Understanding vehicle roof load limits for roof tents
Last updated
Summary
How to use the Vehicle Checker
The Vehicle Checker does the maths for you, matching your car against the weight of each TentBox.
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Open the Vehicle Checker
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Select your vehicle make and model
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Choose the variant and year – body style and age can change the roof load limit, so pick the closest match
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Click Show my results
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Each TentBox is marked Compatible or Incompatible, alongside its weight – tap Compatibility information on any model for the detail
To check a second car, click Check another vehicle below your results.
Which TentBox works with my roof load limit?
Your vehicle's dynamic roof load limit needs to be equal to or greater than the weight of the TentBox. A car with a 50kg limit, for example, can carry a TentBox GO or a TentBox Lite.
| Model | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| TentBox GO | 33kg | Ultra-lightweight and easiest to store |
| TentBox Lite | 50kg | Small cars – folds down smallest |
| TentBox Lite XL | 62kg | Most space inside, folds down small |
| TentBox Classic | 67kg | Spacious interior, stores bedding inside |
| TentBox Cargo | 72kg | Carrying gear on top, stores bedding inside |
Want to weigh up more than weight? Compare every model side by side.
Can't find your car?
Send us your car's make, model and year and our Product Specialists will work out which TentBox models fit – contact the team here.
Prefer to check for yourself? Most manufacturers publish their owner’s manuals online. Look up your car’s make, model and year followed by “owner’s manual”, open the PDF and search it for “roof load” (Ctrl+F, or Cmd+F on a Mac). The dynamic limit is usually listed under technical data – compare it with the model weights above.
Dynamic vs static roof load
Your car has two roof load limits, and each one matters at a different time.
Dynamic roof load is the weight your roof can carry while you're driving. This is the figure manufacturers publish, and the one that decides which TentBox you can fit.
Static roof load is the weight your roof can carry while parked. It's typically 3–5 times the dynamic limit. Most manufacturers don't publish it, because roof tents are one of the few uses that need it – though some, such as Subaru, now do.
To estimate your static limit, multiply the dynamic limit by 3–5. A car with a 50kg dynamic limit has a static limit of roughly 150–250kg.
The gap comes down to the forces at play on the road. Braking, cornering, bumps and inclines multiply the force a load exerts on your roof, so 50kg on the move puts the same strain on it as 150–250kg at a standstill. Our engineers have calculated this, and vehicle manufacturers we've spoken to have confirmed it.
Can my roof take the weight of people sleeping inside?
Yes. You'll only ever be inside your TentBox when the car is parked, so the static limit is the one that applies – and it's typically 3–5 times higher than the dynamic limit.
Car roofs are also built to withstand a rollover without collapsing. Your roof bars fix directly to the vehicle's steel frame, one of the strongest parts of the car.
Next step: roof bars
Once you know which models fit, you'll need roof bars to mount your TentBox – the type that run side to side across the roof. Use our Roof Bar Finder to see if we stock bars for your vehicle.
Already have roof bars? Read our User Guidelines to make sure they're suitable.
Still have questions?
Our Product Specialists know roof tents inside out and are happy to help with anything from roof loads to choosing a model. Talk to the team.
