Rooftop tents can be used in wind, but every rooftop tent has a point where it
should be packed down, and there is no single safe wind speed that applies to all
of them. Tent format, how the vehicle is parked, how the tent is mounted, the
exposed area and gusts rather than average speed all change the answer.
Why there is no universal number
A wind figure quoted for one tent on one vehicle does not transfer. A hard
shell rooftop tent presents a different profile to a soft shell. A tent opening
off the side of a ute presents a different profile to one opening over the tub.
And wind at a campsite is rarely steady, so a gust well above the average is what
actually causes trouble.
Where a manufacturer publishes a limit for a specific model, use it. Where one
does not exist, judgement and a conservative margin are what you have.
Park to reduce the sail
Point the smallest profile into the prevailing wind. In practice that usually
means facing the vehicle nose or tail into it rather than presenting the full
side of an open tent. Use terrain, a bank, a treeline or a building, and be aware
that a gap between two obstacles can funnel wind faster than open ground.
Avoid parking under trees with dead limbs. In Australian conditions a falling
branch in wind is a more common problem than the tent itself failing.
Mounting matters more than the tent
Wind loads go through the tent into the rack and into the vehicle. That makes
the mounting the weak point rather than the canvas. Check that the rack, tub rack
or canopy is rated to carry the tent while moving, that the mounting bolts are
correctly torqued, and re-check them after the first few trips and after any
rough track.
On The Horizon tents run from 80kg to 120kg depending on the model, and that
weight is what the mounting is holding when the wind is pushing.
Annexes and awnings come down first
An awning is a much larger sail than a tent and is usually the first thing to
fail. If conditions are building, fold the awning away well before you would
think about the tent.
When to pack down
Pack down while it is still easy. The mistake is waiting until conditions are
already bad, at which point closing a tent in a strong gust becomes the dangerous
part. If you are unsure whether it is too windy, that uncertainty is the answer.
Check a forecast before committing to an exposed site, especially on ridges,
beaches and open plains where there is nothing to slow the wind down.
Common questions
How much wind can a rooftop tent handle?
There is no universal figure. It depends on the model, how the vehicle is
parked, how the tent is mounted and the strength of gusts rather than the average
wind speed. Use the manufacturer's limit for your specific tent where one is
published, and pack down early when conditions are uncertain.
Is a hard shell rooftop tent better in wind than a soft shell?
A closed hard shell presents a low, solid profile while you drive and while it
is shut, which is an advantage. Once open, the exposed area and how the vehicle
is parked matter more than the format.
Can you sleep in a rooftop tent in a storm?
You can, but the decision should be made before the storm arrives, not during
it. Park to present the smallest profile, put the awning away, and if the
forecast is genuinely bad, choose a sheltered site or pack down.
Related guides
Can You Use a Rooftop Tent in High Wind?
Rooftop tents can be used in wind, but every rooftop tent has a point where it should be packed down, and there is no single safe wind speed that applies to all of them. Tent format, how the vehicle is parked, how the tent is mounted, the exposed area and gusts rather than average speed all change the answer.
Why there is no universal number
A wind figure quoted for one tent on one vehicle does not transfer. A hard shell rooftop tent presents a different profile to a soft shell. A tent opening off the side of a ute presents a different profile to one opening over the tub. And wind at a campsite is rarely steady, so a gust well above the average is what actually causes trouble.
Where a manufacturer publishes a limit for a specific model, use it. Where one does not exist, judgement and a conservative margin are what you have.
Park to reduce the sail
Point the smallest profile into the prevailing wind. In practice that usually means facing the vehicle nose or tail into it rather than presenting the full side of an open tent. Use terrain, a bank, a treeline or a building, and be aware that a gap between two obstacles can funnel wind faster than open ground.
Avoid parking under trees with dead limbs. In Australian conditions a falling branch in wind is a more common problem than the tent itself failing.
Mounting matters more than the tent
Wind loads go through the tent into the rack and into the vehicle. That makes the mounting the weak point rather than the canvas. Check that the rack, tub rack or canopy is rated to carry the tent while moving, that the mounting bolts are correctly torqued, and re-check them after the first few trips and after any rough track.
On The Horizon tents run from 80kg to 120kg depending on the model, and that weight is what the mounting is holding when the wind is pushing.
Annexes and awnings come down first
An awning is a much larger sail than a tent and is usually the first thing to fail. If conditions are building, fold the awning away well before you would think about the tent.
When to pack down
Pack down while it is still easy. The mistake is waiting until conditions are already bad, at which point closing a tent in a strong gust becomes the dangerous part. If you are unsure whether it is too windy, that uncertainty is the answer.
Check a forecast before committing to an exposed site, especially on ridges, beaches and open plains where there is nothing to slow the wind down.
Common questions
How much wind can a rooftop tent handle?
There is no universal figure. It depends on the model, how the vehicle is parked, how the tent is mounted and the strength of gusts rather than the average wind speed. Use the manufacturer's limit for your specific tent where one is published, and pack down early when conditions are uncertain.
Is a hard shell rooftop tent better in wind than a soft shell?
A closed hard shell presents a low, solid profile while you drive and while it is shut, which is an advantage. Once open, the exposed area and how the vehicle is parked matter more than the format.
Can you sleep in a rooftop tent in a storm?
You can, but the decision should be made before the storm arrives, not during it. Park to present the smallest profile, put the awning away, and if the forecast is genuinely bad, choose a sheltered site or pack down.
Related guides