8 Best Jeep Tent Models

15 comments Mar 29, 2018

Jeep Tent Review

Jeep is one of the most prominent American vehicle manufacturers specializing in 4x4-built vehicles suitable for everyday usage or off roading. With its powerful engine and enhanced suspension system, this sport’s utility vehicle can easily take challenging trails and rugged terrains. It can be your best bud in conquering most outdoor adventures. 

But aside from the Jeep's outstanding performance, another way to make your outdoor journeys more exciting is by spending your trips overnight in roof top tents. Partnering your ever-reliable Jeep with an excellent roof tent can take your overlanding game to a new level. It's best to check all recommended possible options before getting one.

Whether you have Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee, or Gladiator, knowing which Jeep rooftop tent suits your needs and preferences is key. As there are many RTTs available out there, some may be better suited for you and your Jeep. That's why it is essential to understand what you are looking for in your next outdoor accommodation if you decide to get a Jeep tent.

How To Choose The Right Jeep Roof Top Tent?

The best Jeep top tent lies within your expectations before purchasing one. All you need to do is determine how you'll want your Jeep tent to look and work. There are other criteria to look out for, but these factors are the basic ones to consider.

Jeep Roof Top Tent Size

Do you need a whole accommodation for the family, or will you need a sleeping space suitable for two adults? Determining the right size lets you maximize your Jeep's load rating, fuel economy, and plan space range. Knowing what rooftop tent size you need will make your hunt easier.

Jeep Top Tent Design And Style

Having a rooftop tent is not as simple as choosing, buying, and installing. Apparently, you'll also have to consider how it will fit on your off-road ride. What if the ladder is placed on the rear? Will it obstruct any Jeep features? Which side is the most convenient way to quickly enter and get off the tent? Apart from these things, you'll also need to know the materials used to construct your rooftop tents. Will you need a hard-shell rooftop tent or a soft-shell RTT? Understanding these materials can give you a better idea of how to utilize them and take care of them properly.

Prices of Jeep Roof Tents

Not all expensive and high-priced Jeep tents should be your top priority item to buy. Many aftermarket rooftop tents are available that won't hurt your pocket but still deliver the same quality features you need. Knowing the prices would help you decide whether you get the most bang for your buck. And believe me, not all quality rooftop tents are expensive.

Additional Features

Speaking of getting the most out of your purchase, it's best to know which added features are offered. Will there be a telescoping ladder included in the package? What's the quality of the mattress, if there's any? How about the tent materials from the aerodynamic standpoint? Are there any mosquito screens installed for insect protection? These are only some of the additional features you might want to consider.

The 8 Best Jeep Tents

Now that you have the slightest idea regarding what you'll be looking after for your next Jeep Tent, let us do our part in trimming down the list of the most recommended Jeep Rooftop Tents for you to choose from. We'll be including why these Jeep Tents are the best of their kind.

Wanaka 55 Jeep Tent

Jeep trucks can comfortably fit up to four passengers during overlanding adventures. That’s why these off-road monsters can host great bonding experiences with your family or small group of friends who are in the same hobby as you are. Having a couple of people around means having a bigger space to sleep, which only Wanaka 55 Jeep Tent can sufficiently provide. Here’s where the value for your money goes. 

Guana Equipment’s Wanaka 55 RTT is a three-person tent equipped with the right cozy interior that provides deep sleep as if relaxing in the comfort of your bed. This 150-pound Jeep rooftop tent is made from a diamond-base plate and one-inch thick aluminum poles, which match perfectly with the 600D fabric materials as its tent’s body materials. Coupled with an extra durable rainfly for weatherproofing and few additional storage spaces for your stuff, the Wanaka 55 Jeep tent is best at its own. 

But, there’s more than the durable and off-road-ready materials that Guana Equipment has to offer. Wanaka 55’s purchase package already includes a feature that no other RTT brands can match. An XL annex with a hundred square-inch coverage, is added to the mix of this fantastic off-road accessory, providing extra value to your overlanding experience. With the same durable capability as its tent’s body, the XL annex can be used as an additional storage space, a private stand-up changing room, or even another sleeping spot for your companions. 

