Roof tents and car camping, made clear

Guides by topic

• Roof tentsHardshell or softshell, UK weather, fitting and storage.
• Roof bars and boxesRoof loads, bar types and box sizes.
• Vehicle prepChoosing a car, trip checks, insurance and recovery kit.
• KitKit lists, camp kitchens and sleeping warm.
• PowerRunning your kit on the road.
• Camping rulesWhere you can and can't sleep, by nation.
• RoutesNC500, the Lakes, Eryri and green lanes.
• EuropeFerries, heights and paperwork for a Europe trip.
• Hire, buy or usedHire, buy new or buy second hand.

Tools

• Roof load checker

  Will a roof tent fit your car? Check your kit against your vehicle's dynamic and static roof loads.

• Trip kit list builder

  A checklist for your trip length, season and setup, ready to print or copy.

• Vehicle height calculator

  Your total height with bars and a tent or box on top, in centimetres, metres and feet.

• Hire vs buy calculator

  Compare hiring a roof tent with buying one, using your own figures.

All tools

Latest guides

• Hardshell vs softshell roof tents

  How hardshell and softshell roof tents differ in opening, packing, weight, UK weather and space, and which suits which kind of trip.

• Roof tents for UK weather: the specs that matter

  Which roof tent specs matter in UK wind, rain and cold: fabric and waterproof ratings, ventilation and insulation, and how to read a spec sheet.

• Roof tents compared on published specs

  Roof tents compared side by side on makers' published specs: weight, size, sleeping space, fabric and mounting. Not tested. Check current price.

• How to fit a roof tent

  What to check before fitting a roof tent, the tools and helpers you need, the steps in outline and the checks after your first drive.