One thing I was wondering - how waterproof is it in the tent? The fly doesnt extend much past the base of the tent, and it looks like water could run off the roof under the seal and into the tent...did you have any experiences with heavy rain?
Hey @Ben_Milley, from my experience the tent is more waterproof than any other tent i have owned. The fly seems to be better quality and has kept the rain out most times we have been camping in the rain. I will say we did have a very heavy rain on two occasions and in the morning has a little water on the edges. Nothing major, but some did get in. We were able to wipe it up with a towel quickly. In terms of water coming through the seal, that has been the biggest surprise for me because i thought the same thing as you do. But to date we haven't had any issues with water coming in through the seal to the SUV. If i had to guess, it would have to be the angle of the sleeve attaching to the car, where the rain runs off of the vehicle instead of into the tent. We have a 2018 VW Tiguan so it could just be luck with the SUV we have, it may not be the same with others. Hope this helps!
Hi! Wondering if you can help me... One issue I have is that there's a little light built into the bottom edge of the hatch (VW Tiguan). When the hatch is left open, this little light stays on. I tried locking the vehicle with the fob, and taking the headlights out of Auto mode, but the light stays on. Any suggestions?? Thanks!
These tents make so much sense. I laugh like hell every time I see a Trendoid with a $2500 brand name rooftop tent on an "overlanding" $600/month leased 4Runner LTD. They have lost their rooftop carrier capacity for a boat/kayak, fuel, greasy chainsaws or anything else just to crawl up a ladder into a pup tent every night. To make it better, they tack on an add-a-room to the side of the truck under the platform at an even more stupid price. I bought a Backroadz 19100 about 2 years ago. I carry 3 pieces of 1/4 inch plywood cut to 40 inches wide on the roof rack for a floor under the tent. A folding table, a couple of camp cots and an inflatable couch and I have a complete comfy cabin. My truck exhausts to the side so I can run the heater that warms the whole tent if needed. We sleep in the truck so the 100 square feet of tent space doesn't have to accommodate cots. I pull the cuff off the truck and snug it up and can use the truck during the day. If you are worried about critters in the dark, an issue some people cite for rooftop pup tents...just close the door. It is fairly cheaply made. I've used it about 80 nights on maybe 10 different setups in the last 2 years. The stitching is pulled on a couple of corners and the fabric needs regular waterproofing treatments to keep it truly dry inside. But at about $300 Can, I can buy nearly 10 of these for the price of a pozer rooftop pup tent. And I put my pants on in the morning standing up. I wish someone would make one of these of better quality. I'd be willing to pay much more for a commercial grade canvas version 12x16with a stovepipe hole for fall/winter camps...like a wall tent with an SUV cuff on one wall.
Good review, thanks. That’s exactly what I want to do, sleep in the car & use the tent for extra space/storing gear. And, somewhere to leave stuff while you go out in the car during the day.
@Alec_Sausman, glad this was helpful and happy you agree! Was definitely a game changer for us. Link to buy from Bass Pro in the description if needed. Thanks again!
We have the larger version of this Napier SUV tent, which has a porch on the passenger side of the SUV. You have to put a tarp down ad there is no floor in the porch. We have actually used it as a dining room when it was raining. Set up two camp chairs in there and the cooler was our table. Our actual tent area is 10’x10’ and so we bought two collapsible cots and a single air mattress and the beds are quite comfortable, set in an “L” shape, one on the side and the other across the back. Therefore lots of access in centre and the back of the SUV. Fly sheet can be kept off the tent if you separate tent pegs for it. Used 5 times and my daughter and I are very satisfied. We also have a screened dining tent that can accommodate the standard picnic tables in most Campgrounds.
Thanks for the comment Stew! It sounds like a great setup with your cots set up in an L shape. And I had always wondered how the porch feature add on worked, it is awesome to hear it is actually large enough to use as a dining room! Thanks for watching!
One thing we found is that many campgrounds have a space to park the car, but with a place to pitch a tent that is beside, rather than behind, the vehicle parking space. Some have a concrete curb at the end of the parking space. We found ourselves often pitching the tent separate from the car because of this.
I have had that problem plenty of times with my SUV tent off the back of my teardrop trailer and my side tent for that same trailer. I have used spike stakes and driven them into asphalt to accomidate my SUV tent but if you want to use a side tent on a trailer you are mostly out of luck. In most camp grounds you are either a tent or a trailer/vehicle, not a use for both together unfortunately.
I just tried a similar setup but only the suv side and no tent. I wasn’t sure what the real difference was between sleeping in your vehicle and having a separate tent really close and this setup but I suppose it’s slightly more convenient so that you don’t need to put your shoes on to go to your “stuff” area.