What We Love About Wanaka 55 Jeep Tent

• Value for money purchase due to the addition of annex to the package
• A great Jeep rooftop tent for families or small group of friends
• Annex room can be utilized whatever your preference is
• Multiple storage spaces allotted for your stuff

Skycamp 3.0 Jeep Roof Top Tent Hard Shell

Do you wonder what it feels like camping in the sky with the comfort and security that this Jeep tent brings? Experience a safe and cozy sleep on your Jeep with iKamper’s most sought-after model, the Skycamp 3.0 hardshell rooftop tent. The perfect RTT for couples who are always on for long rides and multi day adventures, the Skycamp should be your top choice to mount on your Jeep. 

Talking first about the exterior features of the SkyCamp 3.0 Jeep rooftop tent, this South Korean roof tent brand made a double-layered fiber-reinforced plastic for the tent's hard shell, suitable for any season. The durable exterior casing is designed aerodynamically to reduce wind dragging while cruising to your next off-road destination. Plus, whenever not in use, the iKamper shell can be utilized as a storage box to place your stuff inside. 

Moving on to the tent’s interior and body materials, iKamper innovatively put outstanding features to provide a lasting car camping experience. Starting from the tent’s durable insulating honeycomb aluminum panels to support the 9-zone, 2.5-inch thick mattress, partnered with breathable fabric canvas with 300gsm poly-cotton materials and multiple window panels, the SkyCamp 3.0 can definitely provide that warm and cozy sleeping space.

What We Love About Skycamp 3.0 Jeep Roof Top Tent

• Ease of installation and take down through the innovative design and style
• Comfortable and inviting interior design perfect for outdoor camping
• One of the most popular rooftop tent brand known worldwide for its reputation for overlanding
• Four-season hardshell RTT that is compatible to any Jeep model

Smittybilt Overland Jeep Roof Top Tent

Another great brand that can match the vibe and prowess of your Jeep truck is the contender from Smittybilt. The Overland Jeep rooftop tent is a versatile car tent you can bring any time of the year. The four-season, waterproof and overlanding-ready equipment from Smittybilt packs a lot of features that will definitely exceed your expectations when it comes to camping on top of your Jeep. 

This one-person setup RTT can be operated and put up within a few seconds. Putting up and taking down the Overland Smittybilt is as easy as grabbing the ladder and pulling it to open or pushing it to close. With this innovative and smart design, everything is built and ready on top of your Jeep within a minute. 

Regarding the fabric materials, Smittybilt Overland Jeep RTT uniquely ensures that your tent outlasts your adventures. Aside from having a 600D heavy-duty rip-stop polyester, every seam and stitch are tapered for additional security and prevention from tearing. This means you can take off your worry about your tent’s body being damaged easily from unnecessary rip and slash. 

What is the best way to top these durable body materials? Partner them with reinforced anodized stainless aluminum frame poles and steel hinges and provide an extra stable framework to your Overland Jeep RTT. With a 60mm high-density foam mattress, the Overland Smittybilt can be your perfect companion when overlanding. 

What We Love About Smittybilt Overland Jeep Roof Tent

• Multiple storage spaces, from small pouches in the interior and shoe bags hanging over the tent's base.
• Provision for LED interior lights and power outlet for charging devices
• Ladder included upon purchase
• Aerodynamic design with mosquito screen panels

Tuff Stuff Alpha II 2 Door Jeep Tent

When you prefer a side opening hardshell tent, it’s hard not to add the Tuff Stuff Alpha II on the shortlist of the best Jeep tent models to choose from. The Alpha II 2-person RTT is a compact yet roomy car tent that can provide the same quality comfort without breaking the bank. Getting the Tuff Stuff Alpha II 2-door Jeep tent is ideal for solo travelers built to experience quiet and peaceful adventures or bold and brave couples wanting to escape the city setting. 

The hardshell is definitely durable, thanks to the ABS materials with FRP reinforcement. In simpler terms, combine two of the most durable plastic compositions and use them to house a great tent from Tuff Stuff. This aerodynamic build and design is perfect for those who prefer long drives and multi-day adventures. 

Since the Alpha II is a side-opening tent, it can provide a spacious sleeping area for two persons with its snug mattress on top of a heavy-duty aluminum honeycomb base. Multiple window panels and a skylight view provide better airflow when it’s hot and humid but can be easily secured with mesh screens to prevent insects and particles from coming in. 

