How to set up a tent on the car roof?

How do I attach my car tent to the roof of my car?

There can be quite a few mounting options. Just as many types of structures to which you want to attach your new car tent. Standard mounts, of course, are designed for standard, more common options.

ALL PHOTOS INCREASE WHEN PRESSED

Photo 1. The bottom of the car tent.

Photo 3. Clamp attached to the rail.

Photo 4. Clamp with cut top plate.

Photo 5. Two roof rails are attached to the bottom of the car tent.

First, we list the known to us fast assembly car tent locations.

• These tents can be installed on the roof of various vehicles. Such as cars (from the smallest to the largest), minibuses, buses. There are known cases of installing tents on the back of a truck.
• Car tents are often installed on trailers, both factory-made and home-made.
• Perfectly car tents fit on pickups: in the back, on a frame or on a kung.
• Sometimes, while parking, the tent is removed from the roof of the car and placed on the ground or on a special stand.

Ideal base for setting up a tent on a car - straight (not curved) transverse rails of rectangular section. Often, with the help of standard mounts, it is possible to put a tent on expeditionary trunks or frames of various designs. But, for simplicity, let's consider the option of installation on straight cross rails.

Constructive description of mounting the tent on the roof of the car.

Two metal rails are attached to the bottom of the tent. (Photo 1)

The guides are profiled, with longitudinal grooves along the entire length. (Photo 2)

Four clips are inserted into the grooves, two in each rail. More can be inserted, but most tents come with 4 clips.

The clamps move freely in the grooves along the guides, depending on the distance between the railing.

These clamps are used to attach the tent to the rails.

Description of clamps and methods of changing their sizes.

The clamps consist of two metal plates screwed together with two screws. (Photo 3)

In some tents (ORT -Start, ORT -02 L and ORT -33) one of the plates (the one inserted into the groove of the guide) is cut into two parts, but this does not change the essence. (Photo 4)

Consider the option with a solid, not cut plate. One of these plates is held in the groove, and the other presses the tent against the crossbar. Thus, the dimensions of the railing section are limited by the length of the bolts in height and the distance between the bolts in the width.

If the rails or frame beams are too high, the bolts must be lengthened and replaced with longer ones.

If the rails or frame beams are too wide (for example, in the case of aerodynamic rails), the metal plates must be changed and the distance between the holes into which the bolts are inserted must be increased.

If one of the plates is cut, then only one plate will have to be replaced - not cut.

• #1

  Sorry, maybe, my question will be completely narrow-minded and not professional, but ... in the Instruction manual for my car ( Hyundai Tucson) it is written that maximum load, which can be attached to roof rails - 75 kg.
  And here - the tent itself already weighs 60 kg ... And also two people ... this is + 150 kg (I flatter myself and my wife)
  Will the roof withstand an ordinary SUV ?!
  thanks

• #2

Anyone who is an ardent fan of car travel knows how difficult it can be to spend the night. Of course, if you have roomy car, then the question disappears by itself, but not everyone has huge vehicles. For example, in the domestic "Niva" there is hardly enough space for one person, what can we say if you went with friends or family.

In this case, the salvation will be a tent on the roof of the car, which can be made by hand according to the corresponding drawings. We propose to consider together the advantages of this device, as well as the process of its manufacture.

Advantages of sleeping in a tent

Depending on the personal preferences of the driver and the persons transported by him, everyone has the opportunity to use different kinds accommodation, for example, rent a room in one of the nearest hotels or go to sleep in the car. However, there are times when there is simply no such opportunity, so you have to take advantage of the benefits of civilization. Namely: a purchased or homemade tent on the car. Such a device has a number of visible advantages, we propose to briefly consider each of them.

• Even in the summertime, given the fact that the vehicle is insulated, spending the night in an iron box is much cooler than in a tent. In it, under the covers, no one will freeze.
• Regardless of our desire, at night, when we sleep, moisture is released along with the breath, as a result of which condensation occurs on the glass as well as the casing. It is worth saying that this is not very useful for the car body. Condensation dries very slowly, there is a high probability of a corrosion stain. In addition, with the appearance of condensation on dusty glass, it will be necessary to wash the windows, because there will be visible stains.
• Often at night, there may be a need to go to the toilet, and it is considered impossible to do this in the car without disturbing the sleep of others. A loud sound of a closing door or an obstacle in the form of a sleeping person will not give a chance to go out unnoticed.
• Lack of ventilation in vehicle ... The metal that makes up the car body cannot breathe. However, the tent wins in this matter, since it consists of fabric material. In it you will breathe fresh air at night.
• The need to carry things from the passenger compartment to the trunk.Such a need will arise every night, because on long journeys you will need to take with you a huge mass of things, including documents.

Carrying all of this into the luggage compartment to fold out the seats and then storing it back is not easy, which adds another reason to put the tent on the car.

Of course, words about an uncomfortable overnight stay in a vehicle have no scientific basis, but at the same time, the above arguments, which are formed from the words of experienced travelers, thereby indicating that a car tent when traveling by car is simply irreplaceable.

Many people may wonder how a conventional tent that is placed on the ground is different from a tent that is installed on a car. There are several answers to this question. For example, setting up a tent requires an even terrain and a lot of time. Needless to say, sometimes it takes more than an hour, when, like with a car tent, this problem does not arise.

Making a tent with your own hands

You can get such a valuable purchase for travelers, but why spend a lot of money when you can do everything yourself much cheaper. Moreover, it is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. So let's get down to step by step creation tents.

Buying the basics

In this case, ordinary plywood will serve as the basis, which should first be impregnated with hot drying oil. Aluminum pipes can be used as a frame. Their weight is small, so they will fit just right. Structural joints are required to be connected with couplings and bolts.

Strengthening the foundation

At the bottom, to ensure greater strength, the plywood is reinforced with a profile pipe, which must be bolted. It is also worth adding that 6 mm bolts are used everywhere. And only the upper hinges, as an exception, are fastened with 8 mm bolts.

The choice of fabric for sewing

The fabric is chosen individually, but nevertheless, preference should be given to natural products, as they will breathe and create more comfortable conditions inside the tent. And in order to have enough material, it is better to take it with a margin. In our case, 17 running meters will be required, as well as an additional 5 meters for the cover layer.

Sewing

Making a mattress

The mattress is made by using 4-mm sheets of foam rubber, which must be sewn into the selected fabric in 2 or 3 layers, preferably in a blanket, since it is warm and thick. Sleeping on such a mattress is cozy and warm.

Such devices are sold literally everywhere - in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, large and small cities of Russia, in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Moscow. If you want to buy a tent without leaving your home, then go to the same Avito and look for ads like “selling a tent on the roof of a car”. Constructions are widely available and among used ones.

For me personally, the preferred option was rent. We gathered for a vacation in the wild, combining fishing with this. We went for a few days, and the question arose - where to spend the night. A friend offered to take tents for the car. At first I thought he was talking about ordinary tents that are set up on the ground. But this option did not suit us, since the area is not the warmest to sleep on the ground, and all kinds of insects and animals scare my wife.

And so I found out what kind of tents on the roof of a car. To be honest, I did not dare to buy, but turned to the rental service. The thing is very interesting and useful for lovers of outdoor activities and long trips. If you don’t want to spend the night in a hotel, but want to immerse yourself in the world of wild nature, I advise you to take this piece.

Benefits

Let's start with what the first conclusions I made about these car tents. In fact, installing them on or on the roof of a car allows you to get much more benefits than sleeping in the car. Therefore, I am not surprised that the sale of such devices is so active and the demand is impressive.

1. Heat. Even photos and videos show how cozy tents can be. Especially when you have such segment leaders as Maggiolina, James baroud or Overland in front of you. But the main thing is the level of heat. It's cold to sleep in the car, no matter how you insulate yourself or insulate the car itself.
2. Condensate. When a person sleeps, he exhales air with a high moisture content. During the night, condensation accumulates on glass windows, interior trim, metal parts, and penetrates under the trim. This is bad for the body, because over time, condensation can cause corrosion. Yes, this is not so critical, but with the active use of the salon as an overnight stay, you can run into trouble.
3. Restroom. If you are not sleeping alone, you will have to wake everyone up in order to get out of the car and relieve themselves.
4. Comfort. The level of comfort in the passenger compartment is high only for large vehicles. If you have not a comfortable minibus or a huge SUV with 2-3 rows of seats, but a compact car, then you can hardly count on a comfortable overnight stay. The tent replaces a full bedroom, as the specially designed box provides a high level of comfort.
5. Ventilation. Metal does not tend to allow air to pass through, therefore it will be impossible to sleep there during a hot period. By opening the windows, you will let mosquitoes and other animals in. The tent is equipped with a mosquito net and is made of breathable materials.
6. Things. If you want to lie down in the cabin, you will have to put all your belongings in the trunk. And if it is small, then the only way out is to take everything outside, outside the car.

