TENTBOX FAQ
tent on the car
Will a TentBox work with my vehicle?
A TentBox will work with most vehicles. There are just two main things to consider, outlined below.
1. Cross Bars
Firstly, you’ll need a set of cross bars. Cross bars are the ones that run across your vehicle roof, from side to side.
Cross bars are available for most vehicles.
Your TentBox will attach directly to these bars, with the fixing parts included with your order.
ⓘ Check our our Installation guide below, for more information on the installation process.
Your TentBox will attach directly to these bars, with the fixing parts included with your order.
ⓘ Check our our Installation guide below, for more information on the installation process.
Your vehicle will have one of three main ways to attach cross bars:
Side Rails
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Fixing Points
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Plain Roof
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There are several online retailers who supply bars for all vehicles. If you’re not comfortable purchasing these yourself, you can use our cross bar purchasing service. Using your vehicle details, we’ll source you some appropriate bars, and send them along with your TentBox.
ⓘ Roof Rack Tray: If you have a roof rack tray on your vehicle (commonly fitted to 4×4’s), it is usually possible to install a TentBox directly to this.
ⓘ Roof Rack Tray: If you have a roof rack tray on your vehicle (commonly fitted to 4×4’s), it is usually possible to install a TentBox directly to this.
2. Vehicle roof load limits
Cross bars are are attached to the steel frame of your car, so the weight of the TentBox is spread through the strength of the steel.
It is important to check that your vehicle roof load limit is higher than the weight of the TentBox which you’re purchasing. Most vehicles have a roof load limit of 75kgs +.
The respective weights of our TentBox models:
tent on the car
Weight limits explained
It is common to wonder about the added weight of people inside your TentBox, and how this affects your roof load limit. In short, the roof load limit of your vehicle is for dynamic loads, i.e. when your vehicle is in motion. As people will only be inside your TentBox when your vehicle is stationary, the dynamic load limit is not a relevant figure. The steel frame of your vehicle, which the TentBox sits on, can take hundreds of kilograms of force, as it’s designed to roll in an accident.
ⓘ Check out below for information about vehicle roof load limits
ⓘ If you are struggling to find your vehicle roof load limit, a member of our support team will be happy to help.
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How do vehicle roof load limits work?
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Vehicle weight limits
A common question people ask, is what affect the added weight of people inside a TentBox has on a vehicle roof load limit, and how a TentBox can work with this added weight. Trust us, we’ve done the engineering, and we know it works.
Important Points
Firstly, it is important to remember that a TentBox sits on the cross bars, which are fixed to the steel frame of your vehicle. The TentBox does not at any point sit on the actual roof of your car.
Secondly, the maximum roof load limit shown in your vehicle/roof bar manual refers to dynamic loads, as opposed to static loads.
Dynamic vs. Static Loads
A dynamic load refers to the maximum weight allowed whilst your vehicle is moving, and the static load is when your vehicle is stationary. A vehicle can actually take much larger static loads than it can dynamic loads.
The reason for the difference is that when moving, your vehicle is turning, accelerating and braking, which all exert lateral forces on the top of your vehicle, and can make it unstable, when driving.
However, when your vehicle is stationary, only a downward force is being exerted directly into the steel frame. Vehicle frames are designed to withstand a force large enough to protect you in a crash, and to take the force of driving over bumps in the road, and changes in road gradient, when you hit them at speed.
In other words, when your vehicle is stationary, the steel frame can easily take the weight of a TentBox, as well as two or even three adults. In fact, it most vehicles can take upwards of 500kgs.
We’ve done the maths below, if you want to delve that deep!
What TentBox can your vehicle take?
In light of the above, you need to ensure that your roof load limit is higher than the weight of the TentBox model you’d like to go for.
The respective weights of our TentBox models:
A common question people ask, is what affect the added weight of people inside a TentBox has on a vehicle roof load limit, and how a TentBox can work with this added weight. Trust us, we’ve done the engineering, and we know it works.
Important Points
Firstly, it is important to remember that a TentBox sits on the cross bars, which are fixed to the steel frame of your vehicle. The TentBox does not at any point sit on the actual roof of your car.
Secondly, the maximum roof load limit shown in your vehicle/roof bar manual refers to dynamic loads, as opposed to static loads.
Dynamic vs. Static Loads
A dynamic load refers to the maximum weight allowed whilst your vehicle is moving, and the static load is when your vehicle is stationary. A vehicle can actually take much larger static loads than it can dynamic loads.
The reason for the difference is that when moving, your vehicle is turning, accelerating and braking, which all exert lateral forces on the top of your vehicle, and can make it unstable, when driving.
However, when your vehicle is stationary, only a downward force is being exerted directly into the steel frame. Vehicle frames are designed to withstand a force large enough to protect you in a crash, and to take the force of driving over bumps in the road, and changes in road gradient, when you hit them at speed.
In other words, when your vehicle is stationary, the steel frame can easily take the weight of a TentBox, as well as two or even three adults. In fact, it most vehicles can take upwards of 500kgs.
We’ve done the maths below, if you want to delve that deep!
What TentBox can your vehicle take?
In light of the above, you need to ensure that your roof load limit is higher than the weight of the TentBox model you’d like to go for.
The respective weights of our TentBox models:
tent on the car
tent on the car
How easy is it to install a TentBox?A TentBox is easy to install on any vehicle; all you need is a set of cross bars.
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LITE:tent on the car
CLASSIC:
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CARGO:tent on the car
How weatherproof is a TentBox?
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Wind Rating
All TentBox models can be safely opened in winds of up to 38mph.
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tent on the car
Our canvas fabrics have a 2000mm waterproof membrane, so water beads off, just like it does on a Gore-Tex Jacket.
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tent on the car
We use waterproof zips, to keep the rain out.
tent on the car
tent on the car
Waterproof Seams
We heat-seal every seal with a waterproof silicone tape.
Insulation
A TentBox is more insulated than a ground tent, as it is off the ground. You can also buy an insulation kit for the TentBox Classic, for extra warmth!
UV-Resistance
Our fabrics and outer shells are treated with anti-UV agents, which mean they are protected from being faded by the sun.