a Toyota Prius to an oversized 4×4 rig. Depending on the model, these tents can sleep up to six people.
There are two main types of rooftop tents: soft-side, fold-open tents as well as hard-clamshell/pop-up tents. Soft-side, flip-open rooftop tents are generally less expensive and take up less real estate on top of your vehicle. Hardshell rooftop tents are generally super-easy and quick to deploy and stow, but they cost more and take up a lot of room on your roof rack.
Because you mount a rooftop tent on the roof of a car, pickup truck, SUV, or van, the vehicle typically needs a roof rack that’s sturdy enough to carry the weight of the tent as well as its occupants.
And because the vehicle carries it during transit, it also must be secure enough to withstand wind resistance at highway speeds. The drawback here is that a rooftop tent will adversely affect your vehicle’s fuel economy and handling.
Prices start at around $1,000 and go way up from there. It’s hard to go wrong with established brands like iKamper, Tepui, AutoHome, Roofnest, and many others.
If you want to go down the rooftop tent rabbit hole even further, check out these GearJunkie stories: “Rooftop Tents: A Primer” and “Rooftop Tents and the Love-Hate Paradox.”
Between rooftop tents and slide-in truck campers, there’s an emerging class of lightweight pickup bed tent toppers. These units are basically pickup truck bed toppers with built-in rooftop tents. Pricing ranges from about $5,000 to $15,000.
AT Overland Atlas pop-top truck topper; (photo/AT Overland)The big advantage of these units is that they offer a standing-height living area within the truck bed while still retaining the full functionality of the truck bed for daily gear-hauling duties.
They are also extremely lightweight, most around 400 pounds. This helps retain the truck’s gear-hauling capabilities, ride, handling, and fuel economy. It also limits the need to remove the camper system if you use the truck as a daily driver.
Have a look at my in-depth guide to this type of versatile camper option: “The Lightweight Pop-Top Truck Camper Revolution.”
If you’re like millions of Americans who already own a pickup truck, then a slide-in or truck bed camper provides a ton of home comforts in a compact, flexible package.
Different configurations of slide-in campers are available for trucks with short or long beds as well as various payload capacities. Many have cab-over compartments that add space for additional sleepers or cargo.
You can order truck campers fully equipped or basic and stripped down. A typical fully equipped unit will have a dedicated bed, kitchen (including stove, sink, refrigerator, microwave, etc.), a convertible seating/dining/sleeping area, bathroom facilities, and more.
Keep in mind that the total weight of the camper and its contents should fall within the allowable load capacity of your pickup truck.
In some cases, the burdensome load requires a heavier-duty suspension. Things like beefed-up sway bars, helper springs, and airbag systems are all worth considering when setting up your truck to haul a camper. Hellwig Products is a great resource for these products and information on what you’ll need to get your truck set up properly.
Stabilizer legs that you deploy to various terrain are an important feature of truck campers. They allow the camper to stand on its own without the vehicle supporting it. They also allow the camper to remain at the campsite, freeing up the truck for exploration. Also, when not in use, they allow you to store the camper in a driveway or yard.
Slide-in campers fit many needs and budgets. They range in size from 8 to 20 feet, sleep up to six adults, and can cost anywhere between $6,000 and north of $50,000.
There are two basic types of slide-in truck campers: hard-sided and pop-up. Companies like Lance Camper focus on hard-sided units whereas Four Wheel Campers focuses on pop-up units, with many other brands out there to choose from that span the spectrum.
To get a good picture of the full range of hard-side, slide-in truck camper options out there, we can look at Lance’s camper offerings. They start with the Lance 650 short-bed model, with an interior floor length of nearly 7 feet and a dry weight of 1,700 pounds.
From there, it goes all the way up to the Lance 1172 long-bed model. It has a floor length of nearly 12 feet, a dry weight of 4,174 pounds, and two slide-outs that expand the usable interior space.
In the middle sits the versatile Lance 855s short-bed model with a single slide-out, which was used on Lance’s Altimeter concept camper project.
If you want more comfort than a rooftop tent, want to keep your truck bed for outdoor gear, and don’t want to own a dedicated vacation vehicle, then a travel trailer may be the solution for you.
Just as there are different classes of motorhomes, travel trailers come in dozens of shapes, sizes, and configurations to suit recreational users’ diverse needs.
Most travel trailers are portable living quarters towed behind a vehicle. Others, known as “toy haulers,” combine living space with a garage for transporting ATVs, motorcycles, or side-by-sides.
Travel trailers offer the convenience of being parked at a campsite so the tow vehicle can be used for transportation to your favorite fishing hole or hiking trail.
Travel trailers come in a range of styles, from lightweight tent trailers that can be towed behind a car to enormous triple-axle trailers that require a heavy-duty tow vehicle.
Lengths range from 8 to 40-plus feet. Sleeping accommodations range from one to 10 people. Prices range from about $6,000 to $160,000-plus.
An important consideration when looking at travel trailers is the towing capacity of your car, truck, or SUV. Keep in mind that driving a vehicle while towing a trailer requires skill and situational awareness, especially when backing up or maneuvering in tight spaces like gas stations, parking lots, and campgrounds.
The added weight of the trailer limits acceleration and the ability to brake or swerve quickly. But with an appropriate vehicle and some practice, you’ll become a trailer-towing pro in no time and have a convenient, comfortable base camp for your outdoor adventures.
OPUS Camper OP 15 Trailer; (photo/OPUS)You can get a good feel for the variety of travel trailers on the market by having a look at a couple of our guides: “Top 10 Affordable Off-Road Trailers and Teardrops” and “9 Best Rugged Camper Trailers for Off-Road Adventures.”
