This is our second time traveling with a rooftop tent. As I write this, we've been on the road for a record 21 days . If I were to sum up what it's like to travel this way, the answer would be - great. But read on...
This type of travel requires a lot of energy.
It's anything but easy and anything but a vacation. It can be a vacation if you stay in the same campsite for several days and have nice weather all the time. If you combine sleeping in campsites and in the wild (which is a great combination!), then expect it to be... varied . On the road, it's about constant adaptation, retreating, tidying up, finding things and a suitable space for basic needs. This is only suitable for people who are more adventurous and find comfort outside of comfort . After such a trip, you really appreciate the carpet on the bathroom floor and the fact that you don't have to step in your wet Crocs after a shower. On the other hand, you realize how little you need to live, how nice it is to park by the coast and wake up on the beach, drink tea at dawn and listen only to the birds singing and look at the completely calm sea. There are moments on the road that completely enchant you...
Why a roof tent?
First some basics. I love the van life and everything related to it. I will always want to have a small camper van, but that desire comes with a pretty high price tag. So for us, a tent was the right decision and really the only one within our budget. Finances were the main reason, as it is the closest thing to a campervan that we could afford.
Pros of traveling with a rooftop tent
The biggest pluses are mobility, small size and convenience . We travel by car, which is also our kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. We can easily go anywhere with a car, because we can park and drive practically everywhere.
Combined with camping equipment and a built-in kitchen (made by Vasja himself), we are quite comfortable. We cook a lot ourselves, mostly simple dishes. We also travel with a small refrigerator (gas and electricity 220V or 12V). In short, we have everything we need for life in the vehicle.
Cons of traveling with a rooftop tent
The first minus is bad weather : sensitivity to wind and rain (storms). Strong winds (40 km/h) and gusts kept us awake all night when we slept rough on the island of Elafonisos. Everything was rattling and the feeling was quite terrifying, and the noise kept us awake all night. In case of heavy downpours and storms predicted, we prefer to look for an alternative place to stay. However, the tent can withstand short showers without any problems.
The second minus is that we don't have a toilet and shower . I don't really think this is such a big problem, since we usually sleep quite far away and do everything in nature (if we are camping, it's not a problem). We also shower outdoors with a portable shower or just wash ourselves with washcloths. We just need enough privacy to undress.
The third minus is living out of plastic boxes . Putting things in boxes takes a lot of time, but we try to maintain order and organization.
Safety is another aspect to consider. Until now, we have always felt safe in our roof tent, as we seek out suitable locations to sleep, such as well-maintained campsites or remote and more hidden places in nature. However, sometimes it still feels like we are more exposed (to crime, weather, and whatnot...) than in a closed and more solid camper. This feeling of exposure is often just psychological.
What kind of tent do we have?
For anyone interested in more about our tent: we bought it in the summer of 2023 from the MAT SPORT company. Our tent is the SHEEPIE YUNA FAMILY . It weighs 77 kg, and assembly requires a forklift or three adults (or two tall and strong men). The tent is limited to sleeping a maximum of 270 kilograms. The bed is 200 x 250 cm, which means that there is really enough space for four adults. The tent already has a mattress and is a soft tent that is covered with a tarpaulin while driving. The external dimensions (stowed) are 212 x 132 x 38 cm. Our car is a Hyundai Tucson, and such a tent is suitable for larger cars: SUV, minivan, station wagon, van. The roof racks also have to be good; our first ones did not work, so we later replaced them with proven THULE racks (after consulting with the Mat Sport store).
Why Sheepie Yuna?
We chose the Sheepie Yuna primarily because it has the largest bed of all the other models. In the long run, it will be the most comfortable, as the children will grow each year. It is also the most affordable option (especially compared to hard tents).
Despite all the disadvantages listed above, our experience with the rooftop tent remains positive, as it allows us freedom and flexibility when traveling, which is invaluable to us.