A rooftop tent costs more than its ticket price. The tent is the first line,
not the whole calculation, and the parts people forget are the rack, the fitting
and the fuel. Here is what an On The Horizon rooftop tent actually costs to own
in Australia.
The tent
On The Horizon hard shell rooftop tents list from $3,290 for the
1.4 to $3,990 for the 1.9 Penthouse, with the 1.4X at
$3,490, the 1.5 Pro at $3,690 and the 1.4Z at $3,750.
What matters when comparing is what is in the box. Every On The Horizon
rooftop tent includes load bars across the roof of the tent, winter insulation,
an anti-condensation pad, a moisture barrier, an upgraded mattress, interior LED
lighting, 12V and USB power, a pre-wired Anderson plug and a 2.3m telescopic
ladder. Most rooftop tents at this price arrive as a shell and a mattress with
the rest sold separately, so a cheaper tent is often not cheaper by the time it
is usable.
The rack, and this is the one people miss
A rooftop tent needs something rated to carry it. Roof racks, tub racks and
canopies vary enormously, and a rack that suits a set of Max Trax may not suit a
tent.
The number to check is the dynamic load rating, what the rack
carries while the vehicle is moving. It is always lower than the static rating,
which is what it holds parked. On The Horizon 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. Your dynamic rating has to clear that figure before anything else
matters.
Budget for a rack if you do not already have a rated one, and budget for
fitting if you are not doing it yourself.
Fuel
A rooftop tent adds weight and, more importantly, frontal area. Expect a
noticeable increase in fuel use, more at highway speed than around town. It is
not usually enough to change whether you buy one, but it is a real running cost
over a long trip and worth knowing before you are surprised by it.
Care
Canvas wants to be dry before it is packed away. That is the single biggest
factor in how long a rooftop tent lasts, and it costs nothing but a bit of
patience. On The Horizon tents use 350gsm ripstop poly-cotton, which is water
resistant rather than waterproof, and like any canvas it will suffer if it is
closed up wet and left.
Occasional cleaning with products suited to the materials, a look over the
seams, hinges and mounting bolts, and re-torquing the mounts after the first few
trips covers most of it.
Storage
If the tent comes off over winter it needs somewhere dry and supported, out of
standing water and off a bare concrete floor. If it stays on the vehicle, it
needs somewhere with clearance. A closed On The Horizon tent adds between 21cm
and 31cm depending on the model, on top of your vehicle height and the rack.
What it saves
Against a camper trailer or a caravan there is no registration, no insurance
on a second vehicle, no tow ball, no reversing it into a site, and no separate
storage. Against a motel it pays for itself on a schedule you can work out
yourself.
Common questions
How much does a rooftop tent cost in Australia?
On The Horizon hard shell rooftop tents range from $3,290 to $3,990, including
the ladder, mattress, insulation, lighting and 12V power. Budget separately for a
rated roof rack, tub rack or canopy if you do not already have one.
Is a rooftop tent worth the money?
It is worth it if camp moves often and you value setup time and sleeping off
the ground. It is poor value if you camp in one spot for a week at a time, where
a ground tent gives you more space for less money.
Do rooftop tents affect fuel economy?
Yes. The added weight and frontal area increase fuel use, most noticeably at
highway speed. The effect is larger on a short trip with a lot of highway than on
slow going in the bush.
Related guides
What Does a Rooftop Tent Cost to Own in Australia?
A rooftop tent costs more than its ticket price. The tent is the first line, not the whole calculation, and the parts people forget are the rack, the fitting and the fuel. Here is what an On The Horizon rooftop tent actually costs to own in Australia.
The tent
On The Horizon hard shell rooftop tents list from $3,290 for the 1.4 to $3,990 for the 1.9 Penthouse, with the 1.4X at $3,490, the 1.5 Pro at $3,690 and the 1.4Z at $3,750.
What matters when comparing is what is in the box. Every On The Horizon rooftop tent includes load bars across the roof of the tent, winter insulation, an anti-condensation pad, a moisture barrier, an upgraded mattress, interior LED lighting, 12V and USB power, a pre-wired Anderson plug and a 2.3m telescopic ladder. Most rooftop tents at this price arrive as a shell and a mattress with the rest sold separately, so a cheaper tent is often not cheaper by the time it is usable.
The rack, and this is the one people miss
A rooftop tent needs something rated to carry it. Roof racks, tub racks and canopies vary enormously, and a rack that suits a set of Max Trax may not suit a tent.
The number to check is the dynamic load rating, what the rack carries while the vehicle is moving. It is always lower than the static rating, which is what it holds parked. On The Horizon 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. Your dynamic rating has to clear that figure before anything else matters.
Budget for a rack if you do not already have a rated one, and budget for fitting if you are not doing it yourself.
Fuel
A rooftop tent adds weight and, more importantly, frontal area. Expect a noticeable increase in fuel use, more at highway speed than around town. It is not usually enough to change whether you buy one, but it is a real running cost over a long trip and worth knowing before you are surprised by it.
Care
Canvas wants to be dry before it is packed away. That is the single biggest factor in how long a rooftop tent lasts, and it costs nothing but a bit of patience. On The Horizon tents use 350gsm ripstop poly-cotton, which is water resistant rather than waterproof, and like any canvas it will suffer if it is closed up wet and left.
Occasional cleaning with products suited to the materials, a look over the seams, hinges and mounting bolts, and re-torquing the mounts after the first few trips covers most of it.
Storage
If the tent comes off over winter it needs somewhere dry and supported, out of standing water and off a bare concrete floor. If it stays on the vehicle, it needs somewhere with clearance. A closed On The Horizon tent adds between 21cm and 31cm depending on the model, on top of your vehicle height and the rack.
What it saves
Against a camper trailer or a caravan there is no registration, no insurance on a second vehicle, no tow ball, no reversing it into a site, and no separate storage. Against a motel it pays for itself on a schedule you can work out yourself.
Common questions
How much does a rooftop tent cost in Australia?
On The Horizon hard shell rooftop tents range from $3,290 to $3,990, including the ladder, mattress, insulation, lighting and 12V power. Budget separately for a rated roof rack, tub rack or canopy if you do not already have one.
Is a rooftop tent worth the money?
It is worth it if camp moves often and you value setup time and sleeping off the ground. It is poor value if you camp in one spot for a week at a time, where a ground tent gives you more space for less money.
Do rooftop tents affect fuel economy?
Yes. The added weight and frontal area increase fuel use, most noticeably at highway speed. The effect is larger on a short trip with a lot of highway than on slow going in the bush.
Related guides