Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent Review

Camping is one of the best parts about going on an adventure, but if you’re on the road for days, it may be challenging to find the ideal campground to set up your tent. If you plan on taking your Jeep on a road trip and don’t want to waste money on hotels or any time trying to find a site, then a rooftop tent is a solid investment.

You can easily mount one of these tents to your Jeep, find a safe spot where you’re allowed to camp, and get a great night's sleep—right on top of your vehicle. You also don’t have to be on some epic road trip to get use out of these tents either. They’re also a great option if you prefer not to sleep on the ground when you’re camping with others.

Rugged Ridge made this reasonably priced universal rooftop tent for Jeeps, trucks, and SUVs. My significant other and I decided to put this Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent from RealTruck to the test. We discovered that this tent has a pretty sweet setup if you want something sturdy and simple.

What is Rugged Ridge?

Established in 2005, Rugged Ridge creates and sells parts and accessories for everyday Jeep drivers and off-road Jeep enthusiasts. The company has designed more than 3,000 products for Jeeps, such as tops, door accessories, bumpers, dash kits, headlights, brakes, and more. In addition to parts and accessories, Rugged Ridge also sells apparel, such as t-shirts and hoodies.

Shop Rugged Ridge Jeep parts

What I like about the Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent

It’s easy to install

Don’t be intimidated by the large box that this tent comes in—with a couple of strong people, it’s actually pretty easy to set up and install. It took my significant other and me about three hours to get it from the box to the top of his Jeep. This tent comes with a tent-compatible rack system, an extra-wide ladder, and all of the parts needed to put it together. The directions are a bit vague, but if you have common sense, you’ll be able to understand them pretty easily.

Assembling the tent was relatively straightforward, but the hardest part was lifting it over our heads to slide it onto the top of the Jeep. Based on our experience, this step requires two strong people. Please be cautious when you do this because the tent is quite heavy,

It’s spacious on the inside

At 95-inches wide, 56-inches long, and 51-inches tall, this roof top tent is super spacious. It can sleep up to three people (or two people and your puppy, perhaps) and has a weight capacity of 660 pounds. The inside also has convenient storage pockets for your water, phone, keys, and other belongings you want to keep close by (make sure food and other items with a strong scent are stored somewhere safe and away from your tent to keep bears and other wildlife away).

This tent also has window flaps on both sides and a secure mosquito netting. It’s also effortless to get into with the attached ladder.

It’s reasonably priced

Don’t be surprised if you’re searching for tents and come across a bunch listed at prices as high as $4,000—this isn’t uncommon. Most high-quality roof top tents on the market are pretty expensive. That’s why I’m a big fan of this Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent—it’s good quality but at a way more reasonable price. Of course, you’ll probably get a little more out of one that costs twice as much, but if budget is your priority, then this one by Rugged Ridge is the way to go.

It’s sturdy and durable

When we first popped open this tent, the first thing I noticed was its stability. The structure of this tent is made with a strong aluminum base, includes a waterproof, poly-coated shell, and has a rainfly cover to ensure rough weather. The ladder on the entrance side provides extra stability once the tent is attached to the Jeep racks. With this tent, you can sleep well, knowing you’re stable and protected.

What I didn’t like about the Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent

It lacks some ease of use

A big thing I look for when reviewing a product is its practicality. This is especially important with outdoor gear—you want items that allow for a smooth user experience. The Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent was difficult to fold up in an organized manner. We had to keep shoving all of the material inside for it to close properly. In addition, this is a pretty large tent, so it just takes up a lot of space on top of your vehicle, even when folded.

If you’re okay with a few extra steps to put this tent away, then the ease of use may not be a big deal for you.

The mattress isn’t very comfortable

I don’t know about you, but the most important thing to me when it comes to camping is sleeping comfortably. There’s nothing worse than tossing and turning on a sleeping pad all night long. Although this mattress is nice and wide, I didn’t find it comfortable. To resolve this, add a mattress pad to the top of the mattress for a better night sleep. You may like the way this mattress feels, but I prefer the soft, sink-in feeling of a mattress. The one included with this tent is a little too firm.

Is the Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent worth it?

Yes, it’s sturdy, spacious, and reasonably priced

If you want a tent that is spacious, sturdy, and saves you a bit of money, then this Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent is definitely worth the buy. If you’re looking for a tent that is a bit more compact and easy to open, there are plenty of other options available at a higher price point.

Whether you drive a Jeep like us, an SUV, or a truck, this roof top tent will work with your vehicle. If you’ve been thinking about adding a roof top tent to your outdoor gear collection for a while, then now may be that perfect time.

RealTruck Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent

The sturdy, spacious Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent is a solid investment for road trippers.

BUY NOW

at RealTruck