Here we answer common questions we get about roof tents and roof tents. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us at info@taktaltarna.se .
• What size roof tent should I choose?
It depends on how many people you want to be up in the roof tent.
Keep in mind that the walls of the roof tent are straight and do not slope like in a normal tent, which means that you can use the entire width. Most of our customers feel that the roof tents are 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 is suitable for 3-4 adults.
You can read more about choosing a roof tent here .
• Which cars can you put a roof tent on?
Roof tents can be mounted on the vast majority of cars with roof rails, regardless of make and model (but of course, a convertible can be difficult).
The two things that determine whether you can have a certain roof tent on your car are which roof rails you have in combination with the width of your car roof (see next question).
Check that the roof tent's weight does not exceed the maximum load for your car model. The maximum load applies when the car is in motion and must not exceed 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 maximum load of X kilos on the roof. How then can a roof tent plus people be up on the roof?
The maximum weight stated applies to when your car is in motion, it is about driving safety. Stationary cars can withstand significantly higher weights. Read more about the roof tent's load on the car roof here
• Which roof rails do I need to mount a roof tent?The roof racks must have an approved maximum load that is higher than the weight of your roof tent + the weight of your roof racks combined. We recommend roof racks with a maximum load of at least 75 kilos. Most roof racks today are between 75-100 kilos, so it is rarely a problem.
We recommend that you use roof rails that are attached to the car's railings/rails or with fixed attachment points for the roof rails.
The bar of the roof rack should lie on top of – or protrude beyond – the load carrier foot as it does on classic square profiles, often called sqaure bars, or for example the Thule Wingbar Evo . The roof racks NOT recommended for mounting roof tents on are the low profile roof racks, such as the Thule Edge .
Rooftop tents come with pre-drilled holes to attach the rails in the bottom which are used to mount the tents. In order to be able to use the pre-drilled holes, you need to have a sufficient length of "clean railing" , i.e. railing where there are no protruding plastic parts from the roof rails' feet.
You can find the dimensions that apply to different tent models on the respective 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 fitted to the car?
The most common is that roof tents are mounted on ordinary roof rails.
The roof tent's attachment consists of mounting plates and M8 bolts. The bolts that come with you when you buy our roof tent Åreskutan are suitable for roof rails up to 5 cm in height. If you need longer bolts for your roof rails, you can easily buy them at a hardware store.
The mounting plates for our Åreskutan roof tent fit roof rails that are up to 9 centimeters wide.
Read more about roof racks and roof tents here .
• What distance should the roof rails 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 stick out about 30 centimeters both front and back from the roof rails, no more than 45 cm.
If you have rails that do not have any supporting braces between where it starts and ends, such as on a Volkswagen Tiguan, it is recommended to put the roof rails near the end points of the rails.
Read more about roof racks and roof tents here .
• Can my car handle the weight of a roof tent?
The car's maximum roof load is the dynamic weight, i.e. the weight that applies when you drive your car. When you are standing still, it is not a problem to have more weight up on the roof because the weight is then static and distributed over the bars and feet of the roof rack, the car's body and the steps.
The car stands firmly on its four wheels and the family of four who were previously in the car are now sleeping on the roof. The total load has not changed. Provided that the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle is not exceeded, you do not need to worry.
If you still want to strengthen it, it is perfectly possible to put three or four roof racks on the car to distribute the weight even more.
Here you can read a good text that explains how it works with weight and car more in detail
• My roof racks have a maximum load of 75 kilos, so how can we have the tent plus a few people on them?
The maximum load specified for the roof rack is the dynamic weight, i.e. the one that applies when you drive your car. When you are standing still, it is not a problem to have more weight up on the roof because the weight is then static and distributed over the bars and feet of the roof rack, the car's body and the steps.
The car stands firmly on its four wheels and the family of four who were previously in the car are now sleeping on the roof. The total load has not changed. Provided that the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle is not exceeded, you do not need to worry.
