The short answer. Your vehicle has two roof load figures. The dynamic limit applies while you are driving and it is the one that governs whether a rooftop tent fits your vehicle at all. The static limit applies while you are parked and it is much higher, which is why a tent that is legal to carry can also be slept in. The tent and the rack are added together against the dynamic figure, and the lowest rated part of the whole assembly is your real limit. Check your own handbook and your rack manufacturer before you buy anything, including from us.
Dynamic load, the number that decides your purchase
Dynamic roof load is the maximum weight your roof is rated to carry while the vehicle is moving. It is lower than the static figure because driving adds forces that standing still does not: braking, cornering, corrugations, and the vertical shock of a pothole at speed. A load that is perfectly safe in your driveway can be well beyond what the roof structure is designed to handle on a rough track.
This figure is set by your vehicle manufacturer. It appears in the owner's handbook, sometimes in the accessories section rather than the specifications, and occasionally only on request from the dealer. It varies enormously between vehicles, and it varies between model years of the same vehicle. Do not rely on a figure quoted on a forum for a car that looks like yours.
Static load, and why you can sleep up there
Static roof load is the maximum weight the roof can carry while the vehicle is stationary. It is typically several times the dynamic figure, which is what makes rooftop tents workable at all. The tent, the mattress, the bedding and the people in it all count towards this number.
Two things are worth knowing. Some manufacturers publish a static figure clearly. Others do not publish one at all, and will tell you the dynamic rating and nothing else. Where no static figure is published, ask the manufacturer in writing rather than assuming a multiple of the dynamic number.
The chain is only as strong as its weakest link
There are three ratings in play and you are limited by the lowest of them:
-
The vehicle roof or mounting points. Set by the manufacturer.
-
The roof rack, bars or tub rack. Set by the rack manufacturer, and often lower than people expect.
-
The fitting method. Clamps, tracks and gutter mounts all have their own limits.
If your vehicle is rated to 100kg dynamic and your bars are rated to 75kg, your limit is 75kg. Fitting a stronger tent does not raise it. This catches people out regularly, because the vehicle figure is the one that gets quoted and the rack figure is the one that gets forgotten.
A worked example
Take a vehicle with a dynamic roof rating of 100kg. This is an example figure for the arithmetic, not a claim about any particular vehicle.
- Roof rack and bars: 25kg
- Rooftop tent: 80kg
- Total on the roof while driving: 105kg
That combination is over the limit by 5kg, and it is over before you have added an awning, a shovel, a set of traction boards or a spare wheel. The fix is a lighter tent, a lighter rack, or a different vehicle. There is no fourth option.
Now the same vehicle parked, assuming a published static rating of 350kg:
- Rack and tent: 105kg
- Two adults: roughly 170kg
- Mattress, bedding and gear: roughly 25kg
- Total while parked: about 300kg
That sits inside the static figure with room to spare. This is the normal shape of the problem. Driving is the constraint, sleeping usually is not.
What our tents weigh
These are the figures you should use in your own calculation. They are the tent alone, without the rack, and without your bedding.
| Model |
Weight |
Sleeps |
| 1.4 |
80kg |
2 adults |
| 1.5 Pro |
95kg |
2 adults |
| 1.4X |
97kg |
2 adults |
| 1.4Z |
107kg |
2 adults |
| 1.9 |
120kg |
3 to 4 people |
One thing to be clear about, because it is where people get caught. The weights above are the tent on its own, including the load bars fitted across its roof. They do not include the bars or rack on your vehicle. You still need those, whatever tent you buy, and their weight counts towards your dynamic rating as well. Add them in before you decide.
If your dynamic headroom after the rack is under 80kg, a hard shell rooftop tent is the wrong product for that vehicle. A soft shell or a ground based setup will serve you better, and we would rather say so than take the order. The trade-offs are covered in hard shell versus soft shell.
Four mistakes worth avoiding
-
Forgetting the rack. The rack weight comes off your dynamic allowance before the tent does. A heavy steel platform rack can take 30kg or more of your budget.
-
Using the static figure for driving. The higher number is the more comforting one, which is exactly why it gets misapplied.
