What an SUV tailgate tent is
An SUV or tailgate tent joins on to the open boot of an SUV, estate, hatchback or van, so the car and the tent become one space. You can sleep in the back of the car with the tent as a porch, or sleep in the tent and keep your kit in the boot. Most fix with straps, hooks or elastic round the open tailgate, and many fold small enough to live in the car. This range also lists the roof tents and awnings made for SUVs: see roof tents.
Tailgate tents, car tail tents, rear awnings or changing tents
- Tailgate tents are a small room on the back of the car for sleeping, or for a rest on a long drive, with mesh screens for air. One here is made for small and medium SUVs and vans whose tailgate lifts up.
- Car tail tents are full tents that dock to the boot. The tunnel-style one here is 480 by 220cm, for 3 to 4 people, and the solo tent has room for one more at the tailgate.
- Rear awnings are a roof off the open boot for shade and light rain, held on poles and pegged out. See car awnings.
- Changing and shower tents hang from the tailgate or the rear glass on suction cups, for privacy at the beach or campsite. See changing tents.
The seal to the car, and the engine
The join between tent and car is where wind and rain get in, so look at how each one seals: elastic ports that fit snugly to the car body, an awning that adjusts to different vehicle heights, a three-layer door to keep out wind and cold. Measure your car with the tailgate open before you order. Never run the engine to keep warm with a tent on the back: the exhaust is right underneath, and exhaust fumes carry carbon monoxide.
What the waterproof rating means on a tailgate tent
The rating in millimetres, the hydrostatic head, is the height of a column of water the fabric holds back before it leaks, tested to BS EN ISO 811. About 1,000mm is the lowest rating usually called waterproof, most lightweight flysheets are 1,500mm to 3,000mm, and more is worth having for long wet trips or a tailgate tent left up for days. The groundsheet is often rated higher, because you kneel and lie on it. The tailgate tents here are rated from 2,000mm to over 4,000mm. Taped seams matter as much as the number. Shop by rating: to 2,000mm, to 3,000mm and 5,000mm and over.
Questions people ask about SUV tailgate tents
Will a tailgate tent fit my car?
Most fit a range of SUVs, estates and hatchbacks with a boot that opens upwards, and several say universal. Compare the sizes on each product with your car, tailgate open. One here is made only for the VW T5 and T6 Transporter.
Is a tailgate tent single or double layer?
Both are here. The dual-use rear tent is single layer, while the tailgate awning tent for a 4x4, trailer or pick-up has a flysheet over an inner tent with mesh panels. See double layer tents.
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.
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