If you still want to strengthen it, it is perfectly possible to put three or four roof racks on the car to distribute the weight even more.
Here you can read a good text that explains how it works with weight and car in more detail
• Does it use more petrol/diesel with a roof tent on the car?
Yes, much like with a roof box. How much extra depends on the car and how you drive - but between 0.5-1.5 dl extra/mile.
• Can you have a roof tent on a car with a sunroof/glass roof?
Here the opinions differ, some car brands say it's okay, others don't. We have installed roof tents on cars with glass roofs and had no problems. It is important that you check your car model's maximum load for the roof and that the weight of the roof tent you want + your roof rails does not exceed it.
• How much weight can a roof tent withstand?
It is different for different manufacturers. Our roof tents can withstand a weight of up to 300 kilos.
• How much does a roof tent cost?
It obviously differs between different models and brands; from around SEK 12,000 up to SEK 50,000. A soft-shell model roof tent (such as our Åreskutan roof tent ) is usually cheaper than a hard-shell model. Read more here about what distinguishes different roof tent models .
• Does the car need to have a particular height for the ladder to work?
The steps on our Åreskutan roof tent are adjustable and can handle cars with a height of up to 240 centimeters.
• In which directions can a roof tent be mounted?
The roof tents we sell at Taktältarna can be assembled so that the steps and the 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. Installing a roof tent with the opening to the rear is mainly recommended for larger cars that have a tailgate that opens with door(s)
• How long does it take to unfold and fold the tent?
Unfolding a soft shell model roof tent to have it ready to sleep in only takes a couple of minutes. Add a few more minutes if you want to put up the tent pegs for the windows. If you are two people working together, you can almost halve the time it takes.
Here you can see a film where we go through all the steps to fold up and fold up our Åreksutan roof tent .
• How much space will the roof tent take up on my roof and how does it look when folded?
Folded with the carrying case 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 will be different.
If it is very windy, we recommend that you find a place that is protected. Always park with the head end facing the wind to minimize the amount of tent surface exposed.
If it's cold, think about two things: 1. Leave a small part of the window open to ensure air flow and prevent moisture. 2. It is important that the outer tent fabric that comes with the tent is on as it creates an insulating layer of air that helps keep you warm.
During hot days and nights, you can easily keep it cool in the roof tent by opening the large windows and entrance openings for a flow of air. The outer tent also plays an important role even 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 people leave their roof tent on for large parts of the year. If you have it for a long time, we recommend that you occasionally fold it up to air out any moisture, approximately every 3-4 weeks.
• How should I store my roof tent when not in use?
If you are not going to use your roof tent for a long time, it is best to remove it from the car. Always unfold it before putting it away to ensure the roof tent is completely dry.
A common storage method is to raise the roof tent to the roof of a garage, carport or storage room using, for example, roof box lifts. Another option is to store it on a pallet. It is important that it is dry in the storage space.
• How should I take care of my roof tent?
The most important thing is to always make sure that your roof tent is completely dry when you are not going to use it for a few days/for a longer period of time. If the tent is damp, like all fabric, it will mold after a while. Condensation can often form under the mattress, so feel free to place a couple of bricks under the mattress when you dry out the tent so that air can flow through and dry the base plate.
Clean the inside of the roof tent, preferably with a vacuum cleaner, so that gravel and other things do not rub and abrade the fabric.
Impregnate the tent fabric once a year with an impregnation agent intended for tent fabric.
Spray silicone spray on the zipper to make it easier to pull.
The sun's rays wear down the tent fabric, so don't leave it folded up for a long time if you're not using it.
• Can I pack up a roof top tent when it is wet?
Yes, there is no problem. Just make sure to dry it completely when you are not going to use it anymore and it should be folded for a long time. With the openings on all four walls up, it dries out quickly.
• Where do I dispose of 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 you drive. Lay it out evenly over the floor surface that lies above the car roof and then fold. There are tension straps that give you extra power to push the tent together.
