Experience report rooftop tent with the family: 10 tips and tricks

Rooftop tent with the family – Camping vacations are a great way to spend time with the family and enjoy nature.
Especially with a rooftop tent, you have the opportunity to travel flexibly and independently.
However, when children are involved, it’s important that you take certain precautions and preparations to ensure that everyone has a memorable time.
Here’s a helpful review from this family who went camping with kids and a rooftop tent.
They share 10 tips and tricks that are sure to make your own camping vacation a whole lot easier.

Tip 1: Don’t take too much with you

Reduce the amount of clothing and other items.
Pack only the essentials and try to be as minimalist as possible.
Plan outfits in advance and take clothes that are versatile and easy to mix and match.
Many campsites offer laundry facilities.
Plan to wash clothes during your stay so you have to take less with you.
Don’t worry, clothes can be dried in a variety of ways.

  • The storage space in the car is limited
  • Reduce objects to the bare essentials

Organize your kitchen in particular

What is particularly helpful are boxes to organize the kitchen.
A simple system with a few stoves, cutlery and spices can minimize the need for large kitchen accessories.
Fewer dishes also means less washing up.
Remember to store food efficiently and plan well to make cooking on the go easier.
Plan meals in advance and pack ingredients in portions to save space and time.

  • Use crates to organize the outdoor kitchen
  • Take few kitchen accessories with you
  • Plan meals in advance and take everything you need with you

Tip 2: Take few toys with you

Children often need fewer toys than you might think.
They can play with natural things like sticks and leaves.
Limit the amount of toys you bring with you.
This also encourages children’s creativity and imagination.

  • Pack only a few toys
  • Nature offers plenty to do

Tip 3: Electric blanket for cooler days

An electric blanket can be very comfortable on cold nights.
It can be placed under sleeping bags to provide additional warmth.
You can find a suitable electric blanket here in the store:

  • Take an electric blanket with you for cold nights in the roof tent

Tip 4: Use boxes instead of suitcases

Use boxes instead of suitcases for storage.
Boxes are easier to organize and stack, while suitcases can often be impractical.
Here you can find suitable storage boxes in the store for more organization:

  • Take stackable boxes instead of suitcases
  • Sort the boxes by category for a better overview

Tip 5: Multitool – gaffer and cable ties

Gaffers and cable ties can be used in a variety of ways to solve different problems.
They are particularly useful for hanging or fastening things, repairing equipment or organizing cables.

  • Take cable ties, gaffers or a thick cord with you
  • You can use it to secure, hang or repair things

Tip 6: Fairy lights for more coziness

A string of lights not only provides light, but also creates a cozy atmosphere.
They can be helpful in the dark and also have a decorative effect.
You can take a look at a super practical USB fairy lights here:

  • Fairy lights for light and coziness in the roof tent

Tip 7: Carpet or tarpaulin in front of the tent

A car carpet or tarpaulin as a base makes the campsite cozier and more comfortable.
They prevent small stones or dirt from getting into the tent.

  • Carpet increases coziness and comfort
  • Pleasant area with less dirt that can get into the roof tent

Tip 8: Use the ladder as a versatile gadget

Butcher’s hooks or the ladder rungs can be used to hang items.
Hang items such as flashlights, kitchen utensils or towels on the hooks on the ladder to keep the floor clean, organized and clutter-free.

  • Use the ladder and hooks to hang things up
  • This saves space and is suitable for wet cloths or clothing

Tip 9: Ensure a safe power supply

You should always use waterproof solutions for your power supply to avoid accidents.
Waterproof socket strips and cables protect against short circuits and increase safety when using electricity outdoors.

  • Use safe and weatherproof power solutions
  • Cables should be neatly laid and protected from moisture

Tip 10: Always take warm clothes with you

You and your family members should always have a warm, weatherproof jacket with you.
A thick sweater is also versatile and can provide protection in cold weather, especially in the cooler morning or evening hours.

  • Take warmer clothes with you even in summer
  • Temperatures can drop significantly at night
iStock | Jovanmandic

Bonus tips for an even more carefree camping trip

Even if camping is associated with spontaneity, preparation and a certain amount of planning are essential. So pack boxes with the necessary food, crockery and cooking utensils in advance to save time and effort on site.
Always pay attention to the weather forecast and be flexible in your planning.
Be prepared to adjust your plans if the weather changes.
Pack a rain jacket and waterproof shoes to be prepared for changing weather conditions.
Also use several weather services to get more accurate forecasts.

