Why You Should Camp in a Rooftop Tent

We used a Subaru Ascent as our rooftop camping base with a Thule®1 Tepui Low-Pro 2 rooftop tent affixed to the crossbars. But in the 2023 and 2024 model years, more and more Subaru models – such as the Outback Wilderness, Forester Wilderness and Crosstrek Wilderness, among other trim levels – are equipped with roof rack capacities that allow for these tents to be safely driven to your location and used with the suggested number of campers.

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Wondering how the tent gets attached to your vehicle? Here’s a quick glimpse of the simple steps we followed to attach it to the Ascent. 

The “Low-Pro” part of the tent’s name comes from the fact that it folds up into a rectangle just 7 inches tall. Since the introduction of the Low Pro 2, Thule has introduced a number of rooftop tent options, including space for up to four and hard-shell covers that help to keep the tent drier when driving in inclement conditions.

Fully packed, it’s hidden beneath a water-resistant cover, and the tightly zipped package doesn’t emit a whole lot of whistling at Wisconsin’s 70 mph speed limit. In combined driving on the highway and back roads, we still managed a 21 mpg average even with the box on the roof during our trip.

The collapsible ladder attaches to the underside of the Tepui Tec honeycomb fiberglass floor. Using the extended ladder as leverage, the tent accordians into a three-person shelter. The ladder extends up to 8 feet, 6 inches for taller vehicles, but we only needed about 6 feet for the Ascent. 

The only time I looked at the directions was to understand how the prop rods held up the window covers. It was – by far – the easiest tent setup I’d ever executed. Fully unfolded with sleeping bags spread out on the tent’s internal 2-inch high-density foam mattress, we were ready to camp in minutes. 

Tepui Low-Pro 2

“What’s the advantage of sleeping on the roof?” at least four people asked during our three-day adventure. The idea of sleeping on the roof might seem like a gimmick, but there are strong arguments for taking a camping trip with one of these lashed to your roof rack.

More Space

The entire cargo area is freed up for gear other than your tent. Fully packed traditional tents don’t take up a ton of room – and a vehicle such as the Ascent can lug a lot of camping accoutrements – but any space you can salvage back there is always appreciated.

Weather & Debris Protection

Like most tents, the Tepui Low-Pro 2 comes with a rain fly, but having camped in heavy rain before, I know you can end up with a river running alongside your sleeping bag. Getting the tent up in the air solves this.

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You also track a lot less dirt, leaves and pine needles inside the tent, since most of the forest floor’s detritus from shoes ends up falling off by the time you get to the top rung of the ladder.

Major Timesaver

Finally – and most importantly – the setup is way more convenient than the network of fiberglass poles of a traditional tent. It’s as easy as pulling up to a site and then unzipping and levering the tent into place with the leverage of the ladder. You’ll need another minute or so to insert the prop rods for the window covers, but if you skip that until morning, you could set this up in full dark and be sleeping inside in the time it would take you to pull a conventional tent out of its storage bag.

1 Thule® is a registered trademark of Thule Group.

What are the advantages of roof top tents? Are there any disadvantages? Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons to help you know if they're right for you. Then check out answers to a lot of common questions for people considering one of our Orson Roof Top Tents. 

What are the advantages of a roof top tent?

• Mobility – Great for a road trip. The perfect adventure on the road if you’re moving from place to place. Set up wherever your vehicle can go. Top choice for people who often head out for weekend trips, surfers moving from beach to beach, 4x4 enthusiasts and anyone looking for a bit of adventure and fun.
• Quick and easy set up – park and your tent can be set up in a few minutes. Another 10 minutes to set up the annex if required.
• Comfort – sleeping on a luxurious double mattress up off the ground for a great night’s sleep. And leave your bedding in the tent when you pack up.
• Durable – made of tougher, more durable and longer lasting weatherproof materials (like canvas, steel and aluminium tread plate) compared to ground tents which often focus on being light and portable.
• Off ground – like your own tree house - no mud or flooding, catches breezes for ventilation.
• Frees up storage space in vehicle – having the tent on the roof means you have more space in your vehicle for other gear.
• Security – up off the ground makes things less accessible to animals and people.
• Cheaper than RV – enjoy some of the comforts and mobility of an RV on a budget.

Are there any negative points to think about?

• You can’t drive off to the nearest shops if the tent is set up. If you’re planning on camping in one spot for a long time that’s not so convenient. Bring your bike.
• Getting the tent on and off the roof – a tent weighs about 60kg so will require 2 strong people to lift it up on and off. I leave mine on the vehicle for the whole camping season.
• Road handling – affects the centre of gravity on your vehicle and fuel efficiency but nothing too noticeable.
• Height – the height of the tent may make some parts difficult to access – I keep a small folding chair handy.
• Higher cost – more expensive than a ground tent.

What’s the verdict?

The pros far outweigh the cons. Having one on my roof, that's my opinion. We've made a lot of planned trips and spur of the moment overnighters when the sun has come out. A roof top tent will open you up to a whole lot of new adventures. The feedback from our customers has been ‘Absolutely love it!’ Roll on summer.

If you're still not sure about a roof top tent then contact us at Intents Outdoors and we'll do our best to help out with any info or advice you might need. 

Are you interested in learning more about Camping Tent Factory? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!