SUV Tent Buyer’s Guide

Thing to Consider When Choosing a SUV Tent

There are a few things to take into consideration when you’re shopping for an SUV tent. You’ll want to look at qualities like comfort, ventilation, weather proofing, seasonality, durability, ease of setup, and price. All these will help you pick the best SUV tent for your typical camp setup.

Types of SUV Tents

When we think of the best SUV tents, we think of the shape we see in our Editor’s Choice Napier Sportz, as well as the Timber Ridge, North East Harbor, and Napier Backroadz. These are all tents that can stand on their own, but have a different design on one side so that it can attach to your vehicle’s open trunk or hatchback.

Just to give you some options, we’ve also included the Thule rooftop tent and Kelty Backroadz shelter. The rooftop tent comes with an annex that stays on the ground so it’s a similar, but higher quality type of tent. The Kelty shelter is an extremely highly rated awning that doesn’t have a floor, but it still offers privacy if you were looking for something affordable.

So which type of SUV tent should you buy? The answer is simple: whatever works best for your intended use. Each tent has their own pros and cons, which are listed above with each product. Use those and the tent’s specification to decide which one best fits your typical car camping trip and budget.

Comfort

As with any camping tent, comfort is key for a successful trip. We’ve learned this several times over the years: always prioritize comfort on your nights away. Pick something that you will be the most comfortable in, whether that’s related to the headspace, square footage, or general layout.

If you prioritize the ability to stand up straight inside your tent, look for products that have a max height that’s at least two inches taller than your tallest camping partner. You should also look for tents that have nearly vertical walls, as ones with rounded, dome shapes won’t have as much head room throughout the whole tent.

The Timer Ridge has the tallest max height on this list at 7ft.8in., but it’s closely followed by the Napier Outdoors Sportz (7.25ft.), North East Harbor (6ft.), and the Napier Outdoors Backroadz (7ft.). We used to not care about headspace, but now that we have a tent we can stand upright in, I don’t think we could ever go back to something smaller.

For each tent above, we’ve included the square footage in the specification because this can help you calculate how many people can sleep comfortably. Even though they have a designated capacity rating (e.g., the 5 person Timber Ridge), this is the number of campers it will sleep in extremely close quarters. Read this article on how much space you need in a tent in order to figure out how many square feet you should need per person.

Ventilation

Ventilation is a must-have feature if you typically camp in warmer weather, especially on those hot summer days. We feel like all the best SUV tents on this list have ample ventilation since they have a large window on each side of the tent besides the side that faces your vehicle.

Pro Tip: Combine your SUV Tent with a window tent to create air flow within the vehicle without having to struggle with bugs getting into your open windows. We really like this Roadie Overnighter SUV Window Tent.

Weather & Waterproofing

Waterproofing refers to the tent fabric and whether or not it’s water resistant enough to prevent rain and moisture from seeping through. Most tents come with a high enough waterproof rating (aka waterhead rating) to be considered waterproof, but not all of them. Look for tents that have a 1200mm waterhead rating or higher. Anything less, and you may need to waterproof it yourself.

As for weather proof, look for tents that have thick fabrics and metal poles. Fiberglass poles are more common and help keep the price down, but fiberglass isn’t the best for the longevity of the tent because they’re more prone to splitting and breaking. Metal poles like aluminum and steel will resist strong winds better and support the tent for the long run.

So which tents on this list have the best weather and waterproofing? The Editor’s Choice Napier Outdoors Sports has a 1200mm waterhead rating, so it’s ready to handle most weather conditions. The luxurious Thule rooftop tent is probably the most weatherproof tent on this list because of its thick fabrics that are waterproof. Plus, because it’s attached to the roof of your vehicle, it’s extremely wind resistant.

Seasonality

Most camping tents on the market are meant for three seasons: spring, summer and fall. Some budget-friendly tents with lighter materials may even only be ideal for summer weather and clear days without rain or wind.

In order for a tent to be considered four season, it must have really high quality materials that are super durable and ready to withstand all kinds of adverse weather. Few tents fall into this category, and most of them will be quite expensive.

The tents on this list above are all meant for 3 seasons, but there is one 4 season on this list: the Thule Autana rooftop tent. It can withstand snow, rain, wind, and pretty much anything Mother Nature can throw at it.

Materials and Their Durability

Any of these tents have decent enough quality and durability to last several camping seasons if they’re properly used and taken care of. That being said, the higher the quality, the higher the price, and the higher the quality and durability. Know that if you’re willing to spend a little more, the tent will probably last longer than the more budget-friendly options that cut a few corners to keep the price down.

