Whether you’re lucky enough to have been gifted one of our top ARB roof tents for Christmas or you’ve treated yourself, knowing how to make the most of your new home on wheels is vital.
As you’ll soon discover, a rooftop tent is a great investment for so many reasons. When compared with the traditional ground tent, a rooftop tent offers higher levels of cleanliness, comfort, luxury practicality and convenience. Thanks to the use of high-grade materials on the outside and the addition of a high-density mattress and insect-proof mesh on the inside, rooftop tents are also suitable for use during any season, whatever the destination.
The comfort inside your vehicle will be enhanced thanks to the use of a rooftop tent too as OtterBee Outdoors details:
“When the tent is mounted on your roof, you’ll have more room inside your vehicle for your family, friends, and essential camping gear. One thing to remember when you bring that extra stuff is how to keep your camping gear safe from theft. You may want to pack up your gear if you drive away from the campsite for the day. You’ll have to break down the rooftop tent for sure. You can’t drive with it expanded on top.”
Unlocking these benefits and many more however comes down to how you use your rooftop tent. In this blog post, we share our top tips for making the most of your new rooftop tent this season and every season after.
Always put safety first
Before you go ahead and hit the road with your rooftop tent, make sure that it is suitable for your vehicle and its weight limits. The weight of any upgrades or supplies will have a direct impact on the safety, reliability and performance of your 4×4.
Put safety first by understanding the dynamic and static weight limits that are applicable, and how this could impact your rooftop tent setup when packed away or erected.
Remember, practice makes perfect
A trial run is a must, especially if this is your first-ever rooftop tent or it’s a setup that you are unfamiliar with. By practising how to set up, use and pack away your tent, you’ll be able to embark on your adventure with confidence and prepare a realistic itinerary that works for everyone travelling in your party.
Give it a spritz with water – yes, really!
While often seen as an old wives’ tale, there is some truth to giving your tent a good spritz to aid waterproofness. The hydrophobic stitching of the tent in particular will benefit from a good, quick dose of water exposure. A spray of water is thought to toughen the bond between stitching and fabric for increased resistance.
Before you pack it away, however, make sure the tent has dried thoroughly. You don’t want the smell of mildew to ruin your first rooftop tent camping experience!
Ventilate before you pack away
After every use, be sure to leave some time for your tent to appropriately ventilate. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a nighttime condensation build-up. Don’t carry that condensation into your next camping trip, ventilate your tent thoroughly before you pack it away.
Make sure your tent is also clean and clear of debris before packing away and storing it to ensure a fresh and comfortable camping experience every time you use your rooftop tent.
Choose your pitch wisely
A rooftop tent may be your ticket to camp anywhere but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take care when selecting your pitch. Many seasoned rooftop tent users choose to level their vehicle with recovery boards to ensure a comfortable spot for a good night’s camping.
Accessorise for the ultimate RTT experience
Whilst many of our rooftop tents come with a thick mattress, telescopic ladder and storage pockets as standard, there’s further opportunity to enhance your camping experience with our range of rooftop tent accessories and camping supplies.
Discover more about the upgrades that will make life on the road extra comfortable to complete your off-road setup.
