Here we answer common questions we receive about roof tents and roof tent camping. If you can't find the answer to your question, feel free to contact us at info@taktaltarna.se.
• What size roof tent should I choose?
It depends on how many people you want to be inside the roof tent.
Keep in mind that the walls of the roof tent are straight and do not slope like in a regular tent, which means you can use the full width. Most of our customers find the roof tents very spacious.
- A roof tent with a width of 140 centimeters is suitable for 2 adults.
- A roof tent of 165 centimeters is suitable for 2-3 adults.
- A roof tent with a 180 centimeter wide mattress fits 3-4 adults.
You can read more about choosing a roof tent here.
• Which cars can have roof tents?
Roof tents can be mounted on most cars with roof racks, regardless of make and model (although, sure, a convertible might be difficult).
The two things that determine if you can have a certain roof tent on your car are the type of roof racks you have combined with the width of your car roof (see next question).
Check that the weight of the roof tent does not exceed the maximum load for your car model. The maximum load applies when the car is in motion and should not be exceeded by the roof tent's weight. When the car is stationary, it can handle significantly higher weights, up to four people is not a problem.
• My car has a max load of X kilos on the roof. How can a roof tent plus people be on the roof then?
The maximum weight specified applies when your car is in motion; it is about driving safety. When stationary, cars can tolerate much higher weights. Read more about the roof tent's load on the car roof here
• What roof racks should I have to mount a roof tent?The roof racks should have an approved max load higher than the combined weight of your roof tent plus your roof racks. We recommend roof racks with a max load of at least 75 kilos. Most roof racks today range between 75-100 kilos, so it is rarely a problem.
We recommend using roof racks that attach to the car's rails or with fixed mounting points for roof racks.
The roof rack bar should lie on top of – or protrude outside – the load holder foot as it does on classic square profiles, often called square bars, or for example Thule Wingbar Evo. Roof racks NOT recommended for mounting roof tents are low-profile roof racks, such as Thule Edge.
Roof tents come with pre-drilled holes to attach the rails at the bottom used to mount the tents. To use the pre-drilled holes, you need to have sufficient length of "clean rack", meaning rack where no protruding plastic parts from the roof rack feet exist.
The dimensions required for different tent models can be found on each roof tent's purchase page. For our roof tent Åreskutan you need at least 72 centimeters.
Read more about roof racks and roof tents here.
• How is a roof tent mounted on the car?
The most common is that roof tents are mounted on regular roof racks.
The roof tent's fastening system consists of mounting plates and M8 bolts. The bolts that come with our roof tent Åreskutan fit roof racks up to 5 cm in height. If you need longer bolts for your roof racks, you can easily buy them at a hardware store.
The mounting plates for our roof tent Åreskutan fit roof racks up to 9 centimeters wide.
Read more about roof racks and roof tents here.
• What distance should the roof racks have between each other?
For two-person tents: At least 60 centimeters
For three-person tents: At least 80 centimeters
For four-person tents: At least 90 centimeters
A rule of thumb is that the roof tent should preferably protrude about 30 centimeters both front and back from the roof racks, not more than 45 cm.
If you have rails without any supporting struts between where they start and end, such as on a Volkswagen Tiguan, it is recommended to place the roof racks near the rail endpoints.
Read more about roof racks and roof tents here.
• Can my car handle the weight of a roof tent?
The car's max load for the roof is the dynamic weight, meaning the weight allowed when you are driving your car. When stationary, it is no problem to have more weight on the roof because the weight is then static and distributed over the roof rack bars and feet, the car's body, and the ladder.
The car stands firmly on its four wheels and the family of four who previously sat in the car now sleeps on the roof. The total load has not changed. Provided the allowed max weight for the vehicle is not exceeded, you do not need to worry.
If you still want to reinforce, it is perfectly fine to install three or four roof racks on the car to distribute the weight even more.
Here you can read a good article explaining how weight and cars work in more detail
• My roof racks have a max load of 75 kilos, how can we then have the tent plus some people on them?
The max load specified for roof racks is the dynamic weight, meaning the weight allowed when you are driving your car. When stationary, it is no problem to have more weight on the roof because the weight is then static and distributed over the roof rack bars and feet, the car's body, and the ladder.
The car stands firmly on its four wheels and the family of four who previously sat in the car now sleeps on the roof. The total load has not changed. Provided the allowed max weight for the vehicle is not exceeded, you do not need to worry.
