8 Best Ram 1500 Roof Top Tent

by Sumanth | Published: October 03, 2022

Looking for a Ram 1500 roof top tent? You have come to the right place.

Roof top tents are not CHEAP. They will put a couple of thousand dollars dent in your bank account. And like most people, I am sure you don't want to drop $2000 on a rooftop tent only to find out they are built cheaply, uncomfortable, and leak from every angle when it rains.

So, we compiled this list of 9 best Ram 1500 roof top tents that are not only popular among "Instagram & Youtube Influencers" but have actually sold hundreds and thousands of times over the years.

The list covers tents with various sleeping capacities and budgets ($1000 to $4000). At the end of the list, we will also show you three ways to mount them on your truck.

Without further due, let's jump in!

Best Roof Top Tents For Ram 1500

• GOAT - iKamper Skycamp 3.0
• Best Cheap - Thule Tepui Ayer 2
• Best Clamshell - Roofnest Falcon
• Best 3 Person - Roam Vagabond
• Cheap Hard Shell - OVS Bushveld
• Best 4 Person - 23Zero Breezeway 72
• Best Popup - Roam Rambler
• Best Value - OVS Nomadic 3

GOAT - iKamper Skycamp 3.0

Best Ram 1500 Roof Top Tent

Skycamp 3.0 is the GOAT. None of the tents even come close. The only issue is it's going to cost you a bomb.

iKamper Skycamp is not only the GOAT of Ram 1500 roof top tents but also the main reason why roof top tents are so popular these days.

Yeah. Roof top tents have been around for a long time, but this is the product that put them on the map.

Is it expensive? Hell Yeah! But is it worth it? WITHOUT A DOUBT.

The product you are looking at is the 3rd version of the iKamper Skycamp series. Improvements made to this version came from the feedback of real customers who used Skycamp 2.0, which was already the best on the market.

The body design of Skycamp 3.0 is sexy as hell and rugged like the mountains you plan to explore. It's 100% waterproof. So, You never have to worry about leaks during rainfall and waking up half wet in the middle of the night.

Speaking of nights, Skycamp includes a 2.5" thick king-size mattress that ensures you sleep like a baby WITHOUT tossing and turning throughout the night. It's also completely insulated to keep your warm and cozy during cold nights.

30 to 60 seconds! That's how quickly you can open and close this Ram 1500 tent. It's utterly effortless compared to ground tents.

If you want the best, iKamper Skycamp is the way to go. It's worth every single penny!

Best Cheap - Thule Ayer 2

Best Cheap RAM 1500 Rooftop Tent

Tepui Explorer Ayer is an excellent starter roof top tent. It's far from perfect, but it's the best in its price range.

Tepui Explorer Ayer 2 is a basic rooftop tent. Nowhere close to tents like iKamper, but it's reliable and 100 times BETTER than ground tents.

The body fabric of Ayer 2 is durable for the most part. You might find tiny tears here and there after a few months of rough use.

You can use this tent in most weather conditions—no water leaks during rainfall.

But you might find condensation below the mattress. You can prevent this by adding an anti-condensation mat which costs $130 avg.

100 lbs! That's how light this tent is, but it is a bit bulky; your Ram 1500 might take a minor MPG hit.

Pardon my french. Tepui Ayer 2 mattress is absolute shit.

You will have to add a sleeping pad on top or replace it with the Exped Mattress. This is a common issue with most tents in this price range.

Overall, Tepui Ayer is a decent Ram 1500 rooftop tent for the price. But you will have to spend a few extra dollars on accessories to make it an absolute beast.

Best Clamshell - Roofnest Falcon 2

Best Clamshell Ram 1500 Roof Top Tent

Roofnest Falcon 2 is a top-of-the-line tent like iKamper. It's not the GOAT, but it does many things right.

The design of Roofnest Falcon is so popular that tons of companies have tried to copy it over the years. But none of them even came close.

Body of Roofnest Falcon comes four seasons ready out of the box. The top shell comprises two aluminum sheets with an insulating foam layer in the middle to keep you warm on cold winter nights.

It goes without saying. The body fabric of Roofnest Falcon is 100% WATERPROOF.

Roofnest Falcon does a pretty decent job providing a comfortable sleeping experience. The sleeping area is lengthy, and there is enough head space to sit straight without hitting the roof.

