Best Truck Roof Top Tent for Weekend Camping?

[Stoichiometric]

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to get a roof top tent for my truck and could use some advice.

I’ll mostly be doing weekend camping trips, so I don’t need anything extreme, but I want something durable, easy to set up, and comfortable for two people.

I drive a mid-size pickup with a bed rack already installed. I’m leaning toward a hard shell for quick setup but open to soft shells if they’re worth it. Any brands or models you’d recommend?

Also, how do they handle rain and wind? Appreciate any tips or experiences!

 

[Stoichiometric]

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to get a roof top tent for my truck and could use some advice.

I’ll mostly be doing weekend camping trips, so I don’t need anything extreme, but I want something durable, easy to set up, and comfortable for two people.

I drive a mid-size pickup with a bed rack already installed. I’m leaning toward a hard shell for quick setup but open to soft shells if they’re worth it truck roof top tent. Any brands or models you’d recommend?

Also, how do they handle rain and wind? Appreciate any tips or experiences!

thanks in advance for any help

 

[Grit dog]

Likely to get better and more numerous responses in any other number of places on the internet besides here.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Yeah I don't think we have much for overlanders in here. An overlanding forum would be a better place to ask

 

[Edelbrock]

Before buying a tent, I would Google images of them. Look at lot of different types and styles. Nothing is worse than spending a bunch of money on the first thing you see, and then the next day you see someone else with one that's 10 times better for half the cost. So I would just search for the type you want, then find the size, then the features, and then search different places for the best price / warranty / reviews / returns / shipping.

The vehicles in the pics don't matter, these are just some Google pics to illustrate a few different styles of roof top tents.

 

[Frankenchevy]

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to get a roof top tent for my truck and could use some advice.

I’ll mostly be doing weekend camping trips, so I don’t need anything extreme, but I want something durable, easy to set up, and comfortable for two people.

I drive a mid-size pickup with a bed rack already installed. I’m leaning toward a hard shell for quick setup but open to soft shells if they’re worth it. Any brands or models you’d recommend?

Also, how do they handle rain and wind? Appreciate any tips or experiences!

What’s your budget?

 

[ChuckN]

I’ve heard good things about Tepeh tents and CVT. Lots of Taco Bros roaming around Bellingham with them.

 

[Grit dog]

I’ve heard good things about Tepeh tents and CVT. Lots of Taco Bros roaming around Bellingham with them.

Hahaha, truth! The Taco bros are the most numerous followed by the duck dash Jeepers. It’s like the chrome accessory aisle at Vato Zone, but for white people! Sooo many driving around in the rain ALL winter with a tent, fuel cans, shovel, hi lift, cheese grater boards and another couple grand of random “overlanding” accessories just getting soaked in traffic on I-5 month in month out.
Not to be outdone by Colorado. Plenty of that type there too. Probably more than here. The best was one I saw in Breckenridge this weekend. Full on brand new flagship Range Rover. Shine like a _____, rollin dirty on stretched dubs, with ALL of the add on overlanding **** on it. This thing couldnt drive over a curb without scuffing a rim!

 

[TotalyHucked]

There's a couple Jeeps, a new Sequoia and a Bronco locally that have every one of those accessories but are SPOTLESS every time I see them. Then there's a couple older Lexus GX's and Landcruisers that have trail rash and are usually fairly dirty and I know they laugh at the others

 

[ChuckN]

Hahaha, truth! The Taco bros are the most numerous followed by the duck dash Jeepers. It’s like the chrome accessory aisle at Vato Zone, but for white people! Sooo many driving around in the rain ALL winter with a tent, fuel cans, shovel, hi lift, cheese grater boards and another couple grand of random “overlanding” accessories just getting soaked in traffic on I-5 month in month out.
Not to be outdone by Colorado. Plenty of that type there too. Probably more than here. The best was one I saw in Breckenridge this weekend. Full on brand new flagship Range Rover. Shine like a _____, rollin dirty on stretched dubs, with ALL of the add on overlanding **** on it. This thing couldnt drive over a curb without scuffing a rim!

True to all of that. Most of those guys just leave them on to suck up their mileage and to get weather worn. The only thing that’s worse is the $200k Sprinter vans for backcountry adventures, and none of the leave town.

Not hatin’ tho- if the OP gets one and uses it, more power to him.

 

[Frankenchevy]

Also, how do they handle rain and wind? Appreciate any tips or experiences!

With a hard shell, it’s at least possible to face the hard side to the wind. The wind and rain are about what you’d expect from any tent.

There are full hard sided RTCs, but they are very pricey. Here’s an example that runs $20k.

Introducing The World's First Hard Sided Roof Top Tent

The world's first hard sided roof top tent. This is what happens when you cross a rooftop tent with the luxury of a hard-walled camper!

unsealed4x4.com.au

 

[Ricko1966]

With a hard shell, it’s at least possible to face the hard side to the wind. The wind and rain are about what you’d expect from any tent.

There are full hard sided RTCs, but they are very pricey. Here’s an example that runs $20k.

Introducing The World's First Hard Sided Roof Top Tent

The world's first hard sided roof top tent. This is what happens when you cross a rooftop tent with the luxury of a hard-walled camper!

unsealed4x4.com.au

I call B.S. ^^^^^ they had hard shell tents for Volkswagens in 1968. I have a full pop top. Good stories to go with it too.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[idahovette]

G-son Kooper's Taco has a 23zero tent on it and the reason it'd on ALL the time is ....it's a bitch to remove .....heavy and awkward, need a crane to lift it and a tall place to store it...... not my cup of tea, but I didn't by it, so I keep quiet!!!

 

[Frankenchevy]

I call B.S. ^^^^^ they had hard shell tents for Volkswagens in 1968. I have a full pop top. Good stories to go with it too.

You must be registered for see images attach

Which part is BS?

A westy bay window van is quite different than a hard shell soft sided RTC is several ways, in which I can elaborate on. We had a split window samba when I was a kid. I’ve camped via more modalities than the average person. I have insights that the OP may find useful.