In the age of “van life“, the lure of the open road is stronger than ever before. Whether it be spacious plains, rugged mountains or dense forests, roof top tents are by far the most convenient way to enjoy your camping holiday. Read on for the best roof top tents for 2020
2019 has come and gone, and as with every year there are always new products that hit the market. To follow up with our “best of 2019” list, here are the top roof tents currently available for sale that will ensure many happy adventures in 2020.
Summary:
The Smittybilt Overlander Tent is a heavy-duty rooftop tent with various optional annexes to increase the size and comfort. It has a sunroof, mosquito netting, aluminium frame, LED lighting on the inside and many more features. An excellent tent for the price.
The Offroading Gear Rooftop Tent offers fantastic value and comes packed with great features and can fit on any vehicle type.
The Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland Rooftop Tent is large, made from excellent materials and will last many years in even the worst weather conditions.
If you have a pick-up, your best choice is definitely the Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent.
Smittybilt Overlander Tent
Our “Editors choice” award goes to the wonderful Smittybilt Overlander. If you own a Jeep, you don’t need to look any further. If you don’t, then the good news is this tent will work on other dual-track racks and is a good option for cars with limited weight capacity.
This heavy-duty rooftop tent sleeps 2-3 people, but also comes in a 3-4 person variant. It has everything you can ask for… sunroof, waterproof rainfly, mosquito netting, aluminium frame and many more features. What you get for this price is, simply put, a real bargain.
What really makes them unique is the included LED strip light inside the tent. No more balancing your phone’s flashlight on your chin or trying to focus your headlamp.
A number of annexes are available as optional purchases to increase the size and as a whole, it can be set up in minutes.
Smittybilt has a great reputation and in our experience, their customer service and warranties are second to none. This product is certainly one of the best roof top tents for 2020.
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Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland Rooftop Tent
This heavy-duty rooftop tent is a great buy and has been made to last. Built like a tank, it can withstand even the worst weather conditions you are likely to encounter.
What sets this tent apart is the size. Paired with the annex room (which can accommodate a queen size mattress or a dining table and chairs), it’s big enough for the whole family with a combined size of nearly 100 sq. ft. … the annex floor is made of the same heavy-duty, waterproof material and is even removable.
The floor and poles are aluminium and the hinges and brackets are stainless steel. All in all, an excellent, well-constructed tent that is of the same quality you would usually only expect from more expensive tents. Huge bang for your buck!
A breeze to set up and pack away. Tuff Stuff’s excellent customer support also deserves a mention.
Tepui Explorer Ayer Rooftop Tent
This “Four season” tent has a very well thought out design that, along with the blue color, is easy to fall in love with. It allows you to quickly and easily swap out the canopy depending on the season and weather elements. It is perfect for smaller SUVs and vehicles and sleeps up to two people.
You can also buy a separate annex to add more space and protection from the elements.
The tent is very lightweight, but despite not seeming as robust as the other tents on this list, it is very durable and guaranteed to take everything you can throw at it.
Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent
If you have a truck, this may be the ultimate solution for you. At a fraction of the price of your traditional roof tent, these tents are a great buy and phenomenal value for money.
Instead of deploying on the roof of your vehicle, these tents deploy inside the pickup bed which allows for a larger size too. Even the tallest of campers can easily fit into one of these, if your bed is long enough. They are compatible with all full-size pickups from Chevy, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota and more.
If you regularly camp at spots where it is difficult to find space (festivals, for example), this tent is a godsend.
One huge bonus is that you can free up sleeping space by storing your clothes bag, coolers, etc. in the cab of the truck. You can also use the back of your bed as a headboard and stack your pillows for a comfort level you won’t experience in any traditional tent. The inside of the dome also has a handy hook where you can hang a lantern.
These tents stand up to the elements extremely well. Other campers are bound to ask where you found such a fantastic contraption.
TMB Universal Hard Shell Rooftop Tent
Some would argue this isn’t exactly a “tent” in the traditional sense, but you cannot dispute the extra comfort these hardshell rooftop tents provide. Compared to traditional tent shapes, these feel just larger inside, especially the vertical space.
You will be hard-pressed to find a hard shell rooftop tent of this quality at the same price. It is well worth the investment.
It fits most vehicles and comes in various colors, unlike most other roof tents options.
On the negative side, these tents are a bit more difficult to set up, but considering the quality of the product that should not be a deterrent.
