Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Hard Shell Roof Top Tent for Your Next Adventure

Looking for a rugged, ready-to-go camping solution that elevates your outdoor experience? Hard shell roof top tents offer swift setup, robust weather protection, and sleek vehicle integration. This guide provides you with essential insights into selecting, mounting, and maximizing your hard shell roof top tent, tailored to your adventuring style and vehicle type.

Key Takeaways

• Hard shell roof top tents offer a unique, elevated camping experience with benefits such as quick setup, weather resistance, and superior aerodynamics compared to traditional and soft shell tents.

• Compatibility with the vehicle’s roof rack or bed rack is crucial when choosing a hard shell roof top tent, and additional features like built-in lighting, weatherproofing, and storage solutions enhance the camping experience.

• There is a wide variety of hard shell roof top tents on the market, each with distinct features and capacities, but installation typically remains straightforward, involving standard tools and adherence to weight capacity limits.

What is a Roof Top Tent?

A roof top tent is a refreshing twist on the conventional camping setup. This type of tent offers:

• A cozy sleeping area above the ground

• Attaches to either a bed rack or roof rack on your vehicle

• A mobile camp that you can set up wherever you park your vehicle

• An unparalleled combination of comfort, convenience, and freedom.

Hard shell vs Soft Shell Roof Top Tent

Roof top tents primarily come in two varieties: hard shell and soft shell. While soft shell roof top tents usually come with a smaller price tag, hard shell roof top tents, such as those from Overland Vehicle Systems, offer the benefits of quicker setup, enhanced weather resistance, and a more streamlined profile.

Additionally, hard shell roof top tents offer more floor space when opened, providing a comfortable sleeping area for those using sleeping bags and other bedding materials.

The Benefits of a Roof Top Hard shell Roof Top Tent

Hard shell tents outshine their softshell equivalents in several ways. They generally offer quicker setup, superior weather resistance, and a lower profile while traveling, which enhances aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

Capacity of Hard shell Roof Top Tents

Hard shell roof top tents are available in a range of sizes, typically housing 2-3 people, though some can accommodate up to 4 occupants.

For example, the OVS Bushveld 4-Person Hard shell Roof Top Tent can comfortably sleep four people.

Tailoring Your Tent to Your Vehicle

Selecting an appropriate hard shell roof top tent is dependent on the mounting method and the specific vehicle. Certain tents are better suited for larger vehicles or those with a truck bed. For example, if mounting the RTT on a bed rack over the bed, you will want to ensure that the tent clears the roof line of the truck if you plan to mount a portion over the cab. Additionally, you will need to consider if you would be okay with the roof top tent hanging off the back if the tent is longer than your bed and you are not willing to let it hang over the cab. Mounting a RTT over the cab comes with similar considerations so it is best to measure the platform and area you plan to mount the tent and compare that to the posted tent specs to make sure your mounting plan makes sense.

Roof Rack Compatibility

Mounting a hard shell RTT to a roof rack is a common configuration. When choosing a hard shell roof top tent, it’s important to ensure roof rack compatibility, as the tent must securely fasten to the vehicle’s roof rack system. Hard shell roof top tents can be used with a variety of aftermarket crossbars, such as extruded aluminum crossbars or Thule crossbars, which are specifically designed to provide support for the structure and weight of the tents. Many roof rack manufacturers offer specific roof top tent mounts to help seamlessly attach to tent to the roof rack, but tents might have special considerations to pay attention to.

Bed Rack Compatibility

Mounting a roof top tent to a bed rack is another great option and preferred by some. While most bed racks and bed bars are designed to accept a roof top tent it is best to determine that prior to making a purchase. Some things to consider if you have a bed rack and are planning on mounting a roof top tent to it are the weight capacity of the bed rack, how the tent will bolt to the bed rack, the dimensions of the mounting platform on the rack vs the dimensions of the roof top tent, and how the tent will sit on the bed rack along with how you plan to use your bed with the tent installed.

