For those who’re pressed for time, my favourite SUV tent is the Napier Sportz SUV Dome Tent.
There’s nothing fairly like the good open air. That’s – till your again is sore from sleeping on the bottom, or the climate is beginning to make issues unenjoyable.
Whereas many argue all of that is a necessary a part of tenting, there are methods you’ll be able to camp with out being uncomfortable. Like SUV tenting!
Tenting with an SUV tent is rather like regular tenting, besides possibly extra handy as all the pieces is already proper there in your automotive. To show our level, we’ve got reviewed the highest 8 SUV tents.
Greatest SUV Tent: Our High Suggestions
Greatest SUV Tents
Greatest Rooftop Tents
See how all the SUV Tents stacked up right here.
Napier Outside – Sportz SUV Dome-To-Go Tent
You’ll discover that Napier Outside Sportz Tents make this checklist greater than as soon as. There may be for a cause for it – Napier Outside makes an important SUV tent.
They’ve a wide range of choices, however we just like the Dome-to-Go model the most effective. The important thing differentiator, between this tent and the Backroadz dome is the 6′ x 6′ awning.
No different SUV tent has all of the options and luxuries that will help you camp out of your automotive just like the Sportz SUV Dome-to-Go. It’s a particularly spacious 4-person tent, however nonetheless provides you loads of head room with its 78 inch inside top.
As with car mounted tent, there’s a potential for leaks between the car and the tent. Make certain to correctly mount and safe the tent to car to keep away from any climate points.
Execs:
- An enormous four-person tent that may additionally act as a standalone tent when crucial
- Made with sturdy, waterproof materials, that may maintain up throughout wind and rain
- Dome tents are probably the most performant tents in unhealthy climate, giving this tent a bonus over different tent sorts
- Massive sections of mesh home windows, enable for excellent airflow and many daylight.
- 6 x 6 awning provides you 36 sq ft of further out of doors shaded residing area
Cons:
- This tent can leak on the car connection factors
- Test to ensure that this tent matches your dimension SUV or car
Greatest for: all-around climate proof SUV tent, hooked up to the automotive or pitched on the bottom.
Napier Outside – Sportz SUV Tent
Much like the Dome-to-Go, the Napier Outside Sportz is a big, roomy floor tent that makes tenting out of your automotive a luxurious. In reality, this tent is massive sufficient to be a stand-alone tent with out being hooked up to a automotive in any respect!
This Napier SUV tent has a number of different options that make it an important alternative for taking your SUV tenting. Probably the most outstanding is the bonus of turning your automotive into an additional room.
Execs:
- This tent is lots massive and roomy measuring 10 by 10 ft and seven ft tall – it additionally contains an hooked up display room and awning for much more room
- With a lot room, this tent additionally capabilities very nicely as a stand-alone tent – it doesn’t should be hooked up to a automotive to work
- Massive sections of mesh home windows, particularly within the display room, enable for excellent airflow and many daylight
- This tent is made out of sturdy, waterproof materials, so it is going to positively maintain up throughout rain and wind
Cons:
- It’s so massive, this tent takes two individuals to place up in a well timed matter
- The display room is on the mistaken facet of the tent, contemplating that almost all further area in a campsite is on the passenger facet, not the driving force’s facet
Greatest for: tenting with the entire household, hooked up to the automotive or pitched on the bottom.
Rightline Gear – SUV Tent
Tent Dimension: 6 particular person | Seasons: 3-season | Weight: 20 lbs | Inside Top: 86 in | Flooring: 10 x 10 ft (100 sq ft) | Setup Time: 30 minutes
The Rightline Gear 110907 SUV tent is a superb tent in case you are planning on going tenting out of your SUV. It matches a wide range of SUVs and may simply flip the hatch of your automotive into an extra room.
This automotive tenting tent comfortably sleeps two adults together with kids and pets. 4 adults might technically slot in right here, however it could be a good squeeze.
With a simple and fast setup, you’ll be able to see Steve unbox and setup the Rightline Gear SUV Tent inside minutes:
Execs:
- It’s simple for one particular person to arrange on their very own and takes lower than half-hour
- The tent provides further room so you’ll be able to sleep at the back of your SUV and use the tent portion for storage or one other sleeping space
- If you’ll want to use your automotive when you are tenting, you’ll be able to simply detach the tent and let it stand by itself
- The waterproof exterior and bathtub fashion flooring make this tent in a position to face up to highly effective winds in addition to torrential rain
- It has a big window that’s excellent for trying out the views of your environment
Cons:
- Some customers have reported that the stakes that include the tent are weak
- The door unzips from the highest to the underside leaving the door rolled out on the ground the place you could possibly find yourself treading on it
Greatest for: individuals who need a moveable tent that may be indifferent out of your automotive (for no matter cause).