If you still want to reinforce, it is perfectly fine to install three or four roof racks on the car to distribute the weight even more.
Here you can read a good article explaining how weight and cars work in more detail
• Does having a roof tent on the car increase fuel consumption?
Yes, similar to a roof box. How much extra depends on the car and how you drive – but between 0.5-1.5 dl extra per mile.
• Can you have a roof tent on a car with a sunroof/glass roof?
Opinions differ here; some car brands say it is okay, others do not. We have mounted roof tents on cars with glass roofs and have had no problems. It is important that you check your car model's max load for the roof and that the weight of the roof tent you want plus your roof racks does not exceed it.
• How much weight can a roof tent withstand?
It varies by manufacturer. Our roof tents can withstand a weight of up to 300 kilos.
• How much does a roof tent cost?
It varies of course between different models and brands; from around 12,000 SEK up to 50,000 SEK. A soft-shell roof tent (like our roof tent Åreskutan) is usually cheaper than a hard-shell model. Read more here about what differentiates different roof tent models.
• Does the car need to have a certain height for the ladder to work?
The ladder on our roof tent Åreskutan is adjustable and fits cars up to 240 centimeters in height.
• In which directions can a roof tent be mounted?
The roof tents we at Taktältarna sell can be mounted so that the ladder and opening are placed either to the side or the back of your car. The installation system is flexible so the direction can be changed if desired. Mounting the roof tent with the opening to the back is mainly recommended for larger cars that have a tailgate opening with door(s).
• How long does it take to unfold and fold the tent?
Unfolding a soft-shell roof tent to have it ready for sleeping takes only a couple of minutes. Add a few more minutes if you want to set up the tent poles for the windows. If two people cooperate, you can nearly halve the time it takes.
Here you can watch a video where we go through all the steps to unfold and fold our roof tent Åreskutan.
• How much space will the roof tent take up on my roof and what does it look like folded?
Folded with the transport cover on, it looks like a large roof box. The width (over the car roof) is 120 centimeters and the height about 35, depending on which model you have, the length varies.
If it is very windy, we recommend finding a sheltered spot. Always park with the head end facing the wind to minimize the amount of tent surface exposed.
If it is cold, keep two things in mind: 1. Leave a small part of the window open to ensure airflow and prevent moisture. 2. It is important that the outer tent fabric that comes with the tent is on because it creates an insulating air layer that helps keep you warm.
During warm days and nights, you can easily keep it cool in the roof tent by opening the large windows and entrance openings for airflow. The outer tent also plays an important role now as it creates shade and an insulating air pocket above the tent.
• How long can I have a roof tent on the car without using it?
Many leave their roof tent on for large parts of the year. If you have it on for a long time, we recommend occasionally unfolding it to air out any moisture, about every 3-4 weeks.
• How should I store my roof tent when not in use?
If you are not using your roof tent for a longer period, the best is to remove it from the car. Always unfold it before storing to ensure the roof tent is completely dry.
A common storage method is to hoist the roof tent up in the ceiling of a garage, carport, or storage room using, for example, lifts for roof boxes. Another option is to store it on a pallet. It is important that the storage space is dry.
• How should I take care of my roof tent?
The most important thing is always to make sure your roof tent is completely dry when you are not going to use it for a few days or longer. If the tent is damp, like all fabric, it will mold after a while. Often condensation can form under the mattress, so place a couple of blocks under the mattress when drying the tent so air can flow through and dry the bottom plate.
Clean the inside of the roof tent, preferably with a vacuum cleaner, so that sand and other debris do not rub and wear on the fabric.
Waterproof the tent fabric once a year with a waterproofing agent intended for tent fabric.
Spray silicone spray on the zippers to make them easier to pull.
The sun's rays wear on the tent fabric, so do not leave it set up for a long time if you are not using it.
• Can I pack up a roof tent when it is wet?
Yes, it is no problem. Just make sure to dry it completely when you are not going to use it anymore and it will be packed for a longer time. With openings on all four walls up, it dries out quickly.
• Where do I put bedding/sleeping bags when the roof tent is folded?
In our roof tent Åreskutan you can leave pillows, sleeping bags, blankets, and sheets inside the roof tent while driving. Spread them evenly over the floor area that lies over the car roof and then fold it up. There are straps that give you extra force to compress the tent.
