What’s great about the recent explosion in the roof top tent industry is that they are now able to fit on almost any vehicle! This is a good thing as more and more people can now buy one even if they don’t have the ideal car for it.
With that said, there are still plenty of other vehicles that would be better suited for roof top tents and overlanding in general. A major factor is the fact that you can only go as far as your vehicle can take you. With this in mind, there are a handful of vehicles that are used more than others.
Most popular overlanding vehicles:
Most people are brand loyal to a fault. You may agree, or disagree with what I see as the most common overlanding and RTT vehicles. This list will be helpful for anyone considering which kind of vehicle is ideal for overlanding use!
Toyota’s
- Tacoma
- Four Runner
- Land Cruiser
- FJ Cruiser
Jeep
- Wrangler
- Rubicon
Lexus GX
Trucks
- Full-size and mid-size are both extremely popular options among RTT owners
Why these specific vehicles?
You will see these vehicles used for roof top tent camping and overlanding more than any other. The simple reason is the fact that they are very reliable, durable, and capable of getting you where you need to go. These well known and trusted brands do just that!
Personally, I love Toyota’s and we currently have a 2007 FJ Cruiser ourselves! If you’re a Jeep lover, you’re probably appalled as you read this.
As I said before, more times than not, people are extremely brand loyal once they find something that works for them. At the end of the day, all that matters is having a vehicle that can get you there in one piece time and time again.
Vehicle clearance
While many crossover SUVs and AWD vehicles can explore trails just fine, clearance is the biggest issue. In most areas, trails are only maintained for 4WD and SUV vehicles that have plenty of clearance to avoid rocks and other objects.
For this reason, I would be hesitant to recommend a Subaru even though they are fantastic cars. Many people use these handy vehicles for RTT camping just fine! However, if you start to explore some serious trails you may be limited to where you can explore.
What kind of camping are you doing?
I have seen RTTs on both sedans and mini-vans that work just fine. Without a doubt, some vehicles are just better at off-roading than others. But if you plan on staying off the beaten path, and on calm gravel roads or popular campgrounds, why would you need that capability.
Overlanding requires much more than just a capable vehicle. You will quickly find yourself deep in the weeds with all of the necessary tools and equipment you need.
Winches, traction boards, extra fuel tanks, tire pump, a tire repair kit, and a jumper kit are just a handful of the many items serious off-roaders and overlanders need.
Not only is there a lot of knowledge that comes with this, but as you can imagine, a large cost too!
What car should you use?
I would use the car you have unless it is a very small sedan. You can equip a RTT to a tiny sedan but it is really not recommended.
Other than that, you will get a very close experience with true overlanding when using your RTT. When you decide to get more serious and upgrade to a more capable off-road vehicle, I would refer back to the list of vehicles I provided.
If you follow and Facebook groups, time, and time again those are the most popular. Biased or not, those are the vehicles that work the best for this hobby and lifestyle.
The most important factor to me is having a properly sized vehicle so your RTT size options are not limited to the smallest and lightest models. With a full-size SUV and full-size truck, you can take your pick with no worries about whether it will fit or not.
I would say this is especially important for families of four or more looking to have plenty of room.
Wrapping Up
You may agree or disagree with me on which vehicles are the most popular. To the best of my knowledge, in the multiple overlanding and RTT Facebook groups I am in, you constantly seem the same vehicles used for people rigs!
By no means is it necessary to have one of the vehicles to have a great camping experience. If your intention is to get into it and take it seriously, then keep that list of vehicles in mind.
I love that RTTs are becoming lighter and more available for all people to use no matter what their set up looks like. It is an expensive hobby but the cost of having the right vehicle shouldn’t be the biggest barrier to entry.
I love seeing RTTs and overland rigs on the road, building this community is fun for all of us! If you want to learn more about roof top tent camping please subscribe to our Youtube channel and explore the blog some more.