Hard Shell Roof Top Tent Features Unpacked

Hard shell roof top tents are equipped with a variety of features designed to boost the comfort and convenience of your camping experience, making them a quality roof top tent choice. These features include built-in lighting solutions, weatherproofing and insulation, and storage solutions.

Built-in Lighting Solutions

Built-in lighting solutions, such as LED light strips, adjustable dimmer lights, and built-in skylights, offer convenience and enhanced comfort for nighttime use. The lighting in hard shell roof top tents is powered by various methods, including pre-assembled power kits, rechargeable LED solar lights, and 12V outlets.

Weatherproofing and Insulation

Most roof top tents use a fabric that is designed to repel water and also include a rain fly to protect the tent from moisture. Additionally, most higher-end roof top tents come with waterproof zippers which help keep water out of the zippers which is a common-place water can enter the tent.

Storage Solutions

Storage solutions integrated into hard shell roof top tents serve to maintain gear in an organized manner and facilitate easy access. The typical storage capacity in hard shell roof top tents can vary, but it generally can include boot bags, overhead hammocks, and storage pockets for valuables like wallets and phones.

The Evolution of Hard Shell Tents

Since their inception, hard shell roof top tents have undergone significant evolution. They have transitioned from traditional camping setups to providing augmented comfort, integrating sophisticated design features and technological enhancements along the way. Today's hard shell roof top tents are some of the most technologically advanced and packed with usable features.

From Traditional Camping to Elevated Comfort

The evolution of hard shell tents has led to increased comfort and convenience compared to traditional camping tents. They offer a notably superior comfort level compared to traditional tents, attributed to their durable materials and raised structure, which enables comfortable sleeping setups for 1-3 individuals. Don't forget that nearly all roof top tents come with a 2-4 inch mattress for added comfort. You can't say that about your old ground tent.

Technological Advancements in Tent Design

Technological advancements in tent design have resulted in improved materials, construction, and features for hard shell roof top tents. These advancements have facilitated the creation of:

• Compact, lightweight designs

• Aerodynamic designs

• Easy setup

• Enhanced functionality

• Improved efficiency

Hard Shell RTT Comparison Table:

A Comparative Look at Leading Hard Shell Roof Top Tent Models

Today’s market is abundant with a vast range of hard shell roof top tents, each offering unique features and benefits. We will review some of the leading models more closely including the OVS Mamba 3, OVS Bushveld 4, Tuff Stuff Alpha 4, Tuff Stuff Alpine 61, ROAM Adventure Co. Desperado, Eezi-Awn Blade, Eezi-Awn SABRE, Eezi-Awn Stealth, iKamper Skycamp 3.0, and iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Mini.

OVS Mamba 3 Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The OVS Mamba 3 hard shell roof top tent is constructed using 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum and premium 600D poly-cotton rip-stop canvas, ensuring robustness and weather resilience. It’s designed to accommodate up to two adults and one child, making it suitable for a small family.

Plus, it can be set up and put down in under a minute thanks to the simple two-latch operation. Some other notable features on the OVS Mamba 3 are the incorporated cross bars found on top of the tent that are compatible with Thule and Yakima accessories among other accessories. These cross bars allow you to easily store more gear and transport larger items such as a surfboard of SUP.

OVS Bushveld 4 Person Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The OVS Bushveld 4-Person Hard shell Roof Top Tent stands out for its superior capacity, accommodating 4 adults, surpassing the capacity of other models. It’s constructed using robust materials and includes an insulated base with an integrated anti-condensation layer and an aerodynamic hard shell cover when closed, contributing to improved comfort and fuel efficiency.

Operating the OVS Bushveld is simple with 4 easy to use latches. The 2 nitrogen gas-charged struts mean easy opening and closing and the 39 x 25.5 inch included skylight allows you to gaze under the stars for a good night's rest.

