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How to Build Rooftop Tents

A rooftop tent is a type of tent which, instead of being pitched on the ground, is pitched on the roof of a vehicle -- usually a four-wheel-drive vehicle with an adequate flat surface on the roof. These tents are used for camping outside the vehicle in places were sleeping at ground level leaves you vulnerable to hazards such as poisonous snakes or spiders. To buy one of these tents from a store can be incredibly expensive, however, you can make one at home with a standard tent. Be sure to secure the tent to the roof of the vehicle with heavy-duty ratchet strips however because sleeping at such a height can be dangerous if the tent is not adequately secured.

Things You'll Need

Vehicle with roof bars
Loft boards
Drill
Coping saw
Measuring tape
Tent
12 ratchet strips
Ladder
Sleeping bag underlay mat

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of the top of your four-wheel-drive vehicle. As this is the platform your tent will be mounted upon, the tent needs to be no larger than this area. In the interest of comfort, make the most of this room and select a tent as close to the size of the platform as possible.
- 2
  Choose a tent that fits the size of the top of your four-wheel-drive vehicle. The tent must be a rectangular shape with four distinct corners.
- 3
  Cut a piece of attic board to a size equal to that of the roof of the vehicle. Cut this board in half, halfway along its length. Drill a hole in each corner of both boards, 1 inch from the apex of the corner. Each hole should be large enough to fit a ratchet strip through. Lay both boards on the roof bars of the vehicle and slip ratchet strips through each hole. Wrap the end of the strip around the roof bar and pull the ratchet tight to secure.
- 4
  Pitch your tent at ground level. Do not peg any of the parts of the tent down. Lift the tent up and place it on top of the boards. Wrap another ratchet strap around the foot of the tent in one of the corners. Run the strap through the hole in the boards and feed it back through the ratchet. Pull the ratchet tight to secure the tent at that corner. Repeat for the remaining three corners.
- 5
  Place a ladder against the side of the vehicle with the tent door on it. Climb up and spread a sleeping bag underlay mat on the floor of the tent. This increases the level of comfort within the tent and removes the need to sleep on a wooden loft board.

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