On Amazon
OEX Vertex Lite 130
Soft shell, 39.5 kg
Soft shell for 2 that weighs 39.5 kg with its ladder. OEX says it needs roof bars with a dynamic load rating of 50 kg or more, and it pitches in 5 minutes.
£814.95 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
Roof tents
A roof tent sleeps you on top of your car, so it needs roof bars and a roof that can carry it. Below: what to check first, TentBox's five models compared on TentBox's own published figures, then roof tents from other makers, roof bars and awnings from Amazon. We have not tested any of them; the sources are listed at the end.
What to look for
- Your roof load limit
- Your car's handbook gives its roof load limit, and TentBox says it must be greater than the weight of the tent. Thule's rooftop tent guidelines call this the dynamic weight capacity: "the weight capacity permitted while driving". Ask a dealer if the handbook doesn't say.
- Dynamic and static load
- Static capacity is the weight with "people inside the tent when the vehicle is parked", and Thule says it "can exceed dynamic weight". Thule gives 3 times the dynamic figure only as a guideline for its own racks; for anything else, go by the figures your car and your bars state.
- Roof bars
- TentBox asks for aluminium aero (wing) bars with a through-bar design, from a reputable maker, tested (for example TÜV), approved for your vehicle and rated for the tent. Thule recommends raised rails only if they are supported, and checking with the car maker first if the roof is glass or panoramic.
- Hard shell or soft shell
- Our label: hard shell when the maker lists a rigid shell, like the TentBox Classic (ABS) and Cargo (aluminium), which open on gas struts or automatically in a minute or less. Soft shell tents like the TentBox Lite fold out by hand in about 5 minutes and pack under a travel cover.
- Size and weight
- Check the closed size against your roof and bars, and the weight against your roof load limit. TentBox's models weigh 33 kg to 72 kg; closed, the Lite is 110 cm long, while the Classic and Cargo stay full length but are 35 cm and 17 cm tall.
- Driving with one
- TentBox says not to go over 60 mph with a TentBox fitted, and to retighten the roof bars after the first night, because bars loosen slightly once they are first loaded.
- Campsites
- Our campsite pages don't record whether a site takes roof tents, so ask the site before you book. You can browse campsites that confirm they take tents below.
TentBox models compared
TentBox makes five roof tents. Every figure below comes from that model's own page on tentbox.com, linked in each row.
How we make money: the TentBox links here are affiliate links. If you buy through one, TentBox pays Club Camping a commission, at no extra cost to you. We have not tested these tents. Read our disclosure.
| Model | Weight | Closed | Open | Mattress | Sleeps | Opening | Shell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TentBox GO | 33 kg | 122 × 225 × 45 cm | 122 × 225 × 114 cm | 110 × 210 cm | 2 | Manual, 60 sec | Not stated |
| TentBox Lite | 50 kg | 133 × 110 × 25 cm | 133 × 220 × 105 cm | 220 × 130 cm | 2 | Manual, 5 min | Soft shell |
| TentBox Lite XL | 62 kg | 183 × 120 × 25 cm | 183 × 240 × 115 cm | 240 × 180 cm | 4 | Manual, 5 mins | Soft shell |
| TentBox Classic | 67 kg | 128 × 218 × 35 cm | 128 × 218 × 100 cm | 120 × 210 cm | 2 | Automatic, 60 sec | Hard shell |
| TentBox Cargo | 72 kg | 130 × 215 × 17 cm | 130 × 215 × 145 cm | 120 × 210 cm | 2 | Automatic, 30 sec | Hard shell |
Who each one suits
Our reading of the figures above, not TentBox's words.
