How to Choose a Rooftop Tent: Advice From Our Install Shop (2026)

By Mike Gentile, owner of Spirit of 1876. Since 2018 we've sold and installed rooftop tents from more than a dozen brands at our shop in Castle Rock, Colorado. We don't make tents, so we have no reason to push one brand over another.

The short answer

Start with three questions:

1. How many people need to sleep in it?
2. Does it need to fit in your garage? If so, how tall can your vehicle be with the tent on top?
3. What rack will carry it? A strong foundation matters more than the vehicle.

A hardshell tent is the easiest to set up and pack down. It sits lower and leaves room on the roof for other gear. A softshell tent usually costs about half as much and gives you about twice the floor space. And your rack, not your vehicle, decides how heavy a tent you can carry.

The two mistakes we see most

Most of the rooftop tent regrets we hear about come from one of two things.

Buying cheap, sight unseen. A tent that looks fine in photos can disappoint once it's on the vehicle: poor seals or latches, thin fabric, a cramped interior or a mattress you don't want to sleep on. A rooftop tent is a big purchase, so see one in person if you can.

Not knowing your own requirements. We regularly talk to people whose tent isn't big enough for the whole family, is too tall for the garage once it's mounted, or opens in a way that blocks their awning. All of that can be checked before you buy.

Hardshell vs. softshell: what we tell people at the counter

People choose hardshells for ease of use. If you camp a lot of single nights and move every day, the fast setup adds up. Hardshells to look at:

• OVS TMon: affordable and low profile
• James Baroud Evasion: top quality and the most features
• 23ZERO Armadillo Horizon 2: small footprint, premium features

Browse all hardshell tents.

Softshells are the bang-for-your-buck choice, especially for families who need floor space. Softshells to look at:

• 23ZERO Walkabout 62: a great fit for a truck bed rack
• 23ZERO Walkabout 87: one of the largest tents we carry
• OVS XD Sherpa: a hybrid that combines a hard top with softshell space

Browse all softshell tents.

Will a rooftop tent fit my RAV4, Subaru or Tacoma?

Usually, yes. We put the same tents on small SUVs that we put on full-size trucks. What most people don't realize is that the rack decides what you can carry, not the vehicle.

Know your rack's weight limit. Look up the dynamic (on-the-road) load rating for your factory rack or roof in your owner's manual, and stay under it. The static rating, for when you're parked, is higher. That's why a roof that can carry the tent can also hold you sleeping in it.

Light tents can work on factory racks. Some models, like the Sterling Wasatch Lite at around 100 lbs, are light enough for some factory racks on Subarus and other smaller vehicles. See our lightweight tents.

Need more capacity? Upgrade the rack. An aftermarket roof rack or bed rack raises the limit and gives you a solid mounting base. See roof racks and truck bed racks.

Check these before you buy

• Sleeping capacity. Count everyone who'll sleep up top, kids and dog included. Size up if you're unsure.
• Garage height. Add your vehicle's height, the rack and the tent's closed height, then compare that to your garage door opening.
• Which way it opens. Clamshells, wedges and fold-outs each swing a different direction. Make sure the tent won't open into your awning and the ladder lands on a side you can use.
• Crossbar spacing. Even a simple pair of crossbars can line up badly with the tent's latches or ladder mount. We check this before every install.

How long does installation take?

Every install is different. Going from unboxing to bolted down can take as little as an hour or as long as a full day. It depends on how much pre-assembly the tent needs, how well it matches your rack and how complex the rest of your build is.

You won't know every challenge until the work starts, which is why we like to see your setup first. We do installs at our shop in Castle Rock.

Is a rooftop tent good for Colorado winters?

Everyone asks for a four-season tent. Most rooftop tents already are, in the sense that they're built to handle rain, wind and snow. But four-season doesn't mean climate-controlled: it will still be warm inside on a hot day and cold on a cold night. A few things make a real difference.

• Insulation. A clip-in liner, such as the James Baroud Isothermic Barrier Kit, adds a layer between you and the outside air. Many manufacturers offer one.
• A heater port. Tents like the 23ZERO Walkabout 2.0 and the Wasatch Lite have a built-in port for a diesel heater or cooler hose.
• Blackout fabric. It blocks the morning sun so you don't wake at first light, and it cuts heat build-up. In our experience, tents with blackout fabric stay noticeably cooler inside. Look for it on tents from 23ZERO, FSR and James Baroud.

Rooftop tent FAQ

Is a hardshell or softshell rooftop tent better? A hardshell is better if you want fast setup, a low profile and room on the roof for other gear. A softshell is better if you want the most sleeping space for the money.

How much does a rooftop tent weigh? It depends on the model. Lightweight aluminum tents like the Wasatch Lite are around 100 lbs, and larger hardshells weigh considerably more. Check the product page and compare it with your rack's dynamic load rating.

Can I put a rooftop tent on factory crossbars? Sometimes. Lighter tents can work on some factory racks if the tent's weight is within the rack's dynamic rating. Heavier tents need an aftermarket rack.

Will a rooftop tent fit in my garage? Add your vehicle height, rack height and the tent's closed height, then compare it to your garage door. Hardshells generally sit lower than softshells.

Can you use a rooftop tent in winter? Yes. Rooftop tents are built for snow and wind, and an insulation kit, a heater and blackout fabric make cold-weather trips much more comfortable.

Come see them in person

Because we don't make tents, we can walk you through the pros and cons of each one for your vehicle, your rack and the way you camp. Stop by our shop in Castle Rock, Colorado, Tuesday through Friday 10am–5pm or Saturday 10am–4pm, or call us at 720-339-0142.

Browse every rooftop tent we carry.