In its interior, plenty of features are also available. Multiple storage bags are present to put your stuff and secure them properly, and an LED light strip to illuminate your tent from inside and out. Window awnings are also in place to prevent water or sunlight from directly affecting whoever is inside the tent. A telescoping ladder is also included in the package when you decide to purchase this Jeep rooftop tent.

What We Love About Tuff Stuff Alpha II Jeep Tent

• Recommended for those who love the night sky view through its multiple windows and skylight panel
• Side-opening hardshell tent that is perfect for Jeep trucks
• Durable tent materials and accessories
• Budget-friendly hardshell RTT

Nosara 55 Lightweight Jeep Tent Top

If you need to cut off a few pounds or prioritize going big on other overlanding stuff or provisions but still need to provide three to four people a comfortable sleeping space, then the Nosara 55 Lightweight Jeep Tent Top is just the right RTT for you. Imagine having the freedom to bring a few extra cases of beer without worrying if you’d go beyond your Jeep’s load rating even though you have a spacious rooftop tent. This Guana Equipment Nosara 55 can definitely provide that for you. 

Weighing at only 139 pounds, the Nosara 55” can help you practically budget your Jeep’s load by cutting on the RTT weight, which can allow you to bring your other important stuff with you. Main difference for the Nosara 55” is from its black diamond plate anti-scratch aluminum base, which is considered as the thickest and strongest base that you can have on the market yet doesn’t add up to the total load of the tent. 

The Nosara 55 tent's materials are excellent, with a body tent canvas of 420D waterproof ripstop polyester oxford canvas with taped seams and PU coating. The tent’s body is coupled with a durable rainfly that can add up protection against intermittent rain weather. The same material composition applies to the included 55” Nosara’s annex room, readily available when purchased.

What We Love About Nosara 55 Lightweight Jeep Tent Top

• Durable, sturdy yet lightweight three-person tent
• Comfortable 2.75-inch thick mattress with high-density foam
• Annex room that is spacious and has direct access to your Jeep’s door
• Overall bang for the buck purchase through value-added inclusions

Odyssey FSR Jeep Roof Tent

Another side-opening hardshell tent is added to the list of the best Jeep tent models, the Odyssey FSR is one of the latest and most innovative tent models by Freespirit Recreation. The Odyssey Jeep Series RTT gives off enough space to comfortably fit two adults at any time of the year. Enhanced with the Tri-layer technology, this GoFSR roof top tent can withstand extreme weather conditions, from the scorching summer heat or exceedingly cold weather. However, when the camping site is dry and humid, there’ll never be a problem as it is reinforced with aerodynamic design through multiple window panels and breathable fabric materials. 

Tackling about the exterior and outer shell, the Odyssey FSR Jeep rooftop tent is a wonder on its own. This rooftop tent has an aerodynamic design through the 7-inch low profile style, which can add to the minimalist overall look you may be aiming for. The Odyssey FSR Jeep roof tent can also mount any oversized equipment up to 250 pounds on top of the hard shell casing through the roof tracks, which are readily available for after-market racks. 

Odyssey FSR Jeep Roof Tent is recommended for two to three-person sleeping space, commonly sharing a two-inch high-density foam placed under an aluminum honeycomb plate. This RTT is enclosed with 190g rip-stop polycotton and 2000mm polyurethane coating. Having the Odyssey FSR mounted on your Jeep can provide a memorable overlanding experience to its users. 

What We Love About Odyssey FSR Jeep Roof Tent

• Patented aluminum gas strut-assisted frame for easy installation and takedown
• Can mount other off-road equipment on top of the hard shell such as kayaks, canoes, bicycles, and other cargoes up to 250 lbs
• Garage-friendly RTT when mounted on Jeep due to low-profile style
• Tri-technology innovation that provides four-season coverage

OVS Nomadic 4 Tent Jeep

One of the emerging brands that made it to our best Jeep tent model to choose is from Overland Vehicle Systems. The OVS Nomadic 4-person tent is a durable, weather-proof, off-road-ready RTT that can withstand the harshest weather condition and provide secure shelter during tough overlanding adventures. The Nomadic 4 Jeep tent is recommended for small groups that love to explore the unknown and take on outdoor challenges. 

