How To Install Smittybilt Roof Top Tent

Front Runner

Just a few years ago, rooftop tents began popping up in the outdoor market, but they were ridiculously expensive. What started out as a fad that only appealed to rich outdoorspeople has since become much more accessible to all campers, thanks to new models for budgets of all sizes.

Since this boom, countless brands have begun putting their own twist on rooftop tent features. Nowadays, it's rare to not see a rooftop tent when you're just taking the dog for a walk, and it's practically guaranteed that you'll encounter a handful of rooftop tents when you're visiting a National Park. Sure, traditional tent camping is still a grand old time, but rooftop tents have some serious perks.

Benefits of a Rooftop Tent

Setup is a breeze (after the initial install). These tents mount to your vehicle's roof crossbars and can be easily deployed in just a few minutes when you find a camp spot. A ladder folds out so that you can climb up into your home away from home, far away from any puddles, insects, and roaming wildlife.
You can camp anywhere (well, almost anywhere). No need to find a soft and perfectly flat tent pad — as long as the slope is minimal, you can set up shop anywhere. Sleeping off of the ground puts you high above any roaming critters, too.
The comfort is top-notch. Most include a thick foam mattress that will blow your typical camping air mattresses out of the water.
Their construction is solid. Their heavy fabrics and thick tent poles are made to stand strong in heavy winds and rains.

Drawbacks of a Rooftop Tent

Cost is high. They are significantly more expensive than a standard tent, so you better plan on getting your money's worth.
They're heavy and bulky. Most options weigh at least 100 pounds, and some up to 200 pounds. You'll also make sure you have at least one other person with you for mounting. Plus, you'll need a storage space between seasons, and if you decide to leave it mounted between trips, the extra drag will definitely affect gas mileage.
Day trips are tougher. If you plan on sleeping in the same place for multiple nights, but want to drive to a trailhead, your tent and your car are one.

How We Chose

We've been camping, backpacking, and road-tripping since we could walk. So we've seen the evolution of rooftop tents since they were first introduced, and have taken notice of which brands continue to make high-quality products. We understand this is a large purchase, and we want to help you choose wisely. That's why we spent countless hours (maybe even days?) researching rooftop tents, and we pay extra special attention to the following criteria, which we think are the most important considerations.

Soft versus hard-sided. Most tents are soft, meaning they fold into a thick PVC fabric cover on your roof. On the other hand, a few hard-sided options exist — these are more visually appealing and aerodynamic, but come at a premium.
Mounting. If you have a solid aftermarket roof rack, you should be fine, but some factory racks won't be strong enough. Read the fine print to make sure that your rack can accommodate.
Solid walls versus mesh. Some tents are highly waterproof and feature minimal mesh for colder, windier camping. Others have mesh windows and a removable rainfly to let the breeze in. Where you intend to camp will impact your selection.
Other features. Is the ladder included? Are there internal storage pockets? Is there enough space for my entire family? Some options even have fun extras, like a room divider, LED lights, and skylights.

Best Rooftop Tents

Best Overall Rooftop Tent: Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 Tent
Best Jeep Tent: Smittybilt Overlander Jeep Rooftop Tent
A Cheap Alternative for Trucks: Rightline Gear Mid-Size Truck Bed Tent
Most Low-Profile Rooftop Tent: Front Runner Rooftop Tent
CVT Hybrid Series Rooftop Tent with Annex: Best Hybrid Soft- and Hard-Sided Tent
Best Rooftop Tent Under $1000: Raptor Series OFFGRID Voyager Rooftop Tent
The Toughest Rooftop Tent: Overland Vehicle Systems Nomadic 3 Extended Rooftop Tent
Best Hard-Sided Rooftop Tent: Thule Tepui HyBox Hard-Sided Wedge Tent

Our favorite thing about rooftop tents? Cross-country road trips have never been easier. You can visit national parks from east to west, and camp in a different spot every night without having to completely break down and set up your sleeping quarters anew each day. If you're looking to change the way you camp, try out a rooftop tent and see for yourself what all the hype is about.

Best Overall Rooftop Tent

Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 Tent

Thule backcountry.com

$1,899.95

Tepui led the way in rooftop tent innovation, and they are still a trailblazer in the industry. Their Kukenam tent has space for three, a strong reputation, and a competitive price tag, making it a fan favorite, year after year.

This tent has a rugged construction, with heavy-duty polyester and cotton fabrics that are treated for waterproofing, so it will stand up to years of use and abuse. And when things heat up, you'll appreciate the all-around mesh paneling that lets you enjoy your surroundings while also improving airflow.

Setup and breakdown are a breeze, too, thanks to a telescoping ladder that unfolds with a gentle pull and a built-in foam mattress that rivals the comfort of your guest bed. Both these will save you from reconfiguring your sleeping arrangements every night. Coupled with four internal storage pockets, this rooftop tent makes for a comfy home away from home.

More:Rest Better in These Amazing Down Sleeping Bags

Best Jeep Tent

Smittybilt Overlander Jeep Rooftop Tent

Smittybilt amazon.com

$1,159.99

Jeep owners have a certain sense of pride about their ride, mostly because they can take their rig where most people can't. But if you're jeeping off the beaten path, don't worry about finding a flat spot to set up camp: The world is literally your campsite with a rooftop tent.

Smittybilt's Overlander sleeps two or three adults, and it's built with all the comforts of a heavy-duty tent that Jeep owners demand. Its features include a waterproof top and a rainfly that both keep moisture out, a sunroof that folds back when you want to let in extra rays, side windows with mosquito netting, and a tough-as-nails PVC cover that protects it all when stowed away. It even has built-in LED strips that light up the inside.

