{"id":128852,"date":"2023-08-18T11:30:34","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T09:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/roof-tent-car-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T13:23:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T12:23:05","slug":"roof-tent-car-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Roof Tent for Car: Our Experience and How to Choose"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Do you go on holiday camping or just love spending nights outdoors and wondering if a roof tent for your car would be a worthy upgrade to justify the price?<\/strong> We bought a higher-end roof tent and after several weeks of sleeping in it, <strong>I decided to write this review of living in a rooftop tent<\/strong>, so you don&#8217;t have to hunt for information all over the internet. \ud83d\ude08<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>TL;DR: Roof tents are amazing!<\/strong> Hard shell models work in all weather conditions, while lighter soft shell tents are better suited for warm climates. Don&#8217;t buy cheap tents that fall apart quickly. Quality roof tents aren&#8217;t cheap, but they can easily last 20 years. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p>I mount the tent on my car in June and don&#8217;t take it off until November. Until then, our travel season is wide open. A roof tent gives you incredible freedom to go anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/drac-albanie-700x467.jpg\" alt=\"Roof tent camping in Durr\u00ebs, Albania\" class=\"wp-image-63158\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/drac-albanie-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/drac-albanie-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/drac-albanie-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/drac-albanie-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/drac-albanie.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roof tent camping in Durr\u00ebs, Albania<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_1 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Sleeping_and_Living_in_a_Roof_Tent\" >Sleeping and Living in a Roof Tent<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#How_to_Choose_a_Roof_Tent\" >How to Choose a Roof Tent?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Hard_Shell_or_Soft_Shell\" >Hard Shell or Soft Shell?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Soft_Shell_Roof_Tents\" >Soft Shell Roof Tents<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Hard_Shell_Roof_Tents\" >Hard Shell Roof Tents<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Hybrid_Roof_Tents\" >Hybrid Roof Tents<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Inflatable_Roof_Tents\" >Inflatable Roof Tents<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#My_Recommendations\" >My Recommendations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Tent_Dimensions_and_Standard_Equipment\" >Tent Dimensions and Standard Equipment<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#What_Fits_Inside_a_Roof_Tent\" >What Fits Inside a Roof Tent?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Will_a_Roof_Tent_Fit_on_My_Car\" >Will a Roof Tent Fit on My Car?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Mounting_Type\" >Mounting Type<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Tent_Weight\" >Tent Weight<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Roof_Load_Capacity\" >Roof Load Capacity<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Dynamic_Maximum_Weight\" >Dynamic Maximum Weight<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Static_Maximum_Weight\" >Static Maximum Weight<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Roof_Tent_Brands\" >Roof Tent Brands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Driving_Performance_and_Fuel_Consumption\" >Driving Performance and Fuel Consumption<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Condensation_in_the_Tent\" >Condensation in the Tent<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Rent_Our_Roof_Tent\" >Rent Our Roof Tent<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#What_Are_the_Best_Roof_Tents_on_the_Market\" >What Are the Best Roof Tents on the Market?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/roof-tent-car-guide\/#Where_Can_I_Find_the_Cheapest_Roof_Tent\" >Where Can I Find the Cheapest Roof Tent?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sleeping_and_Living_in_a_Roof_Tent\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sleeping_and_Living_in_a_Roof_Tent\"><\/span>Sleeping and Living in a Roof Tent<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Generally speaking, you sleep better in a roof tent than in a ground tent.<\/strong> You don&#8217;t have to worry about water seeping in from the ground or morning dew making the bottom of your tent damp. Roof tents typically offer more space and greater comfort.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You access your roof tent via a ladder.<\/strong> If you&#8217;re used to getting up several times a night for the toilet, this might annoy you a bit. We got used to it fairly quickly \u2014 we just stopped drinking a glass of water before bed (like I do at home).<\/p>\n<p><strong>A roof tent gets humid just like a ground tent.<\/strong> Most people close their roof tents at night because up on the car roof, you&#8217;re fully exposed to the wind. And even though morning dew is less of an issue, condensation inside the tent is just as much of a problem. We solved this with a condensation mat placed under the mattress, plus our tent has an upholstered ceiling that absorbs moisture so nothing drips on us at night.<\/p>\n<p>On warm days, the tent naturally dries out before you&#8217;ve even finished breakfast, but in the mountains or during cooler temperatures with higher humidity, you might not have time to air it out properly, and you&#8217;ll be climbing into a damper environment in the evening.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, after every trip you need to take everything out of the tent and let it dry thoroughly.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Choose_a_Roof_Tent\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Choose_a_Roof_Tent\"><\/span>How to Choose a Roof Tent?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>I can&#8217;t give you a simple answer (at least not straight away :)). <strong>It really depends on several factors.<\/strong> Mainly:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Number of people sleeping in it<\/li>\n<li>Height of the sleepers<\/li>\n<li>The climate of your most frequent destinations<\/li>\n<li>The load capacity of your roof bars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hard_Shell_or_Soft_Shell\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hard_Shell_or_Soft_Shell\"><\/span>Hard Shell or Soft Shell?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The basic way to categorise car roof tents is by shell type.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Soft_Shell_Roof_Tents\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Soft_Shell_Roof_Tents\"><\/span>Soft Shell Roof Tents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Soft shell tents \u2014 fully fabric-based \u2014 are cheaper and more common.<\/strong> These tents usually fold open in half, with one half extending over the side of the car, supported by the ladder. <strong>These are most often family tents for 2\u20134 people.<\/strong> Thanks to the overhang, you can often buy an annex that hangs beneath the tent. Personally, I&#8217;m not a fan of these tents because they&#8217;re less stable in the wind and tend to get damp quickly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/thule-approahc-l-stresni-stan-700x700.png\" alt=\"Thule Approach L roof tent\" class=\"wp-image-69312\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/thule-approahc-l-stresni-stan-700x700.png 700w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/thule-approahc-l-stresni-stan-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/thule-approahc-l-stresni-stan-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/thule-approahc-l-stresni-stan-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/thule-approahc-l-stresni-stan-696x696.png 696w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/thule-approahc-l-stresni-stan.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Thule Approach L roof tent (Source: https:\/\/www.thule.com\/rooftop-tents-and-accessories\/rooftop-tents\/thule-approach-l-_-901015)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hard_Shell_Roof_Tents\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hard_Shell_Roof_Tents\"><\/span>Hard Shell Roof Tents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Hard shell roof tents (plastic or aluminium) don&#8217;t extend beyond the edges of the vehicle, but they&#8217;re designed for 2 people only.<\/strong> Aluminium versions (like our Sovnaran) are so sturdy you can even mount a solar panel on top. They&#8217;re also much more robust and can handle worse weather conditions. Combined with upholstered lining and a condensation mat, you&#8217;ll sleep nice and dry even on days when it&#8217;s absolutely pouring outside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background\"><strong>TIP: Try the <a href=\"https:\/\/camperguru.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/camperguru.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Camperguru<\/a> app, where you&#8217;ll find an overview of the best campsites and wild camping spots across Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I also prefer the opening mechanisms on hard shell tents.<\/strong> You either turn a crank a few times, or just push the tent open (if it has gas struts).<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hlinikovy-autostan-sovnaran-nohelp-700x525.jpg\" alt=\"Aluminium roof tent Sovnaran NoHelp\" class=\"wp-image-69314\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hlinikovy-autostan-sovnaran-nohelp-700x525.jpg 700w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hlinikovy-autostan-sovnaran-nohelp-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hlinikovy-autostan-sovnaran-nohelp-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hlinikovy-autostan-sovnaran-nohelp-696x522.jpg 696w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hlinikovy-autostan-sovnaran-nohelp.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aluminium roof tent Sovnaran NoHelp (Source: https:\/\/www.sovnaran.cz\/expedicni-hlinikovy-autostan-nohelp-znacky-sovnaran\/)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hybrid_Roof_Tents\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hybrid_Roof_Tents\"><\/span>Hybrid Roof Tents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There are also hybrid tents on the market that have a hard shell but flip open on one side, with the rest made of fabric. This makes them easy to set up while still accommodating up to 4 people. However, they&#8217;re still more prone to getting damp than fully hard shell tents that open straight upwards.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"584\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stresni-stan-sirius-9430.webp\" alt=\"Sirius 9430 roof tent\" class=\"wp-image-69310\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stresni-stan-sirius-9430.webp 584w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stresni-stan-sirius-9430-300x219.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sirius 9430 roof tent (Source: https:\/\/autostany-ostrava.cz\/autostan-sirius-9430-pro-3-4-osoby-rozmer-220-x-130-x-27-cm\/p134)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inflatable_Roof_Tents\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inflatable_Roof_Tents\"><\/span>Inflatable Roof Tents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A special category is inflatable roof tents, which can be inflated using a 12V pump plugged into your car&#8217;s cigarette lighter. However, you won&#8217;t see these on the road very often \u2014 they tend to be quite expensive and in my opinion aren&#8217;t very practical either. Setup can take a good 10 minutes (compared to hard shell tents, which are ready in under a minute) and what happens if it starts leaking?!