Roof tent storage at home: space, lifting and care for the option of keeping the tent on the car.]*
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The short answer
Store a roof tent somewhere dry and airy, with air moving around it and the tent off bare ground. Make sure it's completely dry before you pack it away. Lift it with help, following HSE's advice, and only use a hoist or lift rated for your tent's weight. Check current prices before you buy any storage kit.
Find a dry space with room for it
Start with the space, not the tent. TentBox says a roof tent should be clean, fully dry and supported off the ground, and that its mattress belongs indoors somewhere dry and airy, stood on its edge rather than flat under other kit. TentBox storage guide
Measure the folded tent and the height of the space you plan to use. If you're thinking of a ceiling lift, measure to the ceiling too, and leave room to work around the tent.
Dry it fully before it goes away
Storage starts with drying. TentBox says to always let a roof tent air out and dry fully before closing it for storage, and it calls closing a damp tent the single biggest cause of mould. TentBox storage guide
The drying routine, including what to do after a wet trip, is set out in roof tent condensation: drying and storage tips. Follow that before you pack the tent away, rather than relying on this page for it.
Keep it off the ground
Bare ground is damp and dirty, so keep the tent up off it. TentBox lists several ways to do this: lay the tent underside down on a wooden pallet or a few timber blocks, lean it against a wall with a piece of carpet or foam on the edge that touches the ground, or use a storage trolley, which it calls the easiest and safest way to store its tent. TentBox storage guide
iKamper's garage method stands the tent upright on its hinge side, with foam pool noodles along the bottom edge to keep the base clear of the floor. iKamper storage guide
Lift it safely
Lifting the tent off the car, or down from a hoist, is where the risk is. HSE says to plan the lift first: work out where the load is going, use suitable handling aids where you can, and ask whether you'll need help. It also says not to lift more than you can easily manage, and that if in doubt you should seek advice or get help. HSE good handling technique
The makers say the same. TentBox says you need an extra pair of hands to lift its tent onto the roof bars. TentBox installation guide iKamper's storage method has a friend lift the tent from the bottom and sides and lower it onto the noodles. iKamper storage guide Plan for a helper every time you move the tent, not only on the first fit.
HSE points to its Manual Handling Assessment Charts for lifting, carrying and team handling, which is worth using if you're setting up a regular storage routine. HSE assessment guidance
Hoists and lifts in the garage
If you'd rather not lift the tent up to a shelf or a wall, a ceiling lift can raise it. Moby Mountain's tent lift raises a roof tent under a garage or carport ceiling, and lowers it to the ground for fitting, cleaning or drying. The maker gives a maximum lifting weight of 100 kg and a maximum lifting height of about 260 cm. Moby Mountain tent lift Those are Moby Mountain's figures, so check them against your own tent's weight and your ceiling height. Check the current price with the maker.
Moby Mountain says the lift lets you install and remove the tent yourself, but its page doesn't say how many people it needs, and HSE's advice on getting help still applies. iKamper says ceiling storage takes more work and cost than its other options, and that the ceiling hoist's load capacity must exceed the weight of the tent. iKamper storage guide TentBox describes a rated pulley system with straps that support the base across its full width. TentBox storage guide Neither the Moby Mountain page nor the TentBox guide gives how the lift is fixed to a ceiling, so ask the maker and check the ceiling can take the load before you fit anything.
Care while it's stored
TentBox says to wash the fabric and shell with mild soap and warm water, to avoid household detergents and solvents, which can strip the water-repellent finish, and to reproof the fabric once a year before it goes away. TentBox storage guide
iKamper says you don't need to store the tent covered, but it recommends a cover or a moving blanket, so the tent stays protected while it's stored. iKamper storage guide
FAQs
Do I need a second person to lift a roof tent?
TentBox says you need an extra pair of hands to lift its tent onto the roof bars, and HSE says to get help if you're in doubt about a load. Moby Mountain says its lift lets you install and remove a tent yourself, but gives no headcount.
Can I store a roof tent upright?
iKamper says its tent can be stored upright on its hinge side, resting on foam pool noodles, with a cover or moving blanket around it. Use your own tent maker's guidance first, because the method is shown for iKamper's own tents.
Does a ceiling hoist need a rating?
Yes. iKamper says the hoist's load capacity must exceed the weight of the tent, and TentBox says the hoist needs a rated pulley system with straps that support the base across its width.
Can I store it on the floor?
Only off bare ground. TentBox says to lay it underside down on a pallet or timber blocks, or to store it on a trolley, rather than leaving it on the ground.
Next: decide whether the tent stays on the car
Before you plan a storage space, read can you leave a roof tent on your car to see whether the tent needs to come off between trips at all. When it does, work through the after-trip checklist before it goes into storage.
More in Roof tents
Sources
- TentBox storage guide: keep the tent clean, fully dry and off the ground; pallet, timber block, wall, ceiling hoist and trolley options; mattress stored indoors; reproof yearly (checked )
- TentBox install guide: an extra pair of hands is needed to lift the tent onto the roof bars (checked )
- Moby Mountain tent lift: raises a tent under a garage or carport ceiling and lowers it to the ground; maker's stated 100 kg maximum lifting weight and about 260 cm lifting height (checked )
- iKamper storage guide: upright storage on foam pool noodles, a friend helps lift, a cover is recommended, ceiling hoist capacity must exceed the tent's weight (checked )
- HSE manual handling overview: the law does not set specific weight limits; hazardous handling that cannot be avoided must be assessed (checked )
- HSE good handling technique: plan the lift, use suitable handling aids, do not lift more than you can easily manage, get help if in doubt (checked )
- HSE assessment guidance: points to the Manual Handling Assessment Charts for lifting, carrying and team handling (checked )