Expensive purchases such as a roof top tent take a lot of consideration and shopping around before buying. Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult to find in person displays of these tents. The internet helps with visuals and measurements, but nothing beats seeing it with your own eyes.
In this article we will cover some unique and creative ways to test and look at roof top tents in person.
Renting a roof top tent
It may sound strange, but you can rent a roof top tent! Essentially trying it before you buy it. It is a big and scary commitment going all in on a roof top tent. So why not test it out? There’s a variety of options on the internet you can look into.
Pacific Overlander offers all inclusive rentals packaged with 4×4 vehicles that come equipped with roof top tents! Your rental will come with a bunch of equipment such as a stove, fridge/freezer, water jugs and much more to choose from. The tents vary in sizes and styles, giving you the flexibility to figure out what works best for your lifestyle. They have vehicles such as Jeep Rubicons, 4-Runners, and Tacoma’s you can take out for your expedition. For someone looking to test a roof top tent this is a great option. Here is a link to their website: https://www.pacificoverlander.com/.
There are other websites offering RTT rentals such as Rent Off The Grid (https://www.rentoffthegrid.com/rooftop-tents/) and Cascadia Tents (https://cascadiatents.com/roof-top-tent-rentals). These particular websites offer rentals for roof racks and or tents! A limitation here is some of these sites are local or limited to certain states. I would recommend searching around to find a local company near you that offers this service.
I personally don’t have any experience using these companies for tent rentals. But for someone looking to try a roof top tent or even camping without fully committing, this is undoubtedly the best option. Unless you have a generous friend that has a RTT laying around!
Go to a camping expo
Recently, my girlfriend and I decided to go to a camping expo so I could see more RTT companies and their products. To say it was interesting would be an understatement. We consider ourselves to be outdoorsy people, but we were born and raised in a big city. We found ourselves to be one of the few people not wearing camouflage or a flannel at the expo. Being completely out of our comfort zone, it was a unique experience that we really enjoyed.
The place was packed with hundreds of vendors and even more people in this huge convention center. More than half of all vendors were there for fishing or hunting gear. Then in another side room there they were, the roof top tents! I had decided to go to the expo just with the hope of some RTT vendors being there.
At the expo there were three different vendors displaying a total of about 10 ten RTTs. From hard tops to soft shells, they all had demonstrations in effect. You were free to go look inside the tents and ask the vendors any questions you may have. As a prospective buyer, this would be the best place to view and learn about RTT’s.
I simply typed “camping expos”, into google out of curiosity and was lucky enough to find this one coming up in a few weeks. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but it exceeded all of my expectations. Rather than driving around from store to store, you can find many RTTs on display here with knowledgeable vendors willing to assist you.
What you will see at a camping expo rather than online or at a retailer is the true versatility of RTTs. I was surprised to see them on such a wide variety of vehicles and trailers.
For anyone in the market of a RTT, this is the way to go.
Buying/Selling a used roof top tent
Due to the high entry cost of RTT’s, many first time buyers may be nervous to pay full retail price. Being able to buy a used RTT at half the sticker price could be very attractive to a large audience. If you’re looking to upgrade your RTT or just get rid of it all together, utilize marketplace apps designed for selling used items. I have had great experiences with Let Go, Offer Up, Facebook marketplace, and who could forget the infamous Craigslist.
In your post be descriptive about the usage, manufacturer, and specifications of your RTT. If you’ve bought one before, you know how time consuming it can be to make sure it will fit your car and rack. Try to be detailed when talking about the use and experience with your RTT. Lastly, but most importantly with any post, add tons of pictures!
A con to buying used is you’re unsure of how the tent has been treated. It would be hard to know if there are any leaks or tiny rips in the tent.
More times than not, the seller will be honest and forthright with any issues the tent may have. If you’re on a budget, this is a smart way to snag a top of the line tent for a discount.
Online Marketplaces for viewing
If you’re in the market for a new RTT and want to see them in person before buying, look towards online marketplaces. The online marketplace apps I previously mentioned have a decent amount of posts. If you’re lucky, you may find a specific model or one similar you’re looking to buy.
You may not be interested in buying a used RTT and that’s fine! If you show interest to the seller and simply say you’re considering buying, you can ask to see it in person. This will give you the opportunity to see the RTT and clear up any questions you may have for yourself.
You may be interested in the tent after all, but if not, be courteous with the sellers time. Don’t lead them on too much and be as transparent as you can. In a way, this is good for the seller too. They can leverage another prospective buyer by saying they have a person coming to look at the tent.
Talk to another camper
A lot of times when people are camping with a RTT people passing by will ask questions about them. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can ask the person about their experience with the tent and what they think of it.
Some may not feel comfortable doing this, but believe me, many people do! Just be courteous and thoughtful to the other campers.
Look at department stores
This one may be obvious, but going to large brick and mortar retailers could work. Depending on the store and time of year, you could find RTTs on display at different retailers. I would aim for summer time when trying to find tents on display. The reason being is that RTTs take up a ton of floor space and camping is very seasonal.
Conclusion
Shopping for roof top tents isn’t easy because it is difficult to find in person displays and demonstrations of them. Online pictures and videos can only help so much. Getting an in person feel and visual for the tent will always serve you best.
You need to be creative when thinking of ways to see roof top tents in person. I came up with some common and uncommon ways to help with the difficulties of not being exposed these fun toys. You may be more clever than me and think of more ways to find RTTs near you.
Thank you for reading!