Large Capacity Family-Size Roof Top Tents

Did you know that there are large capacity family size roof top tents that can accommodate up to 4-5 family members? With addition of some accessory screen house or anything similar next to it, you can use them for family camping.

I guess people usually imagine roof top tents as shelters for off-road adventures, and for solo use or use with a partner. But there are indeed very large family size roof top tents that may accommodate parents with up to three kids or so.

The great thing about such shelters is that you can use them also for any other sort of outdoor adventures where you would not necessarily have your family with you. This can be some hunting or fishing adventure, or any similar activity. So these are indeed multi-purpose and versatile shelters.

On the other hand, for a family use, you would probably want to combine such a roof top tent with some annex that will be used during the day. The first thing that comes to mind is a screen house where you will organize your daily activity.

But you can also use any family camping tent for such a purpose, and combine it with the roof top tent that will be your off-ground bedroom.

My selection of the best family-size roof top tents

The roof top tents in the list below are ordered by the area from smaller to larger.

1. Smittybilt Overlander XL Roof Top Tent

This is yet another soft shell type tent with a separate rain fly. It is built from a heavy-duty 600D rip stop polyester. It comes with the ladder shown in the picture, with an inner LED strip, and you also have a 2.5 inches (60 mm) high density foam mattress with a removable cover.

The dimensions are impressive 122 x 76 x 51 inches (310 x 193 x 130 cm). But this includes the extension above the ladder, see the picture, so this is not the true inner area. The mattress size is 92.5 x 74.8 inches (235 x 190 cm). This gives the inner area of around 48 ft² (4.46 m²). The load capacity is 770 lb (349 kg) and its weight is 132 pounds (60 kg).

This shelter has great windows with awnings so you can keep it with mesh even during the rain. But if you still have to close everything, there are integrated vents for vapor to escape.

Note also that this is a type with a cover extension that protects the access point where the ladder is attached. So this is a dry entry design, very convenient to have.

Best places to buy

Amazon

Walmart

Please see more in this video:

2. Thule Tepui Explorer Autana

They build this roof tent in several sizes. The version presented here is for up to 4 people, and for this you have a 96 x 72 inches (244 x 183 cm) sleeping area. This means you have around 48 square feet (4.46 m²).

The good thing with this roof top tent is that they also have an annex (shown in the picture) that can be attached to it. This can be ordered separately. This is yet another model with the dry entry.

Here are a few numbers you will need. The weight is 151 pounds (68.7 kg). The peak internal height is 56 inches (142 cm). Its static weight capacity is 650 pounds (295 kg).

They claim it is built for year-round adventures in any climate. You have a high-quality UV and mold resistant fabric which is a coated 600D 260 g polycotton.

The shelter comes with a 2.56 inches (6.5 cm) high density foam mattress. You have panoramic skylights and windows to stargaze and to enjoy the nature. There are exterior attachment points for lamps, and four large inner storage pockets for storage.

A ladder is also included and it packs together with the shelter. The inner frame is built from 3/4″ (19 mm) aluminum tubes.

Best places to buy

Moosejaw

Amazon
Bass Pro Shops

Please see more about this shelter in the video:

3. Crua Outdoors AER Maxx 

They build this AER in two sizes, so the one shown here is the Maxx version, and this is the larger one that can accommodate parents and up to 2-3 kids.

So this is what is normally described as a soft shell roof top tent. It packs to a compact size and it is extremely easy to use, you can have it ready in a couple of minutes.

Its floored area is of interest here, so to know that you have 48.1 square feet (4.5 m²) and the dimensions are 98.4 x 82.7 inches (250 x 210 cm). So this is enough for at least 4 users, and if you combine it with some good screen house next to your car, it will work for you.

Here are a few more numbers. The height is 51.2 inches (130 cm) and the weight is 196 pounds (89 kg).

You have excellent materials here. So the fly is a 210D rip-stop polyoxford (i.e., a synthetic material) PU coated to 3000 mm waterproof rating. It has a silver coating for UV 50+.

