Roof Top Tent Check List



Determining Your Need

·Size

o How large do I need the sleeping platform to be?

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·Budget

o What is my budget?

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o ($_______) <- Budget per night

(________)<- Number of nights/year that you plan to camp)

x(________)<- Number of years you plan to use this setup

=($_______)<- Your Roof Top Tent Budget

o How will this affect my miles per gallon?

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o Does it have a warranty?

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o How long will it last, and what will its value be when I decide to sell it?

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o Are there any sales coming up, or do they offer free shipping?

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·Demand

o How often do I plan to use the tent?

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o Will I want to spend time inside the tent to change, or relax?

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o What weather conditions may occur while I am camping?

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Getting The Best Experience That You Can Afford

·Weight

o How comfortable am I with a load of “x” amount on top of the vehicle?

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o How often will I be removing this tent from my vehicle?

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·User Friendliness - I also like to call this, the pain in the a** test. - check forums, social media, and reviews! Knowledge is power.

o How easy is it to set up, and tear down?

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o How comfortable is the mattress?

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o How comfortable is the ladder?

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o How is the maintenance when you aren’t traveling?

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·Bonus Pros and Cons

o Reputation – Does the company have a positive track record?

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o Customer Service/Warranty – Are you able to get help when you need it?

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o Wind noise – Does this bother you while driving?

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o Loss of space in truck bed, or on roof rack. Soft-shell tents tend to double in size as they open, whereas hard-shell tents tend to cover their entire footprint. Is this important to you?

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o Appearance – How does it look open or closed, what colors do you prefer?

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o Miscellaneous Technological Features- What does it have? aka Creature Comforts.

-Auto Opening/Closing

-Ventilation When Open Or Closed

-Interior Lighting

-Number of windows

-Window awnings

-Skyview

-Ladder Functionality

-Mattress Thickness

-Anti-condensation mat

-Gear storage on top of the tent

-And the list goes on and on!

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·Conclusions

o What is my budget?

$___________________

o Based on the need and experience you desire, which companies offer products within you budget, that also meet your needs?

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o List your favorite products from each company below.

Company 1(___________)

1. _____________________

2. _____________________

Company 2(___________)

1. _____________________

2. _____________________

Company 3(___________)

1. _____________________

2. _____________________

o Now that you have no more than 6 products on your radar, the fun begins! Call people, go to show rooms, go to meetups and events! There is no better judge of a product than yourself. When I was searching, I messaged local tent owners on Social Media and asked if I could trade them a 6-pack for a quick tour of their tent. This helped solidify my decision.

Happy Hunting!