-
Assuming a tub rack changes the rule. A tub rack moves the load off the cabin roof and onto the tray, which changes which limit applies, so check the tub rack rating and your vehicle's payload rather than the roof figure. Our tub racks list their own ratings.
-
Ignoring payload. Everything on the roof also counts towards the vehicle's total payload, along with passengers, fuel, water and the contents of the tray. Roof compliance and payload compliance are separate tests and you have to pass both.
When to stop
Rooftop tents raise a vehicle's centre of gravity. Even inside the rated limits, expect the vehicle to feel different in crosswinds, on off camber tracks and under heavy braking. Drive to that.
Take the tent down and pack it before driving if conditions turn, and treat high wind as a reason to come down rather than a challenge to ride out. Face the smallest profile into the wind, use the guy points, and pack down early rather than late.
Before you buy
Find three numbers and write them down: your vehicle's dynamic roof rating, your vehicle's static roof rating, and your rack's rated capacity. Get each from the manufacturer rather than from a forum. Then subtract your rack weight from the dynamic figure and compare what is left against the table above.
If the numbers work, the hard shell range starts at 80kg with the 1.4. If you are close to the limit, the 1.4 is the one to look at first, since it is the lightest tent we make.
If you would like a hand with the arithmetic for your specific vehicle and rack, send us the three numbers and we will work through it with you before you spend anything.
Common questions
How much weight can my roof rack hold?
Two different numbers, and people quote the wrong one. The dynamic rating is what the rack carries while the vehicle is moving and is the one a rooftop tent has to clear. The static rating is what it holds parked, is always higher, and is what covers you and anyone else asleep in the tent. Check the dynamic figure for your rack, and check the roof rating for your vehicle as well, because the lower of the two is your real limit.
How much does a rooftop tent weigh?
On The Horizon rooftop tents weigh 80kg for the 1.4, 95kg for the 1.5 Pro, 97kg for the 1.4X, 107kg for the 1.4Z and 120kg for the 1.9 Penthouse. If your rack is rated below the model you want, the 1.4 at 80kg is the lightest way into a hard shell.
What is the difference between dynamic and static roof load?
Dynamic load is the weight a rack can carry while you are driving, when cornering, braking and corrugations are all working on it. Static load is what it holds standing still, which is why a rack rated 80kg dynamic can be fine to sleep two adults on. Only the dynamic number decides whether a rooftop tent suits your vehicle.
What if my rack is not rated for the tent I want?
Do not fit it. The mounting is what fails first, not the tent. Either upgrade the rack or choose a lighter model, and the 1.4 at 80kg is the lightest On The Horizon build. If you are unsure what you are running, send us the vehicle and the rack and we will tell you straight whether it suits.
Related guides
Roof Load Limits Explained for Rooftop Tents
The short answer. Your vehicle has two roof load figures. The dynamic limit applies while you are driving and it is the one that governs whether a rooftop tent fits your vehicle at all. The static limit applies while you are parked and it is much higher, which is why a tent that is legal to carry can also be slept in. The tent and the rack are added together against the dynamic figure, and the lowest rated part of the whole assembly is your real limit. Check your own handbook and your rack manufacturer before you buy anything, including from us.
Dynamic load, the number that decides your purchase
Dynamic roof load is the maximum weight your roof is rated to carry while the vehicle is moving. It is lower than the static figure because driving adds forces that standing still does not: braking, cornering, corrugations, and the vertical shock of a pothole at speed. A load that is perfectly safe in your driveway can be well beyond what the roof structure is designed to handle on a rough track.
This figure is set by your vehicle manufacturer. It appears in the owner's handbook, sometimes in the accessories section rather than the specifications, and occasionally only on request from the dealer. It varies enormously between vehicles, and it varies between model years of the same vehicle. Do not rely on a figure quoted on a forum for a car that looks like yours.
Static load, and why you can sleep up there
Static roof load is the maximum weight the roof can carry while the vehicle is stationary. It is typically several times the dynamic figure, which is what makes rooftop tents workable at all. The tent, the mattress, the bedding and the people in it all count towards this number.