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"My_Recommendations\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"My_Recommendations\"><\/span>My Recommendations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two people on holiday \u2013 a pop-up tent, for example the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sovnaran.cz\/autostan-bjormutt-znacky-sovnaran\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sovnaran.cz\/autostan-bjormutt-znacky-sovnaran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" data-schema-attribute=\"mentions\"><strong>Bjormutt by Sovnaran<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Two people on an expedition \u2013 a hard shell tent, for example the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sovnaran.cz\/expedicni-hlinikovy-autostan-nohelp-znacky-sovnaran\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sovnaran.cz\/expedicni-hlinikovy-autostan-nohelp-znacky-sovnaran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" data-schema-attribute=\"mentions\"><strong>NoHelp by Sovnaran<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li>For a family of 3+ \u2013 a large soft shell tent, for example the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thule.com\/rooftop-tents-and-accessories\/rooftop-tents\/thule-approach-l-_-901015\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thule.com\/rooftop-tents-and-accessories\/rooftop-tents\/thule-approach-l-_-901015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" data-schema-attribute=\"mentions\"><strong>Thule Approach L<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tent_Dimensions_and_Standard_Equipment\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tent_Dimensions_and_Standard_Equipment\"><\/span>Tent Dimensions and Standard Equipment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It might surprise you, but roof tents are often larger than regular ground tents. Two-person models can be up to 230 cm long and a comfortable 145 cm wide.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Fits_Inside_a_Roof_Tent\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Fits_Inside_a_Roof_Tent\"><\/span>What Fits Inside a Roof Tent?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Standard equipment usually includes a quality mattress, steps, poles for propping up the exterior awnings, and shoe bags. All of this fits comfortably inside the tent even when it&#8217;s closed. <strong>We also managed to squeeze in two sleeping bags and small pillows.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_a_Roof_Tent_Fit_on_My_Car\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_a_Roof_Tent_Fit_on_My_Car\"><\/span>Will a Roof Tent Fit on My Car?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A car roof tent can generally be mounted on any vehicle, but there are a few things you need to check.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mounting_Type\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mounting_Type\"><\/span>Mounting Type<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most commonly, tents are mounted on roof bars (longitudinal or crossbars) or on roof racks. You definitely can&#8217;t just attach a tent to a bare roof without proper preparation. Tents are heavy and need to be seated on a sufficiently sturdy base.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Most modern cars come with mounting points for roof bars, but you&#8217;ll need to buy the bars separately.<\/strong> I wouldn&#8217;t recommend getting bars from your car manufacturer \u2014 for example, Toyota&#8217;s own roof bars have a rated dynamic load capacity of only 60 kg.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I opted for wider Thule Wingbar Evo crossbars<\/strong> because of the width of my tent and awning. These are rated to carry up to 100 kg while driving. Given that the bars are in perfect condition after dozens of nights in the tent, I can confirm they comfortably support an 80 kg tent plus two people. \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tent_Weight\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tent_Weight\"><\/span>Tent Weight<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Car roof tents vary in weight, ranging from about 40 kg to 80 kg. Your car&#8217;s roof can handle all of them (check your manual to be sure), but it&#8217;s worth keeping the weight in mind when choosing your roof bars.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-700x467.jpg\" alt=\"The roof tent for our car that we chose\" class=\"wp-image-69327\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-1392x928.jpg 1392w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stan-na-strese-auta.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The roof tent for our car that we chose<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roof_Load_Capacity\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roof_Load_Capacity\"><\/span>Roof Load Capacity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Everyone shopping for a roof tent inevitably asks: <strong>&#8220;Can my car&#8217;s roof handle it?&#8221; The answer is simple: YES.<\/strong> There&#8217;s a difference between dynamic and static load capacity, and manufacturers are sometimes lazy about specifying which one they mean.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dynamic_Maximum_Weight\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dynamic_Maximum_Weight\"><\/span>Dynamic Maximum Weight<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Your vehicle manual will typically state a roof load capacity of around 80 kg, but this refers to the dynamic load \u2014 i.e., while the car is moving. That&#8217;s also why the heaviest tents weigh exactly 80 kg. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Static_Maximum_Weight\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Static_Maximum_Weight\"><\/span>Static Maximum Weight<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Static weight refers to the load the roof can bear when the car is stationary.<\/strong> <strong>The static maximum weight is typically at least three times higher than the dynamic rating.