FAQ: Camping with a roof tent – Did you already know these things?

Camping with a roof tent – Do you have a roof tent or are you currently thinking about buying one?
Then you’ll find some interesting information about rooftop tents that you probably didn’t know.
You’ll be well prepared for your next camping vacation and everything around it and can look forward to a relaxing time with your loved ones.
Are you a camping beginner?
Then read all about the advantages of roof tents, different models and costs here: Roof tent for your car.
Or take a look at our models directly in the store: Rooftop tents.

You probably didn’t know this about your roof tent yet

Here you will find some interesting questions about camping with a roof tent that may be new to you.

For example, did you know …

  • … that you shouldn’t drive into a car wash with a roof tent?
  • … that you shouldn’t stay in the roof tent during thunderstorms?
  • … that you can leave your roof tent on the roof all year round?

These and other questions will now be discussed in more detail here!

Is a roof tent wild camping?

Wild camping is camping away from designated sites, such as campsites or pitches.
People who go wild camping often spend the night in the great outdoors.
This means that if you are camping with a roof tent on normal campsites, this is not considered wild camping.
However, if you decide to pitch your roof tent somewhere on your own and spend the night there, then this does fall under this category.
But be sure to observe the rules that apply, as wild camping is generally not permitted in Germany.
Especially places that are heavily frequented by tourists do not allow wild camping!
So read everything you need to know here:

This applies to wild camping:

  • Wild camping means camping in the great outdoors
  • Away from designated places
  • Staying overnight on campsites is not wild camping
  • Rules for wild camping with a roof tent apply

If you want to set up in the middle of nature with your roof tent, find out about the rules for wild camping in advance!

Can you go to the car wash with a roof tent?

It is generally not recommended to take a roof tent to an automatic car wash.
Most manufacturers of rooftop tents advise against using an automatic car wash, as the powerful water jets, brushes and other elements of the car wash can damage the rooftop tent.
Instead, it is recommended to clean the roof tent by hand using a mild detergent, water and a sponge or brush.
This way, you have more control over the cleaning process and can ensure that no damage occurs to the roof tent.
You should know this:

  • It is not recommended to drive into a car wash with a roof tent
  • Water jets and brushes can damage the roof tent
  • Clean your roof tent by hand instead

Is a roof tent waterproof?

Roof tents are usually made of a high-quality, waterproof and robust material, which protects you from the rain inside.
Hard-shell roof tents also serve as protection against falling branches and the like.
Thanks to the high-quality workmanship, they are very durable and prove to be loyal companions for several camping vacations.
The quality of a roof tent:

  • High-quality and robust material
  • Waterproof, weather and wind resistant
  • Hard shell protects against damage
  • Very durable

Can you stay in the roof tent during thunderstorms?

A roof tent has a number of advantages that can make it an attractive choice for camping trips, even when a storm is on the way.
These include the fact that roof tents are very wind-resistant as they are attached directly to the car.
The elevated position on the roof is also an advantage.
You can also stay in the roof tent in the rain without any problems.
However, you should not stay in the roof tent during a real thunderstorm!
In the event of a lightning strike, you are not protected in the roof tent as it does not provide an electrical conductor with a closed cover, as is the case with a car.
This means that if there is a heavy thunderstorm on the road, you should sit in the car with your loved ones or, ideally, seek shelter for the night!
Read more about this here:

You should be aware of this during storms:

  • You don’t need to worry about storms and rain in the roof tent
  • However, get into your car or seek shelter during thunderstorms

So if you notice that a thunderstorm is approaching, you should definitely look for safe shelter as soon as possible and not stay in the roof tent!

How fast can you drive with a roof tent?

As the roof tent is folded up on the car roof while driving, it does not affect the driving style too much.
Nevertheless, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific roof tent model.
These should state what speeds are considered safe.
If the roof tent is properly installed and closed, an approximate maximum speed of 100 to 130 km/h can be considered.
In general, however, the speed should be chosen carefully when driving with a roof tent so as not to impair the stability of the vehicle.
The additional weight and height of the roof tent can have an effect on handling, especially in strong winds or when cornering.
It is therefore advisable to maintain a moderate speed to ensure a safe driving experience.
Information on speed with roof tent:

  • Observe the manufacturer’s instructions on speed limits
  • Approximate guide value: 100 to 130 km/h
  • Select speed carefully and individually
  • Roof tent can impair vehicle stability and handling

Can you leave a roof tent on the car all year round?

