The experience of camping out and relishing the natural beauty is incomparable. That is why roof tents are becoming increasingly popular among campers and trekkers. In addition, investing in a roof tent can be a good idea as it frees up space inside the vehicle for other necessary items and helps you get a great view as you wake up. If you are thinking about purchasing a 4×4 roof tent, you need to ensure that you get value for your money. Hence, a simple guide is provided for you:
Softshell
Softshell roof tents are the most commonly used roof tents as it is easy to set up and fold back. It is lightweight and spacious and looks like a standard tent perched on the vehicle top. It is the best choice for families as it is affordable and roomy. You can also get an annex room underneath to create more space.
Hardshell
Hardshell tents are heavier and resemble a cargo box on top of the vehicle. The spring struts or gas help hold the walls taut, which provides protection in the storm. It is pretty straightforward to set up, and you can easily close it with blankets or pillows inside. However, they are slightly expensive options and have less room than soft shells.
Clamshell
Clamshell tents are easy to set up and look like a triangle. The hardware being mounted on the same tracks are easy to repair. The fabric is tightly stretched and does not flap in bad weather, which offers great benefits of angling the roof and dealing with the weather by moving the vehicle accordingly.
Installation
The roof racks have adequate capacity to secure a roof tent and carry weighty objects at the top. You can easily mount a tent if a roof has a roof frame or rack or pair of bars. Ideally, two east-west bars are required on a vehicle to allow simple fitting of the roof tent. However, you must be able to mount them to flat surfaces or canopies directly. After setting the whole system, installation should not take more than ten minutes. Once installed, tents can be set up or folded down in a few minutes. A retractable ladder or internal elastic straps can help the process of packing up your tent.
Weight
While installing your 4×4 roof tent, ensure that it does not exceed the gross vehicle mass (GVM). Maintaining the roof rack’s maximum dynamic and static load is also essential. The dynamic weight is the weight the rack can hold when the vehicle is in motion, while static weight is the weight of the rack when it is not moving. The standard roof racks often do not cut out the weight requirements, and you may require an aftermarket roof rack to install the tent.
Off-roading
The extra weight and height of the roof tent may create hindrances for your next adventure. Hence, while purchasing the 4×4 roof tent, you need to be mindful of the higher center of gravity. A roof-top tent increases the center of gravity, so you need to be aware to prevent instability during extreme roll angles while driving. You can set your vehicle correctly by using essential aftermarket shocks and springs suspension packages to improve your off-road performance.
The factors mentioned above will help you guide through the process of purchasing a roof tent and fulfill your camping goals.