You may have already figured it out, but you can save the battery by manually closing the trunk latch with your keys or ground steak. Just remember to press the trunk button, to release the latch before you close the lid.
Good to know you can close the hatch - that's been my big question. I keep my food in the car and sleep in there, and I don't want to attract wildlife.
Absolutely, very important. We have plenty of space for the storage any food that would attract wildlife. We also invested in a more heavy duty cooler with insulated walls and locking latches to keep from attracting wildlife. Thanks for the comment!
Yes, you can close the hatch at night and lock the vehicle. For ventilation, any of the side windows or a sunroof can be cracked if it's not raining. On some SUV's the back hatch window opens separately from the hatch as well. Magnetically affixed screens can be made for your windows if your handy.
I love this tent. We have used it during pretty heavy rain, and it did leak on one corner, which was an issue with another RU-vid contributor (AB Camping). We’re going to reseal the seams next summer. There is more than enough room for our “stuff.” We are planning to take it on two extended trips next summer. We use it with a Tacoma , and sleep in the truck bed. It’s the perfect solution for my reluctance to sleep on the ground.
Yes you can Christine! And the elastic sleeve has a door you can close once you have detached so your tent is fully sealed up when you drive away. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
@Zul Said Thanks for the comment. We had been asked this previously and thought it was one of the most important questions, so we pinned our response as the top comment! :) Here is what we said: "From my experience the tent is more waterproof than any other tent I have owned. The fly seems to be better quality and has kept the rain out most times we have been camping in the rain. I will say we did have a very heavy rain on two occasions and in the morning has a little water on the edges. Nothing major, but some did get in. We were able to wipe it up with a towel quickly. In terms of water coming through the seal, that has been the biggest surprise for me because i thought the same thing as you do. But to date we haven't had any issues with water coming in through the seal to the SUV. If i had to guess, it would have to be the angle of the sleeve attaching to the car, where the rain runs off of the vehicle instead of into the tent. We have a 2018 VW Tiguan so it could just be luck with the SUV we have, it may not be the same with others." Hope this helps!
Hi. Thanks for the video! I have a VW Tiguan, and I just bought a similar tent. One issue I have is that there's a little light built into the bottom edge of the hatch. When the hatch is left open, this little light stays on. I tried locking the vehicle with the fob, and taking the headlights out of Auto mode, but the light stays on. Any suggestions?? Thanks!
The video is 6 months old now. How often have you used it and how is it holding up? My friend and I want to go camping in a Subaru Forrester. We are 2 retired but adventurous ladies who want a bit of comfort without a lot of work and expense. This looks like a perfect blend if it is sturdy. I just want it to be worth the money. Thanks
Hi Barbara, we have actually owned the tent for over a year already when we made this video so this tent is now almost 2 years old. We just used it last weekend and still works as great as day 1. The quality of the tent fabric has held up and the tent poles are steel so very sturdy. It takes my wife and I about 5 minutes to set up now because we use it so often and then another 5 or 10 to get our bedding set up in the cab and unpack. And you said it, the comfort without expense is my favorite thing about the tent for sure. Sleeping in your car and standing up fully in the tent to change is such a difference from conventional tenting. And for a Subaru Forrester, this will definitely fit. If you're in the US, our link to purchase through Cabela's is in the description. It really helps us out as a channel to continue making more content like this when you use that link to buy! Hope this was helpful!
@@WhyBuy thank you so much for this helpful reply! I will most definitely use your link if we get it. I looks like the best of the tents we have been looking at. It gives added covered space and usable area. I'm looking forward to our Subaru adventures!
Awesome video! Quick question though.. how good is the seal between the tunnel and the suv?? Will bugs still be able to creep in through the cracks? Thanks
Good question! The seal is good, but I wouldn't say it is perfect. It is elastic so it can form nicely to your vehicle but it is not going to be an absolute seal. That said, we have not had major issues with bugs or water. Bugs would be able to get through, but it hasn't been an issue for us yet. We camp in the rocky mountains as well so there are a lot of bugs in the summer, but definitely not as much as some other places in the world, so depending on where you are that may be something to consider. If I had to deal with a lot of bugs I would probably spray the seal with repellant or use a few towels to fully seal any gaps (which would be mostly on the top for us due to the roof rack bars) to keep them away. Hope this helps!
Hi great video, this tent is 100% purchase for me, it will be restock in may 21. A question for your sleeping in your car, I got 2018 Tiguan too, after folding the back seats there is a little slope towards back trunk, is sleeping pad can make it even? Or sleeping on it at least feels the surface is even.
Hi @Jason, personally i have never noticed a slope toward the trunk, but now that you mention it i think there is. That said, it is completely unnoticeable when sleeping in there. The sleeping pad really makes it feel like you are sleeping on a mattress by the way it is designed to distribute your body weight. Great to hear you will be picking one up! We really appreciate it and it definitely helps our channel out so we can continue to make more content like this if you use our links in the comments! Thanks Jason!
