Roof load calculator: will a rooftop tent fit your car?
How do you quickly work out whether a rooftop tent fits your car? That is what we built this free roof load check for. Enter the make, model and year of your car and you get an estimated roof load, indicative only, plus a direct answer on whether your rooftop tent combination fits.
To be honest with you: car manufacturers only publish the roof load in the owner's manual, there is no official central database. Our estimate is based on common manufacturer values per vehicle class and is explicitly an indication, without guarantee. Always check the exact value in your owner's manual, that is the only document you can rely on. For classics and oldtimers (built before 1990) the check deliberately gives no estimate. You can read why further down.
Free roof load check
Step 1: enter your car
Step 2: pick your rooftop tent and roof racks
The roof load shown is an estimate based on common manufacturer values per vehicle class and is indicative only, no rights can be derived from it. We apply a 10% safety margin: if your margin is smaller, you get an orange result instead of green. For cars built before 1990 we give no estimate. Always check your car's owner's manual and the specifications of your roof racks. In doubt? Call us: +31 6 28075883.
How does the calculation work?
The rule is simple: weight of the rooftop tent + weight of the roof racks ≤ dynamic roof load of your car. The people sleeping in it do not count: they fall under the much higher static roof load, because the car is parked.
The estimate in the tool works with common manufacturer values per vehicle class: compact city cars around 50 kg, most passenger cars and estates 75 kg, large 4x4s, SUVs and vans around 100 kg. Your specific version may differ, which is why the result is always indicative.
Why we apply a 10% margin. You only get green when tent + racks stay at least 10% below the estimated roof load. Above that but still within the roof load, you get orange with the advice to check your manual. That margin is there for a reason: the estimate itself is an indication, roof racks vary in weight, and in practice there is almost always a mattress protector, bedding and some gear left in the tent.
Weight table: our rooftop tents
| Model | Weight | + racks (±7 kg) | Recommended from roof load (incl. 10% margin) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCM Dune (2 pers.) | 60.5 kg | ±67.5 kg | 75 kg |
| LCM Oasis (2 to 3 pers.) | 66 kg | ±73 kg | 85 kg |
| LCM Savannah (2 to 3 pers.) | 74 kg | ±81 kg | 90 kg |
Classics and oldtimers: why we give no number
Enter a year before 1990 and the check deliberately gives no estimate. That is not unwillingness, it is honesty: our vehicle classes are based on modern cars, and for classics there is hardly any reliable central data. More important still is the construction. The gutters and rain rails of a Beetle or an old Land Rover were designed for a couple of suitcases, not for a hardshell rooftop tent of 60 to 74 kilos plus roof racks.
Does that mean a rooftop tent on a classic is impossible? No. With a light softshell tent and a properly mounted gutter rack you see it regularly, especially at fairs and shows. But that is a different product from our hardshells and it requires custom work. Call or message us: +31 6 28075883. We would rather tell you honestly that something does not fit than have you find out on the motorway.
Where do I find the exact roof load of my car?
- Owner's manual: search for "roof load" (usually in the chapter on driving with luggage)
- Manufacturer's website: the manual is often available as a PDF by make + year
- Your dealer: one phone call and you have the answer
Note: if your car has a panoramic or glass roof, the roof load can be lower than standard. And also check the maximum load of your roof racks themselves.
Does it fit? Then we will sort the rest
If you collect the rooftop tent from us in Hoogwoud, we help with the mounting and, as an extra service, use stronger bolts of better quality than the ones in the package. Suitable roof racks are up to you, but with the result of this check we can tell you exactly which ones you need. Feel free to send us a screenshot of your result via the contact page or call us: +31 6 28075883.
