Can a car be fitted with a rooftop tent? How do you install one?

Most rooftop tents are mounted on SUVs, but sedans with sufficiently robust roof racks can also accommodate them. Therefore, before installing a rooftop tent on a sedan, you must first equip it with a high‑strength roof rack; crossbar roof racks and longitudinal bar roof racks are not suitable—such as the crossbar shown in the figure below.

The quality of these roof racks varies widely; standard models typically support only about 100 kg and cannot handle a rooftop tent, so they’re not recommended. If you want to buy one, opt for a high‑strength rack capable of carrying 400 kg or more. After all, some rooftop tents weigh close to 70 kg on their own, and you also need to account for the weight of the occupants. The roof crossbars serve as the tent’s foundation, so their strength must be reliable—only with sufficient rigidity can a rooftop tent be used safely.

With a roof rack of sufficient strength, you can easily install a rooftop tent. The setup is straightforward: the tent’s base features a high‑strength composite panel equipped with dedicated clamp brackets that securely fasten to the roof rack. Simply tighten the screws during installation, and periodically check for looseness—tightening them as needed. When folded away, this type of tent resembles a roof box, minimizing wind resistance while remaining easy to open and close. For camping, just unfold the tent; its top automatically rises, creating an interior space roughly 2 m × 1.2 m × 0.9 m. Once the folding ladder is extended, you can step inside and relax!

Note: When the rooftop tent is not in use for an extended period, it’s recommended to remove it to prevent the support beams from loosening or detaching due to prolonged vibrations. When setting up camp, choose a suitable location and opt for a spot sheltered from the wind whenever possible. In truth, this type of tent is mostly just visually appealing; it’s fine for brief rest stops or casual outings, but serious camping can be quite exhausting. It’s best suited for backpackers who are accustomed to sleeping in a tent on a regular basis.

I wouldn’t recommend buying one on a whim—these rooftop tents all cost over 3,000 yuan, which is steep for features that are essentially the same as those of a few-hundred-yuan tent. They offer poor comfort and inherit all the drawbacks of conventional tents; their only advantage is slightly higher safety when mounted on the roof, allowing you to avoid animal attacks during nighttime camping.