When you are in the market for a new rooftop tent, you quickly realize that selling an arm or a leg might be the only way to afford a tent. It doesn’t have to be that way though! There are a number of quality manufacturers that make rooftop tents for under $2,000.
If you are looking for a budget-friendly hardshell rooftop tent, the Wolfstorm Tent from Amazon is the way to go. If you are wanting a budget-friendly tent backed by a name brand, then sticking with a softshell tent is recommended. “Front Runner Featherlite“ is a fantastic tent and it comes in at only $1169.
In this article, we will cover, in no particular order, the top 5 rooftop tents that won’t break the bank and will allow you to get the most out of your off-road camping setup!
- Lowest Cost – Front Runner Featherlite
- Best Warranty – Smittybilt Gen 1 Overland Tent (When purchased through 4WheelParts)
- Lightest Weight – Front Runner Featherlite
- Smallest Closed Footprint – Thule Tapui Low-Pro
- Largest Sleeping Area – Doghouse Summit “ROUGHNECK”
1. Smittybilt Gen 1 Overlander Tent – Best Warranty
The Smittybilt Gen 1 Overlander Tent is my baby. It is the tent I have had for the last 5 years, and I love it. I have camped in heavy rain, high winds, snow, and beautiful sunshine, and it has held up wonderfully.
Build:
From my experience with this tent, the build quality is fantastic. The aluminum poles are wrapped with a heavy-duty canvas, that does not feel fragile like a ground tent. Here are a few key features:
- 600D Ripstop Polyester
- Water-resistant – 1500mm
- Stainless Steel Hinges
- Aluminum Frame Poles
- Mosquito Screens
- Load Capacity – 661 lbs
- Open Size – 95″ L x 56″ W x 51″ H
- Close Size 47″ L x 56″ W x 11″ H
- Weight – 132 lbs
- Mattress – 2.36″ high-density foam
Included Detachables:
- Ladder – can detach, but is actually meant to stay secured to the tent, even when packed. This is a huge plus
- Rainfly
- LED Light
- Heavy-duty vinyl cover that is secured with velcro – I much prefer velcro over a zipper
Warranty:
1 Year
I have snapped one of the support arms in the past from user error.
Although I did break something, the warranty on a Smittybilt tent is something I love! The warranty from the factory is 1 year. I purchased my tent through 4wheelparts though, and they sell a 3-year no-fault warranty. At my time of purchase, it was around $150. I snapped one of the poles on a trip, brought in a couple of photos showing them what I had done, and they ordered a whole new tent for me at no additional cost!
While this is technically a 4wheelparts warranty, Smittybilt is the only tent brand that they sell.
2. Thule Tapui Low-Pro – Smallest Closed Footprint
The Tapui series tent by Thule is one of the original popular rooftop tents. Thule is a master when it comes to making high-quality vehicle accessories. From cross-bars to bike racks, storage bins, and rooftop tents, Thule has their formal down. With their history, it is almost surprising what a great price point the Tapui Low-Pro tent comes in at!
Build:
As I mentioned, Thule is known for their quality vehicle accessories. The name almost speaks for itself. Here is a list of key features:
- 600D Ripstop
- Water-resistant – 3,000mm
- 5/8″ Aluminum Frame Poles
- Mosquito Screens – no-see-um mesh
- Open Size – 84″ L x 50″ W x 44″ H
- Close Size 43″ L x 50″ W x 10″ H
- Weight – 98 lbs
- Mattress – 2″ high-density foam
Included Detachables:
- Telescoping Ladder
- Rainfly
- 5000WP Polyester Woven Cordura
Warranty:
2 Year
Depending on where you purchase your tent from, it would be worth asking if they have a no-faulty warranty option. As I mentioned with my tent, having a no-fault warranty adds peace of mind. If someone were to vandalize my tent, or it go damaged on a trip, I know I can replace it.
3. Front Runner Featherlite – Lightest & Lowest Cost
Front Runner has a bit of a legendary name when it comes to Overlanding equipment. They are based outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, and have one of the best mottos I have ever heard – “stronger than the elephants at the watering hole one klick over.”
With Front Runner, not only are you able to purchase a great tent, but they also make almost every camping accessory you could possibly need!
Build:
Front Runner has managed to make a tent that is not only the largest on our list, but it is also our lightest!