In principle, it is no problem at all to leave the roof tent on the car all year round.
This saves you the effort of dismantling and installing it on the roof.
However, regular maintenance and cleaning is necessary to extend the service life of the roof tent.
Remove dirt, leaves or other debris from the surface of the tent before you close everything securely.
However, if you do not use the roof tent for several months, it is also advisable to store it.
Read more about this here:

Interesting to know:

  • You can leave the roof tent on the car all year round
  • Remember regular maintenance and cleaning
  • Make sure that the roof tent is clean before you close it

Once mounted on the roof, your roof tent can theoretically stay there all year round!

How heavy can you be for a roof tent?

If you want to attach a roof tent to your car roof, you should know the weight of your roof tent model and match it to the maximum roof load of your car.
A roof tent weighs between 50 and 70 kg, which means that the roof load should be at least this high.
However, while the vehicle is stationary, the car roof can carry far more than the permitted roof load!
The prerequisite is that the car is stationary.
The people who would otherwise be sitting in the car are then standing on the car instead.
So that is not a problem.
The only thing that must not be exceeded is the permissible total weight of the car.
You should therefore check this beforehand in the manufacturer’s specifications.
Would you like to find out more about the roof load of a roof tent?
Then read on here:

You should bear this in mind with regard to weight:

  • Coordinate roof load and weight
  • Car roof can carry more than the permitted roof load when stationary
  • Check the manufacturer’s specifications in advance

Several people can stay in the unfolded roof tent without any problems – so don’t worry about your weight!

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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
  • Extra strong square T-drawbar 100x100mm for maximum stability and best maneuverability
  • Axle up to 1,500 kg with maintenance-free hexagonal rubber spring axle
  • Optionally with watertight wheel hub
  • 2 crossbars
  • The chassis is exclusively from the renowned manufacturer AL-KO, market leader in the car trailer and caravan sector
  • Safety indicator on the clutch
  • Independent suspension
Aluminum body
  • Our aluminium trailers are equipped with anodized aluminium profiles
  • double-walled anodized aluminium side panels 30mm, 440mm high
  • Large emergency lighting with integrated rear fog light
  • Equipped with balanced tires as standard
  • Base plate stable screen-printed base, non-slip
  • Complete M8 stainless steel screw connection (V2A stainless steel)
  • Electrical system: Supply cable (wiring harness) standard with 13-pin plug
  • Tailgate latches very elaborate, made entirely of stainless steel
Wheels
  • Black powder-coated steel rim
  • 235/85 R16 tires optionally adaptable to towing vehicle
  • Mud Terrain tire tread
  • Special wheel connection for your towing vehicle on request
Terrain values
  • 350 mm ground clearance
  • 570 mm wading depth
  • 27° slope angle
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
  • 2 crossbars
  • Maintenance-free rubber spring axles
  • Independent suspension
  • The chassis is exclusively from the renowned manufacturer AL-KO, market leader in the car trailer and caravan sector
  • Safety indicator on the clutch
Aluminum structure
  • Our aluminium trailers are equipped with anodized aluminium profiles
  • double-walled anodized aluminium side panels 30mm, 440mm high
  • Large emergency lighting with integrated rear fog light
  • Equipped with balanced tires as standard
  • Base plate stable screen-printed base, non-slip
  • Complete M8 stainless steel screw connection (V2A stainless steel)
  • Electrical system: Supply cable (wiring harness) standard with 13-pin plug
  • Tailgate latches very elaborate, made entirely of stainless steel
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.
  • Visco-elastic mattress.
  • High-quality Tencel® cover (38 % Tencel®, 62 % polyester).
  • Four practical turning loops.
  • Four-sided zipper.
  • Removable, divisible and washable.
  • Four practical turning loops.
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.