3 Best Truck Roof Tents for 2010

Sleeping arrangements are often tough if you are taking on a long 4×4 journey by truck.  In remote areas with low-population levels, you never really know when you will find a good place to sleep.  A good quality roof truck tent is the ultimate solution for these adventure-hungry travelers.

 

With the best roof tuck tent, you will always have a cozy and safe place to sleep no matter where you go.

These tents are fitted to your roof rack and can easily be assembled whenever you need to take a nap or set up camp.

 

Is A Truck Roof Tent Better Than A Normal Dome Tent?

Many do believe that truck roof tents are a much better solution for travelers than an average dome tent.  This is because of the following reasons;

 

Safer – Sleeping at height is safer because many dangerous creatures like snakes, crawling insects and predators cannot enter your tent as easily.

 

Dryer – Rooftop tents don’t run the risk of being flooded if your tent gets caught in a flash flood.

The tent is nice and high and all of your belongings will stay dry no matter how tough the storm gets.  Here it is important to choose a rooftop tent that is treated with a water-resistant layer. Rooftop tents that come with a rainfly are also preferable to keep your tent dry in storms. 

 

Quicker to assemble – Rooftop tents are much faster to assemble because the base is already in place.

Only the dome area usually needs to be assembled which is a quick feat.  Some rooftop tents can be fully assembled in mere seconds.

 

Takes up less space – With the tent fixed to your rooftop you have a lot more space left inside the truck for other belongings like backpacks and food supplies.

 

More comfortable – Many feel that rooftop tents are much more comfortable since you can sleep on a cozy mattress instead of on the hard ground as with most tents. 

 

The 3 Best Truck Roof Tents

 

Rooftop tents are not quite as popular on the market as dome tents.  You will need to shop around before you will find a good tent that fits your truck’s roof rack.  These tents are also often quite expensive compared to average dome tents. 

 

If you are going to dish out a lot of money for a rooftop tent then you probably want to invest in something that can go the distance.  Here is a quick look at the top tents to consider if you want to reduce the hassles of setting up camp every night.

 

The Smittyblit Overlander Tent

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If you love camping but are not too fond of the idea of sleeping on the ground where all sorts of nasty creatures dwell then this over lander tent by Smittyblit is a wonderful solution.

 

This roof tent is designed for Jeep vehicles but is also functional for other types of trucks and SUVs.

The tan-colored tent is mounted on top of the roof rack railings.  Mounting is a bit complex but once it is fitted, the tent can easily be assembled and demounted. 

 

The tent comes with lots of accessories.  It has a 6.5ft aluminum telescopic ladder, travel bag, is fitted with interior LED strip lighting and comes with a 12V cigarette lighter adapter.  It sleeps up to 3 people and a large 92 x 55” foam mattress is also included with the tent. The tent has a max weight capacity of up to 661lbs.

 

The design of the tent itself is perfect for safari expeditions.  It has lots of doors and windows with mosquito netting to allow fresh air into the tent and to offer a better view of your surroundings.  It is also made of quality ripstop fabric and comes with a rain fly in addition to rainproof fabric to offer added protection in rainstorms. 

 

Specifications

Weight – 142lbs

Size – 60 x 42 x 14”

Sleeps – 2 – 3 people

Mattress – 92 x 55” double foam mattress

Mattress capacity – 661lb

Color – tan

Waterproof – 600D waterproof rainfly included

Mosquito screen – included

Ladder – 6.5ft Aluminum telescopic ladder included

Materials – Rip stop polyester, anodized aluminum tent poles, stainless steel hinges

Included – travel bag with hook and loop fastener, interior LED strip lighting and 12V cigarette lighter power adapter

Seasons – 4 seasons

Vehicle compatibility – Jeeps, trucks and SUV’s

 

Pros

  •         Large max load capacity suited to handle up to 3 people
  •         It is easy to set up and take down
  •         The tent is also available in a larger size
  •         Various accessories such as mounting brackets, lights and adaptors are included
  •         It is compatible with a great many adventure type vehicles
  •         The tent is made of high quality materials
  •         A rainfly is included to use in stormy weather
  •         Mosquito netting keeps you safe from insects and creatures
  •         Sleeping on the roof is much safer compared to ground level sleeping
  •         The tent has a mosquito net sunroof
  •         A large ladder is included
  •         It is a perfect adventure product
  •         The tent is also rain and drizzle resistant

 

Cons

  •         The tent is a bit expensive
  •         It might not be compatible with your truck
  •         It can be hard to get the rainfly up when you suddenly experience a storm
  •         It can be challenging to mount the tent to the roof rack

 

 

The Raptor Series 100000-126800 OFFGRID Voyager Rooftop Tent

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If you hate struggling to set up a tent then this is a great investment.  The voyager rooftop tent by Raptor Series can be assembled and demounted in seconds.  It is perfect for wary travelers who just don’t have the energy to struggle with an annoying roofing tent.  The only challenge you will have is mounting it to the roof rack but once mounted, everything about this tent is super easy.