The mattress included is 2" thick. It isn't bad, but it isn't the best either. You will have to add a 1" sleeping pad on top/bottom to make it cushier.

The Interior fabric of the Ram 1500 roof top tent comes with a blackout coating to block the sunlight from hitting your eyes and waking you up.

Falcon's inbuilt accessory channels make it easy to mount accessories like awnings, shovels, etc. You can also add crossbars ($195) on the roof to mount gear like kayaks, mountain bikes, and any other gear under 150 lbs.

Other than a few flaws, Roofnest Falcon is an excellent option for Ram 1500. It's cheaper than iKamper Skycamp but offers almost similar luxury and comfort.

Best 3 Person - Roam Vagabond

3 Person Ram 1500 Roof Top Tent

Roam Vagabond is a great tent at a very reasonable price point. It's like a premium version of the Tepui Ayer 2 we saw before.

There are soo many things Roam Vagabond gets right! Not very easy to point out the cons.

It's safe to say it's the RINGLEADER of all mid-range Ram 1500 roof top tents.

The body fabric of Roam Vagabond is solid. It doesn't tear easily. And no matter how heavy it rains, it doesn't leak—100% UV and Mold Resistant.

Overall, it's a good durable material that DOES THE JOB.

Two skylight windows on the roof make your mornings and nights fun. Not to mention, they improve ventilation inside the tent as well.

The memory foam mattress of Roam Vagabond is next level. 3" thick, It provides almost homelike comfort. One of the very few tents that got the mattress right.

The bulkiness of Roam Vagabond is the one thing we don't like. It creates wind drag and will reduce your Ram 1500's MPG by 4-6 miles. You might be able to avoid this by mounting it on the bed (more on that later).

Roam Vagabond over delivers in so many ways. If you don't have $3k-4k to spend, It is hands down the next best option.

Cheap Hard Shell - OVS Bushveld

Cheap Ram 1500 Hard Shell Tent

OVS Bushveld is a great alternative to iKamper Skycamp. It's not the same quality but still pretty great for the price.

Is this as good as iKamper Skycamp? No.

But it does come close? Hell Yeah!

And I think for the price, Bushveld Ram 1500 roof top tent is a BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

Bushveld's body is pretty durable. The top shell feels a bit lower quality than iKamper's Skycamp, but you won't feel much difference in terms of performance.

As for the fabric, It's 100% waterproof and UV resistant. You won't find leaks even when it's pouring rain.

The mattress of Bushveld is about 2" thick.

Is it comfortable? hmmm.. it depends on who you ask.

The overall quality of the mattress is pretty good. Way better than some of the tents we saw before. But because it's not thick, you might find it a bit hard.

Not a dealbreaker. You can fix it by adding a cheap sleeping pad on top.

The sleeping area of Bushveld is enormous. It's a tad bit smaller than Skycamp 3.0, but it can fit four people comfortably.

If you want a smaller size, Bushveld is also available in 2 person sleeping capacity.

The setup and takedown process is pretty similar to iKamper Skycamp. It takes less than 2-3 minutes -- you can do it on your own.

Overall, Bushveld RAM 1500 roof top tent is an EXCELLENT option if you don't have the budget for iKamper Skycamp. Yes, it's cheaper, but that doesn't mean the quality is bad.

If you are worried that something might break, you should know that this tent comes with a 4-year warranty.

Best 4 Person - 23Zero Breezeway 72

4 Person Ram 1500 Roof Top Tent

23Zero Breezeway is a humongous tent. Great for camping with the family. Few minor flaws, but it gets all the main things right.

Windows to the sleeping area, everything in 23Zero Breezeway 72 is HUGE! Lots of space to sleep comfortably without feeling congested.

Breezeway uses top-grade materials all around. Zippers are silent; Ladder is sturdy, and the Body canvas is waterproof and made of LST fabric.

LST fabric is durable and does a great job of creating the perfect sleeping environment.

It blocks all the light and turns the tent into a 100% pitch-black sleeping cave. Studies have shown that this helps you sleep like a baby.

Breezeway's LST fabric got you covered during bad weather as well. It keeps you warm on cold nights and cool on hot days, ensuring you are sound asleep at all times.

