Camping is as much a lifestyle as a hobby for many enthusiasts, so it is no wonder that camping-specific vehicle accessory builds are on the rise. In addition to the ever-popular camper conversion option, many people are now opting for rooftop tents that are easy to set up at the end of a long day of activity. They make it a simple matter to change location daily, which is ideal for off-roading and many other activities.
There are a lot of ways to make your vehicle into a convenient base of operations when you're camping, but rooftop tents are gaining traction among serious outdoor enthusiasts because of their combination of safety and convenience. Roof mounted tents typically sit on platforms that elevate them above the vehicle's rooftop height, making it hard for wild animals to access the tent in areas where that could be an issue. They are also designed to set up and collapse quickly, making it easy to get into and out of camp if you are overlanding.
Pop up tents for automotive rooftop camping come in a variety of designs, so you need to check out the installation instructions for your specific purchase. Most of them have simple hardware mounting mechanisms that use the vehicle's existing crossbars or cargo rack. When it is time to camp, you just follow the directions. When you get home after the trip, a simple mount component disassembly makes your tent ready for storage.
The convenient part about automotive camping tents is that they are built to be self-contained under most conditions. That makes it easy to store them while protecting them from damage. Simply find a shelf or corner of the garage where nothing will be stacked on the tent while it is not in use and set it aside after removing it from your vehicle. To prevent dust and grime from settling on it during offseason storage, use a drop cloth over the tent. Avoid setting objects on a rooftop tent even if it has a hard protective shell when folded because you may damage the mechanical systems that make setup and takedown easy.