Rooftop tents (RTTs) are the darlings of the overlanding world right now. It seems nothing gives you more social media cred than showing off a new rooftop tent on your latest epic, off-grid camping expedition (bonus points if it’s captured with drone footage).
It’s no surprise that Instagram and YouTube are full of rooftop tent videos. That’s all with good reason: They’re versatile, comfortable to sleep in, and look damn cool to boot. Plus, they provide most ordinary street vehicles with ultralight travel trailer-esque utility without the sky-high price tag of actually buying an RV. But, there are downsides, especially for softshell rooftop tents. Some are obvious, and some are not so obvious, especially for first-time buyers. Roof Top Tent For Sale
If you’re shopping for rooftop tents right now, you no doubt know all the advantages. You don’t need us to convince you to buy one. Before you drop $3,000 on the best rooftop tent you can find, however, consider the downsides, too. We’re not trying to talk you out of buying one and buying a car tent instead, but it’s worth understanding what you’re getting into.
Before we get into the reasons to not purchase a rooftop tent, let’s clear up exactly what a rooftop tent is.
An RTT is a portable shelter that mounts to the roof of a vehicle. It’s a type of elevated camping tent that keeps you off the ground. They are typically made of durable materials that can withstand harsh weather conditions. Rooftop tents often come with built-in mattresses, which makes them more comfortable than ground tents. They are easy to set up and take down and don’t take up any space inside the vehicle. On the other hand, a car tent is a portable shelter that attaches to the back of the vehicle. It’s a non-elevated camping tent, which can be less convenient than a rooftop tent.
If you already own or are shopping for a rooftop tent, you’re aware of the most obvious drawback: the price. Rooftop tents are expensive. Some of the best camping tents on the market cost less than $400, while halfway-decent, entry-level rooftop tents start north of a thousand dollars. For upgraded models that are lightweight, made with better materials, and boast integrated features like LED lighting, solar panels, and heated back massagers, that price balloons quickly to several thousand dollars or more.
Plus, pickup owners will likely need to purchase a special rack to mount a new RTT in the bed of their truck. Some car and SUV owners may also need to buy a roof rack or additional hardware to mount a new RTT to their vehicles. That’s an additional cost on top of the tent itself. It all adds up fast.
This might be the best reason not to buy a rooftop tent, and the one most prospective buyers overlook. Camping or overlanding with an RTT means that your shelter and transportation are one and the same. Once you make camp and set up your tent, you can’t explore the surrounding area with your vehicle without breaking it all down first and resetting it up later.
That might not seem like a big deal, especially with many RTT owners on social media highlighting their (completely unrealistic) sub-60-second breakdowns. In reality, many of the best rooftop tents take ten to 20 minutes or more to break down completely and another ten to 20 minutes to set up again. Depending on your exploration style, this can easily waste an hour or two every day.
If you’re a light sleeper, know that sleeping in a softshell rooftop tent can be loud — like, very loud. It’s not surprising since they’re elevated off the ground by design and made of a complex web of overlapping fabric. Wind buffeting, especially in high-wind areas, can cause that fabric and rainfly to flap violently to the point of being downright deafening. For most of us who escape into the backcountry for peace and quiet, that fact alone can be a deal breaker.
Unless you’re a bat or a tree sloth, you probably enjoy sleeping in a reasonably level position. Leveling a ground tent is easy. Before pitching, just move it around in the dirt and lie down to check for level. But leveling a rooftop tent means leveling your entire vehicle, which often requires leveling blocks (or at least a decent-sized rock or two), a bubble level (if you want to save yourself some serious headaches), and potentially driving and reversing for a while every time you make camp. It’s not difficult, but trust us, it is tedious.
More specifically: They won’t come off. Technically, they’re not permanent. But most models weigh between 100 to 200 pounds. Add to that they’re clunky and cumbersome, which means you’ll almost certainly need a friend or two to help with the uninstall. Realistically, once you install yours, you’re unlikely ever to take it off, even when you don’t need it. It’s more convenient and back-saving to leave it on all the time. That leads to the next point.
No matter how lightweight or streamlined the RTT is, your gas mileage will take a hit after installing one. It’s simple physics. Your vehicle will be less aerodynamic, especially on the highway, and forced to move more weight than usual. From a gas mileage perspective, it’s like having an additional adult passenger in your car at all times. Losing a couple of miles per gallon might not seem like much but for gas-hungry trucks and SUVs, even a minor hit to fuel efficiency stings at the gas pump.
One apparent benefit of rooftop tents over traditional camping tents is being elevated off the ground and away from critters. Realistically, anything that crawls on the ground has no problem climbing the side of your vehicle and onto — or into — your tent. Depending on where you’re camping, that can include spiders, ants, mice, squirrels, wolverines, and most certainly, bears. It might feel more secure than a typical tent. In reality, it’s not.
With all of this said, we don’t hate rooftop tents. They’re awesome for the right style of camper with the right discretionary income. But if you’re considering buying one, don’t rely solely on overlanding influencers for your research. It’s just not as simple as they make it look.
I don’t think we need to say more than a mountain bike trip into Death Valley to watch the upcoming solar eclipse. But if that is where we left it that wouldn’t be doing justice to the incredible five-day excursion being put on by Escape Adventures.
Celebrating over 30 years of planning, prepping, and leading adventure travel vacations, Escape Adventures has it all covered. From avid cyclists to beginners bringing along their families, Escape Adventures has a vacation for everybody.
Google Maps has long been a dominant player in navigation, known for its comprehensive data and ease of use. However, with the release of iOS 17, Apple has introduced a game-changing feature that's set to make Apple Maps the go-to choice for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. Apple is finally introducing offline maps, and it's a feature that will revolutionize the way hikers, campers, skiers, and snowboarders navigate the great outdoors. iOS 17 unveils offline maps for Apple Maps Apple Maps has come a long way since its initial launch, and it's continually striving to offer users a more robust and feature-rich experience. With the launch of iOS 17 on September 18, 2023, Apple is introducing offline maps, a feature that will be a game-changer for those who love outdoor activities.
Offline maps allow users to select specific areas to download to their phones. Once downloaded, these maps can be accessed and used without an internet connection. This makes it possible to enjoy turn-by-turn navigation and conduct searches even in remote areas where internet connectivity may be unreliable or nonexistent. It works similarly to Google Maps in the sense that you do need a WiFi connection to download the maps, but after that, you're good to go off the grid. The perfect companion for outdoor adventures For outdoor enthusiasts, this feature is a dream come true. Whether you're hiking in the wilderness, camping in a remote location, skiing down the slopes, or snowboarding in the mountains, having access to offline maps can be a lifesaver. Here's how this feature can benefit different adventure seekers:
There is really one more type of mountain bike that should be added to the list of mountain bike categories that make up the sport. Electric mountain bikes have broken onto the scene and have rapidly grown in popularity.
One look at these electric mountain bikes, especially if you look at the suspension travel numbers, would have you thinking that they fall into the “trail” or “enduro” mountain bike category. And while these bikes do look similar, the pedal assist of an electric mountain bike means that long cross-country rides aren’t out of the question.
Hard Shell Rtt The Essential Guide for MenThe Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. As our name implies, we offer a suite of expert guides on a wide range of topics, including fashion, food, drink, travel, and grooming. We don’t boss you around; we’re simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis.