Are you curious about roof tents? Here you will find answers to common questions about roof tents and our best tips for life with a roof tent. Use the links to proceed to more in-depth pages.
What is a roof tent?
A roof tent is a tent that you can have on top of your car and that attaches to regular roof racks. More fun and cheaper than a caravan, more comfortable and easier than a regular tent! Roof tents give you an epic nature experience combined with the flexibility that comes with having a car.
Roof tents can be attached to most cars with regular roof racks. With a roof tent, it becomes easy to get out into nature and you decide where to stop for the night. Once you have found your spot, it only takes a few minutes to go from parking to a finished camp. Inside the tent there is a thick mattress which, combined with the sound of the wind, will make you sleep like a baby.
Can your car really handle the weight of a roof tent and your whole family up there? The short answer is YES. The long answer can be found here.
Different types of roof tents
There are mainly two types of roof tents – soft shell and hard shell. Soft shell looks like a regular tent and unfolds like a fan. Our roof tents Åreskutan and Lillskutan are soft shell roof tents.
Hard shell looks more like a box that folds up automatically (or by cranking) a roof box with the help of hydraulic pistons. There are also roof tents with air channels as supports that are inflated with an air pump.
Things to consider when buying a roof tent
Before buying a roof tent, you should first ask yourself some questions. What is most important to you when it comes to your new roof tent – price, quality, how quickly it can be set up, how many people fit, service, smart details?
You also need to check that your roof racks have an approved maximum load that can handle a roof tent.
Here you can read more about what is good to consider when buying a roof tent
All roof tents we at Taktältarna sell are soft shell. We have chosen to sell soft shell because we think they are more cost-effective and also roomier and more fun than hard shell.
Roof tents are suitable for both glamping and tougher adventures
The ease of unfolding and folding the tent makes roof tents perfect for everything from aspiring outdoor enthusiasts to those seeking a glamping feel and experienced adventurers who might want to use the roof tent as a base camp for their exploits.
How to set up a roof tent
The history of the roof tent
The first roof tents appeared in Western Europe already in the 1930s. They quickly became popular in then East Germany where they were sold as accessories for the characteristic Trabants.
In the late 1950s, models for both hard shell and soft shell were patented by Italian inventors. The first was the hard shell model "Autocampeggio Stogl" which later got the name Maggiolina. In 1959, the soft shell model Air Camping came out. Both models were launched simultaneously and quickly became popular among the public and then spread to adventurers and extreme campers thanks to adventurer Nino Cirani's adventures with his Land Rover.
Since then, roof tents have spread to all continents and have been popular in outdoor and expedition circles, especially on large cars like jeeps and Land Rovers in Australia, Africa, and the USA.
In recent years, more and more roof tents have started to appear on regular cars and campsites. They have been especially popular in the undisputed stronghold of camping life – Germany. Now they have finally also started to be seen more and more on the roads here in Scandinavia!
Roof tents for hunting and fishing
A roof tent is also good for those going fishing and hunting. Drive to the hunting spot in the evening and you avoid having to get up early to first transport yourself.Roof tents can also advantageously be used as an extra room when you get (or have) unexpected visitors, as an epic sleeping place when you go to competitions, exhibitions, festivals, and concerts (yes, we have tested!).
Can you roof tent in winter?
As more and more Swedes discover the fantastic thing about roof tents, we often get the question if it is possible to use our roof tents in winter. The answer is yes! We have ourselves been out and tested our roof tents in below zero temperatures. Here you can read what to consider when roof tenting in winter and our best tips for it. Can you roof tent with a dog?
Roof tenting with a dog works great. If it is a small dog, you can just lift it up into the roof tent while climbing the ladder. If you have a bigger dog, you can either buy a special ramp or lay out sleeping pads on the hood and windshield and let the dog walk up there and jump in through one of the roof tent's windows. Here are more tips for those who want to roof tent with a dog.
How to find campsites for roof tents?
Alone by the water, surrounded by beautiful nature and beautiful views. That is the ultimate campsite for roof tents according to us. But how do you find it? Here you will find 5 tips on how to find the perfect campsite for roof tents
Is it possible to rent roof tents?
Renting a roof tent is a good option for those who don't think they would use a roof tent that much, for those who want to make a more sustainable choice, or for those who lack space to store a roof tent. At Taktältarna we offer roof tent rentals in Östersund and Stockholm. We also cooperate with various partners in other parts of the country. Here you can find current places where you can rent roof tents. There are usually also private individuals who rent out their roof tents on, for example, Hygglo or Blocket.
More advantages of roof tents
Roof tents are simply the perfect way to experience your vacation and adventure. Here we list 16 advantages of roof tents.
Want to try a roof tent?
We at Taktältarna are experts on roof tents. In our webshop, we sell roof tents developed and tested by roof tent enthusiasts in Åre. Do you have questions or concerns? Get in touch! We help you take your adventure to the next level.