The mattress of Breezeway is 3" thick. It's similar to the one used in iKamper Skycamp 3.0. Very cushy. You won't find the need to replace it or add extra padding on top.

A few things are missing from this tent...

It doesn't come with storage pockets to store phones, wallets, etc. Even the cheapest Ram 1500 rooftop tents have it.

Anti-condensation mat is also not included. But you can buy it seperately for $150 avg.

Overall, 23zero Breezeway does a great job in the sleeping department—a few issues here and there but not a dealbreaker.

Best Popup - Roam Rambler

Popup Ram 1500 Roof Top Tent

Roam Rambler is hands-down the sexiest tent out there. It's compact and feels high-end from every angle.

Roam Rambler is an attention grabber. Its rugged look turns any Dodge Ram 1500 into sexy looking OVERLAND BEAST.

Don't get me wrong! Roam Rambler is not just about looks.

Its ABS Fiberglass top shell and waterproof body fabric are tough and reliable. You can use it in any weather without issues like wind noise, water leaks, condensation, etc.

Roam Rambler does an excellent job in the sleeping department. The mattress is 2.75" thick + there's insulation on both the base and ceiling.

You won't have any problems sleeping well, even during freezing nights.

Roam Ramler gets about 3 feet tall when opened. If you are over 6 inches, you will have to duck when moving to avoid hitting the ceiling.

Opening and closing Rambler Ram 1500 tent is lightning quick and EFFORTLESS. You can do it in under a minute or two.

Roam Rambler is a great compact roof top tent for Ram 1500, but it feels slightly overpriced. There is no question about the quality -- top of the line for sure!

Best Value - OVS Nomadic 3

Bargain Ram 1500 Roof Top Tent

Nomadic 3 offers great value for money. It's not a basic tent but not premium, either. It's right in the middle.

Nomadic 3 has a little bit of every tent on this list. The quality of materials used is cheaper than most Ram 1500 roof top tents except the basic ones.

You can use Nomadic 3 in any weather. It won't leak during rainfall, but the fabric flaps and makes noise in windy conditions.

The mattress of Nomadic is 3" thick. It's pretty comfortable -- Not the best but not bad for the price. Using a decent sleeping bag/pad on top should take it up a notch.

Anti-condensation mat is not included. You will have to watch for condensation when camping in the cold.

Overall, Nomadic 3 does an OK job in the sleeping department. Nothing great but better than most basic roof top tents.

Setting up and taking down Nomadic is not very quick but pretty easy. It will mount on your Ram 1500 without any OVERHANG.

Nomadic 3 is a good tent for the price. You cannot compare it to tents like iKamper or Roofnest, but it's a big step up from basic tents like Tepui Ayer, etc.

How To Install A Roof Top Tent On Your Ram 1500?

You can use bed crossbars, a bed rack, or a roof rack to mount a roof top tent on Dodge Ram 1500.

Bed Crossbars
Using bed crossbars is the CHEAPEST way to mount a roof top tent on Ram 1500. They range anywhere from $400-$600. Some bed crossbars are compatible with TONNEAU COVERS as well. So if you have a Tonneau cover, you won't have to remove it. Here are the top Ram 1500 bed crossbars we recommend: Yakima Overhaul, KBVoodoo Crossbars and GoRhino XRS Bed Crossbars.

Bed Rack
Bed Racks are more expensive than bed crossbars. They range around $900-$1200+. Weight capacity on these things is HUGE! Most bed racks can hold over 900-1000 lbs. Plus, you can mount accessories like shovels, recovery boards, etc on the side of the rack. Below are the top Ram 1500 bed racks we recommend: Freedom Rack, UpTop Overland and CBI.

Roof Rack
You should go for roof racks only if mounting the tent on bed crossbars or bed racks is not an option. When you mount a roof top tent on the roof of your Ram 1500, It creates wind drag and slightly reduces your MPG. It doesn't happen with premium tents like iKamper Skycamp, though. Ram 1500 Roof Racks range somewhere around $700. The weight capacity of these things ranges around 600 lbs. Here are some of the Ram 1500 Roof Racks we love: Best Ram 1500 Roof Racks.

Wrapping up

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to Ram 1500 roof top tents, but iKamper Skycamp 3.0 is clearly the best. If you have the budget, go for it with your eyes closed!

If you got questions or need help picking out a tent, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to me, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.