Roof Tents

What a roof tent is

A roof tent fixes to the roof bars or roof rack of a car, SUV, 4x4 or van and opens up there, so you sleep off the ground, away from wet grass, stones and sloping pitches. Many come with a ladder down to the ground, and the tent stays on the vehicle while you drive. The roof tents here are made for one or two people up to four to six, and some are shaped for van roofs such as the Mercedes Sprinter.

Hard shell, clamshell, pop-up or inflatable

• Hard-shell roof tents are the biggest group here: an aluminium or carbon fibre shell that protects the tent when it is closed. See tent boxes.
• Clamshell and wedge tents hinge up at one end, which makes them quick to open. The wedge tent here opens on gas struts and has a 50mm foam mattress.
• Pop-up roof tents lift the whole roof straight up, some with an electric lift.
• Inflatable roof tents stand on air columns blown up with a pump. The one here opens to 220 by 140cm, with a ladder that reaches 2.3m.
• Fold-out tents are fabric on an aluminium frame, and one here has a large rainfly that extends at the back for extra cover.

Roof load: dynamic and static

This is the check that matters most with a roof tent. A car's roof has two load limits. The dynamic load is what the roof may carry while you are driving, and it is given in the car's handbook. The tent and the roof bars or rack it sits on must come in under it together. The static load is what the roof holds when the car is parked, and it is higher, because nothing is being thrown about by braking and corners. That is why a parked roof tent can hold you as well. Many handbooks give no static figure at all, so never guess one.

The roof bars have their own rating too, in their instructions, and the lower of the two figures is the one that counts. Check the handbook, the bars and the tent's own weight before you buy. The weights in the descriptions here, such as the inflatable tent's 200kg capacity and the wedge tent floor's 215kg rating, are what the tent will carry inside, not what your roof will.

Fit, height and getting in

Several makers here ask you to check your car's roof shape against the product picture before ordering, because fit varies between models and countries. Remember the car is taller with a tent on top, which matters for car parks and garages, and that bed is up a ladder.

Questions people ask about roof tents

How many people can sleep in a roof tent?

The ones here are made for one or two, two or three, and four to six. Everyone inside counts towards the parked load, along with the tent.

Are roof tents for all seasons?

Some are. The carbon fibre pop-up tent for vans here is insulated for 4-season use, and the wedge tent has adjustable vents to cut condensation in cold weather. Check each product page.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Tent boxes
• Car awnings
• SUV and tailgate tents
• Truck bed tents
• All vehicle tents
• Tent lights
• Guide: Roof tents and car awnings