The inner tent is a 190 g rip-stop polycotton with a PU and 2000 mm rating. The floor is a 210D polyoxford with PU coating and 2000 mm rating. So you see, you have two waterproof layers for protection from the rain. They claim this is a shelter for year-round use.

The frame includes aluminum poles and the base is a fiberglass honeycomb plate and aluminum honeycomb plate. The shelter offers a 360-degree views, and skylights as well. They claim its fits most standard roof bars.

This brand is known for its insulated tents, so they have an inner insulated tent even for this roof top tent. It is on the market under the name Crua Culla Haul Maxx.

This roof tent comes with a built-in mattress and pockets for shoes, plus a telescopic ladder, poles to hold up base, a spreader bar for center, and all necessary poles and accessories for setup.

You have a 2-year warranty with this tent, and they offer a fast worldwide delivery.

Best places to buy

Crua Outdoors

Optics Planet

Amazon

In this video you cam see the smaller version for 3 people, but they are essentially the same:

4. Freespirit Recreation High Country 80″ Premium Roof Top Tent

The number 80 in the official name of this soft shell roof top tent describes its width. The overall dimensions are 98 x 80 x 50 inches (249 x 203 x 127 cm). This gives the base size of around 54 square feet (5 m²).

The frame takes a bit of space so the inner is smaller but in any case this is a huge shelter that deserves to be here for its size. But it has many great features as well. They write that its official capacity is 3-5 people.

You have what they call the Tri-Layer technology. In other words, the walls are built from three layers of fabric and this is a quilted design. So this is a sort of an insulated roof top tent and it is suitable for all seasons.

The shelter comes with a built-in 1.5 inch high-density foam mattress, a bit thin in my view, but they describe it as super comfortable. You have 360 degree views.

The fly is a durable 210D ripstop poly-Oxford with a silver coating and with a 3000 mm PU coating. The weight capacity is 750 pounds (340 kg). The actual weight if the shelter is 182 pounds (83 kg). It fits full-size SUVs, mid-size trucks, and full-size 8″ truck beds.

Best places to buy

Freespirit

Overland Junction
They have a series of several roof top tents so please see them here:

5. GentleTent GT Sky Loft

This GentleTent GT Sky Loft is in fact the largest here in the list. Its inner dimensions are simply impressive, (L x W x H) 134 x 79 x 55 inches (340 x 200 x 140 cm).

In other words, you have around 73 ft² (6.8 m²) of area. But see its weight, together with its ladder, it weighs only 121 pounds (55 kg). They have achieved such features by using air inflatable beams instead of any solid poles. So this is one of the best examples of inflatable roof top tents.

When not in use, it folds from two sides, so this is a triple-fold design. Its packed dimensions are also impressive 65.4 x 57.5 x 6.3 inches (166 x 146 x 16 cm). It is incredibly thin as well, this will certainly help in saving fuel.

Best places to buy

GT Australia

Please see more about this roof top tent in the video:

Final thoughts

So this was my selection of the large family size roof top tents, and you realize they all belong to the same group of what is described as soft-shell roof top tents.

All of them are easy to use, they include a mattress and a ladder and these items pack together with the shelter for transportation. Some of them are built for year-round use.

These are reliable shelters, and I am sure you will be doing great with any of them. Though there are differences in sizes and in features, and in prices as well. So do follow the links to check for updated prices as they change all the time.

How to choose? There are technical aspects to consider, and this means the type of the car where you plan to use it, and the weight capacity of its roof. As you have seen, the weight difference is not small. But if you plan to use such a shelter on the back of your track, then the weight is likely not important at all.

The mentioned differences in the area are not so big, so it is better to focus on features. Some of these models here are with an integrated extension (vestibule). This feature alone is useful, you have a covered space to communicate between the car and the roof top shelter.

But this vestibule also allows for attaching an annex, so you can have a protected area for dining, for storage of your gear, and for privacy. All in all, there are quite a few things to consider, and this will depend on how you really plan to use such a roof top tent.

Note that I have also a separate list of the biggest hardtop rooftop tents, so please follow the link to read more. Do you need something for solo use? No problem, I have you covered in my text with small rooftop tents.

Let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, the subscription box is below. Thank you for reading.