Roof Top Tents: Do they get hot, and how to stop it!

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Roof top camping can be fun and thrilling but you have to consider a lot of things when you are installing a rooftop tent. Though a roof top tent can be safer than that of the other conventional or traditional tents, you will face the same climatic elements in a roof top tent too.

If you are going camping in much more severe weather than a comfortable warm summer, then you need to take some special care for your tent. One of the most commonly asked questions that people ask is – do roof top tents get hot? Read on to know the answer

Does roof top tent get hot? The straight answer to this question is – yes! The roof top tent tends to get pretty hot during the hot summer days. Due to the lack of the air conditioning system, these tents can get hot which can disrupt your goodnight sleep during a hot summer day

Factors that make your tent hot

If you are wondering why the roof top tents tend to get hot, then you are at the right place. There are certain factors that can cause the tent to become hotter than the climate outside. These factors are:

Elevation of the tent

One of the major factors that make your tent hot is the elevation. While in generation elevation can make a place colder, it is different in camping.

The ground can actually leech the heat away during night when you are camping. But as the roof top tent doesn’t get to the ground, it can get hotter.

Thickness of the tent

The next thing that can make the tent warmer and hotter is the thickness of the tent.

The roof top tents are mainly made up of thicker material to keep it sturdy and strong. Hence, the heat can get trapped in it easily making the tent hot.

Insulation

Presence of insulator in a roof top tent can make the tent even hotter than outside temperature. The heat generated from your body can easily get trapped inside because of the insulation. Thus, it can cause the tent to get very hot.

How to prevent the roof top tents from getting hot?

As you can see from the above explanations, the roof top tent can get hotter under many circumstances. Hence, you need to ensure that you are taking some steps to prevent the tent from getting hot. Some of the steps are:

Choose a shaded spot

The first thing that you have to do is to look for a spot that has ample shade.

Try to look for a place which doesn’t receive direct sun rays. This way, you can keep your tent cooler and much more comfortable even when it is quite hot outside3.

Proper ventilation

The next thing that you must ensure that your roof top tents must have is a mesh window.

With the help of the mesh window, the air can circulate properly. When the air circulation is faster and effective, it can remove the excess heat as well, from the tent.

Use a fan

Another efficient way to keep yourself and your tent cool is by using a fan. A face can help in circulating the cool air throughout the tent while removing the heat.

You can use the battery-operated fan or you can power the fan through the cigarette socket as well. Something like this unit would work perfectly!

Portable AC

A portable AC or air conditioner can be an excellent way to keep your tents from getting hot. It is only possible if you have electricity at your campsite.

Make sure to choose a powerful but compact and small AC for your camping trip (like this one). It will be easier to carry as well as it will help you to stay cooler on a hot summer day.

Reflective tarp

Another great way to keep the heat away from the tent is a reflective tarp. It helps in reflecting the run rays or heat away from your tent.

This is one of the best ways to minimize the heat which is entering into your tent. Something like this tarp should work for really any application!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the advantage of a roof top tent?

Roof top tents are one of the easiest, and fastest ways to set up a camping spot! All you have to do is fold it out from it’s place on top of your car, and bam you have a tent. These tents also offer plenty of room, and to be honest are just in fashion as well.

Why are roof top tents so expensive?

A lot of development, and high quality materials must be used in a roof top tent to make sure it can withstand ranges of temperatures, weather, and wind as a result of sitting on top of a vehicle pretty much full time.

Are roof top tents comfortable?

This can range depending on the tent itself! However these tents generally will be more comfortable than regular tents, because they don’t have to be folded up like normal tents, meaning they can have better padding in the bottom of the tent.

Conclusion

If your tent gets too hot, it can ruin your experience as well as it can mess up your quality sleep at night too. The tips mentioned above are some of the important things that you need to know to prevent your roof top tents from getting too hot.

It is important to ensure that you are keeping your tent comfortable for the best camping experience.

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