How Do I Know if My Car Can Handle a Roof Top Tent?

Are you a fervent adventurer who relishes spending time outdoors and considers a rooftop tent for your vehicle? If so, this text is for you, keep reading.

Check your car’s roof load capacity

So this is the first and most crucial step. Every car has a maximum weight it can carry on the roof. Exceeding this weight limit can be hazardous and may lead to damage to your car.

There are usually two numbers to check on your car’s roof load capacity, i) static load capacity and ii) dynamic load capacity.

Static load capacity, what is this?

This is about the weight that the car’s roof can support while it is stationary. You can find it in the manual, or by conducting an online search.

Dynamic load capacity

This is about the maximum weight that the vehicle’s roof can safely support while it is moving. This value is usually much lower than the static limit.

The reason is extra effective pressure that the car’s roof may experience in the case of a bump on a road for example, or an extra force on one side on a road bend, etc.

Take into account the weight of the rooftop tent

There are very different types of rooftop tents around, and they come in varying weights. This is because of their different construction and also different size.

Usually, in relative terms, i.e., weight per square meter or something similar, the heaviest among them are the clamshell roof top tents, and the lightest are inflatable type. The former are hard shell type and this is behind their weight.

But the weight also depends on the size, and this is related to the capacity regarding the number of people that such a tent can accommodate.

Now, what weight to expect? You can get some idea if you have a look at my text about clamshell type, you will see some numbers for all the main types. In general, think about the range of 55 – 176 lb (25 – 80) kg or so. This smaller number is for the smallest inflatable roof top tents of course.

Evaluate your car’s roof rack

In order to attach a rooftop tent to your car, you’ll require a robust and secure roof rack. When you check in specifications of roof top tents, you will always find information about the roof rack that is required.

So ensure that the roof rack is strong enough to support the weight of the tent. Roof top tents are usually made to fit a variety of types of roof racks and cars. You realize this from the picture below that shows various types of roofs that are suitable for some of Thule roof top tents.

As you realize from the picture, you can place it practically any type of the car. If the car is without racks, you will have to install some that fit the roof.

In the video below you can see how easy it can be to attach such a tent on your car, this is an example of a soft shell roof top tent, have a look:

Consider the size of your car

The size of your car plays a role in several ways. Here are some possible examples:

• A smaller car may have a roof that cannot handle a wide roof top tent. This holds for both, while driving and also while sleeping in the tent.
• On the other hand, some larger cars may happen to be more top-heavy, and they are vulnerable to tipping over with the added weight of a roof top tent.
• Related to this is also the type of the roof top tent. Some of them are tall and boxy, and they add a lot of height to an already tall car. The top picture above shows an example, the Roam Adventure Rambler pop-up hard shell roof top tent.
• Some roof top tents have three doors. You can see great examples in my text with the comparison of the Roofnest Falcon 2 XL and 23Zero Kabari. Now, one of the doors may become unusable if you put such a tent on a wrong car. You still have two doors to use, but this may not be optimal.

Factor-in your camping needs

Roof top tents are the most expensive type of outdoor tents. So it makes sense to contemplate your camping needs before making a purchase.

Some aspects of this issue are already discussed above. Here to add the following. If this is about camping in a remote or rough terrain, you may need a 4×4 or all-wheel-drive car in order to safely transport your tent.

Also, if you plan on camping with a large group of friends or family members, you may need a bigger tent and a car that can  support the added weight.

In conclusion

So to summarize, buying a rooftop tent can be an exhilarating and thrilling experience. However, it’s essential to ensure that your car is capable of supporting the weight and size of the tent.

As mentioned above, before making a purchase of such an expensive item, check your car’s roof load capacity, and take into account the weight of the tent, and the size of your car.

All in all, with a bit of research, you will find what you need, and I hope this text will also help. Check also in my another text about car and roof top tent combinations.

Thank you for reading. Let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. Have a nice day.