Camping is a great hobby that you can do just about anywhere and also do it while spending a relatively low amount of money. Similar to other hobbies, the cost can quickly spike as you look at more luxurious options.
Here enters a roof top tent, a massive leap in comfort and convenience compared to ground tents. They range anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the brand and model. This comes with a huge decision for many prospective buyers, are they worth it?
Roof top tents are worth the cost if you will get enough use out of them, have the right vehicle, and it fits your lifestyle.
So, in this article, I will guide you through some of the thought processes and decisions you need to weigh before making the big purchase!
What to consider when buying a roof top tent?
I grew up using ground tents as many others did, but when I grew into a young adult I quickly realized how great having a roof top tent (RTT) of my own would be. The added freedom, comfort, and to be honest they just look cool!
One of my favorite things about a RTT is being able to stay clean on a camping trip. It’s not like I mind getting dirty, but more so having to clean the tent and try to get all of the sand and dust out was always a pain.
RTTs are also much faster to set up in most cases and I feel they stay much more organized. You don’t need to remember to pack the tent, air mattress, or air pump.
When you go to pack up the car, it is surprising just how fast the trunk will fill up with gear. I love not having to worry about these things and find it makes camping that much easier!
Now, some people’s lifestyles may not be compatible with the difficulties brought by owning one.
Roof top tents are a lifestyle product
When I refer to lifestyle, I simply mean who you usually camp with. For single people or couples, RTTs are ideal. But for a large family, you may find it not as enjoyable.
The biggest reason is the limited space and the fact that you have to use a ladder. So, if you’re older, overweight, or have a very young child, it might not be ideal for you.
Having a large family of more than four people can bring some issues as well. The Largest RTTs can fit five people max. However, you can add an annex which can accommodate another 4-5 people! I would recommend looking at our article on My Favorite RTTs for Families if you fall into that category!
On the topic of lifestyle, who doesn’t love camping with their pup(s)! In my eyes, this is one of the bigger concerns one should have with owning a RTT. For vehicles that sit fairly low to the ground, this won’t be as big of a deal.
But we own a lifted FJ Cruiser and the tent sit 104 inches (8.66 ft) in the air. That is extremely tall, and to be honest, taller than we’d like it to be. We have a 60-pound Shephard mix and it is an event getting him up and down.
This shouldn’t be a total deal-breaker for you though. I have an article and video from our Youtube channel offering many ways to Getting Your Dog into a RTT!
What kind of vehicle do you have or need?
This is a huge factor because more than likely, you don’t want to buy an entirely separate vehicle to mount your RTT onto.
Thankfully, just about any vehicle can be used with a one. The one reservation I have is if you own a sedan. It can be done, but that type of vehicle simply isn’t made for it.
SUVs, trucks, and crossovers are all viable options for mounting a RTT. The bigger the vehicle, the wider range of tent sizes you will be able to choose from.
The biggest thing to keep in mind when looking at RTTs is making sure it doesn’t exceed any weight limits, both on your vehicle’s roof and the roof rack system which keeps your RTT secure.
If you’re not familiar with the topic then I would highly suggest looking through Best Roof Rack Systems for RTTs. More times than not, the vehicle’s roof can handle the weight of it.
However, the rack is a different story. This article will give you all of the knowledge to properly buy the right equipment for one as well as the different weight limits to be aware of.
Where do you like to camp?
This is another big one for me. One of the biggest perks of a RTT is simply being able to camp anywhere your car can get you.
If you enjoy campgrounds with a lot of people around, you can still use a roof tent. I would caution you to call ahead with the campsite and double-check that they allow RTTs.
With that said, roof tents bring a level of comfort and ease that is simply unmatched by ground tents. You don’t have to deal with blowing up a mattress, making the bed, or getting a bunch of dirt and mud inside the tent.
How much will you use the roof top tent?
Depending on your financial situation, money may or may not be a major factor for you. Either way, I can’t imagine anyone being okay with spending thousands of dollars on something they only use once or twice.
This brings us to our next point, which is how much use you can get out of it. If you’re able to camp more than a handful of times in a season this thing will pay for itself in no time.
If you really take advantage of the RTT, you can also skip out on hotel rooms and save money that way too!
Now on the other end of the spectrum, only using it a couple of times in a span of four years doesn’t seem like a good use of money. One thing I did notice after buying my RTT was that any chance I got, I would go camping.
Having spent all that money on a RTT and roof rack system made me more apt to get the use out of it. A great side effect after my purchase was more time in the mountains relaxing.
What’s your price range?
Price is one of if not the biggest factors to consider when deciding if a RTT is worth it or not.
While most RTTs start at roughly $1,000, you can minimize your entry cost as much as you can when getting started. Since you’re on the fence about whether you’ll like it or not, why not play it safe!
When I bought my first RTT I also had to buy a rack system. All said and done I spent $1,350 landed. That is an insanely low price considering where both brand new when I bought them.
If you feel that you fall into this category of wanting to spend less on a RTT to start out while still getting a worthwhile tent, read either of these articles!
After countless hours of research and from my personal experience, I found the Cheapest Roof Top Tent’s available. If you have more than a $1,000 budget in mind, read our guide on Best RTTs For The Money.
Should you buy a roof top tent?
I’ve mentioned it here and there in the beginning of the article, but it comes down to one simple thing.
Will you get enough use out of it so you don’t stress about spending the money on it?
Now, if you’re in the “camp” of people who don’t mind spending the money, rather, you genuinely want to know if RTTs bring enough value to the table, then I can truthfully say they do.
For any friend or family member that camps regularly, I highly recommend buying one. I haven’t heard many people complain about owning one. The added level of comfort and convenience pack a huge value over a ground tent.
I think with some of the guides I have provided, you can swoop up a great RTT for very little cost. If you end up absolutely hating, sell it for a solid chunk of change back!
Wrapping up
Whether a RTT is worth it really depends on the individual. The best way to go about making your decision is to consider each of the points I have listed in this article.
If the cons end up outweighing the pros, you’re probably better off sticking with a ground tent or car camping set up. One more thing I would like to note is the fact that you’re not stuck with the RTT forever.
They actually hold their value fairly well and can be resold for a solid chunk of money on places like Facebook marketplace! As long as you keep it in good condition, people are more than happy to save some money on a used RTT.
If you’re still reading at this point you probably felt the content was helpful to you in some way. If you want to support the website you can subscribe to our Youtube channel or head over to the recommended gear page to see what I use while camping!