Test Worth on Sportsman’s Wearhouse
Napier Outside Sportz Cove SUV Tailgate Tent
Simply convert the hatch of your SUV right into a tent with the Napier Outside Sportz Cove SUV Tailgate Tent. This SUV tent is an easy sleeve that matches over your hatch and attaches with just a few bungee cords.
This tent is nice for anybody going automotive tenting who doesn’t need to really feel claustrophobic by closing the hatch to keep away from bugs, climate, and extra. It is usually very fast and simple to arrange.
Execs:
- If you’ll want to go away the campsite, you merely shut the hatch and lock up – all the pieces else will keep in place so all it’s important to do is open the hatch if you return
- Arrange doesn’t take lengthy and is tremendous simple for one particular person to do alone
- The Cove Tailgate Tent lets you sleep in your automotive with out having to shut the hatch or be swarmed by bugs
- This tent is light-weight, comes with minimal parts, and simply folds again up into the supplied bag
Cons:
- Suits most SUVs… however not an ideal match for all SUVs – double examine the scale and ensure it really works together with your car
- It doesn’t offer you plenty of further room, since you might be confined to your automotive
Greatest for: solo campers who need a easy, reasonably priced tent that slaps proper on the hatch
Purchase Direct from Napier Outside
Napier Outside – Backroadz SUV Tent
Tent Dimension: 5 particular person | Seasons: 3-season | Weight: 28 lbs | Inside Top: 89 in | Flooring: 10 x 10 ft (100 sq ft) | Setup Time: 10 minutes
The Backroadz SUV Tent is a spacious tent that lets you flip your SUV into further area whereas tenting. Whether or not you utilize it for added storage or an additional place to sleep, this tent is flexible sufficient to do all of it.
With all this room, becoming two adults and two kids into this tent is a breeze with loads of room to spare.
Execs:
- Measuring 10 by 10 ft and seven ft tall, this huge tent gives tons of area along with the area you will have in your automotive
- Massive doorways and home windows which can be virtually the scale of the tent partitions present nice air flow
- The common car sleeve implies that this tent will match a wide range of completely different SUVs – the straps are adjustable that will help you create the proper match to your automotive.
- Arrange is straightforward sufficient to do alone
- Utilizing your automotive whereas tenting is straightforward to do by disconnecting and reconnecting – the tent will stay standing till you come again
Cons:
- The rainfly blocks the home windows and doesn’t enable for a lot air flow
- Some customers have reported that the tent poles that include this tent are weak and flimsy
Greatest for: campers with pets or youngsters who need area and the flexibility to depart the tent whereas operating errands.
Greatest Rooftop Tents
Smittybilt – Overlander Tent
Tent Dimension: 3 particular person | Seasons: 4-season | Weight: 116.5 lb | Inside Top: 51 in | Flooring: 95 x 56 in (36.9 sq ft) | Setup Time: 5 minutes
The Smittybilt Overlander tent unfolds proper on prime of your SUV, making arrange and take down a breeze. Turning your SUV into an asset when you find yourself tenting is an effective way to make the most of extra of your assets.
There’s loads of room to suit two adults, even when they’re over 6 ft tall, in addition to pets or kids. Three adults on this SUV tenting tent would make it tight for area.
Execs:
- The a number of home windows and large sunroof give this tent a number of mild and air flow, in addition to making it nice for sightseeing
- Unfolding the tent and attaching the rainfly solely takes a couple of minutes – refolding the tent solely takes a couple of minutes, as nicely
- The ladder to get out and in is secure and durable, even at the hours of darkness
- The tent is roomy, even for adults which can be over 6 ft tall
- Made with rugged, sturdy materials, this tent is waterproof and durable, even beneath stormy situations
Cons:
- Putting the tent on the roof of your automotive may take two individuals because it weighs over 120 kilos
Greatest for: campers who don’t need to take up plenty of campground area, or need to be excessive off the bottom.
