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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Anyone ever use a tent on the roof of the car?

29 replies

johnmurphy · 24/04/2023 09:12

I have been recommended a roof top tent for an upcoming weekend getaway up in the lake district. Are the worth the cost? and realistically how much weight can it handle before we are damaging the car itself?
prob silly questions but if anyone has experience Id love to hear it.

OP posts:
Beamur · 24/04/2023 09:13

A friend of mine has one of these - but his car is a land rover so pretty sturdy!

DiscoBeat · 24/04/2023 09:34

I always worry about falling off the roof when I come out for a wee in the night!

DiscoBeat · 24/04/2023 09:35

Joking aside, I haven't heard of these! I just looked them up and they really do go on the roof!

Badbudgeter · 24/04/2023 09:41

I was having a look at these at work, they were photographing them for a camping expedition. They don’t sit on the car itself but on a frame in the same way as a roof box does. They looked quite well put together expensive though. I drive a vsn and could put in a flip up roof with sleeping area for the cost of the tents. A trailer tent could be a more middle option.

rampagingrobot · 24/04/2023 09:42

I've seen a lot of them, but not a really used one. They look like a faff to me though.

Probably ok if you're somewhere for just one night, but if you need to drive the car anywhere you have to pack it all up, and then probably lose your camping spot.

There is more to camping than just sleeping, I always wonder how you do all the things like cooking etc. I think you'd need another tent/shelter on the ground to put your stuff in and cook etc!

FlySwimmer · 24/04/2023 10:14

I noticed a few families had these at a campsite we stayed in one year. They weren’t the only tent/accommodation the family had: often it was in addition to a caravan or other tent(s) so there was another space for cooking, sitting etc. As others have said it sits on a frame on the roof. We noticed it was mostly teen DCs in them - probably a welcome alternative to staying in the ‘main’ tent/caravan with parents!

Cupcakequeen75 · 24/04/2023 10:49

Although I first saw a couple of basic ones on cars in the 1970's, they really took off over here in the 1990's when they became REALLY popular on 4x4's where they were emulating the Safari look (most were imported from South Africa and Aus).
OH is a big fan of this type of thing so I have learnt a lot over the years.

There are pros & cons (as with anything).
A suitable roof rack is required, they are quick and easy to erect but if the car isn't level then you will be sleeping on a slope. Most cars have soft springs and with all that weight up top you will feel all movement whether it be from you moving around or the wind.
You can get add-on porches which enclose the ladder, provide a private space to get washed/dressed and even for cooking but all of these things mean that the vehicle can't be moved without packing away (as well as adding a lot of weight). It is for this rason that mounting all this equipment on a trailer is very popular (tent sits on the trailer roof) but while brilliantly equipped (cooker, fridge, running water, storage etc) they come at a serious cost and by that time you are looking at the same cost as a nice S/H caravan.

helpfulperson · 24/04/2023 10:53

There were three on the campsite I was on at Easter. So obviously becoming popular.

StillYoung · 24/04/2023 12:37

@johnmurphy Roof tents are definitely getting popular and are starting to come in all shapes and sizes. The main thing you have think about is just how many times you camp throughout the year. If you camp a couple times a year and will continue to do so then I think roof tents are worthwhile.

The other main thing to think about is how many will sleep in the roof tent. i.e. is it for a family or just as couple then you need to find a roof tent with the right internal mattress size. They make roof tents the size of a double bed in some cases!

As @Cupcakequeen75 mentioned you do need suitable roof bars that take the weight of the roof tent but you also have to consider the weight of the roof bars with the roof tent is within your dynamic weight limit for your car (i.e. limit your car can handle whilst driving). Definitely don't exceed your weight limit! As you guessed it it will be dangerous for your car.

Other than that you just need to choose what level of convenience you want really. The roof tents with faster set-up and better quality materials will determine the price of the roof tent. So if you camp regularly and want convenience then you can go for a roof tent or if you want more comfort a caravan or motorhome is the next level.

This is a really handy guide to understand pros and cons of roof tents and a section of weight limits etc. just scroll down towards the guide.

Roof tent guide

Hope this helps!

Original poster
johnmurphy · 24/04/2023 14:08

Awesome. Seems to be something to it so. If I get one I’ll take some pics of us using it

OP posts:
EggInANest · 29/04/2023 10:26

I can’t see any advantages in these.

Up and down a ladder, pack up to use the car during the day, can’t use them on sites where you take your stuff to pitch in a barrow, preclude flexibility of packing if you want a roof box etc.

