Most people assume rooftop tents are a relatively new innovation, but they first emerged in Western Europe in the s. Back then, it was known as &#;auto camping&#; or &#;air camping&#; and was marketed as a way to avoid crowded hotels and save money. Fast forward a few decades to the s, and it seems like rooftop tents have suddenly exploded in popularity. So what&#;s been driving the new wave of adventurous &#;auto campers&#;? You only have to look at the types of vehicles on the road today to understand a major reason why rooftop tents are trending. In New Zealand, Australia, and other parts of the world, more people are buying 4WD vehicles &#; utes, trucks, SUVs and station wagons. As a result of this, off-roading and overlanding is also becoming an increasingly popular outdoor activity. It&#;s fair to say that rooftop tents have benefited from both of these trends as roof tents are most commonly fitted to 4WD vehicles. But rooftop tents didn&#;t just hop on the 4WD bandwagon and ride it all the way to the bank. There are several key reasons why rooftop tents have captured the imagination of adventurers the world over.
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A well-designed rooftop tent can be set up in just a few minutes and packed down in the same amount of time. For a lot of people, this is much more appealing than mucking around with tent poles, pegs, and guy ropes that never seem to work how they&#;re supposed to.
A good roof tent costs a fraction of a campervan, caravan, or motorhome &#; and after a few years of use it probably works out cheaper than hotels, Airbnbs, and holiday parks. While the initial investment is nothing to snivel at, you&#;re essentially transforming your vehicle into your very own Airbnb on wheels.
What&#;s better is, the more your use, the faster it pays itself off. As if you needed another excuse to go on adventures.
One of the best things about roof tents is that they&#;re always set up and ready to go. After work on a Friday, you can chuck some clothes in a bag, buy some groceries, and head off into the wilderness for the weekend. All of your bedding and essentials can be conveniently packed away inside the roof tent, which means less time spent on planning and making sure you&#;ve got the right gear.
A rooftop tent allows you to camp in some of the most stunning, remote locations on earth. While it&#;s often possible to hike to these places with a normal tent, it takes a lot more time. With the roof tent, you can use 4WD tracks to access these areas faster. The best part is, you get to escape the crowds and noise of busy campgrounds. Hard to put a price on that.
If you live in a country with dangerous wild animals or insects, then a rooftop tent provides extra peace of mind. As a roof tent is screwed into your vehicle's crossbars and features more heavy-duty hardware than a tent you carry on your back, it&#;s also more secure and durable in wild weather conditions. This is especially true if you have a hard-shell rooftop tent, like the Bushbuck Armourdillo®.
Of course, a rooftop tent provides superior views to a regular tent. Having that extra elevation helps to eliminate any obstructions to your outlook. You could pay hundreds of dollars a night for a fancy hotel or resort with a scenic view, or you could get a rooftop tent and treat yourself to a &#;room with a view&#; whenever you want.
Another benefit of elevation is that you&#;re not sleeping directly on the damp, cold ground. You&#;ll also avoid the possibility of surface flooding under and around your tent in heavy rain. Some rooftop tents, such as the Bushbuck Armourdillo®, have insulation in the hard shell, which provides additional warmth and protection from the wind.
This is probably the most important question when you&#;re looking to buy a rooftop tent. It&#;s much cheaper to find a roof tent that fits your vehicle than to change your vehicle to fit your favourite roof tent. If you&#;ve got a decent SUV, 4x4 or utility vehicle, chances are it will be compatible with most rooftop tents on the market today. But it&#;s always a good idea to double check. The two numbers you want to check are:
Vehicle roof load rating (dynamic and static)
Crossbar (roof rack) load rating
As long as the roof tent weighs the same or less than your vehicle&#;s dynamic (moving) roof load capacity, it should be compatible. We recommend having roof racks with a load rating of at least 100kg and encourage our customers to use Rhino Rail Tracks (or roof racks of similar quality), especially if you&#;re planning on taking your roof tent off-road. Of course, you want to make sure the roof tent is compatible with the dimensions of your roof, not only its load capacity.
There are two main considerations when it comes to size:
The size of your roof and roof racks &#; both crossbar length and the distance between them
The size of the roof tent itself. Is it big enough for your needs?
