Magazine: Travelling solo

Solo rooftop tent: travelling alone, fully in control

Travelling alone means you decide where you sleep – and you set up your bed for the night yourself. WEEKEND is built so you can do that without help: set it up on the ground, then lift it onto your car in one piece.

Groenberg WEEKEND rooftop tent on a car, travelling solo

A raised sleeping spot: a good feeling for many women

Sleeping on the car roof gives many women travelling alone a greater sense of security. Access via the ladder creates a clear boundary to your surroundings, and you're not lying directly on the ground. Many find this distance calmer and easier to keep an eye on, especially in unfamiliar places.

Two entrances and two side vents give you airflow and a view of what's around you. Still, no tent replaces a good choice of spot: official campsites and pitches, sharing your location with a friend and keeping your car key within reach remain your most important companions on solo trips.

Setting up a rooftop tent alone: how it works

With WEEKEND, you don't climb onto the roof with a heavy tent. You set it up on the ground, inflate the dropstitch floor with the included hand pump and then lift the finished tent onto your roof bars as one unit. No tools needed. With a tent weight of 11.5 kg (Classic) or 13 kg (Comfort), you can carry, set up and lift it onto your car on your own. Setup and roof mounting take around 8–10 minutes. The taller your car, the more strength you'll need to lift it up.

Our Installation & Setup Guide shows you exactly how it's done – video included.

11.5 kg tent weight. Set up on the ground. No tools. Around 8–10 minutes until your bed is on the roof – without anyone having to lend a hand.

Which car do you need?

Your car needs to be approved for roof bars. While driving, only the roof bars are on the roof – the tent travels in the boot. When parked, your car's static roof load and the load rating of your roof bars apply. The static roof load is usually much higher than the dynamic one, because the roof also has to withstand a rollover. Still, check your car's owner's manual and your roof bar specifications. You'll find more in our Roof Load Finder.

Important

WEEKEND is set up on the ground and then lifted onto the car as a complete unit. It comes off again before every drive – never drive with the tent on the roof, neither set up nor packed.

A sleeping mat is not included. Bring your own.

To be honest: what you should know

You can't just drive off on a whim with WEEKEND. Because the tent has to come off the roof before every drive, you need a few minutes before you can leave: taking it off the roof takes about a minute, packing it down around five. If a spot doesn't feel right, plan for that time – or spend the night in the car.

If you stay several nights, you'll top up the air in the floor now and then. The sleeping surface isn't as rigid as on rooftop tents with a metal-frame floor. In return, on your own you have plenty of space on 220 × 130 cm for yourself and your gear.

Travelling alone with a child? You'll find tips in our article for solo travellers.

Just as easy in everyday life

Packed, WEEKEND measures 75 × 48 × 40 cm. It fits into most car boots and into a basement or storage room at home. You don't need a garage or carport – and your roof bars stay free for a bike or roof box while you're on the road.

If you often travel in changeable weather, take a look at WEEKEND Comfort: it has rain covers over both entrances, a removable SkyView roof with two panorama windows and a black-out coating so you can keep sleeping when it gets light early.

Conclusion: your rooftop tent for solo trips

Groenberg WEEKEND suits an independent, flexible way of travelling: a raised sleeping spot, a ground-level setup you can handle alone and without tools and a pack size that fits into most car boots. You just plan a few extra minutes before moving on.