- 600D Ripstop
- Aluminum Frame Poles
- Mosquito Screens
- Open Size – 96″ L x 48″ W x 46″ H
- Close Size 52.4″ L x 48″ W x 13″ H
- Weight – 93 lbs
- Mattress – 2.25″ high-density foam
Included Detachables:
- Ladder – can detach, but is actually meant to stay secured to the tent, even when packed. Like the Smittybily Overlander, this is a huge plus
- Rainfly
- Heavy-duty PVC-coated nylon tent cover
Warranty:
2 Year / 30Day Money Back Guarantee
To repeat myself again – Depending on where you purchase your tent from, it would be worth asking if they have a no-faulty warranty option. As I mentioned with my tent, having a no-fault warranty adds peace of mind. If someone were to vandalize my tent, or it go damaged on a trip, I know I can replace it.
4. Dog House Summit 3 Person “ROUGHNECK” – Largest Sleeping Area
If you want to support a small business owned by people that love off-roading, this is the tent for you. Dog House is based out of Canada, with one location in Washington State.
Build:
The Dog House tent has a quality build that is comparable to the 3 larger brands covered above. Where they outshine the competitors is in the quality of the base of their tent.
- 600D Ripstop
- Aluminum Frame Poles
- Mosquito Screens – no-see-um mesh
- Base – heavy duty diamond plate. (This is a huge bonus if you are traveling high speed on washboard road frequently. Heavy vibration can actually cause the bolts that secure your tent to the rack to wear away at the bottom of the tent. Causing the holes they go through to expand and make your tent shift back and forth. The diamond plating should completely eliminate that factor.)
- Open Size – 96″ L x 56″ W x 50″ H
- Close Size 48″ L x 56″ W x 12″ H
- Weight – 117 lbs
- Mattress – 3″ high-density foam
Included Detachables:
- 8′ Telescoping Ladder
- Rainfly
- Heavy-duty PVC tent cover
- Condensation mat (if you camp in colder temps, this is a huge bonus)
Warranty:
2 Year
To repeat myself yet again – Depending on where you purchase your tent from, it would be worth asking if they have a no-faulty warranty option. As I mentioned with my tent, having a no-fault warranty adds peace of mind. If someone were to vandalize my tent, or it go damaged on a trip, I know I can replace it.
5. Wolfstorm Hardshell Rooftop Tent
This last tent on the list is an Amazon special. What would a budget list be without at least one item from Amazon right?
Most rooftop tents are manufactured in a factory somewhere in Asia. Much like name brand fashionwear, this means an equally good product can be coming out of the same factory just with a different logo on it and a much lower price tag.
With this being an Amazon product there should always be some caution taken. However, considering it is nearly impossible to find a hardshell tent for under $3,000, I think this tent is well worth it if your heart is set on hardshell, but you don’t have the budget for a name-brand tent.
Wolfstorm also has the “Small Business” qualification on Amazon, which means it is a business run by someone like you and I, not a large corporation or factory.
Build:
- 600D Ripstop
- Aluminum Frame Poles
- Water resistant rating of 3,000mm
- Mosquito Screens
- Open Size – 83″ L x 63″ W x 49″ H
- Close Size 83″ L x 50″ W x 12″ H
- Weight – 143 lbs
- Mattress – 2.36″ high-density foam
- Hard Plastic Shell
Included Detachables:
- 8′ Telescoping Ladder
Warranty:
1 Year
To repeat myself one last time – Depending on where you purchase your tent from, it would be worth asking if they have a no-faulty warranty option. As I mentioned with my tent, having a no-fault warranty adds peace of mind. If someone were to vandalize my tent, or it go damaged on a trip, I know I can replace it.
What Is The Best Budget Rooftop Tent?
The Front Runner Featherlite would be the best option if you are looking for a rooftop tent for under $2,000.
It is the lightest softshell rooftop tent on the market currently, but it doesn’t compromise size, and the price is one of the lowest out there!
Final Thoughts:
When purchasing a rooftop tent it is important to look at what your needs will be and how well the tent will serve them.
For example, if you are wanting an annex for extra privacy or dry storage, then you will want to make sure you purchase an XL tent that has an overhang that comes out over the ladder. The majority of the tents on this list have a larger version that is still priced around or below the $2,000 mark.
If you are still not sure whether or not a rooftop tent is right for you be sure to check out my article that discusses whether a rooftop tent is really worth it or not. You can find the article here – Are Rooftop Tents Really Worth The Hype?
If you are just beginning to learn about rooftop tent camping and want to know what the real differences are compared to a ground tent, check out – Rooftop Tents Vs. Ground Tents: Which Is More Convenient?