Most roof tents will specify roof rack size requirements. For example, for the Bushbuck Armourdillo® Rooftop Tent we recommend a minimum crossbar length of 100cm and a minimum distance between the bars of 75cm (recommended distance: 90-110cm). Choosing the right size for your needs depends on how many people will use the tent and personal preference. Most rooftop tents are designed for 1-2 people and allow around 700mm per person. So, if you&#;re after a 2-person roof tent, a width of about 140cm or 1.4m should be comfortable. If you&#;re planning to bring a child or dog along, you may want to consider something slightly bigger. The other size considerations are length and height. The average height of a man in New Zealand, Australia and the United States is 178cm, so most people will be looking for a roof tent that&#;s longer than that &#; around 2m is a safe bet as it allows extra space for gear. As for height, most rooftop tents will be designed to allow you to sit up comfortably, get changed, and get in and out quickly. We&#;ve found the optimal height to be around 1.1-1.3m. Obviously, a rooftop tent can&#;t be too big, or it will be too heavy. There&#;s always a balancing act between size and weight.
The design and layout of a rooftop tent has a significant influence on your camping experience. You want your roof tent to be functional, comfortable, and ultimately, to feel like home on the road. Here are some things to think about.
One of the main design considerations is how your roof tent opens. A side opening roof tent has its entrance on the passenger or driver&#;s side of the vehicle, whereas a rear opening roof tent has its entrance at the back. If your vehicle has a trunk, boot or rear door that opens upward, then a rear opening roof tent may prevent you from accessing it. However, a rear opening roof tent allows you to set-up at narrow campsites or roadsides. A side opening roof tent generally provides a wider sleeping area, suitable for two or more people. If you combine your roof tent with an annex or awning, you can access your vehicle from inside the annex. There&#;s no &#;better or worse&#; option when it comes to roof tent openings, but in general, people seem to prefer side openings as they&#;re more versatile.
There&#;s often not a lot of space for storage in a rooftop tent (that&#;s what the vehicle&#;s for), but you want to have easy access to the core essentials, such as clothes, shoes, outdoor gear. A simple and effective solution is gear bags fitted to the outside of the tent on either side of the ladder. You may also want to look for internal pockets. If you&#;re just using a roof tent for one person, there will always be plenty of storage space.
One of the greatest benefits of a rooftop tent is the elevated view you get from your &#;bedroom&#; so you want to make sure there are windows that allow you to appreciate it. Also, it can get pretty toasty when you&#;re camping in summer so having insect mesh fitted in the door, windows and air vents is essential for airflow.
Obviously, you can use a head torch when you&#;re camping, but it&#;s much more convenient to have built-in lighting in your rooftop tent. With the Bushbuck Armourdillo®, we included both internal and external LED strip lighting, which can be plugged into a USB power bank. This is a &#;nice to have&#; not a &#;must have&#;, but it adds a touch of homely comfort to your roof tent experience.
We&#;ve got this far without even talking about the tent itself. When you&#;re buying a roof tent, the materials and quality of the tent are essential to how well it performs. Most rooftop tents will be made from a durable material, usually ripstop polyester, nylon or canvas. However, cheaper tents may not use quality fabrics. We recommend looking at the detailed specifications of the fabrics used and doing a Google search to understand how suitable they are for camping in a wide range of conditions. The fly and tent fabric should be waterproof, but may have different waterproof ratings (it&#;s more important for the fly to have a higher waterproof rating). The materials should also be UV-resistant as they&#;ll be exposed to plenty of sun on camping trips. If you&#;re serious about choosing the best rooftop tent, you&#;ll also want to take a close look at the hardware &#; mounting bars, bolts, screws, rivets, zips, latches etc. This is something we pride ourselves on at Bushbuck.
When you&#;re buying a roof tent, it pays to take a look at the accessories and add-ons you can purchase down the line, such as an annex, awning, wall body, or additional ground tent. All of these things can take your camping experience to the next level. You might buy a rooftop tent for yourself and a partner to begin with, but if you have kids in the future you may want extra space to bring them along. Or you may buy a roof tent with the intention of taking it on hardcore outdoor missions, but may also want to use it on more laidback family camping trips. Having the option of add-ons that increase the living space of your rooftop tent gives you the freedom to expand and adapt over the years. As an example, the Bushbuck Armourdillo® Rooftop Tent has an Annex, Wall Body, and Airbeam Tent that can transform your roof tent into a multi-room camping set-up with kitchen, dining, storage and two extra bedrooms.
When it comes to outdoor adventures, investing in a quality rooftop tent is vital for a comfortable experience. However, selecting the right fabric material is just as crucial, as it can impact the durability, protection, and overall performance of your tent. Choosing a durable fabric material ensures that your investment stays protected and comfortable for years to come.
