Rooftop Tent vs. Canopy Camper: In Search of the Perfect System
There is no such thing as a universally ideal setup. The perfect vehicle for each and every one of us will depend on our needs, as well as on the travel plans we might have. Before building the Canopy-10, we spent several years traveling with rooftop tents. We’re certain that the C-10 is the perfect setup for us, but even so, we think that a system with a rooftop tent could have many advantages. Below, we’ll talk about the differences between the two most common Overland setups and their advantages and disadvantages.
Living Conditions
The main advantage of a canopy camper is its interior space. It is not impossible to travel far and in adverse weather conditions with a rooftop tent, but the trip becomes much more comfortable if your setup allows you to stay inside if needed: to cook or work from the comforts of your own small living room, safe from the elements as well as from curious eyes. Without a doubt, this kind of system significantly increases the comfort of the entire setup, and it allows us to travel for longer stretches of time without getting tired of the nomadic life.
A rooftop tent could be the ideal solution for those who use their rigs for weekend escapades, or for those who are only starting Overlanding, while a canopy would be a more appropriate setup for those of us who wish to go on longer journeys (time- and distance-wise), as well as for those who simply want to be more comfortable.
Rooftop tents come in different sizes, and it is important to stress that some of them, like the one from Rodamont we used for a year, provide great comfort and lots of space. We used this tent as a living room and an office, as it is meant for four persons, although we had to do everything lying down.
2. Set Up Speed
Canopy campers can be opened and closed in 10 seconds, and if we don’t have bicycles or too much luggage inside, in those 10 seconds we’ll have our vehicle-home ready for cooking, eating or sleeping inside. Many rooftop tents have the same system, which allows you to open and close the tent in one click. If you opt for this kind of tents, it’s important to make sure that it can be comfortably closed with your sheets or sleeping bags inside. However, there are different kinds of rooftop tents, among them the soft shell ones, that open like a book. These take a longer time to open and even more to close. There are people who prefer this kind of tents, but to us they seem to be the least comfortable option when it comes to setting up camp.
3. Price
An important difference between a canopy camper and any rooftop tent is in the total price of the setup. (In our case, we would have to add the price of accommodation we used to get once a week to the total price of a rooftop tent setup.) No matter if you choose a canopy or a tent, we believe that opting for the cheapest option without considering anything else is a grave mistake, as long as your budget allows you for a small investment. If the setup doesn’t fulfil our most basic needs, we won’t spend many days traveling or many nights camping before quitting Overland.
4. Height
The height of the vehicle is a key point for those who have a garage with a certain height, or usually park in covered parking lots. If you install your rooftop tent on top of the bed on a pickup, it’s possible that the height of the truck wouldn’t increase at all. However, most tents don’t fit on top of the truck bed, which is why people mount them on top of the cabin using bars or roof racks, which increases the height of the vehicle considerably. Canopy campers extend over the cabin roof, but as they don’t have to be attached to it, the distance between the canopy and the cabin is much smaller. In the end, the total height of the vehicle will depend on the rooftop tent model, and the roof rack that is used to mount it. In general, a canopy camper would increase the original height of the vehicle for around 30 cm.
In Iberica Overland, after several years of experience in Overland trips, we developed our canopy camper imagining our perfect setup. The Canopy-10 was created with the goal of accomplishing maximum camping comfort without jeopardizing the off-road capabilities of the vehicle. Reserve yours!