That is, the choice in favor of a tent is obvious. And personally, I advise not to save much, but to choose really worthy designs that can last for many years. Such, based on the analysis, I would also call Skycamp, ikamper, Hawk or Orion. You are already familiar with several others.

How to make a choice

Yes, you can watch the video, download a drawing for yourself and try to make a tent yourself. But not everyone wants to do it. Buying a box is not that expensive if you expect to regularly use it for overnight stays in the wild.

How much a tent costs depends on the brand, quality and size. Estimated price - from 20-25 thousand rubles. But models for 50-100 thousand are much better and more durable. For example, I plan to buy myself a tent for 75 thousand. But then everyone decides for himself how much he is willing to invest. After all, there are tents for several thousand dollars from leading brands, and there are cheap counterparts from China, which will cost no more than 10-20 thousand rubles.

It's time to understand the main nuances of the choice. Do you agree with me? Hope so.

Well, I hope my advice and observations were helpful for you too. Be sure to share your impressions in the comments, write if you have already spent the night in such tents and what emotions you have experienced. Subscribe to updates in the VK group, invite friends and do not forget that we are working for you.

Your car can be a truly versatile object that is suitable for getting around, getting maximum comfort on long journeys, and relaxing. We are not talking about sleeping in a car, which has a fairly small enclosed space - in tourist travel, this option will no longer suit you on the second day.

To get the optimal level of comfort, you will need additional equipment, which are car roof tents. Their cost is relatively low, but you can get many benefits from them.

The only remark is that you need to be as careful as possible when choosing a tent so as not to get into an uncomfortable position.

First of all, carefully study the characteristics of your car - this is necessary in order not to damage its structural structure. The tent will rest on the roof - therefore, it will be the most loaded part of the machine, and it should be determined how much weight this structural element can take.

Look at the figures for the permissible load capacity - the roof is able to withstand about 35-40% of this value. Therefore, if the payload of the car cannot exceed 500 kg, then the tent, together with the people in it, should weigh no more than 500 * 0.35 \u003d 175 kg. It will be possible to accommodate two people only if both people have a slender build.

The exception is models that have additional supports - however, they will be discussed later.

Experts have identified several classes of cars, which correspond to various indicators of the mass of the tent - they should be taken into account when choosing a model for the roof:

However, it is better not to risk it and find the exact value on the Internet or in the car manual - it is indicated for everyone modern machines... The consequences of overloading can be sad - a curved roof and expensive repairs that can cause significant damage to the family budget.

An important physical characteristic is dimensions, which the roof tent possesses. Pay attention to this parameter for the selected model - if the product protrudes beyond the roof of the car, you will have to use special extension cords.

You should not choose too high tents - you hardly want to stand in them, but in the forest they will cling to tree branches, which will increase the threat of damage and the inability to move the car even a couple of meters with an open tent.

What should you pay attention to when examining in detail?

It is worth remembering that a tent is a rather complex object that is produced using modern technologies - this even applies to ordinary tourist models.

If we talk about models for the roof of a car, then the approach to production should be even more complicated in order to fully satisfy all human needs, without creating an additional load and without excessively increasing the cost. Therefore, when choosing, you need to pay attention to many parameters that will seem overly detailed to most people.

Design

The simplest tent is pyramidal, the walls of which have a shape close to a triangle. Such models are quite inconvenient, since at a high height they provide minimal internal dimensions and often do not even allow two people to sit. An improved option is a canopy, in which the tent looks like a half ball. It is much more spacious, but requires more space and does not always fit on the roof of a car.

