Roof tent checklist

Roof tent checklist: Perfectly equipped for the next camping adventure

Your next camping vacation in the roof tent is coming up and you want to double-check that you have really thought of everything? A road trip with car and roof tent requires very special equipment, which should be carefully prepared. After all, you don't want to discover on the road that you're missing the necessary repair materials or other practical camping gadgets for the roof tent. You can find practical roof tent accessories in our checklist. Once you have checked off everything, nothing should stand in the way of your next off-road adventure.

Checklist for your roof tent accessories

With our checklist, you can easily tick off what you have already packed and which camping gadgets you are still missing.

✓ Mesh mattress underlay

A must-have for roof tent campers are breathable mesh mattress underlays. The mattress lies directly on the tent floor in the rooftop tent. This can cause moisture to build up under your mattress, leading to mold in the worst case scenario. To actively prevent moisture buildup, the Matnext Airflow 3D Mesh mattress underlay, for example, is a great option. The open mesh allows condensation to escape, which helps keep your mattress dry and protected from mildew in the long term.

✓ Roof tent ladder & ladder extension

Since most roof tents already include a ladder, we assume that you have already mounted your ladder to the sleeping quarters. However, roof tent ladders are usually supplied with a standard length of just under 2 meters. For this reason, you should definitely make sure that the extended ladder also reaches the ground before your camping trip. Especially in the case of very high vehicles, you may need a ladder extension. In this case, we recommend telescopic ladders. They are space-saving and flexibly adjustable in height.

✓ Waterproof shoe bag

Wet or muddy shoes have no place in your roof tent! However, in order not to have to climb barefoot or in socks into your camping home, special shoe bags are recommended. You can easily attach these to the vehicle in front of your roof tent. This way, you always have your footwear within reach when you leave the roof tent. Most models are also waterproof and have a mesh floor to ensure both dry storage and sufficient ventilation.

✓ Repair kit

Your roof tent must withstand wind and weather. In the event of violent gusts or hailstorms, it can still happen that the protective cover is damaged. To prevent moisture from the outside from penetrating into the roof tent, it is important to react quickly and patch the damaged area. For minor repairs to the seams, you should always have a sewing awl at hand. Gaffa tape is also often sufficient to cover smaller holes. Many camping suppliers also offer repair kits for roof tents that contain special patches, adhesives and alcohol swabs for cleaning the affected area.

✓ Anti-theft protection

On camping vacations you are often out and about hiking, visiting cities or resting on the beach instead of spending time in the roof tent. Even though it is unlikely that your rooftop tent will be stolen, you should protect it from possible theft while you are away. Anti-theft devices can be easily attached between your rooftop tent and your vehicle's crossbars. A lock or special locking nuts, which can only be removed with the appropriate adapter, prevent unwanted theft of the tent.

✓ Organizer

You will probably store most of your travel utensils in your car during your camping trip. But everyone has a few things that they always want to have at hand, even in bed, be it their smartphone or glasses, a book or a flashlight for going to the toilet at night. Unfortunately, the roof tent often lacks options for stowing important utensils. Organizers in the form of folding boxes or storage bags are ideal for this purpose. You can either attach them to the ladder or take them with you into the roof tent.

✓ LED lighting

At the latest when you pick up a book in the evening, you will notice that your smartphone light is not enough. It is therefore best to equip your roof tent with a battery-powered LED light. These are available, for example, as magnetic ceiling lights that are simply attached to the frame, or as flexible LED strips with Velcro. A remote control is also very practical, as it lets you switch the lights on and off without having to get up again.

Practical roof tent gadgets for the winter

If you are planning a camping trip with a roof tent in winter, your packing list needs a few additions. For example, it makes sense to purchase an inner tent with thermal insulation. This ensures a pleasant warmth in the tent even at low outside temperatures. Alternatively, you can also hang a thermal hood around your roof tent to protect your bedding from extreme weather conditions during winter camping. But be careful: due to the strong coating, the moisture that collects overnight can hardly escape. Therefore, make sure that the hood has a small window that allows air circulation. Electric blankets are also a proven gadget among outdoor enthusiasts. They also provide sufficient warmth in the event of a nighttime cold snap. Thanks to an integrated power bank, many models can even be used without a cable.