  • Pack boxes with the necessary camping equipment in advance
  • Always check the weather forecast and use various apps

Conclusion: A successful family camping vacation with good planning

Even for experienced campers, planning a trip with the family and a rooftop tent can be a challenge.
There are numerous details to consider, from the right equipment to organizing the space in the car.
This family has summarized their valuable tips that can make the camping experience much easier.
This advice offers not only comfort, but also practical solutions to many common challenges when camping with the family and a rooftop tent.
This way, you too can enjoy every aspect of your time in the great outdoors without having to deal with unnecessary stress.
So, what are you waiting for?
Take the tips and tricks into account, grab your family and off you go.
You can buy your own roof tent in the store here: You can watch the entire video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfjv8GSGckI&t=44s

Do you already know?
More roof tent experiences from campers

Here you will find many more exciting testimonials from passionate campers who have embarked on an adventure with a roof tent and are happy to share their opinions and experiences with you:

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Offroad
Raised and extra stable for road and off-road… What do you do if you are traveling in regions with poor roads or drive an off-road vehicle or SUV whose dome height does not fit conventional trailers? The solution: the off-road tent trailer from CAMPWERK – specially developed for extreme conditions. This unique model impresses with a raised and particularly robust AL-KO chassis that can withstand even the most demanding off-road routes. The entire body is made of lightweight but sturdy aluminum, reinforced with durable stainless steel components. So you are perfectly equipped for any terrain.
Black / Silver
Available now: The CAMPWERK Offroader in the exclusive Black/Silver Edition CAMPWERK is expanding its range and now also offers the popular off-road tent trailer in the coveted Black/Silver Edition. The high-quality aluminium body is completely anodized in matt black, while the mudguards are powder-coated in elegant “Gun Silver Metal”. An absolute eye-catcher on any road and in any terrain!
The off-road trailer from CAMPWERK impresses with its lightweight construction: Thanks to the aluminum body, the base only weighs around 300 kg when empty. With a permissible total weight of 1.5 tons, it offers an impressive payload capacity of up to 1.2 tons – ideal for small excursions, transport and even larger expeditions.

Visually, the trailer blends in perfectly with the appearance of an off-road vehicle or SUV with its coarse-tread MT tires and robust, full-length aluminium mudguards. The mudguards are also designed in such a way that they are ideal for the safe transportation of petrol and water canisters or gas bottles.

To ensure flexibility, the off-roader’s tyres can be individually adapted to the towing vehicle on request, so that only one set of spare wheels is required. The standard ball head coupling can also be optionally replaced with a DIN or NATO eye.
T-drawbar or V-fork ?
Thousands of trailer drivers know the problem of tight spaces only too well: if you drive into a narrow lane and have to turn, it is important to back your car as far as possible against the trailer in order to get around the bend without any problems. With a T-drawbar, you can utilize the maximum steering angle. This is precisely why we at CAMPWERK rely on this tried-and-tested technology – for optimum flexibility and maneuverability, no matter how tight things get.
T-drawbar
V-fork
T-drawbar
V-fork
Chassis
Aluminum body
Wheels
Terrain values
Equipped for every situation thanks to the versatile accessories...

Raised dropside

20L canister

Towbar adapter for bike carrier with coupling connection

2-4 bike racks

Anti-drag clutch

Onroad

The perfect solution for your camping adventure:
Road trailer with tent
Imagine a first-class equipped road trailer that is ideal for camping trips in Germany and the surrounding countries.
This trailer comes with a sturdy holding device for a matching tent that can be set up in no time at all.
The result is your mobile home – ready for unforgettable tours!

