Roof tents, car camping and overlanding in the UK
Plan your first roof tent trip with confidence
Find out what to check before fitting a roof tent, what to pack and how to plan your first weekend away. Plain UK guides and free tools to help you make sense of published specifications and official guidance.
Compare roof tent specs Check your roof-load figures
Published specifications, practical buying questions and free planning tools. Confirm compatibility with your vehicle, rack and tent manufacturers before buying.
- Specifications with sources
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New to roof tent camping? Start here.
You don't need to choose every piece of kit at once. Start with your vehicle, think about how you want to camp, then plan a simple first trip.
Check your setup
Understand the roof-load figures and mounting requirements you need to confirm before buying.
Compare your options
Decide whether a roof tent suits the way you camp, then weigh up hiring and buying before spending money.
Plan your weekend
Build your packing list, check your campsite arrangements and practise setting up before you leave.
Your first roof tent weekend · Questions before booking a campsite
Free tools for your next decision
Check your roof-load figures, compare costs, work out your fitted height or build a packing list. Each tool includes a worked example.
Roof load checker
Compare the weights and limits you enter, then confirm compatibility with your vehicle, rack and tent manufacturers.
Trip kit list builder
A checklist for your trip length, season and setup, ready to print or copy.
Vehicle height calculator
Your total height with bars and a tent or box on top, in centimetres, metres and feet.
Hire vs buy calculator
Compare hiring a roof tent with buying one, using your own figures.
Guides by topic
- Roof tentsHardshell or softshell, UK weather, fitting and storage.
- Roof bars and boxesRoof loads, bar types and box sizes.
- Vehicle prepChoosing a car, trip checks, insurance and recovery kit.
- KitKit lists, camp kitchens and sleeping warm.
- PowerRunning your kit on the road.
- Camping rulesWhere you can and can't sleep, by nation.
- RoutesNC500, the Lakes, Eryri and green lanes.
- EuropeFerries, heights and paperwork for a Europe trip.
- Hire, buy or usedHire, buy new or buy second hand.
Latest guides
Hardshell vs softshell roof tents
How hardshell and softshell roof tents differ in opening, packing, weight, UK weather and space, and which suits which kind of trip.
Roof tents for UK weather: the specs that matter
Which roof tent specs matter in UK wind, rain and cold: fabric and waterproof ratings, ventilation and insulation, and how to read a spec sheet.
Roof tents compared on published specs
Roof tents compared side by side on makers' published specs: weight, size, sleeping space, fabric and mounting. Not tested. Check current price.
How to fit a roof tent
What to check before fitting a roof tent, the tools and helpers you need, the steps in outline and the checks after your first drive.
Latest news
New guides added: October 2026
Six new guides: breakdown cover for remote tracks, cold tyre pressures, the spare wheel, spare petrol limits, low bridge signs and a departure check.
New guides and routes added in October 2026
What's new on the site this month: 17 new guides on roof loads, power, food storage and route planning, two new routes, hub FAQs and a news section.
Clear information, with sources you can check.
We explain equipment using manufacturers' published specifications and link to official guidance for rules and restrictions. Product comparisons are based on documented information; we don't test products ourselves. Our calculators work from the figures you enter, and we explain their assumptions and limits. Read our methodology.