Yakima SkyRise HD Tent
Tent Dimension: 2 particular person | Seasons: 4-season | Weight: 101 lbs | Inside Top: 42 in | Flooring: 84 x 48 in (28 sq ft) | Setup Time: 5 minutes
If you’re in search of an important 4-season SUV tent, look no additional than the SkyRise.
The Yakima SkyRise HD Tent (full SkyRise overview right here) is available in two completely different sizes small (2-person) and medium (3-person), relying in your private wants, and in comparison with another high-end rooftop tents, the Yakima tents are priced proper.
The rainfly within the HD fashions is coated with a polyurethane coating in order that it’s utterly waterproof. They’ve a 3000 mm waterproof score, which signifies the strain at which water is ready to press by way of the fabric. On this case, the tent can maintain 3,000 mm of water on prime of the material earlier than it leaks.
As for the peak, the S mannequin is 42″ whereas the M fashions are 48 inches tall. That’s roughly the usual top, so we will say that SkyRise tents are common by way of headroom. What’s extra, even the rainfly has a transparent window. Because of this you’ll have a view of the evening sky even when it’s raining.
The tent may also go up in only a few minutes.
Execs:
- A water-resistant and windproof tent with 210D Ripstop Polyester, 3000 mm PU waterproof coating that may stand as much as the hardest parts
- Leightweight in comparison with different rooftop tents, coming in at solely 101 lbs
- Simple setup that may take just a few minutes
- Customers love these, score them the best out of another rooftop tent
Cons:
- These tents don’t pack small. You’ll must discover a correct moisture-free area for storing it when not in use.
- Expensive in comparison with a few of the different Rooftop tents on this checklist
Greatest for: rooftop campers who need to camp in winter climate and have probably the most sturdy tent out there.
Raptor Collection Offgrid Voyager Rooftop Tent
Tent Dimension: 2 particular person | Seasons: 4-season | Weight: 140 lbs | Inside Top: 48.5 in | Flooring: 52 x 83.5 in (30 sq ft) | Setup Time: 5 minutes
The Raptor Collection Offgrid Voyager Rooftop Tent provides you all the nice advantages of the opposite prime notch rooftop tents, BUT with a singular design that offers you much more of a view than the competitors.
One other 4-season tent that may give one or two individuals an important general tenting expertise.
It’s engineering to face up to heavy winds and rain, however enable for correct air flow and an important panoramic view.
The sq. footage is much like the Yakima, however the design provides you much more headroom.
Execs:
- Distinctive design that offers panoramic views from inside the tent
- At 48.5 inches in top this tent goes to present you extra headroom than the comparable Yakima 2-person
- Made powerful, with aluminum poles and PU coated 300 GSM Ripstop Polyester Cloth to face up to the weather
- Probably the most price range pleasant rooftop tent on our checklist!
Cons:
- Despite the fact that the supplies are nice, sturdy windblown rain may cause some issues
Greatest for: rooftop campers who need a distinctive and price range pleasant rooftop tent.
Purchase Direct from Raptor Collection
SUV Tents – All the things We Advocate
5 Advantages of SUV Tenting
Whereas many individuals consider conventional tents once they consider tenting, there are literally many extra choices out there. Like SUV tenting!
There are lots of advantages to SUV tenting. There are additionally a number of variations between conventional tent tenting and SUV tenting, beginning with the tents you utilize. Nonetheless, a few of the variations are literally additionally advantages.
You don’t should sleep on the bottom!
This is likely to be the primary profit for most individuals who select to go SUV tenting.
Not solely can sleeping on the bottom be chilly and uncomfortable, however it might additionally put you nearer to creepy crawlies and different critters. Sleeping in your SUV will get you off the bottom and in a location, you are feeling snug and secure in.
You’re extra-protected from the weather.
Sure, tents hold you out of the rain and wind, however if you throw your automotive into the combo, you will have added safety!
Vehicles are made to face up to the weather extraordinarily nicely. They’re additionally sturdier than tents so if a extremely unhealthy storm comes your manner, you don’t have anything to fret about.
You may camp wherever.
There’s nothing like discovering the proper tenting spot off the overwhelmed path. Even when it’s not a standard tenting spot and also you didn’t plan the place you’ll be tenting, your SUV involves the rescue.
With SUV tenting (or its cousin, truck mattress tenting), you will be able to camp wherever and anytime. And, arrange might be fast, in addition.
There may be little or no work concerned.
Whilst you do should arrange your SUV tent when you attain the campsite, you don’t should do far more!
