Rooftop tents were made to overland the wilderness and protect you from predators, so compared to a conventional tent; you could say that they are far safer. But how safe are they exactly? Does the elevated design of the rooftop tent give you better protection against wild animals and the elements? Are there dangers a rooftop tent has that a conventional tent doesn’t have? Let’s take a look at these concerns and learn a little more about these tents.
As secured as you make them
Rooftop tents need a little assembly, which can be quite a challenging experience. If you’re planning to install the tent yourself, you might want to watch a few tutorials or at least get some assistance from someone experienced. Depending on your car, the tent you’ve chosen, and your roof rack, your difficulty attaching your tent securely could be either a cinch or one of your life’s most challenging engineering feats. Here are a few things to consider before getting a rooftop tent:
- Your Car Model – it’s crucial that your car can handle the tent’s weight stationary and while on the move. You wouldn’t want to see your expensive rooftop tent fly after stepping on the breaks.
- Your Car Rack – Most tents can fit any car rack, which serves as your foundation. You need to know if this rack can handle the weight of your tent with people inside it. If your rack isn’t compatible with the tent, you’ll need to replace it.
- The tent model – While you might be able to force any tent model on your car, some are just made for bigger cars. You’d be paying more without getting the full benefits of the tent model.
If you skimp out on any of these, you’d be compromising the safety of your tent.
Having the high ground
The best part of having a rooftop tent is not sleeping on the ground. While any outdoorsman would mind sleeping on the ground, there are many creepy crawlies and pests that you would rather not disturb your sleep. From snakes, bugs, and even big predators, the elevated nature of rooftop tents gives an extra layer of protection from you and the wild when you are asleep and in your most vulnerable state. Does it completely shield you from harm? No, but it does at least lessen the chances of something sniffing around and finding its way inside your tent.
The cons of the high ground
The worse thing about having a rooftop tent is the falling hazard. If you’ve secured your tent to your car, you don’t have to worry about the tent falling off the car, but that doesn’t stop you from falling. You don’t need to worry about this with conventional tents, especially if you have children or have the habit of drinking too much when camping. Being cautious is important when going in and out of the tent is a must. Having an awning room with an air mattress below could also be a good thing to have too.
Just like everything else, rooftop tents are as safe as you make them. Installing things properly and being cautious of falling hazards is all you need to be at your safest.
