Be spoilt of choice | Many roof top tents but only one roof
The decision is not easy considering the many different possibilities. That’s why I’ve listed the most important pros and cons for you.
ROOF TOP TENT | a little decision support for you
It’s all about a good sleep
An adult sleeps between 7 to 9 hours in average which means a human is sleeping around 25 years in life. 1
“The human organism physically restores itself during sleep, healing itself and removing waste which builds up during periods of activity. This restoration takes place mostly during slow-wave sleep, during which body temperature, heart rate, and brain oxygen consumption decrease. The brain, especially, requires sleep for restoration, whereas in the rest of the body these processes can take place during quiescent waking. In both cases, the reduced rate of metabolism enables countervailing restorative processes.” 1
While traveling the brain gets a lot of new impressions, good and bad ones. Therefore a good sleep is essential for regeneration. We all want to have fun and joy while travelling. 🙂
We are all different – so is our sleeping habit. Some of us love to sleep on a hard mattress, some hate light and others need a lot of space. No matter what kind of sleeper you are, your bedding should fit to your sleeping habits.
Various roof top tent are on the market:
- Roof tent with soft shell (e.g. Howling Moon, Eezi Awn)
- Roof tent with hard shell (e.g. Maggiolina, James Baroud)
- Electric roof tent (e.g. Pathfinder)
- Lifting roof (e.g. Overlandtechnics)
- Bedding in the vehicle (own construction)
- Tent (various)
Roof Tent Soft Top
Wind & Weather proofed
Mattress
Mosquito net
no modification on vehicle
Possibility to store travel items on the roof
half of roof is still free for load for example on a Land Rover Defender 110
Covered entrance | protects against rain and sun
depending on the modell, most of tents have it
Easy opening & Closing (one person)
Needs whole roof of vehicle
Air heating system (car) can’t be used
Extra space needed on parking slot | more obvious during wild camping
max. EUR 2’000
Roof Tent Hard Top
Wind & Weather proofed
Mattress
Mosquito net
Easy opening & Closing (one person)
no modification on vehicle
No extra parking area is needed | good for wild camping or city parking
Possibility to store travel items on the roof
depending on modell, some have possibilities for light load
No covered entrance to bed
Needs whole roof of vehicle
Air heating system (car) can’t be used
min. EUR 2’000
Roof Tent Electric
Wind & Weather proofed
Mattress
Mosquito net
no modification on vehicle
Easy opening & Closing (one person)
No Possibility to store travel items on the roof
Needs whole roof of vehicle
No Covered entrance to bed
Air heating system (car) can’t be used
No extra parking slot needed but obvious on the roof
max. EUR 2’000
Lifting Roof
Wind & Weather proofed
Mattress
Mosquito net
not on doors and windows of vehicle
Air heating system (car) can be used
Possibility to store travel items on the roof
roof must be walk-able
Covered entrance to bed
Invisible camping – wild camping made easy
Needs whole roof of vehicle
no modification on vehicle
Easy opening & Closing (one person)
depends on the weight and the hydraulic strut*
min. EUR 10’000
*I tried once and even while hanging with my whole weight (60 kg) on the roof I was not able to close it.
Inside Vehicle
Wind & Weather proofed
Mattress
Air heating system (car) can be used
Invisible camping – wild camping made easy
Easy opening & Closing (one person)
Possibility to store travel items on the roof
Covered entrance to bed
depends on setup
Mosquito net
no modification on vehicle
Roof is free for luggage and boxes
max. EUR 2’000
Tent
no modification on vehicle
Easy opening & Closing (one person)
Possibility to store travel items on the roof
Covered entrance to bed
depends on modell
Wind & Weather proofed
depends on modell
Mosquito net
depends on modell
Mattress
Needs whole roof of vehicle
Air heating system (car) can be used
Invisible camping – wild camping made easy
max. EUR 500
Summary
There is no bedding solution which will fit to everybody needs. A good research is needed and a person who can make suggestions on own experiences. As you can imagine – there is no non plus ultra for every body. One solution which fits to me might not fit to you. It is essential that you are clear on your needs. Hope my list helps you to find the right roof top tent.
Find more information on how to keep your tent dry and yourself warm, even in winter here.
References
1 Wikipedia: Link
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