Thule roof tent in test: Traveling is part of cycling. Campsites have always been popular with cyclists and have become even more popular in recent years. The way of camping is changing and becoming fresher, younger. Rooftop tents, which are currently very popular, also contribute to this. We tested the Thule Tepui Autana.
The pandemic has given cycling a renewed boom. But travel has also changed, and van life, camping and roof tents are booming, especially for bikers. Even in supposedly staid regions, all-wheel-drive buses with studded tires now stand next to long-term campers with rat view protection and balcony flowers. Of course we also dealt with it. With a “normal” caravan, you almost feel a bit out of place in the bike park’s camping area. So we asked Thule if we could borrow a roof tent, because we wanted to see how it works in practice. And we were able to form a real opinion on it!
Basic question: Why a roof tent?
When I was young, camping was standard. Both with the padfinders and with friends, at festivals or as a child in the garden. Camping is comparatively cheap and offers a real, unfiltered experience of nature. Later, when I became more comfortable and had a little more money, a used caravan came along. It was much more comfortable but also somehow pretty conservative... Why the roof tent now? Well, the caravan is no more and the trend made me curious. I'm the wrong guy for hotels! Always the dog with me, often with dirty clothes from mountain biking and I would like to have my bike with me and not have it stolen from some basement. The pickup, which pulls a trailer at least once a week, is available and it has a roof rack... a roof tent fits on it!
What are the advantages of a roof tent?
- A plus in safety! The first thing you do is get off the ground. You stay dry in any weather, there is no contact with the possibly damp and often cold ground. As a rule, the tent walls are also waterproof. In addition, you are quite well protected from animals in roof tents, which can be helpful in some regions of the world, so you don't have to worry about scorpions or snakes in your sleeping bag. You also carry less dirt and can enjoy the better view that the elevated position offers.
- A plus in comfort! You are guaranteed to have an even sleeping surface even on rather rough surfaces. There is not just a sleeping pad, but a real mattress. With sufficient ventilation and storage space for equipment, roof tents ensure a good night's sleep, whether on the campsite or in nature.
- A plus in simplicity! The construction is much faster and easier than with a conventional tent. With a rooftop tent, all you have to do is find a reasonably level spot, park the vehicle, and set up the tent. Park, unfold, do a few little things... done!
We decided to test the Thule Tepui Autana because I thought to myself: if the whole thing is to convince me, then I need space in it and I want some comfort. Our test candidate convinces with what is probably the largest lying area in its class and even has an awning with it.
The Thule Tepui Autana in detail
- Thule states the sleeping capacity as 4 people. Three of us slept in it, two people and a dog. We had plenty of space.
- The tent material (coated 600 denier and 260g cotton-polyester) is both UV and mildew resistant and suitable for all seasons, Thule says, and it looks like it.
- It has an enlarged, private entrance with a detachable extension/awning.
- Plenty of built-in mesh material ensures ventilation and increased airflow, even during a week's camping holiday in extreme temperatures, fresh air was not in short supply.
- There are four relatively large internal pockets for gear and camping supplies
- The Tepui comes with 6,5 cm thick high-density foam mattress for comfort. We've put a mattress pad under it, which improves the ventilation of the mattress and increases comfort even more.
- Thule "only" gives a two-year guarantee, better than others but not as good as the best tent manufacturers. It's a shame, because we have the impression that Thule could be braver, our quality judgment is good.
A few hard facts about the test tent
- The lying surface measures 244×183 centimetres, lots of space!
- Thule states the weight as 81,5 kilos, it seemed very heavy to us.
- Thule specifies the static load capacity as 295 kilos.
- The price for the Thule Tepui Autana is €3299,95
Our experiences with the Thule Tepui Autana
Handling and assembly of the tent are also easily feasible for people with less manual practice and much is self-explanatory, so that you do not need the well-made operating instructions all the time. But what you do need are helpers or a forklift. The very large roof tent also weighs a lot and alone you are overwhelmed with the handling. The four of us lifted the tent onto the roof and none of us really found it easy. The construction and dismantling are then easy and can also be easily done by people who are not very sporty or trained.