EggInANest · 29/04/2023 10:29

And expensive, very expensive, for what is a small tent.

Polyester tent fabric deteriorates in UV light and has a relatively short life in terms of weeks of use. You are paying a lot for the frame and gubbins for a tent that will become brittle and leaky in due course.

BridgetsBigPants · 29/04/2023 10:59

I am in Aus and use a roof top tent. I would recommend if you get one to consider a clam shell design. They are super easy to pack up and down. So good if you need you plan on camping for a few days but are going to be in and out of the car a lot. I have had quite a few drinks and not stacked it out yet.

BridgetsBigPants · 29/04/2023 11:00

*if you plan 🤦‍♀️

Nimbostratus100 · 29/04/2023 11:02

why not just sleep IN the car?

countrygirl99 · 29/04/2023 11:04

We've used one a couple of times in Africa. It depends what you are doing. They are warmer on cold nights and only take a few minutes to put down in the morning but unless you are moving on each day I'd stick with a normal tent and spend a lot less money on a decent camp bed. To make it worthwhile you would have to be doing a lot of short or touring holidays. They will also increase your fuel consumption.

countrygirl99 · 29/04/2023 11:14

I'd also be cautious about how you would dry it after the inevitable rainy trip in the UK.

EggInANest · 29/04/2023 15:07

Camping in a country with venomous snakes and large carnivores would help persuade me these are a good thing.

But then, most climb. Dingo and Croc proof, I suppose. That’s something.

DistrictCommissioner · 29/04/2023 15:14

We spent 3 months camping in them in Southern Africa! We had two, one over the cab of our 4x4 and one over the back hatch section (we are a family of 5). As a poster above says they sit on roof bars not directly on your car roof. They are super comfy as there is a flat wooden floor & a mattress so no stones etc to contend with! Not sure I would bother buying one for the U.K. though.

napody · 29/04/2023 15:15

I have one, the bed is really comfy, they're great for off campsite/'wild' camping for stopping overnight in beautiful, non grassy places (Spain, Italy etc). Also lovely if you stay somewhere like an orchard: zips open and you feel like you're sleeping in the treetops with a lovely breeze through!

Cons have been covered- its not so helpful for 'set up for the week with everything including the kitchen sink' type camping.

napody · 29/04/2023 15:16

BridgetsBigPants · 29/04/2023 10:59

I am in Aus and use a roof top tent. I would recommend if you get one to consider a clam shell design. They are super easy to pack up and down. So good if you need you plan on camping for a few days but are going to be in and out of the car a lot. I have had quite a few drinks and not stacked it out yet.

Agree- that's what we have. Lighter and not tons of canvas to have to dry out if it was a rainy trip!

StillYoung · 29/04/2023 19:33

Most of the cons I read here are the same cons you have with regular tents which in my opinion roof tents don't magically solve as it is still camping. You just pay more for convenience and more luxury so the big con is the price. But if you don't have to sleep on the floor and worry about the floor being cold or wet when it rains over night then that solves it imo.

Plus it's technically illegal to wild camp in the UK?

napody · 30/04/2023 16:51

StillYoung · 29/04/2023 19:33

Most of the cons I read here are the same cons you have with regular tents which in my opinion roof tents don't magically solve as it is still camping. You just pay more for convenience and more luxury so the big con is the price. But if you don't have to sleep on the floor and worry about the floor being cold or wet when it rains over night then that solves it imo.

Plus it's technically illegal to wild camp in the UK?

Eh? No it isn't! Loads of places you can sleep overnight that aren't campsites, many beaches for a start.

thedevilinablackdress · 30/04/2023 17:07

Wild camping without the landowners permission is illegal in England @napody (except for Dartmoor...for now). Wild camping is legal in Scotland but camping on/in a vehicle wouldn't meet the criteria.

WormEater · 30/04/2023 17:32

I LOVE my car tent. Literally takes me under a minute to set it up, and under 2 minutes to pack away.
Amazing for touring, and great for those very, very last minute 'I fancy a night out' type evenings. I have my stove and things always ready in a plastic box, so can be out of the house and off camping within 10 minutes of deciding to go.

Loads of recognised, permissible places to camp out, alongside lots of informal places you can just park up at and stay.

Mine closes up with all my bedding inside and is double bed size. I have camped out several times in -5 degrees, when normally I wouldn't consider taking the kids out camping in those temperatures.

Favourite bit of kit ever 😁