Rooftop tent with children experience report: Camping with the family - FIV

Rooftop tent with children experience report – Solitude in the wilderness, campfire romance & pure nature – camping with a rooftop tent exerts an irresistible fascination on many people. This was the challenge that Tino, Yvonne and Samiya Gittel from North Rhine-Westphalia set themselves. An idea that originated in Tino’s head and was initially met with skepticism and reservations. Here we take you on the Gittel family’s fascinating journey and give you an insight into their experiences, decisions and adventures during their camping vacation. You can also learn from this for your own family camping trip.

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Camping adventures planned: from the idea to the roof tent

The fascination of camping adventures: costs, equipment & family

Camping solution: roof tent, tent trailer & caravan

Searching for the campsite: preparation & planning

Is it worth it? Camping adventures with the family

Rooftop tent manufacturer: Overview for beginners

Roof tent comparison: the best roof tent?

Camping adventures planned: from the idea to the roof tent

The video is about a family called Gittel, consisting of Tino, Yvonne and their daughter Samiya, who are preparing for a camping adventure. Tino has the idea of getting his family excited about camping, although Yvonne has always preferred hotel vacations. In the video you can see their thoughts on how to choose the roof tent from iKamper and plan their trip, including the choice of campsite.

iKamper is a popular brand for roof tents. You can read more about it here:

IKamper roof tent

You can watch the video here:

The fascination of camping adventures: costs, equipment & family

The camping trend is enjoying great popularity, and many people cherish the desire for unrestricted freedom. They long for a vacation in the great outdoors that allows them to sleep in the most beautiful places and move on flexibly, depending on their mood. Whether you opt for a caravan, motorhome or tent depends on your personal preferences. According to a study by the ADAC, there are already 15 million enthusiastic campers in Germany. But how do you find your way around this wide range?

Between skepticism & anticipation: camping on vacation

Tino, Yvonne and Samiya Gittel live in North Rhine-Westphalia. Tino has come up with something special for his next vacation: he wants to get his family interested in camping. He thinks camping is very exciting, while his wife Ivonne is skeptical at first. She is worried that she will have to restrict herself too much in terms of space and comfort. However, their nine-year-old daughter is also enthusiastic about the idea. She has already been on a camping vacation with her aunt and had a lot of fun. So her mother is going to try it out for her sake.

This family tests camping: Ivonne, Tino and daughter Samiya.

Camping solution: roof tent, tent trailer & caravan

Sure, this year the decision has been made to go camping. However, there are different types of camping. Should it be a caravan or motorhome, or would you prefer a tent or caravan? The variety of options is considerable. A motorhome or caravan undoubtedly offers a certain level of luxury. But Tino has heard from relatives and friends who are faced with the problem of having to put their vehicle somewhere at the end of the season year after year.

A folding caravan or tent trailer, which is more compact than a caravan, is ruled out as it is too time-consuming for the family to set up. After extensive research on the Internet, the Gittels finally decide on a roof tent. Most rooftop tents on the net only offer a standard sleeping area of 1.40 meters maximum, which is too narrow for three people. Finally, they came across a suitable option – the X-Cover from iKamper, which is large enough to accommodate four people, measuring 2.10 by 1.90 meters.

Here you can quickly compare the considerations of the Gittel family:

Camping solution	+	–
Caravan / motorhome	+ Luxurious furnishings	– Space problem when storing
Folding caravan / tent trailer	+ Compact	– Long & complicated structure
Roof tent	+ Compact, inexpensive & fast assembly	– Less space

The solution to the space problem: a larger roof tent! (Tip: You can find suitable sizes under: Roof tent for 2 people, Roof tent for 3 people, Roof tent for 4 people and Roof tent for 5 people).

Price of roof tents: Search for bargains

In terms of price, roof tents range between 800 and 4,000 euros. The decisive criteria for buying a roof tent are a sleeping area of at least 1.60 meters wide, quick set-up and an affordable price, with a pain threshold of 3,000 euros. The Gittels’ dream roof tent is somewhat expensive at 3,300 euros. However, you can also find second-hand tents on the Internet, which means you can make considerable savings. They browse for new items and bargains. Tino and Yvonne find what they are looking for: their dream tent now costs just 2,500 euros.

Price: 800 – 4,000 euros (used: around 2,500 euros)

Searching for the campsite: preparation & planning

Tino’s next challenge is to find the right campsite, which is no easy task given that there are almost 2,800 campsites in Germany. But which of these campsites is the right one for the family? The selection criteria are many and varied, because it’s not just about the campsite’s facilities. The family is looking for cleanliness and peace and quiet, which is why Tino believes that it is important to find out about the campsites in advance, for example by reading reviews and ratings.

They also want the campsite to have certain facilities, including a playground and a restaurant, to ensure they can cater for themselves on site. A site with at least four stars is preferred, and it should be a reasonably priced alternative to a hotel. In addition, they need to consider what sights they want to see and what activities they want to do. For more comfort, the roof tent is mounted on a trailer.

If you want to go camping with your child, these criteria can also help you find the right campsite:

Reviews & ratings
Cleanliness, relaxation & tranquillity
Amount of the price
Sights & activities
Playground & restaurant?

Not just planning a campsite: buying accessories

Before the journey can begin, Tino and Yvonne have to do some shopping, including two sleeping bags, two sleeping mats as well as pots, crockery and cutlery to ensure that they are well supplied during the trip. Of course, a second-hand camping kitchen is also a must in the trailer. Tino is particularly concerned about the provisions, as he appreciates a certain level of comfort.

You need this absolute basic equipment in any case:

Sleeping bags
Sleeping mats
Kitchen
Pots
Tableware
Cutlery

Tip! You can read about what else you should take with you and other important camping tips here: Camping accessories.

Environmental protection & choice of destination: car & travel

A big advantage for Tino and Yvonne are the operating costs, as they use an electric car. This means that they only have to pay around 70 euros in electricity costs for a 500 km journey, compared to almost 100 euros if they were to use an older petrol car. It is also a more environmentally friendly travel option. For a shorter trip, the family opts for the North Sea coast and Cuxhaven as their destination. Friends of theirs are also camping there, and they like it too.

These tips will help you protect the environment and your wallet:

Electric car: lower operating costs
Choice of destination: not too far away

Is it worth it? Camping adventures with the family

In conclusion, the question arises as to whether the financial outlay was worth it and whether a camping vacation can be considered a cost-effective alternative to a hotel stay. The Gittel family is satisfied with their camping adventure. Samiya sleeps restfully in the roof tent and all family members can switch off in the fresh North Sea air without an all-inclusive program and time pressure. This vacation has brought the family closer together and they are ready for more camping adventures.

Here is the conclusion of our tester family in a nutshell: