On top of the world: 10 great rooftop tents

There’s an in-tents (geddit?) variety of rooftop tents on the South African market, but these top the list thanks to their ingenious design.

When hitting the roof makes sense

Although it’s initially a pricey expense and less fuel efficient than packing a ground tent, rooftop tents are painless to set up, making camping that much more trouble-free. The built-in mattress means there’s more room inside the car and most can store bulky bedding items like duvets and pillows too. Thanks to their elevation, these tents also feel safer when you’re camping with the Big Five in Mana Pools and they won’t get waterlogged during a rainstorm. The only tiresome aspect would be folding it up each morning to go on a game drive.

1. Sputnik Outdoor System

Sputnik unit and table R15 622 and R5 800 for the ground tent, Sputnik Outdoor Systems and 4X4 Megaworld

Weight: 65 kg including frame, legs, table and ground tent (rooftop tent roughly an additional 60 kg)
Width: 1,2 metres to 1,6 metres
Height: Depends on tent used
Fabric: 320 gsm riptech canvas
Mattress thickness: Optional extra
Star feature: It doesn’t have to live on the roof

The Sputnik – a system that lifts the rooftop tent off the vehicle – claims a short seven-minute erection time. Unless you botch the instructions and need to reset the hydraulics, like I did. However, it’s not complicated to erect, I was too gung-ho about the assembly and skipped a (very crucial) step. The main function of the system is to lift the roof top tent off of the vehicle allowing free use of your vehicle for game drives or a quick run to the shops for ice and can also be erected on uneven terrain without compromising sleeping comfort because of the adjustable legs. The full system includes a Howling Moon rooftop tent, a ground tent, a table, an awning, a stepladder and two chairs, all stored on top of the vehicle – if you’re a shorty, you may struggle. You can also buy the system and equip it with another rooftop tent of your choosing.

2. Front Runner Feather-lite

R10 995 (plus R385 for mount kit), Front Runner

Weight: 40 kg
Width: 1,3 metres
Height: 1,35 metres
Fabric: Special Oxford heavy-duty poly-cotton
Mattress thickness: 70 mm
Star feature: It’s incredibly lightweight

Constructed using nylon instead of the standard canvas, this rooftop tent is incredibly lightweight and folds down to a sleek 200mm profile height. This means less wind resistance when driving and lower fuel consumption. Ka-ching! The roof ventilator opening with a mosquito screen is a nice feature too and reduces condensation while providing a steady source of ventilation.

3. Tentco Safari Rooftop 1,6 m

R9 150, Tentco

Weight: 64 kg
Width: 1,6 metres
Height: 1,3 metres
Fabric: Howard Safari 260 gsm Ripstop canvas
Mattress thickness: 60 mm high-density foam
Star feature: Nice price

It’s the most affordable tent featured here and still possesses all the necessaries. The fabric is weatherproof, UV, rot and mildew resistant, has a marine-varnished wood base, high-quality YKK lifetime zips and is available in smaller 1,2 metre and 1,4 metre widths.

4. Echo 4×4 1,6 T-Top Rooftop tent

From R13 155, Echo4x4

Weight: 66 kg
Width: 1,6 metres
Height: 1,12 metres
Fabric: 250 gsm ripstop canvas
Mattress thickness: 60 mm
Star feature: It’s a weather warrior built to keep you dry

The T-Top design of this tent allows access to the main rooftop tent from the interior and is rain-resistant. The tents have complete self-support and don’t rely on the ladder to bear the weight of sleeping bodies.

5. Bundutec Bundutop Electric Tent

R20 600 excluding fitment, Bundutec

Weight: 65 kg
Width: 1,3 metres
Height: 1,03 metres
Fabric: 300 gsm Riptec ripstop canvas
Mattress thickness: 100 mm high density
Star feature: It respects the sanctity of the sundowner

Always wanted a tent you can set up without having to put down your gin and tonic? Dream no longer. The Bundutop has an electric opening and closing mechanism which takes 30 seconds to set up, complete with 360-degree awnings automatically pitched up around the tent. The 12-volt outlet is an awesome modern feature, so you can charge your phone and there’s a reading light inside. It’s slightly shorter than other tents at 2,1 metres long, but special orders can be made to lengthen the unit.

6. Alu-cab Rooftop Flip Tent

From R26 350, excluding fitment, Alu-Cab

Weight: 95 kg
Width: 1,35 metres
Height: 1,9 metres
Fabric: High-quality waterproof rip-stop canvas and all seams are sealed
Mattress thickness: 75 mm high-density foam
Star feature: It can take the load

This tent folds back neatly into a trim adonised tread plate box and you can store goods like jerry cans or solar panels on top of it (unlike other more delicate tents which can break). Inside are two LED lights and windows open down to the base – great for ventilation. Comes with a five-year warranty.

7. Eezi-Awn 1 800 Xclusiv

R21 717, Eezi-Awn

Weight:79 kg (including bottom room)
Width: 1,8 metres
Height: 1,3 metres
Fabric: 340 gsm wax coated polycotton heavy-duty ripstop fabric, double stitched throughout
Mattress thickness: 65 mm high-density foam
Star feature: It’s got longevity

Eezi-Awn tents are fitted onto rental vehicles by 4X4 hire companies across South Africa for a good reason – they last. This spacious option can accommodate two adults and two small children comfortably in one space. It has an extended roof line and comes with the zip-on ‘add-a-room’ feature that creates a living area below the tent. Ground sheet included.

8. Klipspringer roll-on-roll-off camper

From R18 844 tent only (R82 565 for full camper unit), Klipspringer

Weight: 250 kg camper unit and 80 kg tent
Width: 1,4 metres
Height: 3 metres
Fabric: 400 gsm ripstop canvas
Mattress thickness: 125 mm high-density foam
Star feature: It’s part storage, part sleeper

The Klipsringer is a storage compartment fitted with a rooftop tent that can be rolled onto your vehicle in place of the canopy and rolled off to stand on its own retractable legs at the campsite. Nine doors give access to bags, cooking equipment and the sleeping compartment. Using twist locks, the unit is fastened into a galvanised steel frame fitted to the vehicle, which can be removed when not in use.

9. Howling Moon Stargazer Tourer

R11 990 (additional R3 356 for the annex pictured), Howling Moon

Weight: 64 kg
Width: 1,4 metres (available in models up to 2,4 metres wide)
Height: 1,2 metres
Fabric: 380 gsm fluoro carbon coated polyester and cotton ripstop material
Mattress thickness: 75 mm high-density foam
Star feature: It’s the best way to stargaze

Don’t let your tent get in the way of the Milky Way – roof panels open so you can spot Scorpio from your pillow. The optional annex with built-in ground sheet is also great for less-than-fair weather conditions as the entrance and ladder are housed inside the shelter.

10. Hannibal Impi

R16 995, Hannibal

Weight: 69 kg
Width: 1,35 metres
Height: 1,5 metres
Fabric: 380 gsm canvas
Mattress thickness: 75 mm high-density foam
Star feature: It’s compact and versatile

The Impi can be fitted to any vehicle (even a Mini Cooper) using most roof bar or rack systems and looks much like a conventional roof box. The shell seals completely so you can stow away valuables and has a low profile glass fibre design ensuring wind noise is kept to a minimum. Two gas shocks enable the tent to open by itself once the catches are released and it features a rain shelter on the rear door keeping water out the tent when entering or leaving. The unit is also fitted with LED lights.

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