Why Rooftop Tents are Great for Beginners
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When you think of camping you probably think of either pitching a tent on the ground or setting up camp in an RV. Some of us, however, might find ourselves looking for a middle ground. Something less bulky than an RV but more comfortable than a tent. Enter the Rooftop tent.
Overland camping with a rooftop tent (RTT) has grown in popularity in recent years. Camping in a rooftop tent is convenient, comfortable, generally more affordable than an RV and still allows you to get the feeling of spending the night in the great outdoors.
Here are a few reasons why rooftop tents are great for beginners.
Easy Storage
Finding storage for an RV during the off-season can be challenging and expensive. If you don’t have space to store your RV at your residence then you’ll have to find a storage company or RV park. It can be both a hassle and a financial struggle to find an option that works for your needs. No one likes making tons of phone calls to find something, trust me, I’ve been there.
Luckily, rooftop tents are attached to the roof of your vehicle or over the bed of your truck. This means that as long as you have space to park your vehicle, you have space to store your rooftop tent. There are even storage systems for your garage that help you suspend it up to your garage roof so it’s out of the way.
Less Challenging Travel
I grew up in the mountains and I know how uneasy driving on winding mountain roads can feel. Pulling an RV along narrow roads can add even more unease. One thing I love about rooftop tents is that as long as you’re comfortable driving your vehicle, then you’ll be comfortable traveling places with your rooftop tent.
You don’t have to worry about struggling to back into a camping spot without a spotter or whether or not the road you’re taking has enough clearance for your RV. As long as you know you can drive your normal vehicle to the destination then you’re all set.
Not pulling an RV also makes it easier to squeeze into smaller and lesser-known dispersed camping spots, which is half the fun of camping in a rooftop tent. It’s also super easy to set the tent up once you choose your location and most can be set up in under 5 minutes.
iKamper Skycamp Mini 3.0 Tent
More Affordable
Most RV set-ups are well over $10,000, even for older options. For those of us not ready to make that commitment but ready to upgrade from tent life, a rooftop tent is an attractive middle-ground. Like anything, you Some rooftop tents are several thousands of dollars but it’s much more likely that you can create a nice rooftop set-up for your vehicle for under $5,000. The options below can fit almost any car and lifestyle:
Skycamp Mini 3.0 Tent from iKamper
The Skycamp Mini 3.0 can be mounted on anything from a mini cooper to a full sized truck. The aerodynamic hard shell storage system allows your to store your bedding inside for easy set up and take down, and the spacious interior sleeps two full size adults comfortably. Includes two windows and a skylights for optimal stargazing and ventilation.
Thule Tepui Foothill Tent
Tepui Foothill Tent from Thule ($1,699)
The Tepui Foothill Tent has mattress space for two adults, yet is designed to only take up a portion of your roof rack so you still have space for a bike, kayak or other storage on your roof. It also features a wide entry, oversized panoramic rear window and dual skylights, as well as internal storage pockets, and external attachments for a more personalized camp experience.
Vagabond XL Rooftop Tent + Annex from ROAM Adventure Co. ($2,749)
What, you thought rooftop tents were for two people max? Wrong! The Vagabond XL from ROAM Adventure Co. can comfortably fit up to 4 people. Despite it’s size this tent sets up quick and includes a cool Annex feature for extra protection from the elements as you’re climbing in and out of bed.
You can start with the rooftop tent and mounting system, and as you get more experience, you can buy various add-ons for your set-up. It’s worthwhile to mention that while with an RV you get a cooking set up, and sometimes even a bathroom, a rooftop tent is really only a sleep space. We would recommend an awning, comfy chairs, a sturdy camp table and a portable shower to take your whole camp experience up to the next level.
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