Roof tent on a small car – is it possible, and which to choose?

Can you have a roof tent on a small car?

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. What matters isn't how big the car is, but that the roof can take the tent's weight and that the tent's closed length fits the car's roof. With roof bars approved for your car and a reasonably light, compact tent, a roof tent works well on most smaller cars.

There are still a few things that are extra important when the car is small, and we'll go through them here.

Two things decide

When choosing a roof tent for a smaller car, two things above all decide whether it works well:

• Roof load – how much weight the roof may carry while the car is driving.
• Length – how long the tent is when closed, so the tailgate can still open.

Get these two right and the rest is easy. Let's look at them one at a time.

Roof load – how much can your roof take?

What matters is the car's dynamic roof load, i.e. how much the roof may carry while the car is being driven. Many smaller cars allow around 75 kg dynamically, but it varies between models. The total weight on the roof is the tent plus the roof bars, so always count both.

You can easily find your car's maximum roof load by searching your registration number on car.info, or in the car's manual. Once you know the limit, choose a tent that – together with the bars – fits with a little margin. On a small car it's therefore often wise to choose one of the lighter tents.

Length – so the tailgate stays clear

On a short car, the tent's closed length is at least as important as the weight. A long tent (around 200–220 cm closed) can stick out so far back that the tailgate hits the tent and won't open fully. So a compact, short tent suits a small car best.

The tent's fold matters here: a narrow double-fold tent is short on the roof, while a single-fold tent is long. If you want to read more about that, we recommend our guide on single-fold and double-fold. A good tip is to measure the distance from the front of your roof bars to the tailgate and compare it with the tent's closed length.

Hardshell or softshell on a small car?

Both work on a small car. A hardshell has a low profile and can give less wind noise, which many appreciate on a smaller car. A light softshell, on the other hand, can be a good choice if you want to keep both weight and price down.

The most important thing is that the model is light enough for your roof load and short enough for your roof. Within those limits, you can choose the shell type based on how you want to travel.

Our best roof tents for small cars

These are the models we most often recommend for smaller and shorter cars, because they're both light and compact when closed:

• Lite Cruiser 120 XL – softshell, very light and among the shortest when closed. A perfect entry-level tent for 1–2 people on a small car.
• Voyager Pro 130 – hardshell, compact and light with quick setup. A neat choice for 1–2 people who want a hardshell.

If you need more space there are slightly wider models, but bear in mind that both weight and closed length increase. If you're unsure, we're happy to help you match tent and car.

Checklist before you buy

• Check the car's dynamic roof load (e.g. via the registration number on car.info).
• Add tent + roof bars together and leave some margin.
• Measure the distance from the front of your roof bars to the tailgate.
• Compare with the tent's closed length so the tailgate stays clear.
• Make sure you have roof bars approved for your car.

Summary

Roof tents work well on most small cars – the key is to keep an eye on the roof load and the tent's closed length. Choose a light, compact tent, check the car's maximum roof load and measure that the tailgate stays clear, and you're there.

If you're unsure what your particular car can handle, get in touch and we'll help you find a tent that fits.