Your decisive advantage: you are ideally equipped for your vacation in a particularly cost-effective way. And when you’re not on the road, you can use the trailer as a conventional utility trailer. We offer you the road trailer in two versions, depending on your needs: An unbraked version with a permissible total weight of 750 kg and the braked version recommended by us with a permissible total weight of 1,300 kg.
10-year guarantee
Our trailer base was not created in the laboratory – it was made for the real world. The robust construction is optimized for tough conditions. Oversized axles and virtually indestructible aluminum frames ensure exceptional durability. We are the only supplier in Germany to give you a 10-year guarantee on this unique quality!
T-drawbar or V-fork ?
Thousands of trailer drivers know the problem of tight spaces only too well: if you drive into a narrow lane and have to turn, it is important to back your car as far as possible against the trailer in order to get around the bend without any problems. With a T-drawbar, you can utilize the maximum steering angle. This is precisely why we at CAMPWERK rely on this tried-and-tested technology – for optimum flexibility and maneuverability, no matter how tight things get.
T-drawbar
V-fork
T-drawbar
V-fork
Chassis
Aluminum structure
Equipped for every situation thanks to the versatile accessories...

Raised dropside

20L canister

Towbar adapter for bike carrier with coupling connection

2-4 bike racks

Anti-drag clutch

Material and processing.
The tent fabric of our trailer tents is made from a high-quality, 450 g blended fabric, also known as canvas. This unique combination of cotton and polyester combines the advantages of a natural fiber with those of a modern high-tech material. The result is a robust, breathable fabric that impresses with its pleasant feel and high dimensional stability.

The tent fabric, which is also used by the military, is impregnated and particularly tear-resistant thanks to the ripstop process. In this special weaving technique, thicker threads are woven into the fabric at intervals of around 10-15 millimetres, giving the fabric its characteristic tiled structure and exceptional tear resistance. It goes without saying that our fabrics are opaque and therefore offer optimum protection and privacy.
The basis of our trailer tents is a robust stainless steel frame with a thickness of 3×3 cm. A 1.8 cm thick, water-resistant wooden floor panel is securely fastened to this sturdy frame with stainless steel screws. The frame of the trailer tents is also made of galvanized steel tubing and special stainless steel components that ensure maximum stability. The modern surface finish not only offers a high level of corrosion protection, but also gives the material a pleasant feel and ensures a durable, weatherproof construction.
We rely exclusively on yarn from the German market leader Amann. Thanks to the combination of a cotton core and a high-tenacity polyester core, this yarn is characterized by a particularly high tensile strength and excellent water resistance.

On contact with water, the cotton coating swells and closes the seam holes created during sewing. For additional protection, all seams in the roof area are fitted with a transparent sealing strip to ensure maximum waterproofness.
Less is sometimes more.
We are often asked: What about the water column? For tent fabrics, the impermeability of the fabric is specified in the form of the water column. For cotton tents, this value is usually around 300 to 400 mm. However, our tent fabric offers an exceptionally high water column for cotton fabric of around 750 mm. This means that theoretically more than 75 cm of water can stand on the material before the first drops penetrate.

A major advantage of cotton as a natural raw material is its ability to swell when it gets damp, which provides additional waterproofing. In contrast, synthetic fabrics, which cannot swell, must have a much higher water column (between 3,000 and 10,000 mm, depending on the material) in order to achieve comparable waterproofness.
Good night.
The comfort sleep set consists of a high-quality visco foam mattress that adapts perfectly to the individual body shape, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. The set is complemented by the innovative Froli bed spring system, which guarantees an exceptional sleeping experience. Perfect sleeping comfort in a well thought-out overall package.
Premium mattress.
An excellent mattress is the basis for healthy and restful sleep. Just as every person is unique, their mattress should also be individually tailored to them.
Our premium mattress adapts perfectly to the contours of the body and promotes orthopaedically correct positioning of the spine. Thanks to targeted pressure relief, back muscles and intervertebral discs can relax optimally. The innovative construction and high-quality materials create an ideal sleeping environment.
There are no compromises at CAMPWERK: We rely on flexible visco foam with memory function. The unique combination of supportive foam core and relieving visco foam topper ensures maximum sleeping comfort.
Suspension.
Good ventilation is crucial for your well-being and sleep hygiene. To ensure maximum sleeping comfort, we combine our mattress with an innovative Froli slat base. The flexible spring elements form a comfortable slat base with individually adjustable firmness zones. This combination ensures orthopaedically correct positioning of the body and provides targeted, pressure-relieving support. This effectively prevents tension and one-sided strain. The open, air-permeable cells also enable optimum ventilation and create a healthy sleeping environment.
Are you allergic or do you have special health requirements? No problem! We cooperate with a renowned German mattress manufacturer to offer customized solutions. Simply contact us and together we will find the ideal mattress for your needs.