5 things to consider when buying a roof tent

If you’re keen on spending the maximum amount of time exploring the great outdoors with the minimum amount of fuss (not to mention finance) then you might well be considering buying yourself a roof tent.

There’s a roof tent to suit almost every vehicle, every holiday type - and every person, couple or family. But how do you choose? Get started on your search with our guide to the top 5 considerations when you’re buying a roof tent.

Can your vehicle handle it?

If you carry a bike rack or roof box on top of your car, there’s only one load figure you need to worry about - that’s the ‘roof load’ limit which you’ll find in the car’s handbook and usually on the manufacturer’s website. Technically, that’s a ‘dynamic’ load, which means the car can cope with that extra weight even during severe manoeuvres and emergency braking. With a roof tent, it's a little different. When the tent is packed down for travelling, it must still be within that dynamic roof load limit (including the weight of the roof rack or bars that it’s attached to). Many cars have a 75kg or 100kg roof limit, which suits most models of roof tent, but smaller cars may have less capacity.

Once set up on site and all the campers are in, though, a roof tent will exceed the normal dynamic roof load limit for the car, but that’s not considered to be a concern, because it’s now a ‘static’ load, without the extra demands of cornering and braking forces from when the car's moving.

Roof tent suppliers generally suggest that the static roof load can be three to five times higher than the dynamic limit. That usually means most cars will accept a roof tent with two adults while larger cars may be fine with a heavier tent and more happy campers. You should do the sums to ensure you don’t put an excessive load onto the car, or talk to the tent supplier for advice before purchase if unsure.

Unfortunately, most car manufacturers don’t currently publish static roof load figures, as it's not part of the mandatory set of figures they need to provide and there’s no standardised test process to assess it.

What size do you need?

You’ll obviously need a roof tent that measures up, people-wise, but first you’ll need to take a look at the size of your vehicle. Most vehicles can accommodate a roof tent of some sort - 4x4s and SUVs are ideal as they offer higher load limits, roof strength and overall size. You want to be sure that your prospective roof tent sits comfortably on top of your car, and that it doesn’t hang over and obscure the driver’s view. You also need to be able to fix it without it affecting the vehicle’s balance and handling. Some roof tent manufacturers have a vehicle compatibility tool on their website, so that’s a great place to check if you’re unsure if a particular model is suitable for your car or campervan. 

Now it’s time to look at who’s going to be in your space. How many adults, children - or even pets - are you accommodating? And what are you going to do with all their clothes, boots and water bowls while you’re travelling or on site? Now’s also the time to consider whether your tent opens at the side or the rear of the car, and make sure that you have appropriate space for your awning if using one. 

Hard or soft?

If budget is your primary concern, then you’ll probably be looking at a soft-shell roof tent. Easy to set up, the fabric construction means they are lighter than their hard-shell counterparts. Soft-shell roof tents can also offer a larger footprint, and can accommodate an awning, thereby offering more living and storage space. Some feature skylights - so if you’re seduced by the idea of sleeping under the stars, that may well prove the clincher.

Undo the latches and your hard-shell roof tent will be up and ready for occupancy in as little as a minute, great if you’re planning on travelling often and moving around a lot. Typically a hard-shell roof tent is more expensive than its soft counterpart, but it will have a longer life. Plus you can always use it for storage or even as a rooftop cargo box if you’re not actually camping.

If you want to find out more about soft tops vs hard tops check out our Roof Tent Tips on YouTube.

Weather, storage and more

Be honest - are you a fair or foul weather camper? If you’re out in all seasons and ready to brave rough terrain you might want to consider how good your insulation is, or even whether you should add a thermal liner to your roof tent. Here might also be the point that you choose a hard- over a soft-shell roof tent - the former generally being more robust in bad weather, and certainly quicker to dry following the rain. If you’re camping in warmer weather, or even considering travelling further afield, to Europe or beyond it’s worth checking that you’ve got adequate ventilation and your windows are protected against bugs with decent mesh panels. British weather being what it is, you should consider whether or not you need an awning to provide some shelter from the wind or rain, and to offer somewhere to store muddy boots and wet coats (or even dogs). 

Can you get it up?

Not to put too fine a point on it, a roof tent will need to be lifted onto the top of your vehicle. Many manufacturers will do the job for you, but if you’re determined to do it yourself, you’ll need to consider the weight of the roof tent and who you have on hand to help you put it in place. Roof tents are usually supplied with the appropriate fixings, and sometimes the tools you’ll need. You’ll need to make sure you have crossbars that are compatible with your roof rails or mounting points, and these will need to be set between 80cm and 1 metre apart. If you are not intending to leave the roof tent on all year round you will need to consider how you will remove the tent and where you can store it.Ensure the tent is clean and dry beforehand. If storing flat it is best to avoid laying it directly on the ground, or you can put it upright, and cover with a blanket. Airing out the tent periodically can help prevent moisture build up. Avoid heat sources which can damage the material. Your roof tent provider will be able to answer any questions you have. 

Whichever roof tent you choose, the Caravan and Motorhome Club will welcome you with a huge selection of campsites in amazing locations, from mountains to beaches or even a city break. Discover more and unlock your roof tent adventure.