What’s so special about the OVS Nomadic roof tent that makes it weather-resistant? A 600D double rip-stop polyester-cotton waterproof canvas, paired with a 420D polyester oxford waterproof rainfly, can give you extreme protection during harsh weather conditions. This body canvas prevents extreme summer heat from penetrating your Nomadic tent and keeps you dry during heavy thunderstorms and intermittent rain showers. 

Sleeping inside the OVS Nomadic Jeep Tent through this difficult weather should be less stressful. A three-inch thick mattress will greet you at night, providing quality comfort to help you get proper rest all-throughout. The high-density foam mattress with black quilted covers is partnered with two memory foam pillows that let you sleep like a child, even in the wild.

What We Love About OVS Nomadic 4 Tent Jeep

• Straightforward installation and take down and matches Jeep trucks very well
• Insulated diamond base plate keeps you warm and comfortable
• Adjustable 96” telescoping ladder added upon purchase
• Plenty of accessories included such as shoe storage bags, 40” velcro light strip, handheld LED light with magnet and hook

ARB Simpson III Jeep Roof Tent

We might know Australia as a diverse continent rich with challenging overlanding trails, the perfect spot for off-road enthusiasts. This next RTT is made from the land down under, considering the toughest terrain and most excruciating conditions that every Aussie overlander might experience. And with ARB’s innovative and tested design, their Simpson III rooftop tent made it on the best car tent to mount on your off-road rig.

Gathering its popularity worldwide due to its reliable quality and stylish design, the 3-person Simpson III roof tent provides a classy accommodation for any overlanding journeys. Starting with the ease of setting up provided by the innovative design, ARB Simpson III can be quickly put up in a couple of minutes, starting with the ease of setting up provided by the innovative design. When you’re in a hurry to hit the road for your next journey, a bungee cord system assists you in tucking in tent canvas in place and helps you neatly fold your Simpson III. 

Talking about the canvas, ARB Simpson III is manufactured from high quality, waterproof, polycotton rip-stop fabric, specifically a 300gsm PU-impregnated canvas. Taped and sealed seams are also done to ensure double protection from condensation and tearing.

What We Love About ARB Simpson III Jeep Roof Tent

• Comfy 2.5-inch high-density chip foam mattress provides a sound sleeping experience while camping
• Window panels with fine insect screen lets you enjoy the evening breeze without worrying about bug bites
• Quick installation, setup, and take down
• Provision for annex installation are already set in case you’ll be needing one

Jeep Tent FAQs

Can you camp on a Jeep?

Yes, it’s definitely worth trying. Car camping with your Jeep can provide a different outdoor experience apart from camping on the ground. With a rooftop tent installed on your off-road rig, the accessibility and ease of setting up these tents are better. Plus, talking about safety, overland camping with your Jeep provides comprehensive shelter against the elements and it's safer.

Do I need a Jeep roof top tent rack?

To mount your preferred rooftop tent, you should first have a reliable roof rack system installed on your Jeep. Depending on your car model, there are different options to choose from. You can have a truck bed rack for Jeep Gladiator, a pair of roof crossbars for your Cherokee, or a platform rack for your Jeep Wrangler. 

What is the jeep roof top tent weight limit?

The weight limit depends on the type of tent you choose. Each rooftop tent is designed to accommodate a specific number of pax. However, most rooftop tents can hold up to 600 lbs of weight. You also need to double-check with your roof rack if it can hold a certain amount of load.

What is the best tent for the top of a Jeep?

The best rooftop tent to mount on top of your Jeep depends on your preference and outdoor requirements. Different types and designs of roof top tents can easily match your needs. Hardshell tents are usually recommended for those who value security and ease of setup. Softshell tents are preferred for those who prioritize weight limits. Aside from these factors, the number of persons that will fit in your rooftop tent also matters. This can give you an idea if you can comfortably sleep inside your car tent. 

Other Jeep tents provide extra features apart from the basic things to consider. It’s best to know which added value is the most essential and helpful for you when outdoor camping. Knowing if you’ll be needing an annex, multiple storage bags, or LED strip lights will help you determine which best jeep tent model is suitable for you.