When it comes to choosing the right fabric for your rooftop tent, it's important to understand the different types available to make an informed decision. The type of fabric used in a rooftop tent greatly impacts its overall quality, durability, and performance. Here are the various fabric materials commonly used in the construction of rooftop tents:
Ripstop nylon is a lightweight and tear-resistant fabric material making it a popular choice for rooftop tents. The fabric is made by weaving nylon threads together in a crosshatch pattern, creating a grid-like structure that makes it difficult for tears or holes to spread. Additionally, ripstop nylon is water-resistant, quick-drying, and easy to pack and store. However, it's worth noting that the lightweight nature of ripstop nylon may not provide the same level of insulation and long-term durability as other fabrics.
Polycotton canvas fabric is highly durable, breathable, and water-resistant, making it a reliable choice for extended outdoor trips. The blend of polyester and cotton fibres combines the strength and durability of synthetic fibres with the breathability and comfort of natural cotton fibres. The heavier weight of polycotton canvas is ideal for managing heat, cold, and changing weather conditions. However, it requires more maintenance than other materials, as it's susceptible to mould growth and may need to be treated with water-resistant coatings occasionally.
Polyester fabric is a water-resistant and quick-drying option suitable for rooftop tents. The tightly woven fibres interlock to create a barrier against moisture and protect against the sun's UV rays. Polyester is lightweight, easy to clean, and packs down small for storage. However, it lacks the breathability of other materials and may not be as durable in rough conditions.
PVC-coated fabric boasts excellent waterproof and UV-resistant properties, ensuring the interior of your rooftop tent stays dry and protected from the sun's harmful rays. The fabric is a blend of polyester or nylon fibres and a layer of polyvinyl chloride coating, resulting in a durable, heavy-duty material. However, PVC-coated fabric is not as breathable as other materials, and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may cause the material to fade or weaken over time.
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Each type of rooftop tent fabric material has its unique features and advantages. When choosing the right fabric for your rooftop tent, consider your specific needs, climate conditions, and maintenance requirements to make an informed decision that will provide you with a comfortable and durable shelter for all your outdoor journeys.
For those seeking a lightweight and durable fabric material for their rooftop tent, ripstop nylon is an excellent choice. Made from thin yet strong nylon threads, ripstop nylon is designed to resist tearing and ripping even under significant stress. Its unique crosshatch pattern also adds to its tear-resistant qualities.
Ripstop nylon is also an ideal choice for those who prioritize weight reduction. Its thin and lightweight design can significantly reduce the overall weight of your rooftop tent while still offering reliable protection. This is especially important for those who plan to carry their tent on long hikes or backpacking trips.
However, it's important to note that ripstop nylon may not offer the same level of breathability as other fabric materials, which can lead to condensation and moisture buildup inside the tent. This can be addressed with proper ventilation and airflow management. Additionally, while ripstop nylon is durable, it may not be as long-lasting as some other materials, such as polycotton canvas.
Polycotton canvas is a popular choice of fabric material for rooftop tents, thanks to its durability and breathability. This blend of polyester and cotton makes it a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a fabric that can withstand harsh weather conditions.
One of the main advantages of polycotton canvas is its high tensile strength and resistance to tearing, making it an excellent choice for a tent's outer layer. Additionally, it is a relatively heavyweight fabric that can withstand harsh winds, heavy rain and snowfall, making it an ideal material for rooftop tents.
Another major benefit of polycotton canvas is that it is a breathable fabric, which helps to regulate the temperature inside the tent. The fabric allows air to circulate, which prevents condensation from building up, keeping the tent's interior dry and comfortable. Moreover, the breathability of polycotton means that the tent can cool down quickly during hot weather, preventing the inside of the tent from feeling stuffy and uncomfortable.
Despite their many benefits, polycotton canvas tents have some drawbacks that should be considered. First of all, polycotton canvas is not a waterproof material, which means that it requires an additional coating to become fully waterproof. However, this means that the coating could eventually wear off, and the tent's water resistance will weaken over time.
Secondly, polycotton canvas is a heavyweight fabric, which makes it challenging to carry and set up, requiring more effort than some other tent fabrics. Lastly, it requires more maintenance compared to other tent fabrics due to its heavyweight nature. It is necessary to ensure that the tent is entirely dry before storing it because any moisture left can lead to mould and mildew growth, which could damage the tent.
