5 Advantages of Camping in a Roof Top Tent
Picture this…
You've driven for hours to reach your favorite backcountry spot, and dusk is settling in fast. The ground is damp from yesterday's rain, and you can already imagine the struggle ahead—clearing rocks, leveling the tent site, hammering stakes into uncooperative soil.
But what if you could skip all that? What if you could simply unlock four latches, give a gentle push, and have your bedroom ready in under a minute? That's the reality of camping in a roof top tent!
Over the past decade, roof top tents have evolved from a niche overlanding accessory to a mainstream camping solution embraced by weekend warriors and serious adventurers alike.
Companies like EEZI-AWN, with decades in the industry, have refined these designs into sophisticated systems that offer genuine advantages over traditional ground camping.
The Stealth Hard Shell Roof Top Tent is a great example of this evolution. It combines aerodynamic engineering with practical features that address real camping challenges. Whether you're concerned about comfort, safety, or simply want to spend less time setting up camp and more time exploring, camping in a roof top tent delivers benefits that become more apparent with each trip into the great outdoors.
Quick Setup That Actually Changes Your Trip
Anyone who's wrestled with tent poles in a gusty wind knows that setup time isn't just an inconvenience; it can determine whether you enjoy your evening or spend it frustrated and exhausted. Traditional ground tents typically require 15 to 30 minutes of setup, and that's assuming you're experienced and the conditions cooperate. When you're camping in a roof top tent, those concerns disappear almost entirely.
The EEZI-AWN Stealth demonstrates how modern engineering has streamlined this process. Gas struts do the heavy lifting, allowing the tent to open in seconds once you release the four stainless steel locks. The patented scissor mechanism automatically raises the front end by 12 inches, creating headroom without any additional effort on your part. There's no fumbling with poles, no searching for the right stake, and no wondering if you remembered to pack all the pieces.
This speed advantage becomes especially valuable in challenging situations. We’ve all been there, arriving at camp well after dark, exhausted from hours of driving rough roads. In those moments, knowing you can have shelter ready in under five minutes—without even needing a flashlight to decipher instructions—makes the difference between a restorative evening and a miserable one. You're not searching for level ground or clearing away rocks and pinecones. Your sleeping platform is already level, already elevated, and always ready.
The integrated bungy system in the Stealth makes closing camp equally efficient. When you're ready to hit the trail at sunrise or need to break camp quickly due to changing weather, every minute counts. With camping in a roof top tent, you can be packed and ready to move in the time it would take just to stuff a sleeping bag into a traditional tent.
Comfort That Lets You Actually Rest
There's a reason people historically avoided sleeping directly on the ground. It's uncomfortable! Yet traditional camping asks us to do exactly that, separated from rocks, roots, and cold earth by only a thin layer of tent floor and whatever padding we've hauled along. When you're camping in a roof top tent, you're starting from a completely different foundation.
The Stealth comes equipped with a SABS-approved high-density foam mattress measuring 51 inches wide by 85 inches long and 3.1 inches thick. That's not a token gesture toward comfort, either. Instead, it's a legitimate sleeping surface that eliminates the need for air mattresses or sleeping pads. The foam maintains its shape and support, night after night, without the deflation concerns that plague inflatable options.
But dimensions tell only part of the story. As mentioned earlier, the patented scissor mechanism that raises the front of the Stealth by 12 inches creates genuine interior space. You can sit up comfortably, change clothes without contorting yourself, and actually move around without feeling claustrophobic. Large storage pockets on each side keep your gear organized and accessible, so you're not digging through a stuff sack at midnight looking for your headlamp.
Safety and Peace of Mind
Camping inherently involves accepting a certain level of vulnerability, but that doesn't mean you should dismiss reasonable precautions. Elevation provides practical protection from numerous ground-level hazards that can turn a fun trip into a bad experience. When you're camping in a roof top tent, you're automatically addressing several categories of risk.