Tuff Stuff Alpha Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Tuff Stuff Alpha is a hybrid side-opening roof top tent that boasts a setup time of under 2 minutes, catering to the convenience of campers with active itineraries. The Tuff Stuff Alpha features a unique sloped shell adding to its aerodynamic design. In addition, the shell allows you to keep bedding stored in the tent when on the road so you can be ready to go at a moments notice.

Tuff Stuff Alpine 61 Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Tuff Stuff Alpine 61 Roof Top Tent is a newer-to-the-market tent that features a unique dual-action opening roof and can accommodate 2-3 people. You can either open the rear section for a wedge-style tent or the front section for a full pop-up with additional windows with screens. Operation of the Alpine 61 is very straightforward and can be setup and taken down in under a minute.

The list of features is long on the Alpine 61, but to just touch the surface, the Alpine 61 comes with 4 gas struts, blackout coated fabric, 2.75-inch thick memory foam mattress, an interior LED light strip, and more. The Alpine 61 also comes standard with cross bars on the top of the tent allowing you to increase your storage capacity with ease.

Tuff Stuff Alpine 51 Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Tuff Stuff Alpine 51 roof top tent is very similar to the Alpine 61, but has a slightly smaller footprint and is designed to accommodate two people. All the features found on the Alpine 61 are also found on the Alpine 51 including the blackout-coated fabric, 2.75-inch memory foam mattress, interior LED light strip and more. The Alpine 51 is the perfect option for those who don't need the added space found on 3-4 person tents or have a smaller platform for mounting the tent.

ROAM Desperado Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Desperado hard shell roof top Tent is a top-tier roof top tent designed to offer a luxurious and convenient camping experience for outdoor enthusiasts. It comes packed with features including window and door awnings, included LED light strip, integrated boot bags, next-level interior organization, load bars on top of the tent for mounting gear, and more.

The ROAM Desperado is designed for two adults and can easily be setup in under 30 seconds.

Eezi-Awn Blade Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Eezi-Awn Blade hard shell roof top tent features a simplistic and compact design that will easily fit two adults. Don't let the simplistic and compact design fool you though, the Blade is packed with excellent features and is constructed from the highest quality components. Some of these features include internal gas struts, lockable stainless steel latches, 12V power supply socket, internal storage pockets, LED light, and more.

The Blade roof top tent also features a unique hard shell that is extremely aerodynamic.

Eezi-Awn Stealth Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Eezi-Awn Stealth hard shell Roof Top Tent is very similar to the Blade but slightly larger and does not feature the two-tone color scheme found on the Blade. The impressive features including the gas strut assisted setup and takedown, internal storage pockets, LED light, lockable stainless steel latches, 12V power supply socket, and more all come standard on the Eezi-Awn Stealth.

Eezi-Awn SABRE Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Eezi-Awn SABRE is a side-opening hard shell roof top tent that can easily sleep two full-size adults. It features a lightweight aluminum body that is powder coated matte black, 70mm thick laminated mattress, internal storage pockets, LED light, lockable stainless steel latches, and more.

Opening and closing the SABRE is easy. Simply unlatch the two hinges and let the gas struts do the work.

iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The iKamper Skycamp 3.0 is one of iKamper's newer creations after a ton of success with the iKamper 2.0 variation. The 3.0 is a similar design to the 2.0 with a ton of new features which include a 100% waterproof 4-season design, plush mattress, spacious interior design, quilted insulation, skyview window, and more.

While the feature-packed Skycamp 3.0 is impressive, the truly impressive aspect of iKamper tents is the quality materials and attention to detail each tent features. If you have seen one in the wild I think you would agree.

iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Mini Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Mini features all the same benefits found on the standard 3.0 (non-Mini) roof top tent with a much more compact design. This compact design allows the tent to work on much smaller SUVs and vehicles that cannot support a full-size roof top tent. Because of the compact design, the Skycamp 3.0 Mini can only fit two people.

