I'm in the market for a roof top tent for my 4th gen 4Runner. I've done extensive reading in all the threads I can find about these tents. I am getting frustrated that there is such a limited chance to see different models in person. Spending this type of money is something I don't do lightly, and when I can't see a product it makes it hard to justify the cost. My only real recourse is to rely on reviews and recommendations from people that have them. Every manufacturer touts their own product, of course.
I would appreciate hearing from tent owners of as many different brands as possible. I'd love to know what you like and dislike about the brand you have, or have used and if you would buy it again. If there are features you like or dislike, I'd love to hear about them also. I think this info will help me and anyone else contemplating buying a RTT. I realize brand loyalty is a powerful thing, but I am asking for honest opinions of quality of materials, warranty issues, customer service, durability, protection from elements, etc. Anything you can share would be helpful.
I promise that as soon as I get a tent mounted on my rig I will post some reviews to help others. Thanks for any info you feel like sharing.
I have owned several roof top tents both hard and soft shell throughout the years including CVT, Tepui and Denver Outfitters. There are pros and cons to hard and soft shells, and I will touch on a few to assist in your decision. I have spent over 100 nights this year in a rooftop tent in over 23 states. I spent 38 days straight living in a rooftop tent. We were snowed on, stayed in 117 degree heat of death valley, and relentless wind of the grand canyon. If I am not credentialed enough to give you an educated opinion, i don't know who is!
Disclaimer: I have NEVER received compensation, discounts, or free tents from ANY tent manufacturer.
Let's get started.
Soft shell
Pros
Lots of space, good quality for a cheaper price, well-known makers in the American market. Comparable quality in all makes. When opened, they provide a sort of awning, available annex room.
Cons
Much harder to set up/ tuck away. Much less aerodynamic when mounting to a roof. If time is an issue, you'll often have to factor in 10 to 15 minutes to pack up.
Hard Shell
Pros
Extremely easy to set up and take down, they look better, and stay warmer during the cold. Very aerodynamic. The fabric is thicker and therefore stays darker in the mornings. Usually have better storage such as coat hangers, ceiling nets and wall bags.
Cons
Price. They're expensive, and unless buying from a reputable hard shell company such as James Baroud, AutoHome, AluCab etc the quality will not match that of their softshell counterparts. They get hot quickly in the mornings. This can be good on sunny winter days.
Overall and in my opinion, I like soft shells SLIGHTLY more than the hard shell. I currently own one of both. Two companies that I trust and like very much include GoFSR, and Tepui. While on our 38 day trip, the constant use of our tent took its toll on the zippers as well as a few straps of our tent. When we finally reached Santa Cruz, CA, we posted up in the parking lot of Tepui Tents. We awoke to the business open and nobody woke us up or asked us wtf we were doing. Then, I asked one of their employees (for the life of me can't remember his name) for a quote on the repairs of our tent. After fixing the tent, he told us we didn't owe them a dollar. Mind you, this is a tent that had been heavily used and abused and was well outside their warranty period. He said "you're from TN, and drove all the way to California, slept in our parking lot, and are using our tent. This is the least we could do"
You can spend more and Australian Bushmen, and Africa overlanders will argue with you until their heads fall off but you do not need a tent made in south Africa or Queensland to get a quality tent. We have proven that, and I will continue to buy tents from American companies who source their tents from China.
I was previously a happy camper while using CVT tents. The tent was good quality, and we were happy. However, the owner of that company is someone I will NEVER do business with again. I will not get into details about this but I have very good reason.
This is my opinion and my opinion only but I believe that most of not all soft shell tents come from the same manufacturing plants in China. Tent companies will refute this, but the stitching, machine marks, and materials are just too similar.
If you have any questions regarding rooftop tents feel free to yell at me on here or instagram for a faster reply. My instagram is overland_tennessee