 

The tent only sleeps 2 people but has a large weight capacity of 750lbs.  It comes with an 8-foot aluminum telescopic ladder and has mosquito netting at the doors and windows.  It also comes with a large 78 x 48” full foam mattress. The tent is practical for all seasons of the year and is ideal for rainy weather since the rainfly extracts and retracts along with the rest of the tent. 

 

Specifications

Weight – 159 lbs

Size – 86 x 54 x 11”

Sleeps – 2 people

Mattress – 78 x 48” full foam mattress

Mattress capacity – 750 lbs

Color – tan

Ladder – 8 foot aluminum telescopic ladder included

Mosquito netting – included

Included – Ten with pockets, awning, brackets and more

Seasons – 4 seasons

Waterproofing – Rainfly roof

Vehicle compatibility – Jeeps and trucks (do research on vehicle weight restrictions)

 

Pros

  •         The tent can be set up and demounted within seconds
  •         It is a very easy going product
  •         The tent is made of high quality materials
  •         A rainfly roof extracts along with the tent
  •         The large front door offers a beautiful panoramic view
  •         Mosquito netting protects you from insects
  •         It comes with a ladder and mattress
  •         Suitable for up to 2 people with a large max capacity of up to 750lbs
  •         The tent is fitted with pockets and brackets for easy goods storage
  •         Sleep safely while on adventures

 

Cons

  •         The tent can be expensive
  •         Only compatible with certain types of trucks
  •         The mattress isn’t extremely comfortable
  •         Can be small for two people

 

The Tepui Explorer Autana Rooftop Tent

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This tent is a budget-friendly solution and might be a better pick for non-Jeep vehicles.  The Explorer Autana tent by Tepui is made of quality ripstop fabric that is coated with a water-resistant layer.  It also has a rainfly to protect in case of stormy weather. The fabric is also UV and mold resistant to enhance the durability of the tent.

 

This tent can sleep up to 3 people and it can be further customized when you choose to also get the canopy and drop off section of the tent to create space for even more people.  The tent comes with a 56 x 96” high-density foam mattress and has large internal pockets where you can easily store goods at night.

 

This tent is fairly easy to assemble and all windows are covered with mosquito netting to protect you while you sleep. 

 

Specifications

Weight – 166 lbs

Size – 50 x 50 x 12”

Sleeps – up to 3 people

Included – private canopy, welded aluminum tubes and aluminum cap sheet

Materials – 600D rip stop and 260g polly-cotton fabrics

Resistance – UV and mould resistant

Mosquito netting – Mesh panels

Storage – Four large internal pockets

Mattress – 56 x 96” high density foam mattress

Color – Tan

Waterproofing – Rainfly roof

Seasons – 4 seasons

 

Pros

  •         The tent is affordable compared to others
  •         It can accommodate up to 3 people
  •         A suitable tent for 4 seasons
  •         The fabric is made of quality rip stop materials and is UV and mold resistant
  •         A rainfly roof is included
  •         You can buy additional accessories such as awning and canopy
  •         Mosquito netting protects you from insects
  •         Sleep safely in remote areas
  •         It is relatively easy to set up

 

Cons

  •         The mattress is hard and uncomfortable
  •         The tent might not be suitable for all truck types
  •         It can be challenging to mount the tent to the roof rack

 

Buying Guide

 

We are quite certain that any of these rooftop tents will be a great pick for your adventures.  If you have a hard time picking the best then perhaps this guide can help;

 

Remember to research compatibility – Not all rooftop tents will fit on all vehicle roof racks.

Some roof racks have weight restrictions on them and won’t be able to carry the weight of the tent and people sleeping inside it.  The structure of rooftop tents can also differ quite a lot which might make some of them unsuitable for your vehicle. Always research to see if a tent will fit your vehicle type before you buy it.

 

The budget-friendly – The Tepui Explorer rooftop tent is the most affordable on our list.  You will need to buy a new mattress since the one included isn’t very comfortable but even so, this will still be more affordable compared to the rest.

 

The quickest to set up – The Raptor Series rooftop tent is the quickest and easiest to use.  Once it is mounted on your roof rack, you can get your tent set up and ready for nap time within seconds because it pops up and down with ease.  You also don’t have to struggle with a rainfly when a storm suddenly hits because the rainfly automatically opens and closes with the tent.

 

The most spacious – Many feel the tent by Raptor Series is only suitable for a single person even though two can sleep in it.  If you need a bit more freedom to move then consider the tent by Smittybit. This tent can sleep up to 3 people and offers a more spacious dome.  The tent by Tepui Explorer can also be a good pick since you can buy additional accessories to extend your tent’s size.

 

The best for hot summers – All of these tents are 4 season tents but we do feel that the tent by Smittybit is a bit better for hot weather.  This tent has more doors and windows, including a sunroof, so you can let more fresh air into the tent. 

 

The most flexible – The tent by Tepui is the most flexible since it can be accessorized with additional tent equipment such as an extra canopy and floor dome.  The Sittybit is also quite flexible since you can choose to open or close more windows depending on the weather. 

 

The Takeaway

We do feel that all of these rooftop tents are good picks if you hate the idea of sleeping on the ground.  They are all sturdy in design and will allow you to sleep comfortably without damaging your vehicle. Truck rooftop tents are more expensive than average tents but a worthy investment if you are traveling through dangerous locations.