Hi! Wondering if anyone can help me... One issue I have is that there's a little light built into the bottom edge of the hatch (VW Tiguan). When the hatch is left open, this little light stays on. I tried locking the vehicle with the fob, and taking the headlights out of Auto mode, but the light stays on. Any suggestions?? Thanks!
I just came across your video. I own a kia soul hatch back not quite a SUV, I'm wondering how good of a fit that would give me if at all and more or less the cost. Very interested. TFS TFS
Hi Linda, the universal sleeve is made to accommodate any suv including cuvs (crossover vehicles) so you should be okay with your kia 👍. There are multiple straps and flaps that help make a custom fit and seal gaps. Price we are seeing right now is about $360 from Cabela's. Link is in the description if you need. Thanks for the comment and hope this helps!
We definitely do not have that problem with our vehicle (movement does not trigger the alarm). The only thing that has triggered our alarm is if we open the door from the inside when we have locked and armed the car alarm. Hope this helps!
I wish there were a tent that attached to a side window, in case you want to channel the A/C. For obvious reasons, you can’t have the car on with this tent…
Hey Joaquin, yes it is called a hatchback tent but the sleeve is very expandable. You would have no issues fitting this on to your 2019 Highlander. I was surprised to see that even in the picture they use on the Cabela's site (link in description), they have it attached to a GMC Yukon. So it seems like it can fit pretty much any SUV. Hope this helps!
@Joaquin Gonzaga No problem at all, happy this was helpful! Our SUV is a 2018 VW Tiguan. If you're in the US, our link to purchase through Cabela's is in the description. It really helps us out as a channel to continue making more content like this when you use our link to buy!😀
WTF! Was that some random peeking into your tent? Anyway thanks for the video. I was on the fence about how useful these are. You made good points about this setup. I still don't see why they cost twice as much as a similar tent without the portal.
Haha! @Joshmtay, yeah definitely a wtf moment. Like come on dude, really? I had the same thought of why is this thing double the price of a normal tent, but if you get one, you will notice that the quality is there. $400 to me was still much less than the price gap to upgrade to a tent trailer or RV so it was a no brainer!
Nope, you don't need roof racks or cross bars. The hood, or portion that seals the tail gate portion of tent is a big elastic sleeve, and can secure with anchors on the doors and front of the car hood. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching 👍
Hey @David_Hanson, this was my biggest concern as well. From my experience to date this tent is more waterproof than any other tent I have owned when it comes to the materials. In terms of water coming through the seal, that has been the biggest surprise for me because I thought the same thing as you do. But to date we haven't had any issues with water coming in through the seal to the SUV. If I had to guess, it would have to be the angle of the sleeve attaching to the car, where the rain runs off of the vehicle instead of into the tent. We have a 2018 VW Tiguan so it could just be luck with the SUV we have, it may not be the same with others. I will say we did have a very heavy rain on two occasions and in the morning has a little water on the edges. Nothing major, but some did get in. Based on the location near the entrance point of the tent, I don't think it came in through the seal. Also, the seal is pretty tight around the vehicle, but if you wanted to, you can just throw a towel underneath the connection point to keep any water hitting there out for peace of mind as well. Hope this helps!
Hi @d_karpo, yes the fly does not restrict you from opening the windows underneath it. With the ties attached, you can also make it so there is actually a decent amount of air space between the fly and the tent as well for air flow. The fly can also be unzipped on the sides and either rolled up or set up as an awning (poles are included for the awing with the tent). We always have the fly on and just have it rolled up or used as an awning for warm days, that way if it does rain it is super quick to just roll down the sides of the fly or take down the part used for the awing to keep rain out. Hope this helps!
Ok if that man wasn't with you yet peeking in your tent, thats a creepy thought. Sure he was just courious but still as a womens perspective could be a perv never know now I'm totally retinking the whole suv tent. 😬 Great review though, totally would of edited the peeping Tom
Haha yes, its a cool product and sometimes you don't want all the attention it brings. BUT! We were in a park entranceway, so lots of foot traffic and curious people looking at it. Wouldn't let it stop you, campgrounds are after all, full of randoms. Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching 👍
@@WhyBuy I won't but I do know to be aware peek in mine I will poke your eyes out 😂. My husband and I love to camp and just got a 2014 Traverse why I have been researching these, were to old to lay on the ground anymore. Thanks appreciate a simple video not full of hey check me out kinda stuff, Happy Camping
Sounds like someone is afraid of the outdoors. If so, why camp at all, get a cabin. Tents come in all sizes, I have a stand alone tent that is close to 7 feet high and has plenty of room for a queen size air mattress and two Malamutes.