<\/strong> Family-sized tents (for 4 people) are regularly mounted on regular cars, and I&#8217;ve never heard of anyone&#8217;s roof caving in. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roof_Tent_Brands\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roof_Tent_Brands\"><\/span>Roof Tent Brands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are loads of roof tent brands out there. <strong>We went with the Czech brand Sovnaran.<\/strong> Their tents are manufactured in China, but they&#8217;re very well built, and the aluminium <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sovnaran.cz\/expedicni-hlinikovy-autostan-nohelp-znacky-sovnaran\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sovnaran.cz\/expedicni-hlinikovy-autostan-nohelp-znacky-sovnaran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" data-schema-attribute=\"mentions\"><strong>NoHelp<\/strong><\/a> model, which sits on top of our Toyota RAV4, is truly top-notch.<\/p>\n<p><strong>From many reviews online, it seems that the most proven and highest-quality tents in the long run are the Maggiolina range by Autohome.<\/strong> These start at around \u20ac2,000, with the most expensive models going well over \u20ac3,200. They&#8217;re not the cheapest tents, but they&#8217;re not the most expensive either.<\/p>\n<p>Other brands worth considering:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sirius<\/li>\n<li>Thule<\/li>\n<li>Front Runner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Driving_Performance_and_Fuel_Consumption\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Driving_Performance_and_Fuel_Consumption\"><\/span>Driving Performance and Fuel Consumption<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A common question I get about my tent is whether the rooftop load changes the car&#8217;s handling. I have both a tent and an awning on my roof, and I haven&#8217;t noticed any deterioration in driving. If anything, the car actually corners a bit better with the extra weight. \ud83d\ude08<\/p>\n<p>Fuel consumption increased by about 0.5 to 1.0 litres per 100 km depending on the terrain. <strong>With my average of 6.0 litres per 100 km, that&#8217;s an increase of roughly 17%.<\/strong> Not good, not bad.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-700x467.jpg\" alt=\"With our roof tent, we drove through Austria, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece\" class=\"wp-image-69329\" style=\"width:700px;height:467px\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-1392x928.jpg 1392w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nejlepsi-stan-na-strese-auta.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With our roof tent, we drove through Austria, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/dovolena-chorvatsko\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"56872\">Croatia<\/a><\/strong>, Montenegro, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/kam-na-dovolenou-k-mori-v-albanii\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"63139\">Albania<\/a><\/strong>, and Greece<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Condensation_in_the_Tent\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Condensation_in_the_Tent\"><\/span>Condensation in the Tent<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Just like in a regular ground tent, moisture builds up inside a roof tent too. Most condensation problems can be solved by getting a condensation mat to place under the mattress.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rent_Our_Roof_Tent\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rent_Our_Roof_Tent\"><\/span>Rent Our Roof Tent<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Would you like to try a roof tent before buying one? If I don&#8217;t have the tent mounted on my car at the time, I&#8217;d be happy to rent it out for \u20ac20 per day. Just drop me an email at lukas@lkmedia.cz.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1692343037316\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Best_Roof_Tents_on_the_Market\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Best_Roof_Tents_on_the_Market\"><\/span>What Are the Best Roof Tents on the Market?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>The best roof tents are those with a hard shell. The highest-quality tents are arguably made by Autohome (the Maggiolina product line).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1692343041367\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Can_I_Find_the_Cheapest_Roof_Tent\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Can_I_Find_the_Cheapest_Roof_Tent\"><\/span>Where Can I Find the Cheapest Roof Tent?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n<p>I&#8217;d recommend browsing comparison sites like Amazon, eBay, or dedicated outdoor retailers to compare prices and find the best deals on roof tents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you go on holiday camping or just love spending nights outdoors and wondering if a roof tent for your car would be a worthy upgrade? This article shares our real experience and helps you choose the right one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":63158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","rank_math_title":"Roof Tent for Car: Experience &amp; How to Choose (2024)","rank_math_description":"Looking for the best roof tent for your car? Read our hands-on review, compare hard shell vs soft shell options, and find the perfect rooftop tent for you!","rank_math_focus_keyword":"roof tent","rank_math_seo_score":""},"categories":[679,325,320,335],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-128852","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-our-travel-opinions","8":"category-reviews","9":"category-travel","10":"category-travel-tips"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/drac-albanie.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/author\/admin-2\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128852"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128852\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudavymkrokem.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}