As a substitute of getting to lug all the pieces backwards and forwards out of your automotive, it’s all proper there! You may even go away all the pieces the place it’s in your automotive for those who determined to sleep within the tent portion.
It’s nice for newcomers.
If you’re new to tenting, SUV tenting is an effective way to begin. You don’t should decide to the issues that flip individuals away from tenting, like sleeping on the bottom.
To not point out, consolation is a prime precedence for tenting. It’s possible you’re already snug lounging in your automotive. If you’ll want to take child steps into tenting, SUV tenting is ideal for that!
How one can Make SUV Tenting Even Extra Snug
SUV tenting is already fairly snug, however wouldn’t it’s nice for those who might be simply as snug as being at dwelling? Nicely, excellent news! You’ll be able to!
There are a number of issues you are able to do to make your SUV tenting expertise much more enjoyable. With the following pointers and methods, you could possibly end up tenting in much more consolation!
Before everything, ensure that the campsite you might be tenting at permits automotive tenting and SUV tents. This info needs to be fairly simple to search out. It could be on their web site or simply make a cellphone name to search out out.
Subsequent, pack calmly. Make certain to depart something pointless behind and solely convey the stuff you want. That is the case everytime you go tenting, however particularly when you find yourself SUV tenting. Since you may be utilizing your automotive for storage or sleeping, packing calmly will assist give you extra space.
Additionally, pack your meals and toiletries calmly, as nicely. Purchase mini travel-sized toiletries and produce small parts of meals as a substitute of the whole pack.
For those who’re involved about privateness, take into account investing in window screens to maintain prying eyes out. That is very true in case your automotive doesn’t have tinted home windows.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to rig up makeshift screens by hanging blankets, sheets, or towels exterior your window. This can be a win for privateness and frugality.
Additionally, take into account investing in an air mattress or another form of padding like a sleeping pad to be sure you get as snug an evening’s sleep as potential. Nothing’s worse than not getting sufficient sleep and never having the ability to get pleasure from your time within the nice open air.
How To Select An SUV Tent
There are plenty of completely different SUV tents out there right this moment, so that you won’t ensure which route to look in.
Don’t fear – we’re right here to indicate you the way in which.
There are just a few standards you need to take into account when selecting out an SUV tent, resembling:
- Which sort of SUV tent it’s
- What dimension it’s
- The season score it has
- Which materials(s) it’s product of
- How a lot it prices
Let’s bounce straight in and speak slightly bit extra about every of those elements.
Kind
There are a number of several types of SUV tents on the market. Whereas all of them connect to your SUV, they’re really every fairly completely different.
First off, you’ve received hatchback tents. In case it’s not apparent, these tents connect to the again of your SUV’s just like the Napier Outside Sportz Dome-to-Go or the Napier Outside Sportz Cove SUV Tailgate Tent.
Together with your trunk and the tent joint collectively, you find yourself with a big, spacious inside with greater than sufficient room for sleeping and equipment storage.
Subsequent, there are rooftop tents. Moderately than attaching to the again of your SUV, a rooftop tent sits on the roof of your automotive. These are nice as a result of they don’t take up any more room on the campsite than simply your automotive. We love the Smittybilt – Overlander Tent or the Yakima SkyRise HD Tent.
Additionally, sleeping excessive up off the bottom drastically reduces the probabilities of creepy crawlies ending up inside your tent. And that, for those who ask me, is priceless.
And, lastly – the truck mattress tent. These tents are designed for use with pick-up vans, and also you pitch them on prime of your truck’s mattress.
Dimension
Like all tents, SUV tents are available bigger and smaller sizes.
To be sure you choose the precise dimension, have in mind how many individuals are going to be sleeping within the tent, in addition to how a lot gear you propose on taking up common.
Evaluate that to the scale of a tent, and you need to get a good suggestion of whether or not or not you’re going to have sufficient room.
That’s not all you’ll want to fear about, although.
With SUV tents, a very powerful factor is that you just get a tent that’s appropriate together with your automotive.
Make it possible for the scale of the tent opening isn’t too massive or too small for the opening of the hatch in your SUV.
Season Ranking
After all, you positively need to ensure that the tent you select has an applicable season score.
Most tents are both 3 season or 4 season tents, with 1, 2, and 5 season tents (expedition tents) being far much less frequent.
