Advantages and Disadvantages of Roof Tents

In fact, whether it’s a rooftop tent or a ground‑level tent, the goal is the same: to help us sleep outdoors. Let’s start with the advantages of rooftop tents. They come in soft‑shell and hard‑shell varieties and are typically mounted on the vehicle’s roof. On average, they weigh around 50 kg, so once installed, removing them can be quite challenging.

Nowadays, rooftop tents are both wind- and rain‑proof, and they come with a thick inner mattress that ensures a very comfortable night’s sleep. What’s more, they’re incredibly easy to set up and pack away—just three minutes to pitch and two minutes to stow. In fact, that’s their biggest advantage. I’ve seen many people use ground‑level tents: they struggle to assemble them and then can’t figure out how to pack them up afterward, which is really frustrating. The main reason is that today’s ground‑level tents are often quite complicated to set up; some, especially the larger models, typically require two or three people to get them ready.

A rooftop tent essentially secures the tent to your vehicle’s roof, making it incredibly convenient. Plus, being elevated off the ground, it offers greater safety in the wilderness and far better protection against moisture than a ground‑level tent. In my opinion, when you’re on a self‑drive trip and encounter sudden heavy rain, a rooftop tent has a distinct advantage: simply park the car, set up the tent, and you’re ready to sleep. By contrast, with a ground‑level tent, not only do you need to find a safe spot to park, but you also have to choose the right surface—remember, some areas allow parking but no designated campsites, which can be frustrating. And during a downpour, pitching a ground‑level tent becomes an especially arduous task.

Tip: On muddy mountain trails, ground‑level tents are difficult to set up, and even if you manage to pitch one, it can take a serious toll on the tent. You should also factor in heavy rain—some areas may flood—and unless you’re using a rooftop tent, you’ll have no choice but to sleep inside your vehicle, since it’s simply impossible to erect a tent in standing water. Likewise, rocky terrain or dense grassy patches are unsuitable for ground‑level camping.

Another important point to note is that the connection between the rooftop tent and the vehicle body must use top‑quality crossbars—preferably heavy‑duty ones. This is especially crucial when driving an off‑road vehicle in mountainous terrain, where the bumps and vibrations can generate significantly greater tensile forces on the tent and its attachment points.

Roof tents do have their drawbacks. For instance, once installed, the vehicle’s overall height increases, which can pose clearance issues when entering underground garages or navigating certain low‑clearance road sections. Additionally, a roof tent may generate slight wind noise on the highway, and cleaning it can be somewhat more cumbersome.

So, should we buy a rooftop tent?

Honestly, rooftop tents aren’t cheap—most on the market range from 5,000 to 15,000 yuan. They’re undeniably convenient, but they can only be used with your vehicle and are not easy to remove once installed. So, the best choice ultimately depends on your personal preferences. If you’re a true road-trip enthusiast, I’d definitely recommend investing in one.