Overland Camping: Roof Top Tent vs Camping

Trailer – Pros & Cons

If you’re an avid camper and favor overland camping, both rooftop tents and towable overland camping trailers offer advantages over traditional tents including increased comfort, better protection from the elements and more cargo room in your vehicle. Overland camping trailers included hard-sided towables as well as lighter weight pop-up campers like the GO All-Terrain camper. Below we offer some consideration on the pros and cons of a rooftop tent versus a towable trailer when you’re looking to go off road.

Overland Roof Top Tent: A Perch with a View

Pros

• Quick and easy setup
• Fits on most vehicles with a roof rack and does not require trailer hitch
• Less expensive than a trailer
• Maintains vehicle maneuverability on tight trails
• Elevated perch can provide nice views depending on the campsite

Cons

• Limited sleeping capacity (typically 1-2 people)
• Harder to enter/exit versus a camper
• May require breaking camp to use your vehicle
• No place to eat or do food prep
• Only one use – camping

 

Overland Camping Trailer: CAMPER + Hauler 

Pros

• Spacious living area with room for more amenities like dining table
• Can accommodate larger groups (more campers or campers + pets)
• Allows you to leave camp set up while exploring the area with your vehicle
• Built-in storage to keep your gear organized
• Useable for other hauling tasks when you’re not camping like moving furniture or mulch

Cons

• Larger trailers can reduce off-road capability and maneuverability
• Higher fuel consumption due to added weight – this effect is more pronounced with hard-sides trailers
• Requires more storage space when not in use – but SylvanSport’s pop-up trailers are much more space efficient than hard sided trailers
• Cost more than rooftop tents; but with more uses there is arguably more value gained with a multi-function trailer

 

Which To Choose: Rooftop Tent or Overland Camper?

Ultimately, the choice boils down to personal preference, budget, and convenience. SylvanSport, based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina offers both: the LOFT rooftop tent and the lightweight GO All-Terrain camper (GOAT). For solo travelers or campers with less storage space, a rooftop tent may be preferable. For those who want a roomier option that can haul more gear and be also be used as a utility trailer when you’re not camping, an option like the GOAT may be the better fit. The GOAT has a Dry Weight of just 1,200 lbs and the camper offers 6′ 5″ of head room to accomodate tall campers.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT SYLVANSPORT’S OVERLAND CAMPING OPTIONS: See specs, features and photo gallery

• LOFT rooftop tent
• GO All-Terrain camper