Roof tent

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Hubband

The max load for your roof is for when you're moving. Once the car is parked, you can easily put the tent, yourself, your significant other and your dachshund on your roof without breaking the car.

As for stability, the James Baroud seems tested for winds well above 60 miles per hour. There's tons of videos out there about people overlanding with roof top tents. Depending on your local wildlife, such a tent also offers increased protection from e.g. snakes, scorpions, wolves, dingos and bears (probably not relevant in the UK).

That being said, I would never intend to use it in such extreme weather or environments. I just appreciate the convenience when you're on a road trip and don't want to - or can't - stay at a hotel.

I appreciate that the roof loading is taking into account any effects of additional forces from driving the vehicle and stability of the vehicle too. However, roof bars, tent and 2 adults is going to be at least 200kg maybe 250kg depending on the weight of the people. I am not sure that I would be happy overloading the roof to that extent.

You do see roof tents around and about, but I have only ever seen them on things like Landrovers, or crew cabs etc.... I assume that these commercial based vehicles have higher permitted roof loading.

[weemark]

Each to their own!! Am sure the tent will withstand a decent blow but the car will inevitably be moving so I think I'll stick to solid ground, or snow, or sand! In terms of a mattress, if you're car camping you're not going to be carrying the thing anywhere so you could do a lot worse than look at my personal favourite Exped Megamat, they're pricey but brilliantly comfortable and insulating

Originally Posted by Hubband

The max load for your roof is for when you're moving. Once the car is parked, you can easily put the tent, yourself, your significant other and your dachshund on your roof without breaking the car.

As for stability, the James Baroud seems tested for winds well above 60 miles per hour. There's tons of videos out there about people overlanding with roof top tents. Depending on your local wildlife, such a tent also offers increased protection from e.g. snakes, scorpions, wolves, dingos and bears (probably not relevant in the UK).

That being said, I would never intend to use it in such extreme weather or environments. I just appreciate the convenience when you're on a road trip and don't want to - or can't - stay at a hotel.

[Hubband]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

I appreciate that the roof loading is taking into account any effects of additional forces from driving the vehicle and stability of the vehicle too. However, roof bars, tent and 2 adults is going to be at least 200kg maybe 250kg depending on the weight of the people. I am not sure that I would be happy overloading the roof to that extent.

You do see roof tents around and about, but I have only ever seen them on things like Landrovers, or crew cabs etc.... I assume that these commercial based vehicles have higher permitted roof loading.

The information I have provided is from manufacturers' websites and hundreds of stories and videos that I have read and seen from people using roof top tents on anything from a Mini to a Super Duty.

While I cannot comment on the veracity of each individual video and story, it would appear highly unlikely to me that they are all untruthful. Roof top tents just do not seem to offer the same amount of attraction to conspiracy theorists as the "deep state" or "flat earth". In case you respond well to anecdotal evidence, there are multiple videos I have seen of people using a hardshell roof top tent on an XC60, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5uAR3IMu8s.

Of course everybody should still do their own research or check with a source they trust.

[Haldex]

I have seen roof rack and roof tent manufacturers’ info on max static weight rating - but I have yet to see one from a car manufacturer. Do share, please, if you have this kind of info for curent gen volvos.

I don’t think 250+ kg will crush the roof on any car - but I am highly skeptical the integrated roof rails on SPA cars are designed with this kind of weight in mind. But to each his own, as someone said earlier.

[Director76]

Originally Posted by Haldex

I have seen roof rack and roof tent manufacturers’ info on max static weight rating - but I have yet to see one from a car manufacturer. Do share, please, if you have this kind of info for curent gen volvos.

I don’t think 250+ kg will crush the roof on any car - but I am highly skeptical the integrated roof rails on SPA cars are designed with this kind of weight in mind. But to each his own, as someone said earlier.

You can, after all, if careless or unlucky place a 2 tonne plus car on its roof and it doesn’t generally collapse!

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Director76

You can, after all, if careless or unlucky place a 2 tonne plus car on its roof and it doesn’t generally collapse!

It does tend to dent a bit though......

[Hubband]

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-wales...in-aberystwyth

[XC90ii]

He was probably taking both cars to the scrap yard....