Principally, for those who plan on tenting in wonderful climate throughout late spring, summer season, and early fall months, then a 3 season tent is the precise alternative for you.
Nonetheless, for those who plan on going tenting throughout late fall, winter, and early spring, you’re going to want a tent that may face up to chilly temperatures and powerful winds. In that case, you’ll need to take a look at 4 season tents or on this checklist, you’ll need to look primarily at the rooftop tents.
Materials
Whereas there are some exceptions, most tents are made out of both nylon, polyester or canvas. Completely different campers want completely different supplies, as every of them have their very own professionals and cons.
In brief, nylon is mild, stretchy, breathable and fast to dry. Nonetheless, it falls wanting different supplies on the subject of sturdiness and UV resistance.
Polyester, however, is nice on the subject of sturdiness and UV resistance, and it’s additionally extra water-proof. That being mentioned, it isn’t as breathable as nylon, and the truth that it isn’t as stretchy makes it extra susceptible to ripping.
Canvas is a extremely breathable materials, and it gives implausible UV and water resistance (when seasoned or waterproofed). On the draw back, it’s loads heavier than different supplies, and it’s gradual to dry, which makes it vulnerable to mildew.
In contrast to nylon and polyester, canvas is a pure materials, which implies it’s significantly better for the setting. That alone is a implausible cause to think about a canvas tent.
Water Resistance
Whether or not you’re going tenting throughout the winter, or in the course of summer season, you simply by no means know when it’s going to rain.
When it begins to pour down, you’re not going to have a lot enjoyable in case your tent isn’t waterproof.
4 season tents are virtually at all times waterproof. With 3 season tents, nonetheless, this isn’t at all times the case. Have a look at the tent’s waterproof score to make sure.
I’ve mentioned it as soon as and I’ll say it once more – for those who purchase a tent that’s waterproof out of the field, waterproof it anyway.
Treating your tent with a waterproofing spray is a fast and simple DIY job, and it gained’t value you a lot both. No person needs a leaky tent, so it’s positively price it.
Worth
Lastly, as a lot as it would suck, you do sadly should take your price range into consideration.
Thankfully, there are fairly just a few fairly priced SUV tents on the market that carry out very nicely. The Napier Outside Sportz Cove SUV Tailgate Tent is a superb price range choice for somebody trying to spend much less and who’s keen to sleep of their automotive.
After all, you’ve additionally received premium rooftop tents (with a price ticket to match) that supply further consolation and extra options.
Don’t be fooled, although – there are additionally loads of tents which can be loaded with options and have jacked up costs, regardless of being made poorly, out of subpar supplies. That’s why we’ve gone forward and performed all of the work so that you can take a look at and rank all of those SUV tents, so that you just don’t have to fret.
Consumer Rankings
Final, however not least are consumer critiques!
We will get plenty of nice suggestions from consumer critiques, however they aren’t excellent. The typical tent proprietor gained’t ever go away a overview, so critiques are usually left by customers who both have a extremely favorable or unfavorable expertise.
After all even that’s nonetheless actually nice info, as a result of if 90% of tent homeowners go away a constructive 5-star overview, then that’s actually saying one thing. So we mix critiques collectively from varied sources and give you a mean consumer score rating.
We undergo and browse all the critiques. We learn the nice, we learn the unhealthy, after which we issue within the amount of critiques and calculate all of into our last Consumer Ranking rating.
As you’ll be able to see, SUV tents general are rated very nicely, particularly rooftop tents. However the Napier Outside tents aren’t too shabby both, particularly our prime decide, which nonetheless maintain up a 8.8 general consumer score. Let’s face it, customers can’t get sufficient of their SUV tents!
Our Verdict
SUV tenting will be an effective way to keep away from a few of the struggles that include tenting. Particularly for those who use the Napier Outside Sportz SUV tent.
The Napier Outside Sportz Dome-to-Go SUV tent has all the pieces you’ll want to camp out of your automotive. It’s simple to connect to your SUV, sturdy as ever, and spacious sufficient to pack the entire gang.
Whether or not you might be by your self or you take the whole household with you, the added room of this SUV tent will make your tenting journey far more snug. To not point out, the sunroom and awning make it a lot simpler to benefit from the open air.
Tenting doesn’t should be about “roughing it.” Tenting needs to be an pleasant expertise for everybody concerned and that’s precisely what you get if you select an SUV tent for tenting.
However nonetheless not satisfied, try different alternate options to tent tenting.
