Price Points: Rooftop tents

Rooftop tents

I can’t wait for summer! It’s the time of year that you spend more time outdoors; travelling a bit, doing some sightseeing, going to the beach, wild camping, hitting the boot sales at the crack of dawn…

We’ve toyed with the idea of getting ourselves a vintage camper van, but one of these rooftop tents is a really good stopgap. They’re better than run-of-the-mill tents because they’re raised off the ground, on to the roof of your vehicle; meaning the occupants are spared coming into contact with the cold, hard ground when they’re lying down to sleep. It also means that the probability of being visited by ground-dwelling critters (ants, scorpions, snakes, hyenas, grizzly bears… sorry, I’m letting my imagination get the better of me!) is diminished!

If extra space is needed (perhaps for storage or for the dog to bed down), a lower awning or ‘annex’ are options with some models. I like the idea of ‘gas-assisted opening’, so you’re not struggling with setting it up – especially if there happens to be gusts of wind or a very British downpour.

  1. Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent: £749.00, Ventura Roof Tents

    The Ventura Deluxe 1.4 is an all round incredible roof tent. It opens up in seconds, sleeps 2-3 adults and is made from durable materials for the most extreme conditions. Weighing just 45kgs, the roof tent easily mounts on a set of roof bars on any small car, 4×4, pick up, van or trailer.

  2. TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized: £1,650.00, Tuff Trek
    • 320g polycotton fabric
    • XTRA large fly sheet design
    • XTRA large / double size side windows – improved ventilation in hot climates
    • Tent body: 320g ripstop poly cotton canvas
    • Flysheet: HD 420d fire retardant polyester fabric
    • Lower annex room: 420d fire retardant polyester fabric, zipped in PVC ground sheet
    • Upgraded 25mm aluminium frame tubes
    • Rugged aluminium chequer plate base
    • 1.65m wide model
    • Lower annex room – included in price
    • 70mm memory foam style mattress included (removable, washable cover)
    • Free lower cargo net system
    • 2x piece ladder included
    • Fits most vehicles
  3. TentBox Classic: £2,250.00, TentBox
    • 2-person capacity
    • Gas assisted opening, takes 1 min
    • Space to store bedding & ladder inside
    • Ladder, mattress & fixing kit included

shop rooftop tents

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
£749.00
TentBox Classic
TentBox Classic
£2,250.00
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
£1,650.00
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
£749.00
TentBox Classic
TentBox Classic
£2,250.00
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
£1,650.00
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
£749.00
TentBox Classic
TentBox Classic
£2,250.00
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
£1,650.00
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
£749.00
TentBox Classic
TentBox Classic
£2,250.00
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
£1,650.00
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
Ventura Deluxe 1.4 rooftop tent
£749.00
TentBox Classic
TentBox Classic
£2,250.00
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
TUFF-TREK® TT-02 1.6m Soft Top Tent PRO Ruggedized
£1,650.00

Wednesday Wish: Vintage camper van

"Wednesday Wish" blog post banner

collage image of various vintage camper vans

So I wonder what we’re wishing for this week! 🙂

Those of you who have seen some of our earlier blog posts will know that a vintage camper van has been on our wish list for some time. Another summer has passed, but we’ve not managed it yet… here are some fine examples to keep the dream alive!

We are after something that is small enough to be used as our everyday vehicle but large enough to sleep two people and a large dog. One day soon hopefully!

Image credits: Saddle Tramps | There I Fixed It! | Simon Cars | Traveller Dave
Burgersalads | Commer Van Fan | Auto.blog.nl

Campervan Collecting

'Campervan Collection' blog post banner

vintage yellow and orange Primus stove

We picked up this fabulous vintage camping stove last week.

vintage yellow and orange Primus stove

It was produced by Primus of Sweden in the 1960s/70s.

vintage yellow and orange Primus stove

It’s a great colour and design, folding up to form a handy carry case.

We mentioned in our recent Bookmarks review of My Cool Campervan that we’re hoping to get our own campervan sometime in the not too distant future.

vintage orange enamel kettle and green patterned melamine plates

We’ve actually started doing some campervan collecting… starting a campervan ‘bottom drawer’ – or ‘hope chest’ – to our American, Canadian and New Zealand readers.

