The first step is checking your vehicle’s Dynamic Roof Load Limit. This is the maximum weight your car can safely carry while in motion.
Most modern cars have a limit between 50kg and 75kg.
Don’t worry about the “Static” weight (when you’re parked and sleeping), cars are engineered to support much higher loads when stationary.
Need help? Check your vehicle handbook or contact your local car manufacturer’s dealership to find out the specific roof capacity. Check out our Can I fit a roof tent to my car page for more information.
Your car roof tent needs a solid base. You will need a pair of high-quality roof bars or a dedicated roof rack installed on your vehicle.
Check the Load Rating: Ensure your bars or rack are specifically rated to handle the weight of the roof tent (usually found in the manufacturer’s manual).
Material Matters: We recommend steel or high-grade aluminium aero bars for the best stability and reduced wind noise.
Design Tip: Look for bars where the feet support is directly under the bar or rack. This provides much better vertical strength than “clamp-on” designs that attach at the very end of the bar, which is a naturally weaker point.
The Best Places to Buy:
The Roof Box Company: An excellent online specialist with a massive selection. Their website features a brilliant “look-up” tool to find the exact bars for your car.
Halfords: The most well-known reseller in the UK for quick, local pickup and fitting services.
The Secondhand Market: Don’t overlook Facebook Marketplace and eBay. They are goldmines for high-quality, branded roof bars (like Thule or Yakima) at a fraction of the retail price.
Pro Tip: For the most stable platform, ensure your bars are spread wide enough apart, usually between 70cm and 90cm. This ensures the weight of the roof tent floor is evenly distributed and secure.
Now for the fun part! At Tent & Trail, we offer a range of tents to suit every explorer:
Once you’ve found “The One,” simply head to the checkout. We make it easy to get your adventure started with several payment options:
Secure Card Payments: Via Stripe for all major networks.
Flexible Finance: Spread the cost with Klarna or PayPal Credit (0% options available).
Eco-Friendly Shipping: We’ll ship your tent in recyclable packaging, handled by specialist couriers who understand how to move large, premium gear.
When your roof tent arrives, it’s time to fit it to your car. Installing a Tent & Trail RTT is straightforward:
Most installs take 30–60 minutes and usually require two people to lift the roof tent onto the bars.
We provide all the universal mounting brackets, bolts, washers, nuts and tools you’ll need.
Tighten everything up, give it a “shake test,” and you’re officially a member of the roof tent community.
This is what it’s all about. No more booking hotels months in advance or hunting for flat, dry ground for a groundsheet.
Pull over (where legal), pop the latches, and let the gas struts do the work.
In under two minutes, you’ll have a panoramic view, a comfortable mattress, and the best “home away from home” in the UK.
If you’re still not sure about your roof load or which bars you need, don’t guess! Our team lives and breathes this stuff.