Two things are worth knowing. Some manufacturers publish a static figure clearly. Others do not publish one at all, and will tell you the dynamic rating and nothing else. Where no static figure is published, ask the manufacturer in writing rather than assuming a multiple of the dynamic number.
The chain is only as strong as its weakest link
There are three ratings in play and you are limited by the lowest of them:
If your vehicle is rated to 100kg dynamic and your bars are rated to 75kg, your limit is 75kg. Fitting a stronger tent does not raise it. This catches people out regularly, because the vehicle figure is the one that gets quoted and the rack figure is the one that gets forgotten.
A worked example
Take a vehicle with a dynamic roof rating of 100kg. This is an example figure for the arithmetic, not a claim about any particular vehicle.
That combination is over the limit by 5kg, and it is over before you have added an awning, a shovel, a set of traction boards or a spare wheel. The fix is a lighter tent, a lighter rack, or a different vehicle. There is no fourth option.
Now the same vehicle parked, assuming a published static rating of 350kg:
That sits inside the static figure with room to spare. This is the normal shape of the problem. Driving is the constraint, sleeping usually is not.
What our tents weigh
These are the figures you should use in your own calculation. They are the tent alone, without the rack, and without your bedding.
One thing to be clear about, because it is where people get caught. The weights above are the tent on its own, including the load bars fitted across its roof. They do not include the bars or rack on your vehicle. You still need those, whatever tent you buy, and their weight counts towards your dynamic rating as well. Add them in before you decide.
If your dynamic headroom after the rack is under 80kg, a hard shell rooftop tent is the wrong product for that vehicle. A soft shell or a ground based setup will serve you better, and we would rather say so than take the order. The trade-offs are covered in hard shell versus soft shell.
Four mistakes worth avoiding
When to stop
Rooftop tents raise a vehicle's centre of gravity. Even inside the rated limits, expect the vehicle to feel different in crosswinds, on off camber tracks and under heavy braking. Drive to that.
Take the tent down and pack it before driving if conditions turn, and treat high wind as a reason to come down rather than a challenge to ride out. Face the smallest profile into the wind, use the guy points, and pack down early rather than late.
Before you buy
Find three numbers and write them down: your vehicle's dynamic roof rating, your vehicle's static roof rating, and your rack's rated capacity. Get each from the manufacturer rather than from a forum. Then subtract your rack weight from the dynamic figure and compare what is left against the table above.
If the numbers work, the hard shell range starts at 80kg with the 1.4. If you are close to the limit, the 1.4 is the one to look at first, since it is the lightest tent we make.
If you would like a hand with the arithmetic for your specific vehicle and rack, send us the three numbers and we will work through it with you before you spend anything.
Common questions
How much weight can my roof rack hold?
Two different numbers, and people quote the wrong one. The dynamic rating is what the rack carries while the vehicle is moving and is the one a rooftop tent has to clear. The static rating is what it holds parked, is always higher, and is what covers you and anyone else asleep in the tent. Check the dynamic figure for your rack, and check the roof rating for your vehicle as well, because the lower of the two is your real limit.
How much does a rooftop tent weigh?
On The Horizon rooftop tents weigh 80kg for the 1.4, 95kg for the 1.5 Pro, 97kg for the 1.4X, 107kg for the 1.4Z and 120kg for the 1.9 Penthouse. If your rack is rated below the model you want, the 1.4 at 80kg is the lightest way into a hard shell.
What is the difference between dynamic and static roof load?
Dynamic load is the weight a rack can carry while you are driving, when cornering, braking and corrugations are all working on it. Static load is what it holds standing still, which is why a rack rated 80kg dynamic can be fine to sleep two adults on. Only the dynamic number decides whether a rooftop tent suits your vehicle.
What if my rack is not rated for the tent I want?
Do not fit it. The mounting is what fails first, not the tent. Either upgrade the rack or choose a lighter model, and the 1.4 at 80kg is the lightest On The Horizon build. If you are unsure what you are running, send us the vehicle and the rack and we will tell you straight whether it suits.
Related guides