Before buying a roof tent: questions to ask the seller

By the Overlanding.info team · Updated 21 October 2026 · Sources checked 21 October 2026

The short answer

Before you buy a roof tent, ask the seller seven things: what the quoted weight includes, which bars and bar spacing it needs, whether your exact car and rack are supported, its packed size with fittings, which spare parts are sold, what the warranty covers, and where to read the fitting manual. Get the answers in writing.

The full list is below, ready to copy. Each section explains why the question matters. Buying second-hand? Use buying a used roof tent as well.

The checklist

• What exactly is included in the quoted weight: ladder, mattress, mounting brackets, rails, covers?
• What do the mounting brackets, rails and any accessories weigh on their own?
• What bar spacing does the tent need, minimum and maximum?
• What bar width, height and profile will the brackets fit?
• Are mounting brackets or rails included, or sold separately?
• Is my exact vehicle (make, model, year and roof type) supported?
• Is my bar or rack setup supported, including a platform rack or one with raised edges?
• What roof load does my car need for this tent?
• What are the packed dimensions, including brackets, hinges, handles, ladder and cover?
• What is the installed height on bars, or how do I work it out?
• Which replacement parts are sold for this exact model: fabric, cover, hinges or struts, ladder, mounting parts, mattress?
• Will parts stay available for older versions of the model?
• How long is the warranty, and what does it cover and exclude?
• Does the warranty cover me if I buy from a reseller, and can it be transferred if I sell the tent?
• What proof of purchase will I need to claim, and who do I contact?
• Where can I read the fitting manual and the safety and maintenance instructions before ordering?

What is included in the quoted weight?

Weights aren't always quoted on the same basis. Thule lists a weight for its Approach 2 M, but the page doesn't say whether that includes the ladder or mounting brackets. Thule Approach 2 M. Thule also sells its mounting brackets as a separate accessory. Thule mounting brackets.

You need the weight of everything that sits on the roof while you drive, so ask what's in the figure and what isn't. Then add your bars and anything else on the roof.

What bar spacing and bar dimensions are required?

Some makers publish a minimum distance between the bars; Thule lists a "minimum barspread" for the Approach 2 M. Thule Approach 2 M. Your car's fixing points may set the bar spacing for you, so check both figures before ordering.

Ask, too, about bar width, height and profile. The brackets have to clamp around your bars, and not every bar is suitable: Thule says not every bar in its own range suits a rooftop tent. Thule: roof rack systems.

Is my exact vehicle and rack setup supported?

Give the seller your car's make, model, year and roof type, plus the bars or rack you'll use. TentBox says you need load-rated roof bars compatible with your vehicle and offers a vehicle checker; with a roof rack, it says to check for raised edges and space for the fixing brackets. TentBox FAQs.

Thule says the vehicle sets the maximum weight of the whole system. Thule: roof rack systems. Find your car's roof limit in the handbook, then see will a roof tent fit my car?.

What are the packed dimensions, including protruding fittings?

Closed dimensions on a product page may not include everything that sticks out. Ask whether the figure includes the brackets, hinges, handles, the ladder in its travel position and any cover. Those details affect your installed height and whether the tent overhangs the car.

You'll need the full height for car parks, garages and ferry bookings. Compare models' published dimensions in roof tents compared on published specs.

Are replacement fabric, hinges and mounting parts available?

A tent can outlast its smaller parts. TentBox, for example, sells replacement ladders, ladder mounts, fixing brackets, a top shell, covers and mattresses, several of them for a specific model or version. TentBox spare parts.

Ask which parts are sold for the model you're buying, and whether they'll remain available for older versions. Check the current price of the parts you'd most likely need.

What does the warranty cover?

Read the exclusions as well as the length. TentBox's warranty, for example, covers defects in materials and workmanship. It excludes normal wear and tear, cosmetic damage, misuse, not following its instructions, rental use, and second-hand or ex-demonstration products. It applies to the original purchaser only, and TentBox may ask for proof of purchase. TentBox warranty policy.

A warranty adds to your legal rights rather than replacing them. Citizens Advice says only the buyer can usually claim, unless the warranty gives "third party rights", and suggests checking the time limit and who pays to send an item back. Its advice is for England, with separate pages for the other UK nations. Citizens Advice: claim using a warranty.

Where can I read the fitting manual before ordering?

Ask for the fitting manual before you pay. Some makers publish them: Thule's Approach 2 M page offers instructions, safety, maintenance and car tent guideline downloads. Thule Approach 2 M.

The manual tells you the bar requirements, how many people the fitting takes and the checks to repeat. If a seller can't show you one, treat that as a gap in what you know. How to fit a roof tent gives an outline of the job.

Next: check your roof-load figures

Once the seller has answered, put the tent's weight, your bars' weight and your car's roof limit into the roof-load checker. It compares the figures you enter; confirm compatibility with your vehicle, rack and tent makers.

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