The ideal option is a complex structure with vertical walls and a sloping roof, which requires a strong frame, but has the best ratio of internal volume to base area or height.

A tent is usually limited to a small structure on the roof of a car - however, such a product is vulnerable to strong winds and other negative external factors.

An improved version is a model with a kind of "skirt" along the sides, which covers the car up to glass or even door handles. An additional strip of fabric protects from the wind, and also significantly reduces the likelihood of moisture getting inside and retains heat much better.

The most expensive modifications of tents have walls that are installed next to the car, which makes it possible to organize sleeping places for the entire crew.

If the size of the vehicle or the permissible roof load does not allow for large tents, special extensions can be used. Any tent is placed on top rack mounts - the so-called rails, and in this case, the area covered by them must be significantly increased. You can buy such devices in a tourist store - it is advisable to choose models made of durable steel, which does not deform after 3-4 uses.

To reduce the weight on the roof of the car, you can use external fixings, like construction piles. They rest on the ground and take on part of the tent's mass, but the dimensions of its base should be at least 15-20 cm larger than the dimensions of the machine.

the cloth

The question that always arises when buying a tent is what material it is made of.

The cheapest models on the travel market are created from nylon - a popular synthetic fabric with excellent moisture resistance. The main disadvantage of a nylon tent is its extremely low rigidity. After each night, it will have to be tightened, since changes in temperature and humidity can lead to some weakening of the fasteners. A similar disadvantage is expressed in low strength.

However, these modifications are widespread due to their ability to fold down to a small size and fit in a car seat pocket.

Much better durability in their models polyester - for a tent made of a similar synthetic fabric, you will have to pay a round sum, but the costs will be fully justified. Installed on the roof of a car, it can maintain a constant position for several days without the need for adjustment or additional tension.

In addition, a polyester tent is quite difficult to damage - for this you have to use a sharp object, and not a branch that accidentally fell into the wall. The only drawback besides the high cost is the complexity of deployment, due to the high density of the synthetic material.

Talk about tarpaulin models do not have to - such a tent will be very heavy for a compact car, difficult to use and short-lived.

If you want an exceptionally durable sleeping place, pay attention to the modification, covered with an additional protective layer of transparent silicone. It increases strength and rigidity, and also ensures dryness and no drafts inside. In addition, make sure that all seams of the tent are carefully glued with sealant or the same silicone - this is also necessary for increased comfort.

Extra options

The best tents consist of two parts - a dense outer awning and an inner "room" that is created from soft, pleasant to the touch material.

Inspect the selected product for the quality of this coating and feel it with your hands. The ideal option is the presence of an additional layer of thermal insulation, consisting of a soft filler and metal foil. This will help not to freeze at night and not die from the heat during the day. In addition, in the base, which is installed on the roof of the car, in addition to a rigid frame, a soft mattress must also be present - otherwise sleep will only bring you pain in the whole body instead of normal rest.

A good tent should also have internal pockets - they are convenient for storing the most important things, wash items and clothes. There are also models where a similar pocket can open outward, turning into some kind of dormer at home.

An alternative option is to expand the interior space by further deploying the tent outside the vehicle. Both of them help increase psychological comfort and cope with claustrophobia.

If you are planning to travel in the off-season, you cannot avoid torrential rains, thunderstorms and other troubles. To protect you, the tent should not only have a side skirt, but also a valve through which to enter.

The design of such a device resembles an airlock - between the outer and interior space there is a small "dressing room" that protects people from bad climatic conditions... It is best if both entrances are closed with a zipper protected by special strips of waterproof fabric.

“If people knew how pleasant it is to walk on the roofs, they would have stopped walking the streets long ago,” Carlson once used to say, but this madman was clearly “in the subject”. Most people not only did not walk on the roof, but also did not see the world from the height of the roof ... of their car, although autotravellers certainly more than once looked at the tourist tents open there, above.

Rooftop life has obvious pros and cons. Let's start with the installation features. Unfortunately, the manufacturers have not yet figured out how to quickly and without unnecessary dancing with a tambourine to set up a tent on the roof. To set up a tent, you will need at least strong cross-bars, and preferably a good expeditionary trunk... It will take some time and effort to secure the tent to the roof.

