Have you just bought a roof tent, or maybe rented one for the first time? Then this is the ultimate guide for you. Here we gather tips and links for everything you need to know before your first trip with a roof tent.
Before your first trip with a roof tent, it is common to have quite a few questions and thoughts. Therefore, we have gathered everything we think is good to know or consider when you are going out with a roof tent for the first time. For each section, there is a link to pages where you can read more about each topic.
- Does your car and roof racks fit a roof tent?
- How do I find good (free) camping spots for roof tents?
- How do I set up and pack down a roof tent?
- What should you pack when roof tent camping?
- Where can you actually park (and not park) with a roof tent?
- How can I reduce the impact my camping has on nature?
- Inspiration film: join the Eriksson/Gullström family on their first roof tent trip
Does your car and roof racks fit a roof tent?
Roof tents can be mounted on most cars with regular roof racks. Your car needs to have either rails or mounting points for roof racks on the roof; we do not recommend using roof racks that clamp onto the car door frame.
Three things to check:
1. That your roof racks have an approved maximum load and are not a low-profile model like Thule Edge.
2. That you have enough "clean rack" to screw the roof tent onto the roof racks
3. The roof racks should be mountable on your car with a distance between 70 and 120 centimeters, depending on the size of the roof tent.
How do I find good (free) camping spots for roof tents?
Alone by the water, surrounded by beautiful nature and beautiful views. That is the ultimate camping spot for roof tents for many. But how do you find it? Here are our five best tips:
1. Put on your roof tent glasses
2. Become friends with Google Maps and satellite view
3. Download and use apps like Park4Night, Ställplatser and Fricamping
4. Acamp
5. Ask other roof tent campers, outdoor people and locals
In this blog post you can read longer explanations for each tip
How do I set up and pack down a roof tent?
The first time you stand there and are about to set up your roof tent, it can be nice to have looked through instructions on how to do it.
Here you can watch a real-time video when Ola from Taktältarna sets up our roof tent Åreskutan. In three minutes the roof tent is ready to sleep in, add a few more minutes to get the tent poles up and you also have a view from the roof tent in three directions.
When you pack down 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 keep in mind.
What should you pack when roof tent camping?
One of the many advantages of camping with a roof tent is that you can fill the whole car with smart things that make your roof tent camping both more fun and comfortable.
Here you will find a list of the things we most often bring with us on roof tent trips
Many use much more advanced equipment than that – larger camping kitchens, batteries to power e.g. coolers, solar panels and more. For inspiration, join the Facebook group Roof Tent – Sweden
Where can you actually park (and not park) with a roof tent?
As the roof tent, vanlife, and motorhome trends grow stronger, more and more questions arise about where it is okay to (free) camp and where it is not. And there are several rules and regulations you need to comply with when you hit the Swedish roads.
Here we clarify what applies when you free camp with your roof tent
How can I reduce the impact my camping has on nature?
Our camping nights (whether in a motorhome, van, a regular tent or roof tent) leave traces on the places where we camp. A good basic approach to bring with you is the Swedish Right of Public Access motto "Do not disturb – do not destroy". Always clean up and leave the place as it was when you arrived, or even better – better.
Here we list 7 tips for those who want to camp more sustainably
