- Weight: very heavy (48.5 kg + ladder 7 kg)
- Packed size: very large (48cm x 48cm x 86cm)
- Floor space: cosy (237cm x 139cm)
- Head room: low (106cm)
- Pitch style: Attach to roof rack, unclip and flip open, secure with ladder
Can it go on my car? Was the first question I asked when rooftop tents began appearing on the market a few years ago for the same price as a top of the range family model. After much research, ‘no’ has definitely been the resounding answer – although, in all fairness, I do drive a three-door VW Fox.
However, if you are lucky enough to have a five-door vehicle that can take a load greater than 75kg, doesn’t have inbuilt roofbars that run lengthwise, has 78cm between both sides of it as well as a distance between the roof and roof bar greater than 7.5cm (with the bar tube itself less than 9.5cm in width), and no obtrusive aerial housing in the way, then you may be in luck.
To experience this safari style of camping, I borrowed my dad’s car and, indeed, my dad – there’s no way you can instal this tent on your own. By far the trickiest part was taking it out of the box, lifting it and slotting it (with a high potential for paint scratch) over the roof rack, using special screws to secure it in place.
They recommend four people do this job, which is asking a bit much for a two-person tent. The two of us managed, with a bit of pre-planning and using my garden bench first as a practice run (highly recommended).
Once that’s done, the rest is easy. You secure the waterproof cover using the inbuilt bungy cords and away you go. Pitching involves undoing the bright yellow straps and then, quite ingeniously, using the included telescopic ladder to pull the tent open and lock it into place. Inside it feels sturdier than you’d think, and though it has a low roof it didn’t feel cramped even with two of us.
The inbuilt mattress is wonderfully comfy. The self-holding vents allow airflow through the waterproof polyester outer sheet and a black inner wall keeps it dark for lie-ins. On campsite, it’s a great conversation starter and kids love it. A five-year warranty gives peace of mind that it should be durable, too.
The only issue is whether you have a car that fits it. If not, add the price of a vehicle to the tent and you’ll be looking at an expensive bit of kit…