Simply unfold: Assembly made easy

Setting up a roof tent is usually straightforward. Most roof tents can be easily folded out or extended, making tedious tent setup on the ground a thing of the past. Setup often begins with you setting up the rooftop tent either over the ground or the side walls. This involves carefully unfolding the tent canvas. It is important to be careful here to avoid damage to the roof tent.

A straight floor is not as important for the roof tent as it is for a conventional tent, since this one on the car roof gives you a straight floor to sleep on anyway. However, if the vehicle is on too sloping ground, it can be difficult to set up the tent correctly. The ground may then prevent you from setting up the ladder in a straight line. This would be unfavorable, because in many cases the ladder serves not only as access to the tent, but also as a support to keep the tent stable. So make sure that the ground is reasonably level.

Equipped for wind and weather: additional steps

In the next step, many roof tents have additional assembly steps to make the tent even more stable. In some cases, additional poles may be required, for example, on the windows of the roof tent. These poles help stabilize the tent and ensure that it keeps its shape, even in windy conditions. For really stormy nights, most roof tents also come with lines for guy ropes, so-called storm guy ropes.

With this step-by-step guide, you’ll have your roof tent up and running in no time:

1. Set up over floor or side walls
2. Carefully unfold the tent canvas
3. Set up ladder (level floor)
4. Attach additional bars
5. If necessary: storm bracing

Structure in video: Learn fast & uncomplicated

Here you can see how easy and fast it is to set up a roof tent.

Roof rack & roof load: What you need!

First, you’ll need a roof rack or roof rail. This is your sturdy base to attach the roof tent to your vehicle. Make sure that the roof rack or roof rail has the required load capacity. For mounting, you would need proper fasteners, bolts and brackets to securely mount the roof tent on the roof of your vehicle. However, most roof tent stores offer on-site installation, which can make your job much easier.

• These are the things you should pay attention to before assembling and setting up your roof tent:
• Robust base: roof rack / roof rails for roof tent attachment
• Check load capacity: Roof rack / roof rails must be sufficiently strong
• Mounting requirements: fasteners, screws, brackets for secure mounting
• Professional help: roof tent stores often offer on-site assembly for convenience

Then you should also consider the roof load. But what is the roof load anyway?

How much roof load is needed for a roof tent?

The roof load of a vehicle refers to the maximum weight that can be safely transported on the roof. An approved roof load should compromise the stability and safety of the vehicle. You should be careful not to exceed this permitted roof load to minimize potential risks and accidents.

In the case of the roof tent, this only applies to the weight of the tent itself and the crossbars mounted on the roof rack or roof rails. If the specified roof load of your vehicle is 85 kg, for example, and your roof tent already weighs 80 kg including the mounting system, there is no reason to worry. This means you still have some weight left over for luggage.

• Roof load: Maximum weight allowed on the roof of a vehicle
• Concerns only the tent & crossbar on the roof rack
• Example: Roof load = 85 kg ⇒ Roof tent + roof rack = 80 kg (+5 kg luggage)

More about roof tent: size, manufacturer & comparison

Now you just need to find the perfect roof tent for you! These recommendations will help you:

Camping for two or with the family

To decide on the right size, you should first consider how many people you will be traveling with. If you still need extra space, then you should choose a larger roof tent.

Here you will find many tips for different roof tent sizes:

• Roof tent 2 people
• Roof tent 3 people
• Roof tent 4 people
• Roof tent 5 people

Roof tent manufacturer: Our recommendation

In addition to the different sizes, there are also different companies that manufacture roof tents. So that you don’t lose track of them, you can take a look at our favorites here.

• Roof tent manufacturer

Roof tent comparison: Your suitable roof tent

Looking for the right roof tent or strong accessories and equipment for the camping site? Here you will find our shopping recommendations:

• Roof tent comparison

Suitable roof tent: travel time, size & regions – checklist

Depending on how long you are on the road, how many people you are traveling with and which regions you are visiting, one or the other roof tent model may be more worthwhile. Of course, there are roof tents from different manufacturers in different sizes and different equipment. If you are traveling as a couple with your partner, you won’t need quite as much space and can choose a smaller model accordingly.

You should keep this in mind when buying:

• How big should the tent be to accommodate all family members?
• Hard shell: yes or no?
• Is the roof tent stable, robust and durable?
• Do I need partitions / separate chambers?
• Does the roof tent have integrated mattress and ladder?
• Do I need an additional inner tent, mosquito net, protective cover & Co.
• Do I want a matching add-on tent or awning?

Camping for two or with the family

With the whole family you need a little more sleeping and living space and in the best case partitions or individual rooms for a little more privacy. Especially for very long trips, a robust and stable hard-shell roof tent is recommended, whereby you should definitely make sure that the most important features are already available.

Here you can find our tips for roof tent size:

• Roof tent 2 people
• Roof tent 3 people
• Roof tent 4 people
• Roof tent 5 people

Our favorite: Adventure roof tent

With a few simple steps, the Campwerk Adventure roof tent transforms into a cozy living space with versatile possibilities. This makes it perfect for spontaneous weekend trips, where the focus is on fun and relaxation. The sleeping area is equipped with a high-quality mattress and is accessible via a ladder. And when you’re lying in the roof tent, you can catch a glimpse of the starry sky through an impressive panorama window – although it was hardly noticeable before on the car while driving.

You can read more about Campwerk roof tents here:

• Campwerk roof tents

Roof tent manufacturer: Our recommendation

To give you an overview of all the options out there, we have listed many other providers here:

• Roof tent manufacturer

Roof tent comparison: find the right one!

Looking for the right roof tent or strong accessories and equipment for the camping site? Here you will find our shopping recommendations:

• Roof tent comparison