TentBox Classic 2.0 installation guide

Before your TentBox Classic 2.0 is ready to use, you need to first mount it to your car. This article explains this process in detail.

Installation guide

 

Unboxing

Please be careful when unboxing your TentBox, and take extra care with children around. It's a large and heavy product, with a number of moving parts and mechanisms that could cause injury if care isn't taken.

It's important to check your TentBox thoroughly when first opening to ensure any metal shards that may be present from the manufacturing process are removed before use. Although we clean these out before packaging the TentBox, in some cases more trapped shards can fall out during transit and the final delivery. Please make sure to double check and use a hoover to remove any more shards you do find.

Installation

Inside the TentBox Classic 2.0, you'll find the ladder, welcome kit, bar light and fixing kit. There is also a zip bag under the mattress with the porch poles inside. For the install, you'll just need the fixing kit, but you should remove everything else for the installation as well.

Mounting to your vehicle

• With the help of at least one other person, carefully lift your TentBox onto your roof bars and position centrally.
• Make sure it’s straight and ensure the vehicle’s tailgate (if you have one) can still open.
• Clamp the TentBox to your roof bars at 4 points using the fixing clamps provided:

   

  • First, drop each of the eight bolts from the fixing kit into a slider and slide them into the fixing rails underneath the TentBox.
  • You should slide all eight bolts onto the rails and position them so that you have one hanging down on either side of the roof bars at four different points.
  • Take the four U-clamps and tighten them to each of the connection points using the nuts and spanner provided. Tighten them to the point where you see a very slight bend in the U-clamp.
  • Once finished, you should have four secure clamps attaching your TentBox Classic 2.0 to the roof bars.
  • Insert the plastic caps into the end of the rails, then give the TentBox a hard shove in each direction to make sure it's secure and you don't see any movement.

How to use your TentBox Classic 2.0

Using your TentBox

Opening your TentBox Classic 2.0

• Undo the two buckles at one side and push the top shell, then do the same on the other side. The gas struts will do the rest of the work for you.
• Pull the skirt down around the outside edge.
• The elastic cords inside your TentBox should be removed before use. Store them in one of the pockets to keep them safe.
• The elastic cords inside your TentBox should be removed before use. Store them in one of the pockets to keep them safe. 

Using the ladder on your TentBox Classic 2.0

• The ladder can live inside the TentBox or in the back of the car.
• Connect it to the spring pins, then remove the velcro and extend it.
• Extend the ladder from the top rung first, making sure each rung locks into place before extending the next.
• To close the ladder, start from the bottom and push the two black buttons inwards. The rung above will collapse, so push upwards and then repeat the process until the ladder is fully closed. Then apply the velcro.

Using your TentBox Classic 2.0 porch poles

• You'll find the porch pole bag underneath the mattress. Use these to prop open the side doors to create a porch.
• First slot them fully into the base. They go in at an angle facing away from the centre.
• Then bend them up and hook them into the metal eyelets on the doors.

Using your LED Bar Light

• The LED Bar Light that comes with your TentBox can be slotted into the holders, where you can spin it around to change the angle.
• To operate the light, press the end button to cycle through the settings, then press and hold the button to adjust the brightness.
• The Bar Light can also be used to charge your phone – just remember to charge the light fully before you head out on a TentBox trip.
• It also has magnets for attaching it to your car to light up your camp area.

Preventing condensation

• As with all enclosed spaces, condensation buildup can occur.
• This heavily depends on how many people are inside the TentBox, the outside temperature and the humidity.
• The best way to prevent condensation is ventilation. To increase ventilation in the TentBox Classic, open the end windows slightly. The top shell offers protection in the rain.
• You can also roll up the internal side door, which provides ventilation through the bottom.

Closing your TentBox Classic 2.0

• Make sure the end windows are open slightly, as this allows air to escape and makes closing it down easier.
• Attach the elastic cords in a cross shape inside the TentBox, as these help pull the fabric inside as you close it.
• Close the ladder down and put it inside the TentBox or the boot of your car.
• Using the pull handle, pull one side of the tent down, then loosely apply the two buckles on that side to prevent it from popping back open.
• Repeat this on the other side, then walk around the TentBox, making sure all of the fabric is tucked in.
• Once all of the fabric is tucked away neatly, you can fully tighten the buckles at both ends.

Storage & care 

We recommend keeping your TentBox on your car all year round so you're always ready for adventure. If you do want to remove it, you can store it on its side – just make sure to put something on the ground to protect the shell. 

Aside from ensuring it’s fully dry when packing away for more than 24 hours, we also advise cleaning the fabric with warm water once a year and then reproofing it with a standard tent reproofer.

As always, if you need any support with your TentBox, just reach out to our friendly and experienced team of Product Specialists.