To buy a tent box

[Turnedtochaos]

Even though they are probably overpriced and overhyped?

No chance of affording a holiday any time soon. Young kids and would love to do adventures quickly and cheaply.

Are they a fun adventure or something I’ll regret?

Also considering a caravan but I can only afford an ancient one. I also only want to stay places 1-2 nights so feel that’s maybe a bit much for the length of time?

I’ve thought about these! But then not sure if there would be room for all the other camping crap as there would no longer be a roof box

Luckily I already drive a people carrier/van so I have the space for this.

I feel like camping is the only way to get my DC out on a ‘holiday’ due to the cost of living at the moment 🙁 I want to make it a bit more comfortable than a deflated cold air bed on the floor though!

Can’t comment on a tent box as they would be too small and over priced for us plus we’re lose a lot of roof storage space .
We’re totally new to camping and just brought everything we need for family of 6 for £1200 which seems expensive but when you compare prices it will pay for its self within a year and we’re get to go away a lot more . Ie we just booked a 3 night stay for £135 , same place but in a caravan for 3 nights £545 🙈

I like the look of these. I've been turned off at some reviews saying there's a condensation / rust issue.

My friend has received verbal abuse for using one at a campsite 😯

Climbing down a ladder to go for a wee in the night seems a recipe for disaster to me.

Ah really! Is that to hire a caravan or take your own? That’s a huge price difference.

Abuse for what? Being higher up or something?

They have been around in one form or another for decades but had a resurgence in the 90's/2k's when the "overland" crowd starting using them (usually on Land Rovers, Hilux, Jeeps, Land Cruisers etc).

Check that your vehicle can take the weight on the roof of tent-box + however many people you intend putting in it.
You will feel movement if you move around or if there is a brisk wind as you are putting the center of gravity very high.
The ladder issue can be a pain to the unwary plus if it is raining, the lack of porch (just a bit of an overhang) can result in water getting in if you aren't quick about closing the flaps.

Personally I would not bother and instead go for a decent tent & bedding or if you want to get off the ground, a trailer tent.

I'm a really keen camper and don't fancy them for loads of reasons.

Firstly the coming down a ladder to wee (take little ones for a wee) is fraught, dangerous and would get old very quickly.
They're smaller than other tents.
More expensive
You can't sit on chairs in them. So if it rains there you are indoors in bed or propped up on pillows or those uncomfy back rest things.
If it's windy you can tuck a real tent in behind a wall and hunker down. In a tent box there you are up in the air getting blown to bits.
You'd have to have your wet boots and coat (plus all the grass and mud they bring int) in that little tent area with you. In a real tent you can have a porch section or separate area for wet stuff that you can slip on to pop out for a wee at night.
Where do you cook, sit, play games if it rains?

Real tents are so easy to put up now. A good mattress and sleeping bag will give you a good warm kip up off the floor. They have more room. You can put a door mat in to keep wet, grass and mud out. The outdoor floor is right there for 'sprawl' of cool boxes, toys, storage boxes etc.

Another negative is the having to pack it all up if you want to pop to the beach/shop/cafe and then setting it all back up when you get back hot, sandy and tired.

And some other bugger has pitched in your favourite spot.

With a old school tent it's all there. Waiting for you.

Kettle on, hang beach towels up, crash out.

Aren't they £2k?
I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone's wants to sleep on the roof of their car. I must be missing something.

Ok, the other comments have put me off. Mainly the no porch and ladder night wee issue.

For warmth, get a self inflating air mat. A thick one. And then put a duvet over the top of it. Then sleep in a sleeping bag, with a silk liner and potentially another duvet over the top of you. Toasty warm. And fine if you have a big car with loads of space for bedding. Normal air beds are cold!

To add to @OhMyGoodieAunts excellent sleeping arrangement advice I'd say a hot water bottle slung in the sleeping bag an hour before bedtime and you'll be snug as the moment you go to bed. Best night's sleep of your life.

Best sleep until some bloody owl calls all night. Or the cows moo for hours. 😂

Please please explain the tent box. I'm not being snarky at all- just very curious - I've seen them on so many cars. Loads of money to be on top of the car when you could just sleep next to it in a lovely tent?? What's the deal?

Another idea, have you looked at 'camping pods'?. I've been looking on pitch up.com and a lot of campsites advertised on there also do these camping pods - they come equipped with different stuff but I found one that was literally a bed and stove/ sink/ heating for £35 a night. It could be a good compromise, still get to go away for a couple of nights at a reasonable price but with a proper roof over your head and a bed!

Trailer tents are much more practical and you can get some bargains second hand.

Totally agree

They are just a gimmick and totally impractical for normal camping

Just get a poled tent, so much more space and practicality

I don’t think you can use them unless you already have a dry robe. 😂

honestly, overpriced, overhyped and I can’t see how they’re practical. Get a normal tent if you must or wigwams. I’ve stayed in a wigwam in snowdonia a few years in a row as it’s so stunning and cheap. Fully recommend. Even a static caravan in the right area.

This is why I don’t understand them. It only makes sense if you intend to put it up each night and move on each morning. Either that, or never leave the campground. Would make sense at a festival, but I don’t think most festivals allow them.

They fold out incredibly quickly, you just pull them out. I also like the idea of sleeping off the ground from a security point of view. However, the downsides are having to pack it away every time I want to drive the car (and not leave it behind like you would a tent), you need roof rails on your car (not always feasible with glass pan roofs, apparently) and you need somewhere to store it unless you want to drive round with a £1k tent on your car all the time.

I'm thinking of getting one of these instead:

uk.reactiveoutdoor.com/pages/3-secs-tent-uk

To hire one , that was for this may half term , the price difference for august is even worse . Can’t believe I’ve waited so long to switch

I don’t understand how you could afford this but not a couple of nights in haven or an air bnb

Because I have two giant dogs who I have to take with us. Kennels are really expensive and I would not want to take them into someone’s property or caravan because of damage risk.

I can leave them behind the odd time but it takes away the possibility of being able to just go away for a night in half terms etc.

How on earth will you get two giant dogs in a tent box - they’re tiny compared to a normal
tent