Rooftop tent for small cars: what fits on a small car

A rooftop tent on a small car – does that even work?

The short answer: yes – with the right concept. Classic soft-shell and hard-shell rooftop tents stay on the roof permanently and weigh many times more than the WEEKEND. Our own Halvor, Alvar and Tjelvar models, for example, weigh 68 to 77 kg. On a Polo, Corsa, Yaris or Golf with a 75 kg dynamic roof load that leaves no margin, and on a VW up or Fiat 500 it doesn't work at all. The WEEKEND solves this problem with a different approach.

The problem: small cars and roof load

Two figures matter for rooftop tents. The dynamic roof load is the weight allowed on the roof while driving – roof bars plus everything on them. On small cars it is often between 35 and 75 kg, which rules out most permanently mounted rooftop tents.

The static roof load applies when the car is parked, i.e. while you sleep in the tent. On most cars it is much higher, because the roof also has to withstand a rollover. Still, check the figures in your vehicle manual and the load capacity of your roof bars before first use – when parked, they carry the tent and everyone sleeping in it.

Roof load of popular small cars at a glance

The table shows the dynamic roof load of popular small cars and which rooftop tent fits. The Halvor 160 is shown as an example of a permanently mounted rooftop tent (68 kg without ladder).

✓ fits · ~ fits with no margin, check the vehicle manual · – doesn't fit. Figures from the Groenberg roof load finder; your vehicle manual always takes precedence. With a panoramic roof, the roof load can be 0 kg.

You'll find more than 100 other models in the roof load finder.

Rooftop tents for small cars: why the WEEKEND works differently

The WEEKEND is an inflatable rooftop tent with a dropstitch floor. Packed, it measures 75 × 48 × 40 cm and travels in the boot. While you drive, only the roof bars are on the roof – which is why even the small roof load of a VW up or Suzuki Jimny is enough. That makes it a good choice for small cars and cars with a low roof load, provided your car is approved for roof bars.

At your destination, you set the tent up on the ground and lift it onto the roof as one complete unit. The WEEKEND Classic weighs 11.5 kg, the Comfort 13 kg. Because no tent rides on the roof permanently, there's no wind noise on the road and no extra fuel cost from a rooftop tent.

Rooftop tent for EVs: range and roof load

Electric cars are heavier because of their batteries and more aerodynamically optimised. A rooftop tent that stays on the roof permanently costs range. With the WEEKEND, only the roof bars come along on the road – the tent stays in the boot.

Whether your EV works depends, just like with a petrol car, on roof bar approval. The Tesla Model 3 (68 kg) and the VW ID.4 (75 kg) are approved for roof bars – the WEEKEND fits. Some electric cars allow no roof load at all according to the manufacturer, including the VW ID.3, Dacia Spring, Renault Zoé and Fiat 500e. For models not yet in the roof load finder, such as the Tesla Model Y or Hyundai Inster: check your vehicle manual.

No roof bars possible? Then use the WEEKEND directly on the ground or on the WEEKEND Stage, an aluminium platform about 50 cm high.

How to turn your small car into a mini camper

With the WEEKEND, even a small car becomes a pop-up camper in 8 to 10 minutes – with a 220 × 130 cm sleeping area, comfortable for one and enough for two. No tools needed.

All steps with video are in our guide to mounting a rooftop tent. For more space in front of the tent, add a tarp: awning or tarp for your rooftop tent.

Affordable rooftop camping with a small car

The WEEKEND isn't just made for small cars – it's also an affordable way into rooftop tent camping: a full-size tent that needs neither a big budget nor a big car or a garage. At home, it fits in a storage cupboard. More in our guide to the affordable rooftop tent.

To be honest: what you should know

• The tent has to come off the roof before every drive. On road trips where you move every day, that means a quick set-up and take-down each day.
• The inflatable floor is a little less rigid than a metal frame. On multi-day trips, you top up the air briefly.
• The tent fabric is thinner than on classic hard-shell rooftop tents – that's what keeps the tent so light.
• A sleeping pad is not included. For extra comfort, put your own on the platform.

FAQ: rooftop tents for small cars

Conclusion: rooftop camping with a small car too

A rooftop tent for small cars usually fails on dynamic roof load. The WEEKEND gets around that: roof bars on, tent in the boot, off you go. Check beforehand that your car is approved for roof bars – then it fits almost any small car and many EVs. All types of rooftop tent compared are in our rooftop tents category, and more topics in the Groenberg magazine.

Discover the Groenberg WEEKEND

Ultralight, compact, for almost any car with roof bars. Choose the Classic or Comfort.