Life in a roof tent – One of the most important and biggest decisions when vacationing with an overland vehicle is the choice of your roof tent.
There are numerous models, variants and options, and it’s impossible to list them all.
Otherwise, it could take quite a while to summarize a guide for every situation and a listing for everyone’s needs.
One particular tip, which we also chose, is the iKamper Skycamp, a hard-shell roof tent with comfortable living space and numerous usage options for 4 people.
For an overview, I will now highlight the pros and cons of traveling with a roof tent.
Camping Ratgeber:
Home is where the sky touches the ground
The most important things to consider when travelling with a roof tent are 3 things: organization, flexibility and weather!
Here is a translated travel report, in the original by Niko Caignie. 
Stekenjokk (Sweden): I’ve never actually left this place.
When I close my eyes, I’m there (Source: Niko Caignie) 
Somewhere near a lake in Finland (Source: Niko Caignie)
Organization: Planning, structure & order
Traveling is teamwork!
When you think of traveling with a tent on the roof, you immediately have a romantic image in your head: stopping wherever and whenever you want, sleeping near lakes and waking up in the morning with a breathtaking panoramic view.
All this in a relaxed and idyllic atmosphere together with your loved ones.
That’s exactly how it can be in reality!
But the most exciting thing is the fact that most of these tents can be set up in a matter of minutes and with just a flick of the wrist.
What most people forget, however, is the organization that comes with travelling with a rooftop tent.
It’s the organization that determines whether you’ll have a great time as a flexible camper or have to constantly deal with a pile of camping gear lying around.
Once you are well organized from the start, you can also make spontaneous decisions, such as making a last-minute stop because you are tired or have found an appealing spot that suits you at that moment.
Setting off in the morning also sometimes has to happen very quickly, for example if it is raining or the place is not what you expected.
Order and structure can make this a lot easier!
I can (proudly) say that we are so organized that we can stop and be ready to sleep and eat in about 30 minutes.
Leaving in the morning takes around 45 minutes – a delicious breakfast, a good cup of coffee and washing up included!
The secret behind this is to structure all your equipment so that you don’t have to unpack anything.
In other words, it’s an advantage if you don’t have to clear out the entire trunk to get to the camping table, swimming trunks or pans for cooking.
This not only saves a huge amount of work and time, but also reduces the risk of getting caught in the rain. 
Source: Niko Caignie
Flexibility: making stops and taking breaks
Especially if you have planned a longer stay with the roof tent, another essential aspect of traveling is flexibility.
After all, everyone loves to explore their surroundings, discover new things, experience adventures and change locations at will.
However, when you’re on longer, multi-week trips, you sometimes need a break in between to settle down and rest for a few days.
We often plan a short stay at a cosy campsite to repair and maintain our equipment, sort things out, do laundry, take a hot shower, go shopping, enjoy civilization again, go hiking and so on.
A small campsite without too many facilities is usually enough for this.
Good showers, a washing machine and a river or lake for swimming are more than enough.
A break like this for several days is ideal for getting out a little more equipment, such as chairs, washing lines and awnings, to make your stay a little more comfortable and cozy. 
Source: Niko Caignie
Flexible on the road: your car is your home
When camping with a roof tent, your car is practically your home!
It accompanies you everywhere and saves you additional packing and unpacking work on your trip, for example.
If you want to explore the surrounding area or go shopping, you don’t have to pack everything and lug it 50 km to the nearest national park, but have your car with you, which is particularly convenient as you want to switch off and relax on your trip anyway.
This is one of the main reasons why a trailer with a tent on the roof is an ideal option.
Not only is the extra space practical, but also the option of leaving the trailer and tent somewhere and going out to explore.
You leave in the morning and come back in the evening whenever you want.
Everything is left exactly as you left it.
You simply jump from the car seat into the comfortable armchair and are ready for a cozy campfire.
I bought my trailer from Campwerk and put my own roof tent on it, with a few small modifications to suit my needs.
We also fitted a kitchen, which makes it a little easier to prepare food for 4 people two or three times a day!
Little tip!
You do lose some flexibility when you’re on the muddy roads in the back country, but you get the extra outdoor fun of getting off the beaten track and exploring all the back roads in the area! 
Trailer with roof tent as base camp (Source: Niko Caignie) 
The trailer is for sleeping and cooking – the car for equipment & exploring (Source: Niko Caignie)
Weather: What do I do when it rains?
Last but not least: What do I do if the weather throws a spanner in the works?
Despite all the advantages of a roof tent, it should be noted that although it offers enough space and storage room for the whole family, it is not a full-size tent.
This means that if it rains on the road for several days, you’ll be stuck in this small, low space measuring around 2 x 2 meters.
In our case with 4 people!
You can easily keep yourself occupied for a few hours or even days, playing games with the children, sleeping and reading, but after a long time it can get quite annoying just sitting around.
If this is the case, you can either change the location and look for sunnier places or set up an awning or extension tent where you can spend some extra time.
I have installed 2 awnings on my car, which offer perfect protection for rainy days, but unfortunately you are not protected from the wind and cold.
Rain plan: Find out in advance
So remember to make a rain plan for your trip!
Because when it’s raining cats and dogs, you want to go out, explore the surroundings and find a better way to pass the time than staring at the ceiling.
We also recommend nearby restaurants, museums or play facilities that you can visit in bad weather to make the most of your vacation.
Conclusion: Traveling with a roof tent
Traveling with a roof tent is an optimal, relaxed and eventful way to enjoy your vacation.
However, there are still important factors that can influence your vacation: Flexibility, especially its lack, good organization and the weather are the 3 points that are of crucial importance.
Nevertheless, you always have your home with you when traveling with a roof tent and can make the most of your adventurous and eventful time in nature.
However, if you are interested, you might want to rent a rooftop tent before you buy one to see if you like it.
I couldn’t imagine traveling any other way! 
(Source: Niko Caignie)
This article describes the travel experiences and tips of Niko Caignie!
You can read his original article “The rooftop tent way of life” here:
