Why We Chose a 4 Person Roof Top Tent for Our Family Camping Trips

I love camping and have been on many, many trips since I was a kid. I grew up camping in a pop up trailer with my parents and siblings and have great memories doing that. Since I’ve been married, we’ve camped in hammocks, ground tents, my parents motorhome, and a small tent trailer of our own, and now our family roof top tent.

We recently got the Thule Approach Large 4 Person Roof Top Tent and are excited to make this our main home while out camping as a family. There are some upsides and downsides to a family roof top tent like there are to any form of camping, and I’ll talk about all of them. I’ll also share why we ultimately went with a roof top tent for camping with our 2 kids and dog over other forms of camping.

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What is a Roof Top Tent

A rooftop tent is a type of camping tent that can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle, such as a car, SUV, or truck. It’s essentially a tent that is on top of a car. This is advantageous in a number of ways when it comes to comfort, safety, travel flexibility, and convenience.

Rooftop tents come in a variety of sizes and designs, from basic setups for two people to larger, more luxurious options complete with ladders, hard shells, and even annexes for additional living space. Some models have extra features like built-in mattresses, windows, and awnings.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that not all vehicles can support the weight of a rooftop tent, particularly when you include the weight of the people who will be sleeping in it. Always make sure to check the weight capacity of your vehicle’s roof and the weight of the tent you’re considering.

Upsides RTT

Rooftop tents offer a number of advantages, especially for people who enjoy regular camping or road-tripping:

1. Comfort: Elevated from the ground, rooftop tents can offer a flatter and often more comfortable sleeping surface than traditional tents, particularly in rough or uneven terrain. Many rooftop tents also come with built-in mattresses for added comfort.
2. Protection: Being off the ground provides an extra layer of protection from ground-dwelling insects, reptiles, or larger wildlife.
3. Easy Setup and Takedown: Many rooftop tents are designed to be set up and taken down quickly and easily, often with one person. This is really nice if you’re moving from place to place frequently or arriving late at a campsite.
4. Versatility: Since the tent is attached to your vehicle, you can camp almost anywhere it’s legal to park. This can open up a lot of options that wouldn’t be possible with a traditional tent. And if your tent is on a truck or something with high clearance, you can get to a lot more places that a van might have trouble with.
5. Space Efficiency: A rooftop tent allows you to utilize the space of your vehicle’s roof, leaving more room in your vehicle for other gear or supplies. The campsite area around your vehicle also remains free for other activities.
6. View: Depending on where you’re camping, the elevation can offer excellent views. It can also provide a sense of privacy if you’re camping in a busier area.
7. Durability: Rooftop tents are often made of more robust materials than traditional tents. This can make them more resistant to harsh weather conditions and increase their longevity.
8. Less Dirt Inside: Being elevated reduces the likelihood of tracking dirt or sand into your tent as you might with a ground tent.

Downsides of a RTT

While rooftop tents can be an exciting and convenient way to camp, there are several potential downsides to consider, especially when camping with kids and a dog:

1. Cost: Roof top tents can easily cost thousands of dollars depending on the brand and size. Compared to a ground tent that can be as inexpensive as $100, this is a big difference. However, compared to a trailer or camper van, they are much less expensive.
2. Access: Getting into and out of a rooftop tent usually involves climbing a ladder, which can be tricky for young children and dogs. It also might require multiple trips up and down the ladder to get everyone and everything settled, which could be a hassle.
3. Safety: If your children are very young, they may need supervision to ensure they don’t fall while climbing up to or down from the tent or while they are inside it
4. Bathroom Breaks: For kids who might need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, or for a dog that needs to go outside, it could be a challenge navigating the ladder in the dark.
5. Space: Even though rooftop tents come in different sizes, they are generally not as spacious as traditional ground tents. If you have more than one or two children and a dog, it could be a tight fit.
6. Weight Limitations: Rooftop tents have weight limits for both the tent itself and the roof rack of your vehicle. You’ll need to ensure that the combined weight of the tent, all the occupants, and any additional gear doesn’t exceed these limits.
7. Temperature Control: Rooftop tents can become quite warm during summer months due to direct sunlight exposure. This might be uncomfortable for kids or the dog during the day.
8. Restrictions: If you want to leave your campsite to drive to a hike or somewhere to eat, you have to collapse your tent to do so. Also, some campsites or parks may have restrictions on rooftop tents, so it’s always good to check the rules and regulations beforehand.

Why We Chose a 4 Person Roof Top Tent for Our Family

While there are some downsides to a roof top tent, the pros outweighed the cons for us. We got the Thule Approach Large 4 person roof top tent. The biggest reason we opted for a family roof top tent over our pop up camper is because we do a lot of short camping trips, often. I love being able to go out with my friends and kids and do a quick overnighter up the canyon. The roof top tent is ideal for that and that’s why we decided on it.

• We put it on our truck and now can go off roading with it and get to many campsites a camper van or trailer would not be able to.
• I love being off the ground and knowing we are safe from wildlife.
• The set up and take down is so much quicker because we don’t have to worry about tent poles or blowing up and deflating sleeping pads.
• I can easily set it all up on my own and since I do go on camping trips with the kids and without my husband sometimes, this is huge for me.
• We all fit relatively comfortably. It’s not as large as say an 8 person tent would be, but we are comfortable and my kids like sleeping by us. We are also used to a smaller space because we backpack a lot and our backpacking tent is much smaller.

We are so excited to use our roof top tent more and more and I will keep you updated on any additional pain points we come across and how we continue to like it. If you want to see more day to day camping content, make sure to follow me over on Instagram. We go camping often and I love sharing on my stories what we’re up to.

If you liked this post about our family’s camping gear, check out these other posts:

• Our Full Family Camping Gear List
• Best Camping Gear for Kids | Everything You Need for Camping with A Toddler
• Our Family’s Camping Sleep Gear