“Why did you lie that you are 7 years old? You weigh all 8 "...

Do not forget that the crossbars (roof rails) or the trunk must withstand not only the weight of the tent, but also the weight of its inhabitants, and the tent itself will take up most of the space.

For example, two universal luggage crossbars from an auto parts store are clearly not enough to evenly distribute the load and with a high probability the tent will collapse with its entire mass on the roof when fully loaded.

“- Well, did you fly? - asked Carlson. The kid weighed everything once more.
- What if you drop me? He said anxiously. This proposal did not embarrass Carlson at all.
- Great trouble! He exclaimed. - There are so many children in the world. One boy more, one less - trifles, everyday business! "...

Among the disadvantages of operating an aboveground dwelling are the methods of lodging in the den, and the options for leaving it. Do not forget that the tent is set 1.5-2.5 meters above the ground and just stretching, you won't be able to get out of it, or it will be accompanied by an acrobatic sketch.

"- Of course, the stars are seen better from the roof than from the windows, and therefore one can only wonder that so few people live on the roofs" ...

In the list of positive aspects of life on the roof, in addition to the stars, I will note the relatively constant combat readiness of the home and the soft mattress in it, as well as the comfort of placement on an uneven or flooded surface. In some cases, it may turn out that it is simply not possible to put up an ordinary tent and you will have to sleep half-sitting in armchairs.

For a separate stratum of the population will be an important positive factor - excellent protection from crawling, jumping and running intruders from the world of wild animals and insects. Many of them clearly will not be eager to learn to climb stairs or slippery surfaces of a car.

“-Well, tell me, please, is it possible to do without a fight at all? Any dispute can be resolved with words! "...

To decide which of the options for tents on the market is better, you need to know what is in general, but there are not so many available - in total, there are only three types of roof houses.

1. Book tent... When folded, the tent is covered with a special awning and during transportation looks like a rectangular object covered with an awning.

It is brought into the working position by tilting half of the floor to the side or back of the car and rests on a standard stop ladder attached to the edge of the reclining half. The roof of such a tent rises automatically, and the "awnings" of windows and entrances are fixed manually using special stops.

On the downside: less protection from external influences and the inability to close the cover (cover) of the tent with a lock.

2. Tent with rigid (plastic) fully raised top... During transportation, such a tent looks more like a plastic box-trunk. When preparing a berth, the roof is raised manually using a special handle. Along with the roof, soft side walls with doorways and windows rise.

The tent can be equipped with a standard ladder, but it is not convenient to use it on all types of cars and, in most cases, on SUVs and buses it is better to have a stationary (fixed on the car body) ladder to the roof.

The casing (roof) of the tent is attached to the lower part with ties, which can be closed with a small lock, and the plastic casing relatively reliably protects the tent material from external influences.

3. Tent with a hard (plastic) top, type 2, but with only one lifting part of the roof... In the transport state it differs little from type 2, but in the working position only one edge is raised, creating a lateral "triangle" view.

A distinctive feature of this type of tent is a different organization of the internal space, since the lifting part rises higher than that of a tent with a fully raised roof, and the other part remains in place. Raising the edge of the roof higher can be helpful for changing clothes, for example.

This type of tent is highly resistant to wind gusts. In the case of setting up a tent in a windy place, the car turns with a rigid bevel against the wind, thereby ensuring greater stability of the structure.

To choose the required type of tent, it is worth considering not only the operating conditions, but also the method of fastening to the car. For example, on the roof of an ordinary pickup truck (not a North American monster), the plastic shell of the tent may not fit and there is nothing left to do except choose the option with the half that folds to the side. Again, due to the convenience of climbing inside with the help of a standard stop ladder.

“- You can take yourself a little break and make me coffee.
- Make coffee? - asked the Kid.
- Yes, please, - Carlson confirmed. “I don’t want to bother you too much. All you have to do is light a fire under the taganka, bring water and make coffee. And I will drink it myself "...

It is worth mentioning separately that tents with a lifting roof are put on alert in a few seconds - you just need to open the clamps and raise the roof and no other action is required. Except for installing a ladder if it is not present on the vehicle.