The awning or the entrance area offers a retreat, especially when the weather is not so good. It is not comparable in size to a classic awning, but it offers space to change clothes, store things or simply sit out a rain shower. You should make sure that the height of the roof on which the Tepui Autana is mounted is somewhere between 182 and 213 centimeters. Then the height of the awning fits perfectly. If necessary, a rubberized and waterproof floor that is supplied can also be installed, so that you are also protected from moisture from below in the awning.
The variability that results from the many openings is very pleasing. Thule says the tepui can be used year-round. Well, that also depends on the user, we don't want to spend the night there when temperatures are below zero. However, the ventilation can be varied greatly due to the many zips and the moisture and moisture that pulls into normal tents from the ground also stays away here. So yes, not only in summer but also with single-digit temperatures, just above freezing point, you can endure it well.
In addition to temperatures, possible precipitation is also an issue when camping. The Thule has always held up well. We usually had the additional blue top on, so the rain didn't stand a chance. Even a storm that surprised us in the "Bear Gorge" at night could not harm the tent, in contrast to the woman and dog, who were a bit worried. The metal frame and the textile outer skin of the Thule were really completely unimpressed. Branches hit it, it flapped and the tent and trailer wobbled a lot, but nothing broke, the wind and rain had to stay outside.
A small point of criticism arises because the protective cover is not as robust as the rest of the Tepui Autana seems to be. Due to the contact with branches and bushes, which is not uncommon in off-road use, the tarpaulin proved less robust than expected and showed minor injuries. This is a pity, especially because the outer skin of the tent itself still looks like new!
The sleeping comfort in the roof tent is really high compared to a classic tent. I can even say from my experience that it also surpasses our caravan in this regard. There the sleeping area was smaller and not consistently made the same. We also really liked being able to open the overhead "windows" on a warm, starry night and, thanks to the mosquito net, being able to sleep undisturbed under the stars. You are simply closer to nature than in a camper van or in a caravan.
The awning offers plenty of space to change clothes, and with an interior height of 142 centimetres, you can also easily change clothes in the "sleeping compartment". But you have to go up and down the ladder, which in our experience is avoided. In fact, I could imagine that people who are less agile and nimble feel some insecurity about climbing the ladder. This is particularly the case when "changing" between tent and ladder, here a possibility to hold on would actually be an advantage.
After the first trips with a roof tent, we decided to equip our trailer with a roof rack and mount the tent there. This simply has to do with the fact that the trailer offers storage space for the outdoor kitchen, seating, the table and chairs as well as all sorts of luggage. If you are not at your place, you can also safely stow your bikes here. In addition, a day trip by car is easier because you don't have to fold the tent beforehand.
What I would also like to recommend as a useful accessory is the Thule tent table, the Thule Tepui Tent Table. It offers the possibility to put down drinks or place a tablet in such a way that you can comfortably watch a film. The tent then feels almost as comfortable as the couch at home. Ramps such as the Thule Levelers are essential to ensure that the vehicle and the tent stand upright.
Thule Tepui Autana, top or flop?
I am convinced of the generous amount of space in the Tepui Autana, because it can be endured with a book on a rainy day, which is rather difficult with a much smaller roof tent. However, the more compact variants are much easier to handle and store, which is also an argument for many potential users. It should also not be forgotten that not every vehicle has the permissible roof load for this very large example. Now what is the conclusion? A roof tent is a much cheaper purchase than a caravan and it offers significantly more comfort than a tent. Above all, it is a very flexible solution and transforms many a vehicle into a camping vehicle. It is also a real option as an additional bedroom when the offspring gets older and no longer wants to be in the caravan with their parents.
In general, the roof tent concept convinces me with some advantages, such as the flexibility and spontaneity that it allows and the closeness to nature... it's real camping again and feels more "outdoor" than a caravan. If you want to accommodate three or four people in the roof tent or simply appreciate the generous amount of space, the Thule Tepui Autana is the right choice and you will also get a perfectly matching awning.