The stove’s now been added to it.

vintage orange enamel kettle

It contains all kinds of stuff – well designed, cheerfully decorated and unbreakable (or at least exceedingly robust).

vintage white enamel kettle

We’ve got kettles and teapots…

vintage enamel kettle, coffee pot and teapot

…and lots of melamine plates & bowls.

vintage green patterned Tefal melamine plates

detail from vintage green patterned melamine plate

There are drinking vessels in all sizes & shapes.

collection of vintage melamine cups

We reckon there’ll be lots of tea drinking…

collection of vintage pottery mugs

…and with all that tea we’ll obviously be eating lots of cake.

vintage three tier cake tin

…and when we run out of cake we’ll have to resort to mere bread!

vintage orange painted metal bread bin

We’ve got lots of cosy blankets for when it’s a bit chilly…

collection of vintage blankets and throws

…and deck chairs for when its sunny.

collection of colourful vintage garden and camping chairs

Will there be any space left in the campervan for us?

Bookmarks – My Cool Campervan

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My Cool Campervan book with vintage mug, crochet blanket and orange camping kettle | H is for Home

A vintage campervan has been on our wish list for a very long time.

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a blue Commer page in My Cool Campervan featuring a yellow Commer

Whilst we enjoy staying in a holiday cottage as much as the next person, we often dream of hitting the road for an overnight stay or long weekend on the spur of the moment… whenever the mood takes us or the weather looks too good to waste.

vintage Airstream in a field

page in My Cool Campervan featuring an Austin Loadstar

We live only an hour or two’s drive from all kinds of lovely places – the Lake District, North Wales, Cheshire, the East & West coasts spring to mind for starters. Then there’s the rest of the UK to visit for slightly longer trips… and then mainland Europe and beyond after that!

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Bedford CA campervan

vintage Bedford CF page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Bedford CF campervan with its trailer

It would make travelling with Fudge a lot easier too as he’d always have that secure home away from home to put him at ease. Plus, there’s all the fun of kitting it out of course. We already have a campervan ‘bottom drawer‘ where blankets, picnic boxes and melamine items are steadily accumulating.

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Ginetta car camper

page in My Cool Campervan featuring an Austin 152 car camper

Reading My Cool Campervan (by Jane Field-Lewis & Chris Haddon) has really persuaded us to get our finances in order and hunt one down – it’s been totally inspirational and we’ve a renewed focus all of a sudden.

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Bedford CA named Cuthbert

page in My Cool Campervan featuring the interior of a GMC motorhome

Each chapter of the book is dedicated to an actual vintage campervan – the authors & photographer travelled far & wide to visit them.

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a VW Devon campervan page in My Cool Campervan featuring a VW Hightop used to go surfing

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a VW Westfalia page in My Cool Campervan featuring a 1965 VW Microbus campervan

For each vehicle there’s a little introduction to its make & model, a brief history of its life to date and a chat with the current owners… where they found it, work carried out, how they use it etc. There are also ‘style notes’ where we’re given a sneak peak into how they’ve decked out their pride & joy.

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Dodge Travco motorhome named Myrtle

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Bush radio in a vintage campervan page in My Cool Campervan featuring the dining table in a vintage campervan

Everyone’s love and enthusiasm really shines through. Many of the owners have given their vans names and there’s also many a sad tale of reluctant sales.

page in My Cool Campervan featuring the interior of a vintage Morris Marina campervan page in My Cool Campervan featuring the interior of Debbie, a 1968 Bedford CA Dormobile Debonaire campervan

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Caravelle Club campervan

One seller even tried to buy back the campervan he sold a week after parting with it – offering more than it was initially sold for!!

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Toyota Devon campervan

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Dodge campervan with colour coordinating bicycle

Tina Hillier‘s photos are tremendous too – they make you just want to pack a picnic and get out there!

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a a Fiat 238 Weinsberg campervan

page in My Cool Campervan featuring an Airstream motorhome page in My Cool Campervan featuring an Airstream motorhome interior

So, this book gets a ‘highly recommended’ award from us – whether you’re already a campervan owner, hanker after one like us or are just fans of the vintage scene generally. We absolutely loved it!

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a campervan boot full of colourful luggage and bedding

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Dormobile Roma MKII micro-camper named Lil Blue

As usual, My Cool Campervan is available on Amazon.

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Wildgoose Mini campervan

page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Morris A60 campervan

For caravan lovers, the authors have previously published My Cool Caravan – click on the link to look inside!

vintage Citroen H fire engine page in My Cool Campervan featuring a Citroen Nomad campervan

Olive green dotted horizontal line

My Cool Campervan by Jane Field-Lewis & Chris Haddon

[Many thanks to Anova Books for supplying this review copy]