If you have a soft top Jeep, a rooftop tent experience may not seem like a guarantee.
Wanting to get out there and explore in your Jeep that is fully equipped with a rooftop tent may be an unknown that many people are not willing to try.
Can you have a rooftop tent with a soft top Jeep? Yes, you can. As long as your roof rack is secured, a rooftop tent can be attached to your soft top Jeep.
Rooftop tents are pretty user-friendly when it comes to installing them on cars. They will go on just about any vehicle type as long as you have a secured roof rack. Though this is true, there are factors that do play a role in the overall rooftop tent camping experience.
This is especially true with rooftop tents and soft top Jeeps. Those factors include the type of Jeep you have (4 door or 2 door), how much weight can be put on it, and how is that weight distributed.
Rooftop Tents on a Soft Top Jeep
The Jeep community is known for getting out into nature and enjoying what life has to offer while traveling on all terrains. What better way to compliment that than by utilizing a rooftop tent in order to stay a little while longer on those adventures? For many Jeep owners, specifically Jeep Wrangler owners, a rooftop tent on their soft top may not seem possible.
Being a rooftop tent user while also doing an extensive amount of research on how far you can push the limits of adding a rooftop tent to a car, Jeep Wranglers are definitely no exception. Just like any normal car, as long as you have a properly functioning and fully secured roof rack, you are good to go. Specifically to soft top Jeep Wrangler users, there are some things to understand when adding your traveling ‘home’ to your vehicle.
The main idea that you want to stick to is you want a roof rack that attaches at two different points. With having a tent up on top weighing approximately 150 pounds while being in motion, you are most certainly going to want something that distributes weight properly.
Many racks on the market utilize and rely heavily on the quarter panels as a mounting point, which in turn puts a lot of stress on the sheet metal. So if you buy a lightweight rack that doesn’t connect as two separate points, you will likely incur extensive damage on your Jeep Wrangler JK or JL. A rack that mounts between the body and frame as well as the back end, has weight distributed efficiently and creates a platform that can hold the tent properly for multiple people.
Some of my favorite rack options for Jeep Wrangler users are from Garvin Wilderness Products and the commonly known RTT brand Smittybilt.
Garvin Racks
Garvin Wilderness Products are a Jeep Wrangler lover’s best friend when it comes to roof racks and accessories. With a range of racks designed for the JK or JL models, you can find one that is perfect for your setup between the prices of $1,200 – $1,600. For soft top users, they have two models (one for 4 doors and another for 2 doors).
Garvin racks all come with the ability to hold 300 pounds off-road and 500-600 pounds of static weight which is perfect for rooftop tent camping. Along with being able to hold weight properly, each rack package comes with specific instructions regarding whether that model needs light drilling or no drilling at all. With the multiple connection points, Garvin racks for me are atop the class of Jeep roof racks options.
Smittybilt
Known more commonly for making tents, Smittybilt is a friend of the Jeep community on the roof rack front. Coming in at a much smaller price point than Garvin, Smittybilt has multiple models that can fit a 4 door or 2 door Wrangler model. They have options such as the SRC roof rack that connects to the back, middle and front of the vehicle for ultimate stability.
I have listed all of my favorite and must-have roof top tent essentials here if you’re interested in shopping around!
Best Rooftop Tents for Jeeps
Though I am not a Jeep driver myself, I have taken the liberty of creating a list of the best rooftop tents that fit the dimensions of the vehicle while also staying in line with the Jeep lifestyle. Not to mention these models look pretty sweet on a Jeep Wrangler.
Overlander Smittybilt Roof Top Tent
With Smittybilt showing an expertise in Jeep accessories, there’s no wonder this one fits like a glove. Priced at around $1,100, this tent can hold up to three people with an empty weight of 132 pounds.
The waterproof tent comes with a high-quality mattress and sunroof to make each trip just a little more special when there is downtime between adventures. It may not be a top of the line tent, but it will withstand rain and wind quite well with its material. At the lower price point, it is a model that many rooftop tent adventurers gravitate towards.
To prove my point even further, I actually just bought the Smittybilt Overlander on Amazon for a cool $900 with shipping included. For a first time RTT buyer, GO CHEAP! You can always sell them used online and then parlay that money towards a bigger and better tent!
Tepui Ruggedized Series Kukenam 3
For couples or small families that are Jeep owners, it doesn’t get much better than Tepui tents. The Ruggedized Series Kukenam 3 is an expedition series tent that is built specifically for all four seasons. It is durable and available in three colors which brings a sense of style to this extremely reliable model. Priced at $2,250, you are getting a tent that is prepared for whatever climate from one of the best tents brands on the market. The only downside is that it is on the heavier side at 180 pounds.
iKamper Skycamp 2.0
Probably my favorite tent on the market as of now, the Skycamp 2.0 is a larger tent that is a sort of hybrid between a hard and soft shell. It offers extreme comfort with its thick padded bed and extra space. This tent fits up to four or five people comfortably while taking all of 30 seconds to set up. It is an expedition grade tent ready for all four seasons while weighing at 155 pounds empty. For the large families out there, this is the perfect tent if the price point isn’t too high at around $3,900. Being a little larger, this tent is recommended for the 4 door Jeep Wrangler users.
ARB Simpson III Series
The large Australian company is another brand that fits well on the Jeep, especially with its Simpson Series III model. Priced at a little over $1,500, this price also includes an annex which is a huge plus the more advanced you get into rooftop tent camping.
This tent also carries three people and is a bit heavier than the Smittybilt at 154 pounds when empty. Waterproof and ready to combat rain and wind, there will be no stress for the weather ahead. It may not be expedition grade, but it probably edges out the Smittybilt on my list just based on the ARB reputation as well as the included annex.
Conclusion
Through this article we have covered the facts that a soft top Jeep user can in fact use a rooftop tent with the proper roof rack set up. As long as those attachment points are distributing weight efficiently and proportionally, your roof top tent experience will be top notch. We also hit on a few of my favorite tents for Jeeps that also look the part too. Hopefully your next Jeep accessory is the purchase of a rooftop tent. Your next adventure will thank you!