Rooftop tent and electric car: does it work? Installation, rules and advantages

Rooftop tent and e-car – Can I also mount my rooftop tent on an e-car?
The answer is short and sweet: Yes!
Camping with an electric car and a rooftop tent is an environmentally friendly and flexible way to enjoy the great outdoors while enjoying the benefits of an electric vehicle and saving costs.
However, there are a few important things to bear in mind when you’re out and about.
You can find out everything about rules, installation and safety here.
Are you a camping beginner?
Then read all about the advantages, roof load and different roof tent models in advance: Roof tent for your car.

Camping vacation with e-car and roof tent

A camping vacation with an e-car including a roof tent is a great way to enjoy the beauty of nature while taking advantage of the benefits of an electric vehicle.
It allows you to be independent and flexible while protecting the environment.
Traveling with an electric car and a rooftop tent not only offers the opportunity to discover new places and experience idyllic landscapes up close, but also the chance to spend quality time with your loved ones and create unforgettable memories.
One of the best advantages of a rooftop tent is that it can be fitted to any car – including your electric car, of course!

That’s why an electric car with a roof tent is recommended

Camping with an electric car and roof tent offers several advantages over conventional camping methods.
For one, it is more environmentally friendly as it has no exhaust fumes and lower energy consumption than a gasoline or diesel car.
Secondly, it can help to save costs, as the electricity costs are lower than the costs for gasoline or diesel.
Also, the range of an electric car is usually higher than that of a conventional car, which means you can drive longer distances in one go before you need to recharge.
A rooftop tent also offers a comfortable and adventurous way to camp, as you can sleep in the great outdoors without the hassle of pitching a tent.
It offers protection from rain and wind and guarantees you an amazingly large and, above all, comfortable place to sleep. These are the advantages of a vacation with an electric car and roof tent:

  • Environmentally friendly: No exhaust fumes
  • Lower energy consumption than gasoline or diesel
  • Longer range: longer distances are possible
  • You have all the usual advantages that a roof tent offers

With an electric car and roof tent, you can travel just as flexibly as with any other car, but it’s even more environmentally friendly!

You need to be aware of this: Safety & assembly

Despite all these advantages, however, there are a few things to consider if you want to camp with an electric car and a roof tent.
These include the weight of the roof tent, the attachment of the roof tent, the impact on the range of the electric car, legal regulations and safety while driving.
Since a roof tent can be attached to almost any car, it is definitely possible to mount a roof tent on an electric car, but a few factors must be taken into account.

The weight of the roof tent

It is important to know the weight of the roof tent to ensure that it does not exceed the maximum permissible roof load of the electric car.

Attaching the roof tent

There are different types of roof tent brackets that can be mounted in different places on the vehicle.
It is important to ensure that the mounts are suitable for the electric car and are installed correctly.

The influence on the range

The additional weight and air resistance of the roof tent can affect the range of the electric car.
It is important to take this into account when planning your trip and charging the vehicle.
In any case, keep an eye out for refueling options in good time!

Legal provisions

Make sure that the roof tent complies with local road traffic regulations and that there are no local regulations that restrict traveling with a roof tent on an electric car.

Safety during attachment

While driving, you should make sure that the roof tent is securely fastened and that it does not pose a danger to other road users.

Parking on the road

Bear in mind that it can be difficult to park an electric car with a roof tent in public parking lots.
You may therefore have to consider other parking options.
Find out in advance about suitable parking spaces or campsites and reserve them in advance if necessary.

Insurance for car and tent

Check your car insurance to make sure you are fully covered in the event of damage to the roof tent or car while on the road.

An electric car for a road trip – does it work?

Rooftop tent and electric car – does it work?
Our CAMPWERK Ambassadors have tried it out.
Is the charging infrastructure in Europe well developed?
Which fuel card (charging card) is best for me?
Take a look at the following video for a detailed and honest experience report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsVxyiyOen8

What should I look out for on a road trip with an electric car?

In this video, you will find out what you should look out for on a road trip with an electric car and what advantages and disadvantages it offers.
Look forward to a great trip with lots of useful information about traveling with a roof tent and in this case especially for electric cars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wrUtkkom4

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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.