The different classifications of motorhomes — self-contained, self-propelled vehicles with living quarters — are a little confusing. Class A is the largest, Class B is the smallest, and Class C is in between.
Because they are built on a van chassis, Class B campervans are the lightest and most maneuverable type of motorhome, making them easy to drive and park.
As a dedicated recreational vehicle, a campervan can be kept stocked with gear and supplies so you can escape at a moment’s notice. Many vans are also extremely fuel-efficient and easy to drive, which makes them usable as daily drivers as well.
Most Class B campervans provide the comforts and conveniences of home, including dining and kitchen facilities, sleeping quarters, a bathroom, and ample storage.
Because of their compact size, they make efficient, multipurpose use of space. The camper can arrange cushions used for couches and dinettes by day to create sleeping areas at night. Refrigerators, microwave ovens, running water, flushing toilets, satellite TVs, and Wi-Fi are but a few of the features available on today’s campervans.
Class B campervans range from 15 to 25 feet in length, sleep up to four people, and cost anywhere from $80,000 to $200,000-plus.
A super-nice and well-equipped example of a Class B campervan is the Passage 144 Sprinter RV Camper Van. Midwest Automotive Designs built it on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van chassis with a diesel engine and fully equipped it with heat, air conditioning, a lithium-ion battery power system, a diesel generator, two LED HD TVs, and so much more. The Passage 144 costs about $125,000 and is just under 25 feet long.
Like Class B motorhomes, those designated Class C are also built on a van chassis and retain the original cab section. The difference is that they have a wider body section and an over-the-cab sleeping/cargo area.
Because of their larger, purpose-built bodies, Class C motorhomes are typically larger, heavier, and more expensive than their Class B counterparts.
Remember, in the world of RVs, the largest motorhomes are Class A, followed by Class C, and then Class B. For those who want a dedicated recreational vehicle, Class C motorhomes offer more living space, more creature comforts, and a wider range of configurations than a Class B. They range in length from 20 to 35 feet, sleep as many as eight, and cost anywhere from $40,000 to $300,000-plus.
A luxury example of a Class C motorhome is the Renegade Vienna, which is built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 chassis with a turbo diesel engine. Available in multiple configurations, the Vienna has a slide-out that expands both the dining and sleeping areas. It’s well-appointed for luxurious living on the road. The Renegade Vienna will set you back about $142,000 and comes in at just under 25 feet long.
Purpose-built from the ground up, Class A motorhomes are the ultimate in dedicated RVs. Distinguished by their boxy appearance, they most closely resemble a tour bus.
Ranging from 20 to 40-plus feet in length, Class A motorhomes may be the same length or even shorter than some Class C motorhomes, but they maximize living space to the fullest.
Fleetwood Bounder Class A RV; (photo/Fleetwood)Some Class A motorhomes have multiple large slide-outs, greatly expanding the available interior space for cooking, dining, socializing, and sleeping. A full master’s suite and a bathroom with a tub/shower, a toilet, and a vanity area are common features.
Prices start around $60,000, but the sky truly is the limit. The most luxurious Class A motorhomes cost north of $1 million.
One of the primary distinctions among Class A motorhomes is whether it’s built on a specialized chassis and powered by a heavy-duty gas engine, or built on a bus chassis with a diesel engine mounted in the back. The industry calls these latter RVs “diesel pushers.” Class A motorhomes, especially those with high-torque diesel engines, can also tow an extra vehicle, boat, or trailer.
Fleetwood RV, a top-volume RV manufacturer, makes a full range of Class A motorhomes. Owners can fully customize them with a wide variety of interior materials, wood colors, appliance options, and layouts.
Its gas-powered Bounder model, which is one of the best-selling RVs of all time, is a good example of a typical Class A motorhome. Five floorplans and two slide-outs offer a king-size bed in the master suite, one or two bathrooms, and options such as bunk beds for the kids or a fold-down patio.
Regardless of how comfortable or off the grid you want to be, there’s likely a tent, camper, or recreational vehicle to meet your needs. Figure out what your intended usage will be, how much you’re willing to spend, and how many people you’ll be traveling with.
Then decide whether you’ll use your existing vehicle, buy a pickup or tow vehicle, or invest in a dedicated recreational vehicle. Finally, make an honest assessment of your driving skills, the type of terrain you’ll be traveling, and where you’ll store the camper when not in use.
Not only can you rent with Outdoorsy, but you can buy into van life as well.Before making any commitment, consider renting different types of recreational vehicles to figure out what you like and don’t like. Check out companies like Cruise America, Outdoorsy, RVshare, and others to try a range of camper options.
And if buying new is not within your budget, there’s a thriving used market for recreational vehicles and equipment.
What is the best time of year to buy an RV?
RVs are generally the least expensive around the end of the year. November through February is a good window to find good deals, before most people RV shop in the spring for summer adventures.
What are the negatives of owning an RV?
While you might only use an RV a handful of times a year, you’ll be paying insurance, maintenance, and storage for it year-round.
Do RVs depreciate?
New RVs start to depreciate very quickly, especially over the first year they roll off the dealer lot.
Are RV prices negotiable?
Most normal RV pricing is very negotiable, and you’ll rarely pay the full MSRP. Special orders, super high-end units, and special in-demand vehicles are the exceptions to that rule.
Is there a difference between an RV and a camper?
While the terms “RV” and ”camper” are often used interchangeably, they generally do denote different things. An RV usually refers to a vehicle that drives down the road, while a camper usually refers to a trailer with living systems in it.