If your Jeep already has the necessary cargo rack, this rooftop tent is an affordable add-on that'll transform your rock-crawler into a home on wheels.

A Cheap Alternative for Trucks

Rightline Gear Mid-Size Truck Bed Tent

Rightline Gear amazon.com

$189.95

Drive a truck but don't want to fork over thousands for a camper shell? This best-seller transforms your truck bed or SUV into a tent without adding the weight and bulk of a camper shell or traditional rooftop tent. There's ample space for two people — or for you, a dog, and your gear.

This tent has an average of 4.3 stars from over 1,600 Amazon reviews. It straps down easily and securely to your vehicle so you can sleep off of the ground, it has four large windows that provide great ventilation, and it boasts a full-coverage rainfly that will protect you from stormy weather.

And we can't get over the price tag. Rightline Gear has made it affordable for the average person to camp in their truck bed without forking over a month's rent.

Most Low-Profile Rooftop Tent

Front Runner Rooftop Tent

Front Runner frontrunneroutfitters.com

$1,146.00

Looking to add the comforts and convenience of a rooftop tent without the bulk and weight? The Frontrunner weighs just 93 pounds and measures shorter than 8 inches tall when packed up on your roof, making it one of the lighter and lowest-profile options available. Less wind resistance means more gas money in your pocket.

This tent has plenty of space for two adults, and comes complete with everything you'd expect from a rooftop tent, like a built-in mattress, zippered privacy panels all around, a retractable aluminum ladder, and a durable PVC cover that protects it when not in use.

We also love its insulated aluminum base and its ability to open up over either side or the rear. Load up and hit the road on a whim — now you're always prepared for adventure.

Best Hybrid Soft- and Hard-Sided Tent

CVT Hybrid Series Rooftop Tent with Annex

Cascadia Vehicle Tents cascadiatents.com

$2,695.00

Got an SUV or truck that's literally stuffed to the brim with gear, food, and road-trippers? Mount this bad boy to your vehicle and head out to make memories. CVT's new Hybrid rooftop tent has the comforts and features that you love about traditional soft-sided rooftop tents, plus the easy setup and versatility of a hard-sided tent that deploys in just seconds.

The mattress in the Hybrid series is a 3-inch-thick memory foam with a part-nylon waterproof cover, part-cotton soft cover where it matters most. There's also an easy-to-use LED light kit that plugs into any USB power source to light up your night.

It's likely the most stout of any rooftop tent, capable of being put through the wringer in every scenario under the sun. Pair it with CVT's badass off-road trailer to open up a whole new world of outdoor exploration.

Best Tent Under $1000

Raptor Series OFFGRID Voyager Rooftop Tent

Raptor Series amazon.com

$1,109.99

Contrary to popular belief, not all nice things come in shiny packages (or with crazy price tags). This rooftop tent from Raptor Series is simple, yet sturdy and effective, and costs under $900, making it a budget-minded camper's dream.

Setup of this tent is about as easy as it gets. Just remove the PVC driving cover, pull the deployment strings to erect the tent, attach two hooks to your vehicle, and bingo — your comfortable two-person sleeping quarters awaits. Its high-density, foam mattress is much more comfy than any inflatable camping pad.

Park your car with this tent facing away from the breeze, and its aerodynamic shape will withstand heavy winds and rains with ease. The built-in awning prevents back spray and also provides a natural frame for your view of the sunset.

The Toughest Rooftop Tent

Overland Vehicle Systems Nomadic 3 Extended Rooftop Tent

Overland Vehicle Systems amazon.com

$1,549.99

No frills here — just a strong-as-hell rooftop tent at a fairly reasonable price. So what makes Overland Vehicle Systems' Nomadic 3 so appealing?

The tent body is a heavy-duty, 600D blend of polyester and cotton, and the rainfly is a 420D polyester, which equates to some of the strongest water-shedding materials on the market. The rainfly also helps to eliminate overhead light so you can stay cooler for longer when the sun starts cooking in the wee hours of the morning.

The tent base is a heavy duty reinforced diamond plate, the PVC driving cover has reinforced corners for top-notch durability, plenty of windows and a skylight improve airflow, and plenty of storage pockets to help keep your precious gear organized.

With its "extended" design, this tent is ideal for tall people, with plenty of space to stretch out as you wake up slowly and enjoy the sunrise.

More: Here's Our 100-Item List of Essential Camping Gear

Best Hard-Sided Rooftop Tent

Thule Tepui HyBox Hard-Sided Wedge Tent

Tepui's hard-sided Hybox is multipurpose and can stay on your roof all year long. If you love the convenience of a rooftop tent, but need the extra storage space that a roof rack or cargo box provides, this ultra versatile option is exactly what you've been looking for.

Let us explain: When the kids tag along on your camping trip and you need every inch of storage so no one is fighting over legroom, simply open the Hybox, unzip the tent, remove it, and voila — a cargo box with 23 cubic feet of additional storage space is revealed.

And when it's just you and your boo hitting the trails, the 51x81-inch tent interior provides plenty of space for two full-sized adults, and the 3-inch-thick mattress will make it hard to get out of bed in the morning (in a good way).

Take the Hybox on ski trips in the winter, to the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the fall, and anywhere in between, because this four-season tent is warm and waterproof enough to keep you dry and toasty, no matter the conditions.

Andrew Bettlach Andrew has been contributing to the outdoors and fitness content on BestProducts.com since 2017; he's a nature lover, peak-bagger, skier, and general good-time haver who lives in Colorado, knows where all the fresh snow is, and what gear you should be wearing for staying warm or looking fresh.

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