Unfolding and folding a roof tent is easy. Here you can see videos that show you how to do it, step by step. The roof tent used as an example is our roof tent Åreskutan .
One of the great advantages of a roof tent is precisely the simplicity of unfolding and folding it. Unlike a normal tent, you don't have to hunt for a completely smooth surface - but it's good if the ground is reasonably flat. 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.
Watch a video showing how to pitch a roof tent
In this video, Ola from Taktältarna shows how to pitch the Åreskutan roof tent:
This is how you fold up the roof tent, step by step
2. Pull up the zipper that runs along the bottom plate of the roof tent. Make sure to keep one or two fingers between the zipper and the tent to avoid the tent fabric getting caught in the zipper. When you get to the corners, fold up the plastic cover and you'll get around easier.
3. Lift the cover and pull it off to the other side. The case is attached to a rail. If you have a different model than the Åreskutan, you may need to pull the case out of the rail and put it in a dry place. If you have an Åreskutan from Taktältarna, you can leave the cover hanging so that after you unfold the tent (step 4) roll it up towards the base plate and fasten with the straps that are in the base plate.
4. Loosen the velcro around the ladder and push it out a little so you can reach it from the other side. Pull the ladder out to its full length. Then unfold the tent by pushing the ladder down and then holding it while reversing.
5. Adjust and secure the steps.
6. Make sure that both bottom plates of the roof tent are jacked into each other at the fold. If they haven't, try lifting and pushing up the unfolded plate.
7. Set up the overhang over the ladder by attaching the aluminum frame to the brackets on both sides of the roof tent's entrance. Make sure the aluminum brackets are in the corners of the overhang. Fasten the tent lines to the ground with the supplied ground tent pegs. If you are standing on hard ground, you can use large stones or logs instead.
8. Enter the roof tent and untie the four bungee lines on one side, leaving them hanging on the other.
9. Hang the shoe bags on the sides of the roof tent opening by threading them into the rail in the base plate.
10. Put up the window covers using the supplied tent pegs. There are pre-drilled holes in the base plate for the tent pegs to be inserted diagonally. Also set up the rain cover with window pegs on the short side of the roof tent.
Watch a video showing how to fold a roof tent
Folding a roof tent is basically like unfolding it in reverse order. But there are some moments that are different. Here is a film where Ola at Taktältarna folds up our Åreskutan roof tent
This is how you fold a roof tent, step by step
1. Take down the window studs and fasten the window cover and the rain cover on the short side in the brackets on the sides of the windows. Pull up mosquito nets and tent cloths over the opening/window.
2. Pull out the shoe bags and place them together with the window sticks on the part of the base plate that is above the car roof. If you have blankets/pillows/sleeping bags, you can leave them in the roof tent if you want, then spread them out evenly over the base plate that is over the car roof.
3. Pull the four bungy lines from one window side of the roof tent over to the other and tighten. They help retract the tent fabric when you fold the roof tent.
4. Loosen the tent ropes that hold the overhang. Detach the aluminum frame and push under the mattress. Fold the overhang tent fabric under the arch.
6. Fold the ladder and fasten with velcro. Grab and lift upwards to fold the roof tent. If you are short, you can instead lock the steps in a more extended position and adjust on the other side when the roof tent is folded.
7. Insert loose tent fabric, especially on the short side, by lifting the upper base plate and pushing in between the aluminum frames. If there is a lot hanging out on the other sides of the roof tent, try to push in there as well.
8. Tighten the compression straps, not by pulling on the straps themselves but pressing one base plate down against the other as hard as you can and then fasten the straps.
9. Throw over the cover and pull down over the roof tent on the other side.
10. Tighten the zipper around the case. Don't forget to keep a finger between the zipper and the roof tent to avoid the tent fabric getting stuck.
11. Fasten the straps over the case. They must be threaded as in the photo below, otherwise there is a risk that they will come loose.