The Thule Autana will definitely hold up the longest, but it’s also the most expensive option on this list. We feel like the Editor’s Choice Napier Sportz SUV Tent is the right balance of quality and price so you can get the most bang for your buck.

Know that the more affordable options like the North East Harbor Universal Tent will be great for casual SUV tent camping trips in ideal conditions, but the lower quality materials will prevent it from lasting longer over the course of the next couple years.

Ease of Set Up

Generally speaking, SUV tents are relatively easy to setup and can be assembled with one person, although having an extra hand is always helpful. Keep in mind that the larger the tent, the more complicated the setup.

In our opinion, the Editor’s Choice is one of the harder ones to setup, but only because of its extra features like the awning and screen room. We feel like the extra setup time is a fair trade off for these accessories.

A simple SUV tent like the Timber Ridge, North East Harbor, or Napier Backroadz would be the easiest models to assembled, mostly because of their simplified design.

Even though the Thule Autana looks like it’s the most complicated, it’s actually quite easy to assemble, especially once you get the hang of it. We love that it’s ready to go whenever and wherever you want, and it simply unfolds from its rooftop storage.

Price

The tents on this list vary greatly when it comes to price. There’s everything from a super affordable and basic SUV tent to a luxurious and high-quality rooftop tent that’s ready for everything you could throw at it.

If you’re looking for the most budget option, the North East Harbor (NEH) Universal tent is the most affordable SUV tent on this list. It’s a simple design with all the basic necessities you could need.

If you’re flexible with your budget, our Editor’s Choice is the best value for the money, and offers quality materials as well as cool features like a screen room and an awning.

If money doesn’t matter and you simply want the best of the best, the Thule Autana rooftop tent is the best pick for you. It’s hard to argue with the high quality materials and superior weather resistance.

How We Tested, Reviewed, And Rated These SUV Tents

We love outdoor gear, and we love recommending gear that adds value to our outdoor adventure. We know and understand the importance of having gear that’s worth every penny, so we thoroughly research and test every product we recommend. No matter how we procure an item, our goal is to remain as unbiased as possible, and we put it to the test against its competitors to find the best and worst features.

We also understand that each adventurer is different, and our favorite best SUV tent may not be yours. That’s why we rate and review a wide variety of products currently available, so you can see a breakdown of all the features and pick what’s best for you and your situation. We don’t recommend anything we wouldn’t personally use, so whether you’re looking for highest quality, an affordable price, superior weather resistance, a certain brand, or any other desirable feature, there’s sure to be a tent on our list that’s perfect for you.

Why Use an SUV Tent?

Using an SUV tent has many advantages that make it a go-to pick for outdoor lovers:

• Ease: An SUV tent is easy to attach to your car, giving you a comfortable and secure camping spot. Plus, having an SUV tent allows you to easily access your vehicle without leaving the tent, handy for grabbing supplies or for periods of bad weather. It also means you can use your vehicle’s power to charge devices, use the lighting, or even run air conditioning or heating.
• More Space: It enlarges the room by using the rear hatch area of your SUV, allowing you to have more sleeping space or room for storing camping gear.
• Versatility: Most SUV tents can be used as a standard ground tent as well, giving you the flexibility to camp either way based on your needs. This makes them a versatile choice for many car camping situations.
• Height: Many SUV tents are taller than standard tents, which can make moving around inside more comfortable.
• Safety: The tent provides shelter from the elements, keeping you safe and dry during rough weather conditions.
• Privacy: It provides privacy by separating you from neighboring campers, allowing you to enjoy your own space.
• Economical: By using your SUV as a camping shelter, you save money on accommodation costs while still having fun outdoors.

Plus, an SUV hatchback tent comes with extra features such as bug screens and awnings that enhance your car camping trip. The bug screens keep insects away and let fresh air inside the tent. The awnings give shade and safeguard from the sun, making it enjoyable to take it easy outside during hot summer days.

FAQs About SUV Tents

Conclusion

After taking into consideration the factors above like price, comfort, quality, and ease of setup, we’ve chosen the Napier Outdoors Family Sportz SUV tent as our Editor’s Choice. It’s the best balance of quality for the price, so you can be sure you’re getting the best value possible.

Of course we understand that our favorite may not be yours, which is why we’ve included other great options on this list. We hope that you find the perfect tent for your next adventure whether it’s the Napier Sportz or Backroadz, the Timber Ridge, North East Harbor, Thule Autana or the Kelty Backroads Shelter.