Rooftop tents enable camping without having to use a trailer or take up precious cargo space inside a vehicle when packed up, and they keep you up off the ground away from curious critters while asleep. It’s no surprise they are popular with overlanders and casual campers alike. However, they do tend to take up the bulk of the real estate on a vehicle’s roof rack, forcing campers to find other ways to haul bicycles, kayaks, and other things that would normally go up top for transport.
Now, rooftop tent maker Roofnest is offering the Meadowlark XL rooftop tent, which uses an innovative folding design to both make space for three sleepers plus leave some room on the roof rack for other gear. Meadowlark says that by using a “distinct longitudinal fold-out design; campers sleep inline with the length of their vehicle, not perpendicular,” which is more common with most rooftop tents.
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When closed, the Meadowlark XL measures 7.5 feet long but just 30 inches wide, about half the width of an average rooftop tent. “To put that into perspective, a fifth-gen 4Runner with a Meadowlark XL mounted to Yakima HD crossbars will have 38 inches of crossbar real estate remaining that can be used for carrying wider gear like a kayak or mountain bike,” Roofnest said in a press release. Roofnest demonstrates the unique design and quick setup atop a typical Honda SUV in this video:
Essentially, the tent’s “floor” folds in half when stored and is supported by the included extendable ladder and two support poles once on site. The interior is 80 by 58 inches with a 40-inch height at center. It features wide, bug-screened windows and large dual-window skylight portals. A rain fly slips over the tent for waterproofing when needed, and interior LED lights run off a common phone charger USB battery pack. Exterior shoe bags help keep the inside clean. Interior pockets help keep small items organized, and the Meadowlark XL features two mattress layers for comfort and improved ability to keep sleeping surfaces clean.
A cover held by ten quick-snap buckles protects the soft-shell tent during transit. Atop the vehicle, the longitudinal orientation of the tent is both more aerodynamic and allows for adding more gear to the roof rack, and the low 100-pound weight leaves enough roof rack capacity to add a bike, kayak, fishing gear, or paddleboard. Always check your vehicle’s roof rack rating to ensure you don’t overload the rack and make your vehicle isn’t too top-heavy.
“We have completely redesigned or refreshed the entire Roofnest lineup in the last 18 months,” Roofnest CEO Bob Africa said in a press release. “Meadowlark XL is the final piece of the puzzle and underscores our dedication to offering smart, high-quality roof top tents at every price point.”
The Roofnest Meadowlark XL is $1,995 and is available now for order.
