Rooftop tents made their first appearance into the camping world in 1958 but didn’t make any real noise until the 21st century.

Camping enthusiasts are now able to spend the night on their road trip truck’s rooftops in the comfort of their hard-shell rooftop tents.

These types of tents are quick to set up shaving off precious time when we arrive at our campground. But they come with a few drawbacks.

Which is why I’m here today.

 

In this article, I will give you the pros and cons of this outdoor concept that is gaining lots of popularity in the camping community.

 

Without further ado, Let’s go camping!

 

 

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The Pros of Rooftop Tents

 

 

They are Easier and Faster to Set-Up.

Pure speed. That is the first thing that comes to mind when setting up these types of tents. A hard-shell rooftop tent comes with advanced technology that allows you to set it up in just a few minutes.

On top of that, it requires very little effort considering that some will be equipped with an automated crank to lower and lift the tent.

As a result, these tents are the ultimate choice for camping enthusiasts who move to different campsites with quicker functionality and ease.

As a matter of fact, many of these hard-shell tents will set up in less than 30 seconds. That is because the majority of them will have built-in gas struts that make it easy to pop open the tent, or pull it closed.

 

Rooftop Tents are Durable.

 

 

Typically speaking, Hard-shell rooftop tents are made from durable materials, which make them last a lot longer than the traditional soft-shell tent.

Instead of canvas or polyester, which can allow water to penetrate, these types of tents have a hard exterior material that spells durability.

In addition, rooftop tents feature thicker and sturdier zippers, poles, and floors. If you take care of these tents, they can last you anywhere from 10-15 years.

 

They are Warmer and Better Insulated.

Rooftop tents are typically warmer than ground tents.

Let me explain:

First and foremost, they use higher denier (thicker) fabric for the walls. Some models will offer a quilted insulating insert as an optional accessory.

Extra insulation means less heat will escape when you go to sleep at night and interior of your tent stays warmer.

Second, you’re not sleeping on the cold ground. The floor is thicker, so it provides some insulation from the outside.

 

Easier to Find a Campsite

 

 

This is probably my favorite reason of why I like the rooftop tent concept.

All you are looking for is a flat place to park. It doesn’t really matter if the ground is wet or rocky. Because you are raised off of the ground, you won’t have to worry about getting muddy or wet.

If your campsite is uneven, you can always dig a small hole to even it out. For me, these are going to come in handy if your campsite is mostly gravel.

The days of pounding stakes into the ground are over when you use a rooftop tent.

 

Better Views

 

 

The views from rooftop tents are far superior to those from a tent or campervan because of their elevated position on top of your vehicle.

Roof tents with two doors and two windows also provide panoramic views, making the scenery even better.

 

 

 

The Cons to Having a Rooftop Tent

Okay, now that we have discussed the pros to this concept, let’s take a look at the drawbacks to owning one.

At the same time, I don’t want to discourage you from buying one, but I also think it’s important to discuss what you’re getting into.

 

They Can Be Expensive

This is the most obvious drawback.  These types of tents can be expensive. Some of the best ground tickets on the market will run you less than $500 dollars.

The entry level rooftop tents start over $1000 dollars, and this is just entry level. For upgraded models that are lightweight and made with better materials will be even higher.

Some additional costs to consider are buying a roof rack.

Truck owners will likely need to mount a new roof top tent into the bed of their truck. Some cars and SUV’s will also need to buy additional hardware to mount a rooftop tent to their vehicles. This can add up quickly.

 

They Kill Your Gas Mileage

This concept is a gas guzzler. This is why.

It’s simple physics. Your vehicle will be less aerodynamic, especially on the highway or interstate. Your vehicle will notice the extra weight and you will lose a couple of miles-per-gallon.

Losing this might not seem like a whole lot, but for certain gas-hungry vehicles, this minor hit to having the normal fuel efficiency will sting at the pump.

 

Limited Sleeping Space

These types of tents are designed to sleep 1 to 2 people at the most because it’s designed to match the size of your vehicle’s roof.

In addition, these tents can only hold a certain amount of weight. Although some of them offer options for expansion by installing some awnings or annexes, the usable space is still going to be much smaller than a traditional ground tent.

 

Takes up lots of Space

Parking your vehicle in the garage with the hard-shell tent installed may be impossible.

This is mostly because of the height clearance when these tents are installed. Some other things to consider too.

They can be very heavy to remove and usually require more than one person to get them off of your vehicle.

 

 

Thoughts & Takeaways

And that wraps things up for today. Rooftop tents have gained lots of popularity to several outlanders in the camping world. I personally love the concept, but I prefer the ground tent because I am a traditionalist. For me, it all depends on what you want to accomplish and where you want to go camping. For some, this concept will be greatly appreciated because of the quick set-up times and spectacular views. Others might view this tent as a money pit that gives you less space to operate in. I hope you enjoyed this article today, please share your experiences with having a rooftop tent in the comment section below.

 

 

-CT