Polyester fabric is a popular choice for rooftop tents because of its water-resistant and quick-drying properties. The synthetic fabric is made of a polymer that resists water absorption, making it ideal for camping in wet weather conditions or near water bodies. Polyester fabric also dries quickly, making it an excellent option for those who need to pack up and move camp quickly.
Another benefit of polyester fabric is that it is lightweight and easy to transport. Camping gear can often add extra bulk and weight to a trip, but the polyester fabric is lightweight, so campers can pack more gear without exceeding weight limits or adding bulk to their vehicle.
However, polyester fabric is not perfect and has some drawbacks to consider. While it is water-resistant, it is not completely waterproof, so it may not offer protection during heavy rainfall or prolonged exposure to water. Additionally, it may not be as durable as other materials, such as canvas, and may require more frequent replacement.
Overall, polyester fabric is a solid option for rooftop tents because of its water-resistant and quick-drying properties. However, it may not be as durable as other materials and may require more frequent replacements. When choosing the right rooftop tent fabric material for your needs, consider the climate you will be camping in, the frequency of camping trips, and the maintenance requirements.
PVC-coated fabric is a popular option for rooftop tents due to its exceptional resistance to water and UV rays, making it a go-to choice for outdoor enthusiasts. The PVC coating provides a protective layer that prevents water from penetrating the material, keeping you dry and comfortable even in heavy rain.
Furthermore, PVC-coated fabric offers superior UV protection, blocking harmful rays from the sun. This feature is especially beneficial for those camping in areas with intense sunlight, as it helps to safeguard against skin damage and prevent material degradation.
However, it's essential to note that there are some considerations to keep in mind when selecting PVC-coated fabric for your rooftop tent. The material is relatively heavy, which can impact the portability of your setup. Additionally, it can be prone to condensation build-up, leading to dampness in the interior of the tent.
Overall, PVC-coated fabric is an excellent choice for a rooftop tent if you are seeking a waterproof material and UV-resistant. Your choice of fabric material will depend on your specific needs, so make sure to consider all the factors before making your final selection.
When selecting the right fabric material for your rooftop tent, it's important to consider several factors to ensure it suits your needs. These factors include:
By carefully considering these factors, you can choose a rooftop tent fabric material that best suits your needs for durability, climate-appropriate performance, and ease of maintenance.
Your rooftop tent fabric takes the brunt of your outdoor adventures. From rain and wind to sun and dirt, the fabric keeps you sheltered and comfortable. To ensure its longevity and optimal performance, proper care and maintenance are essential. Follow these tips and guidelines to keep your tent fabric in excellent condition:
While traditional fabric materials such as ripstop nylon, polycotton canvas, polyester, and PVC-coated fabrics are commonly used in the construction of rooftop tents, there are alternative options available for those seeking different qualities or performance.
One such alternative is Cotton Duck Canvas, a 100% cotton fabric material treated with a waterproofing agent for added water resistance. This fabric boasts excellent breathability, providing optimal ventilation for those hot summer nights, while also keeping you dry during unexpected rain showers.
Another alternative is Mesh Fabric, which provides excellent airflow and ventilation, making it perfect for warm-weather camping trips. Mesh fabric is also lightweight and compact, making it a great option for those with limited rooftop space.
For those looking for a more eco-friendly option, Hemp Canvas is a durable fabric material that is both sustainable and renewable. This fabric is known for its strength and durability, making it an excellent choice for rooftop tents.
Ultimately, the right alternative fabric material for your rooftop tent depends on your specific preferences and needs. Consider factors like durability, breathability, and sustainability when choosing an alternative to traditional rooftop tent fabrics.
Choosing the right rooftop tent fabric material is crucial for ensuring longevity and comfort during outdoor adventures. It's important to consider factors such as durability, breathability, water resistance and UV protection when making your decision on fabric for your top tent. Whether you opt for ripstop nylon, polycotton canvas, polyester or PVC-coated fabric, proper care and maintenance is essential to maximize the lifespan of your rooftop tent fabric materials.
Ultimately, the right fabric for your top tent will depend on your individual needs and preferences. It's worth considering the climate and weather conditions you'll be facing, as well as the frequency and length of your camping trips.
Alternative rooftop tent fabric materials are also worth exploring for those seeking different qualities or performance. Whatever your choice, adequate care and maintenance will ensure top performance from your rooftop tent fabric for many camping seasons to come.
Investing in the right rooftop tent fabric material is a wise decision for any outdoor enthusiast. We hope this article has provided useful insights and information to help you make the best-informed decision for your rooftop tent's fabric material.
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