Ground-dwelling insects and pests represent the most common concern for most campers. Ants, spiders, scorpions, and various crawling creatures are simply facts of life in most camping environments. The Stealth's elevation puts you well above their typical range, while zip-up privacy panels and mosquito nets on all doors and windows provide comprehensive protection from flying insects. These aren't flimsy mesh screens—they're integrated into a system built with heavy-duty YKK zippers and 280GSM ripstop canvas that resists tears and punctures.
Wildlife encounters add another dimension to camping safety. While serious attacks are rare, curious animals investigating campsites are common. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, and even larger animals can disturb ground tents, sometimes causing damage in their explorations. An elevated sleeping platform removes you from casual investigation by most animals. The hard-shell aluminum enclosure, when closed, provides genuine security for any gear you leave inside while you're away exploring, too.
All-Weather Versatility
The weather doesn't check your camping schedule before arriving. Sudden storms, temperature swings, or wind that seemed determined to complicate everything can arise with little warning. The difference between enduring weather and being protected from it often comes down to your shelter choice, and camping in a roof top tent provides a level of protection that traditional options struggle to match.
Hard-shell construction fundamentally changes your relationship with the elements. The EEZI-AWN Stealth's aerodynamic aluminum-encased design isn't just about looks or fuel efficiency. It's about creating a genuine barrier between you and whatever nature delivers. Heavy-duty ripstop canvas resists wind and rain that would have traditional tent fabric snapping and straining. The hard shell protects against hail, falling branches, and debris that could damage softer structures.
The integrated awning at the rear entrance is a great example of thoughtful design for real conditions. This covered area lets you enter and exit without getting soaked, organize gear under protection, and even creates a covered outdoor living space during rainy weather. You can cook breakfast under that awning while rain patters overhead and be grateful for a few square feet of dry ground. It's these practical touches that transform camping in a roof top tent into a genuinely superior system.
Modern Conveniences That Enhance the Experience
There's a persistent myth that "real" camping means suffering through discomfort and disconnecting entirely from modern convenience. That's nonsense. Smart camping means using appropriate technology to enhance your experience and safety, not diminishing either for the sake of artificial hardship. When you're camping in a roof top tent like the Stealth, you're gaining access to integrated features that traditional camping simply can't offer.
For example, the 12-volt socket and power cable system that connects directly to your vehicle's cigarette lighter might seem simple, but it's a fantastic amenity in practice. This connection powers the LED interior lighting, eliminating the need for headlamps and flashlights inside your sleeping area. Reading before sleep becomes genuinely comfortable rather than an awkward juggling act with a light source. The USB power connection means you can keep essential devices charged, too.
The aluminum ladder that extends to 90.5 inches and stows underneath the tent is another example of the attention to detail in modern roof top tent design. This isn't a wobbly afterthought; it's a stable, secure access point that makes entering and exiting safe and convenient. The ladder also serves another practical purpose: it keeps you from tracking mud, sand, and debris into your sleeping area. That might seem minor until you've experienced the luxury of climbing into a clean sleeping space after a dusty day of trail hiking.
Making the Elevated Choice
The advantages of camping in a roof top tent accumulate in ways that aren't always obvious until you've experienced them. Quick setup saves more than just time. It also preserves your energy for the actual adventure. Superior comfort means you wake up ready for the day rather than nursing a sore back. Enhanced safety provides peace of mind that lets you actually relax. All-weather protection expands your camping season and locations. Modern conveniences make the experience more enjoyable without diminishing the connection to nature.
In other words, roof top camping is simply better!
The shift from ground to elevated camping isn't just about convenience or comfort, though those are legitimate benefits. It's about removing obstacles between you and the experiences you're seeking. Less time fighting with tent poles means more time watching the sunset. Better rest means more energy for hiking that extra mile to the overlook. Weather protection means you don't cut trips short when conditions turn challenging. These accumulated advantages transform occasional camping into something you look forward to rather than endure.
We have the Stealth Hard Shell Roof Top Tent in stock right now, and our experts are ready to answer any questions you have about it or any other roof top tents we carry. We live and breathe outdoor adventure, and we want to help you have a better time exploring this big, beautiful world. After all, that’s why BTR (pronounced better) is in our name!
