Rooftop Tents Extend the Season
One of the things I love about rooftop tents is their ability to extend the camping season far beyond what you might expect from a traditional ground tent. Thanks to their design and durable materials, rooftop tents tend to be warmer and more insulated, allowing you to comfortably camp in cooler temperatures that might otherwise feel too chilly. Since these tents are mounted on vehicles, they’re typically built with heavy-duty materials that add warmth and sturdiness. This durability isn’t just practical—it helps the tent retain heat, creating a cozier environment inside. Some models even come with optional insulated layers, adding an extra buffer against the cold for an even snugger experience.
We’re especially excited to offer Roofnest tents, which are perfect for cold-weather camping. Even better, Roofnest’s Black Friday pricing—available now—offers savings up to $1,000, making it a great time to grab one if you’re looking to extend your own camping season! Roofnest tents include thoughtful features like duct ports that can be connected to a Campstream system, letting you direct heat from your vehicle into your tent. This setup means you can warm up your tent quickly and efficiently using your vehicle’s heating system—a huge plus when camping in frigid conditions, eliminating the need to rely solely on blankets.
Rooftop tents also have another standout advantage: they excel in wet weather. Since they’re elevated, there’s no risk of flooding from pooling rainwater, and you avoid the damp chill that can seep into ground tents. Constructed with waterproof materials and rainflies that offer added protection, rooftop tents keep you dry and comfortable, even during a steady downpour.
Matthew and I are putting these features to the test on an upcoming road trip—a more than 4,000-mile round-trip journey to visit family in Chicago for Thanksgiving. We’re planning to camp for a few nights along the way, stopping at unique spots like the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and a scenic site between Laramie and Cheyenne in Wyoming. These areas are beautiful but can get quite cold, especially in November! With temperatures likely dipping well below freezing, we’re counting on our Roofnest tent and Campstream system to keep us comfortable. We’re also bringing along an electric blanket—another benefit of camping with an EV, which has ample outlets—for that extra layer of warmth. Small comforts like these make all the difference on chilly nights.
Camping in late fall and early winter definitely comes with its challenges, but with the right gear, it’s an experience that’s hard to beat. You get to see landscapes in a different season, enjoy crisp mornings, and, if you’re lucky, cozy up under a starry sky without the usual summer crowds.
Of course, we’ll also be traveling with our Thunderbolt Adventure Supply Overland Kitchen for the R1T, which really shines in tough weather. With a place for everything and everything in its place, setup and cleanup are fast and easy. That means we’ll have hot coffee or hot chocolate ready in moments—perfect for warming up on a brisk morning.
We’re looking forward to seeing how our setup performs on the road and hope it inspires others to explore the possibilities of year-round camping with a rooftop tent!
