There does seem a disproportionate amount of negativity towards something that doesn't affect anyone other than the person who has bought it (and generally is glad they have) but I think a previous thread went a similar way.
For me it's not really replacing a tent, it's allowing me to have a small cheap to buy and run van with bolt-on sleeping quarters for less money (and various other positives) compared to a larger van or motorhome.
Anyway, all this talk of tents and camping isn't improving the weather. We've usually got a few camping trips booked already. Given the weather, we've only got one in July booked so far.
Never used one but like the idea for the following reasons:
Easy to set up/down.
Easy to dry after use.
Almost turns a car into a campervan.
Really? I think they look a ball ache to set up and dry. And I really don't think they turn a car into a campervan..
Possibly good for a single brief overnighter, but what a faff putting it on and off the car/van. Multiple nights away? what a faff everytime you want to use the car whilst away.
Personally I've become a fan of air beam tents for decent size family tents for ease or just regular pole tents for 3ish man - pretty straightforward really!
Oddly DoD as a lad used to have family weekends in Brean in an inflatable Igloo tent in the ‘70s 🙁
Blimey, who’d have thought a tent on a roof rack would elicit so many strong opinions.
I am not usually interested in anything car related and I don’t want a camper van. When on holiday I want to get away from cars and not live in one.
Saying that, I do sometimes kip in the back of my car at the beginning or end of a trip. I recon a roof tent would work well for trips up the hills when all you want is a Friday night kip before starting a hill on Sat morning. A normal tent is no good in a scruffy layby or car park. Some cars are too small to sleep in so a roof tent would work.
How much hate I've got just about every type of tent and I've just bought one last week to go on top of our Caravelle. The Caravelle has served us well for 14 years and been so many holidays with the family in those years but as the kids have got older the number of hols we can goi has reduced due to exams and skiing has replaced MTBing for one of the hols the van just wasn't getting used. It's not been out since the alps in the summer.
Similar to other folk I've bought it fior races and quick get aways so I can keep bikes and inflatable kayaks inside. I've got a Jackary to run a fridge and charge devices laptop etc. I'm taking the rear seats out and the front seats already swivel plus its got a desiell heater so it will be a nice place spend an evening without needing an awning. Its also our 3rd car so the roof tent will live on the top all year round.
I've camped in the Caravelle a few times biut it's such a faff to fold out the seat and juggle everything around the roof tent should make a huge difference.
I got a tentbox go with mattress for £650 in mint condition from a guy who was emigrating. I figured that if doesn't work out I could sell in for not much less than Ive paid for it.