The smaller footprint of the 3.0 Mini is perfect for hatchbacks, compact cars, and smaller trucks.

Thule Basin Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

Thule is known for creating some of the highest quality racks and carriers and their hard shell roof top tents including the Basin stand up to that reputation. The Basic roof top tent is an auto-deploying tent that doubles as a cargo carrier and comfortably sleeps two adults. This pop-up-style tent doubles as a roof box when closed and allows you to easily store sleeping items such as pillows, sleeping bags, etc.

The Thule Basin also features an insulated roof which limits noise and also helps control temperature. Like all Thule products, the Basic hard shell roof top tent is constructed out of the finest materials and weather-resistant making it a great 4-season tent.

Thule Basin Wedge Roof Top Tent

The Thule Basin Wedge roof top tent features many of the benefits found on the pop-up Basic tent, but instead of popping up, it opens like a wedge. It can easily accommodate two adults. This design can be more desirable for some and can be set up and taken down in under a minute. The Basin Wedge RTT also can act as a roof box, but due to its low profile design,, it will not be able to store as much gear as the traditional Basic roof top tent from Thule.

Redtail Skyloft Hard Shell Roof Top Tent

The Redtail Skyloft is a unique roof top tent, to say the least. Each one is hand-built to order and the pricing is comparable to a trailer at between $20,000 and $30,000. That is probably a bit out of budget for most, but it is still an amazing creation nonetheless.

The Skyloft is a carbon fiber hard-sided wedge-style tent that is packed with luxurious features like dual-pane windows, an integrated diesel heater, integrated solar panels with lithium battery bank, USB and 110-volt outlets, and so much more. If you find yourself on some pretty difficult trails with low brush and other obstacles this may not be the tent, but if you are looking for the most luxurious tent that money can by

Installation Insights: Setting Up Your Roof Top Haven

Installing a hard shell roof top tent is a straightforward process and does not require any special tools. Due to the size of a roof top tent, it is advised to have additional help lifting the tent onto the vehicle. As we have previously mentioned, there are numerous ways to mount a roof top tent to a vehicle with a roof rack or bed rack being the most common. Prior to making a purchase ensure you understand the mounting capabilities of both the rack and roof top tent.

Mounting Made Simple

Most roof top tents mount in a similar way and have aluminum extrusions on the base for purposes of mounting. If you are mounting the tent to either a roof rack or bed rack you can contact us and we would be happy to walk you through the proper way to mount the tent. Most manufacturers have roof rack accessories or bed rack accessories that allow you to easily mount the tent with just a few bolts.

If you are mounting the tent to cross bars or something other than a roof rack or bed rack you might be able to use the included hardware that came with the tent. This really depends on your specific application.

Summary

Investing in a hard shell roof top tent is an excellent way to elevate your camping experience. These tents offer superior comfort, enhanced weather protection, and the convenience of a mobile camp that you can set up wherever you park your vehicle. With a wide variety of models available, you can find one that suits your vehicle and meets your camping needs perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are roof top tents worth it?

Roof top tents can be worth it, as they provide an elevated sleeping space that can keep dirt and bugs out and offer better airflow, but they may not be the best option for all camping scenarios or vehicles that won't support a tent.

What is a roof top tent?

A roof top tent is an innovative camping solution that mounts to your vehicle's roof or bed to offer a comfortable elevated sleeping area.

What are the advantages of a hard shell roof top tent over a soft shell tent?

The advantages of a hard shell roof top tent over a soft-shell tent include quicker setup, better weather resistance, and a lower profile while traveling.

What is the typical capacity range for hard shell roof top tents?

Hard shell roof top tents typically have a capacity range of 2-4 people, suiting various camping needs.

What are the key features of hard shell roof top tents?

Hard shell roof top tents offer built-in lighting, weatherproofing, insulation, and storage solutions, making them versatile and convenient for outdoor adventures.