- TentBox GO
- The lightest TentBox at 33 kg, so the one to look at if your roof load limit is low. It stays full length on the roof (225 cm) and is the tallest closed, at 45 cm. See the GO on tentbox.com
- TentBox Lite
- The shortest closed: it folds to 110 cm long and 25 cm high, half its open length, which suits a smaller car. It opens by hand in about 5 minutes. See the Lite on tentbox.com
- TentBox Lite XL
- The only TentBox that sleeps 4, on a 240 × 180 cm mattress. It is 183 cm wide closed, so check that against your roof and bars. See the Lite XL on tentbox.com
- TentBox Classic
- Opens itself on gas struts in about 60 seconds, and bedding, including thick pillows, can stay inside when it is closed. See the Classic on tentbox.com
- TentBox Cargo
- The quickest to open (about 30 seconds) and the slimmest closed (17 cm), with bars on top for bikes or boards. At 72 kg it is the heaviest, so it needs the highest roof load limit. See the Cargo on tentbox.com
Listed cheapest first by the price when we put the list together. Each line says why it is here, using the maker's own listing. We have not tested these products.
Roof tents from other makers
Other makers' roof tents on Amazon, one per brand. TentBox also sells on Amazon; its models are compared above.
On Amazon
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 (extended)
Opens with an assisted mechanism and sleeps 2 to 3 adults. The listing says it fits on 2 roof bars, ideally 80 cm to 1 m apart, in about 20 to 30 minutes.
See the current price on Amazon
On Amazon
Monster Shop hard-shell roof tent
Hard shell, gas struts
Hard shell on hydraulic gas struts for 2 adults and a child. The ladder and bedding stow inside the box, with a 5.5 cm mattress, according to the listing.
£1,599.99 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
Prices as of the time shown and may change. Details
Roof bars
Only bars whose listing states a load rating and that fit a broad range of cars. Compare the rating with your car's roof load limit and the weight of the tent.
On Amazon
Amazon Basics roof bars (raised rails)
Aluminium and steel bars for raised rails 98 to 117 cm apart. The listing says they support up to 74.84 kg.
£45.05 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
Prices as of the time shown and may change. Details
Awnings
Both are made for the OEX Vertex Lite roof tents listed above.
On Amazon
OEX Vertex Lite Tarp
Clip-on tarp with two 2 m aluminium poles, made for the Vertex Lite 130 and Vertex Lite Solo; 1.42 kg including poles.
£69.99 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
On Amazon
OEX Vertex Hub 1.1
Hub shelter that connects to the OEX Vertex Lite 130: 190 cm standing height, 365 by 255 cm footprint, 3 doors, 7.4 kg, according to the listing.
£204.00 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
Prices as of the time shown and may change. Details
Side by side
| Product | Type | Weight | Fits | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OEX Vertex Lite 130 | Roof tents from other makers | 39.5 kg (with ladder) | 2 people | 6000 mm |
| Ventura Deluxe 1.4 (extended) | Roof tents from other makers | 50 kg | 2 to 3 adults | Not listed |
| Monster Shop hard-shell roof tent | Roof tents from other makers | 67 kg | 2 adults and a child | 3000 mm |
| Amazon Basics roof bars (raised rails) | Roof bars | 3 kg | Raised rails, 98 to 117 cm | Up to 74.84 kg |
| OEX Vertex Lite Tarp | Awnings | 1.42 kg | OEX Vertex Lite 130 and Solo | 3000 mm |
| OEX Vertex Hub 1.1 | Awnings | 7.4 kg | OEX Vertex Lite 130 | 6000 mm |
More kit lists
Somewhere to use it
Search for a campsite or place, or browse every UK campsite by area. Each campsite page shows which facts are confirmed and where they came from.
Sources
- TentBox GO product page, tentbox.com
- TentBox Lite product page, tentbox.com
- TentBox Lite XL product page, tentbox.com
- TentBox Classic product page, tentbox.com
- TentBox Cargo product page, tentbox.com
- TentBox: user guidelines (roof bars, roof load, driving)
- TentBox: FAQs (roof load limit)
- Thule: rooftop tent guidelines, document 670200 (PDF)
Last checked
As an Amazon Associate, Club Camping earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are accurate as of the date and time shown and may change.