Have you just bought a roof top tent, or perhaps rented one for the first time? Then this is the ultimate guide for you. Here we collect tips and links for everything you need to know before your first trip with a roof tent.
Before the first trip with a roof tent, it is common to have a lot of questions and concerns. That's why we've collected everything here that we think is good to know or think about when you're going out with a roof tent for the first time. For each piece there is a link to pages where you can read more about the respective thing.
- Are your car and roof racks suitable for roof tents?
- How do I find good (free) camping sites for roof tents?
- How do I fold up and fold a roof tent?
- What to pack when you go roof tenting?
- Where can you actually stand (and not stand) with a roof tent?
- How can I reduce the footprint my camping makes on nature?
- Inspirational film: join the Eriksson/Gullström family's first roof tent trip
Are your car and roof racks suitable for roof tents?
Roof tents can be mounted on most cars with standard roof rails. Your car needs to have either rails (railings) or attachment points for the roof rails in the car roof, we do not recommend that you use roof rails that are clamped to the car frame.
Three things to check:
1. That your roof rails have an approved maximum load and are not of a low-profile model such as Thule Edge.
2. That you have enough "clean rail" to screw the roof tent to the roof rails
3. The roof rails must be able to be mounted on your car with a distance of between 70 and 120 centimeters between them, depending on the size of the roof tent.
How do I find good (free) camping sites for roof tents?
Alone by the water, surrounded by beautiful nature and beautiful views. It is the ultimate rooftop tent camping site for many. But how to find it? Here are our top five tips:
1. Put on the roof tent goggles
2. Become friends with Google Maps and the satellite view
3. Download and use apps such as Park4Night, Ställplatser and Fricamping
4. Camp
5. Ask other roof tenters, outdoorsmen and locals
In this blog post you can read longer explanations for each tip
How do I fold up and fold a roof tent?
The first time you stand there and are about to pitch your roof tent, it might be nice to have checked the instructions for how to do it.
Here you can see a film in real time when Ola from Taktältarna folds up our Åreskutan roof tent. In three minutes the roof tent is ready to sleep in, add a few more minutes to get the tent pegs up and you also have a view from the top of the roof tent in three directions.
When you are going to fold the roof tent, it is more or less just to do everything in reverse order, but there are a few things that are good to think about.
What to pack when you go roof tenting?
One of the advantages of camping with a roof top tent is that you can fill up the entire car with smart things that make your roof top tenting both more fun and more comfortable.
Here you will find a list of the things we usually take with us out with the roof tent
Many drive with significantly more advanced equipment than that – larger camping kitchens, batteries to power e.g. coolers, solar cells and more. For inspiration, join the Facebook group Taktält – Sweden
Where can you actually stand (and not stand) with a roof tent?
As both the roof tent, vanlife and mobile home trends grow stronger, more and more questions arise about where it is okay to (free) camp and what not. And there are several rules and regulations you need to comply with when you set out on the Swedish roads.
Here we find out what applies when you go freecamping with your roof tent
How can I reduce the footprint my camping makes on nature?
Our camping nights (whether in an RV, van, regular tent or roof tent) leave an imprint on the places we camp. A good basic approach to take with you is the Allemansrätten's motto "Do not disturb - do not destroy". Always clean and leave the place as it was when you arrived, or even better – better.
Here we list 7 tips for you who want to camp more sustainably
