So, you’re considering buying an outdoor roof tent and want to know what makes a great car rooftent? We’ve put together a few of our own experiences and information regarding rooftop tents to consult when you are searching for your own roof tent. This should aid you in choosing the ideal car roof tent in your area of the UK (for your needs).
Where do you begin? The first thing to determine is what kind of rooftent is right for you?
Soft shell or a hardtop rooftent?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, and ultimately, it comes down to the best solution for you. So, instead of rambling about the topic, we decided to come up with an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of rooftent. This allows you to look over the advantages of each roof tent and decide what is important to you.
Soft shell is different from. Rooftent for hard shell
Here’s a list of the advantages and drawbacks of different rooftent designs.
Soft Shell Roof Tent
Lighter (better for cars with smaller size)
Less expensive
More space inside
Skylights and windows with extra windows (some models)
Additional possibilities for mounting (opening either front, sideways or forwards)
Smaller mounting footprint
Annex room
Less aerodynamic
It takes longer to set up and then pack away (8-10mins)
One entrance
Hardtop Roof Tent
It is quicker to set up and take it down for removal (4-6mins)
More aerodynamic
More protection
Two entrances (most models)
More expensive
Heavier
Less room inside tent
Larger mounting footprint
One mounting position.
There is no annex room
Hope that the above information should give you a good idea of what kind of rooftent is best for your needs. If not, don’t fret what you should do is to look at various roof tents and experience the feel of tent varieties.
What are the things to look out for in roofingtent materials?
If you’re looking for a soft-shell rooftent the quality of the material is essential in the selection process. Rooftents with a top or hard shell feature a strong (normally made of fiberglass) waterproof top, but the sides of these roofs are made of fabric and should be breathable and waterproof. The different types and terms used to describe material can make it difficult to understand particularly when they are variations of the same fabric.
To make it easier, we list the most important details to be looking for or inquire about when buying your roof tent.
Waterproofing
What should you look for when examining whether your waterproofing is adequate for your roof tent? The most important thing to check is Hydrostatic Head Rating or the HH rating. It is measured in millimeters and is the measurement of the size of a column of water that a particular material is able to stand up to before it starts to leak. For instance the 200mm HH rating means that a material will support a water column that is about the same height as a pint-glass before it begins to leak. The higher the HH rating, the more waterproof it is, but make sure to verify this rating when you are choosing your roof tent.
UV Resistant
Almost every time you use your roof tent, you’ll expose it to sun. Therefore, it is essential that the tent’s material doesn’t to be affected by sun’s radiation. UV rays scattered by the sun’s rays will reduce or even destroy the roof tent’s material. If you ensure that the material used to construct your roof tent is UV-resistant, then you can prolong the lifespan that your shelter will last. What fabrics are the most efficiently? Materials like Polyester, Nylon and Ripstop are all excellent UV-resistant fabric.
Mould Resistant
As a citizen of the UK we are all aware that camping in the UK will without doubt some time bring rain. But that’s not the only way that your tent could get wet. morning drizzle or even condensation can make your roof tent wet or damp. Therefore, you’ll need to dry your tent prior to packing it away, and this isn’t always feasible. Thus, the ability to take your tent off when it’s still damp is an important aspect.
A mould-resistant material can keep your roof tent from becoming mouldy (but it won’t last forever!). It is still necessary to ventilate your roof tent when you put it in a place that is very damp. The word that is used here is’resistant and you should be careful not to keep your tent soaking wet throughout winter. If you’ve stored it in damp conditions it is best to wait until the next day to dry and allow it to air to keep it from becoming moldy when you take it out in the summer following.
What are the features you should consider when buying a rooftop tent?
Many tent makers offer many wonderful features in their rooftents. This makes your roof tent a luxurious experience when you camp inside it. What are the signs to keep an eye out for?
Windows and Skylights
There are roof tents with several windows, or even skylights, which allow air and light to circulate through the tent. The main factors to be looking for is the high-quality zips as well as the use of bug nets to block out unwanted guests. Skylights on rooftents are ideal for a little extra light and sun during the day, but also ideal for stargazing in the night.
Mattress Mat, as well as Anti-Condensation Mat
If you’re settling to sleep to sleep in your tent of choice one of the worst things to discover is that the mattress you’re sleeping on is uncomfortable or perhaps it’s damp and mouldy. The norm in the industry is to use an extremely dense foam mattress that is at minimum 50mm or 2 inches thick. We would recommend that you go with 60mm or 70mm choices will provide you with the best night’s rest. Also, ensure that the mattress cover can be washed easily.
Another great feature, which does not come with industry standards is an anti-condensation mat that can be placed under your mattress. It’s an essential piece of equipment to prevent your mattress from becoming damp and spongy. Certain rooftent manufacturers sell these items separately, however we recommend finding a rooftent that has this feature included.
Annex Rooms
Rooms in the roof tent annex are great for additional accommodation area for pets or children. Not only do they work to sleep in but are also great for cooking, storage or eating when the weather is a bit chilly. Certain roof tents come with an annex space, however other manufacturers may charge an extra to include this option.
There’s one thing you must consider before deciding to use an annex room in your vehicle, and it is the height of the mounting. In order for an annex room to be pegged correctly the height of mounting your tent must be anywhere from 1.75m up to 2.1m. If your car is too low purchase ramps for leveling your camper van to raise the height of your vehicle.
Other Extras
Beyond the above-mentioned features There are many other accessories which can make camping in a tent an extra special experience. LED lights that plug into 12v outlet, storage nets to store shoes and clothes because where can you store your shoes that are muddy in a roof tent? We recommend taking a careful look at what’s not included in your rooftop tent.
In the end, we hope this article has provided you with some insight into what you should look for in a car rooftent the UK. The best advice we can offer is to get in touch with the manufacturers and ask the company about their offerings if are unsure of which is the most suitable for your needs. If you have any other suggestions you believe should be mentioned in this article or would like to learn more about, leave us a message below.
Copyright Reseau Actu.