If you’re considering buying or even just looking around for roof top tents, you could wonder what are the major advantages over car camping.
The benefits of a roof top tent are its ability to stay dry and clean, offer luxury, comfort, and keep off the ground in an easy and straightforward manner.
These are only some of the notable advantages that roof top tents (RTTs) provide campers. The list is not complete. to highlight, some of which are evident and others not obvious to a beginner.
So let’s talk a bit more about the advantages I’ve observed during my camping trips with an RTT! At the end of the piece, I’ll be talking about the disadvantages I have encountered while owning one as well.
Cleanliness
For those who have spent time in a tent that is ground and experienced the dreadful smell, you’ll know how fast the tent can be filthy. It’s covered in dirt when you put it down and once you walk inside the tent a couple of times, you’ll find yourself in the dirt too. A more serious issue occurs when it rains and the ground turns dirty.
With a roof tent you do not have to worry about these issues because it isn’t affixed to the ground. As you enter the tent, you are able to put your shoes inside a waterproof shoe bag that is located just outside the entryway of your RTT. The process of putting your shoes on and off before entering the tent is simpler than using a tent on the ground.
Camping on the beach is fun in theory, but it is the quantity of sand that gets into your tent and gear is the most difficult part. Sand always seems to find ways to enter the tent, but it will be far less when using a RTT.
In addition, you won’t have to rinse off or clean the RTT after a rainy camping trip as you would for a ground tent.
Comfort
The comfort in a RTT is unbeatable. For me, the most significant difference is simply having a smooth surface to sleep on. When sleeping in a tent on the ground and even with a good mattress pad bumpy and uneven surface is very uncomfortable.
This is particularly true if you plan to go on a long camping trip that lasts for several days at an time. The mattress built into RTTs have will usually be around 2-3.5 inches thick and are composed of high-density polyurethane. The mattress is plenty comfortable.
On the subject of comfort, let’s talk about the bed. Being able to skip the procedure of blowing up an air mattress and making the bed is a major time savings.
The majority of RTTs including hardshells allow you to keep your bedding stored inside the tent once it’s closed. This means sheets, pillows and blankets can be stored inside the tent without needing to remove them after every use.
Apart from the fact that this can help you save lots in time and effort, I like knowing the fact that I’ll not forget anything while I leave the house for my next camping adventure!
Effortless setup
It could be a controversial topic for some but I think that RTTs are simpler to set up. For one, I stay more clean since the tent doesn’t touch the ground.
Additionally, I won’t have to use the flimsiest poles, tie-downs, or stakes to anchor the tent. Making a tent for the ground isn’t easy however, if you count the duration to complete the task and also putting up the bed is likely to take 15-20 minutes total.
Some RTTs are easier in their deployment than others. For instance, fold-out softshell RTTs require you take off the PVC cover, and then remove several straps before use. The model you choose will determine the set up should be completed in about 5 minutes. It is my opinion that closing the tent takes a few more minutes to get all the fabric into it as you close it.
Many RTTs that are made of hardshell just require a few clamps to be removed, and then the gas struts will pop open the tent for you. This takes less than 60 seconds to do without any effort!
I’m aware of pop-up ground tents that can be set up in mere minutes, but excluding those that aren’t, RTTs in my opinion are the best choice here!
Packing less gear
When you go on camping and pack your vehicle with all the necessities, you discover how little room you have left for everything you’ll require.
This is an area where the RTT shines because it is in the top of your car. You also don’t need to fret about the space that the air mattress would normally take up as well. As I said when talking about comfort, the majority of the bedding can be stored in the RTT once it’s closed!
It could be very valuable for a large family with space that is restricted within the automobile. It’s also helpful for peoplelike myself who is always forgetting an item or two for my travels! A tent that is ready to go at all times will give you peace of mind and a less burden to worry about.
Luxury
There is definitely a level of elegance that comes with an RTT. It’s a happy medium or a step up from an ordinary ground tent, but less than a teardrop trailer. The cost of RTTs is high however not when you compare it to any trailer!
Some RTTs can cost over $4,000 and are composed of steel and aluminum. Other features include built-in fan as well as LED lighting, solar panels, automatic open and closing and closing, an annex, awning and a host of other options.
You can make your RTT completely electric using solar panels mounted directly to the tent. Some RTTs come with USB and 12V plugins inside the tent that are waiting to be connected to a power source.
I could go on for hours about the various upgrades that you could do to an RTT. It’s the only thing as good in field tent category and that is the reason I think RTTs are better for campers.
All-season use
The most effective way for you to prolong your camping time to later in the year or year-round is to use a well-equipped tent with the right equipment. There are plenty of all-season RTTs which are fitted with extremely tough material, anti-condensation mats floors that are insulated, and additional accessories.
The primary benefit they enjoy is the ability to be elevated in air which will allow you to remain dry and also avoid sleeping on the frigid cold ground.
Tents made of softshell and hardshell can be used all year round however, I’d give the edge to hardshells. If it does rain or snow, I’d prefer to stay in the hardtop RTT that will keep me dry and take on the weight of the rain or even water.
Fun factor
This may be a little intangible , but to me it’s a huge advantage! The fact that you own an RTT is simply fun! I really do love being eight feet off the ground and having the best view I can get within my tent.
Friends and family will immediately tell you how cool it is once they understand how it works! In the beginning, people didn’t even know how it worked. After posting plenty of pictures of camping trips, people are in love and have come to me with queries.
RTT Negatives
If you take your dog on a camping trip, as we do it could be a very difficult task to bring them inside the tent. Smaller dogs would not be concerned about it. But I own a dog who weighs 60 pounds, and it’s a challenge to get him in every time.
If you’re an older person or just can’t raise your dog since they are so heavy and heavy, this is something you need to be thinking about. There are workarounds to this though. If you search “dog” using the search bar in the upper right corner of my site it will bring you to my post where I will provide numerous examples of how for fixing this.
It’s not a walk in the park compared to simply opening the tent’s doors for them.
Another drawback is the need to store the RTT. Because of the lack of storage space or the inability to move the 100 to 200-pound tent the majority of RTT owners just put the tent in their vehicles all year.
This is fine but it could cause wear and wear to your vehicle , as well as reduce your car efficiency in terms of fuel consumption.
These are only a few disadvantages that have really stood out and mattered for me as a keeper. I would highly recommend reading the article where I compare them to ground tents because I give many more examples where a RTT is at a clear disadvantage.
Finalizing
In all purchases, there is some giving and taking. Even though the RTT has so many amazing and exciting features to the table, it too has its drawbacks.
Overall, I believe many people are quite content with the purchase of an RTT than the ones who aren’t. The ones that don’t seem content with them are also the people that get the least benefit out of them.
