4 Best UTV Roof Top Tents

by Sumanth | Published: September 27, 2022

Can you even mount a roof top tent on a UTV?

YES! But they need to be lightweight and not too large.

I have seen photos of people using large, heavy 4-person roof top tents with Can-Am Defender.

BAD BAD BAD IDEA!

They reduce your MPG and create a lot of wind drag. It won't be nice to drive around.

In this list, we will review some of the best UTV roof top tents that are lightweight and a pleasure to sleep in.

We will also talk about how to install a roof top tent on a UTV at the end.

Without further due, Let's jump right into it.

Best Roof Top Tents For UTV

• GOAT - iKamper Skycamp Mini
• Best Value - Roam Vagabond Lite
• Best Cheap - Thule Tepui Ayer 2
• Best Hybrid - Roofnest Meadowlark

GOAT - iKamper Skycamp Mini

Best UTV roof top tent

Skycamp Mini is the best of the best. Costly but worth every penny!

iKamper Skycamp Mini is like the "Michael Jordan" of UTV roof top tents.

It's the GOAT! No questions about it.

Is it freakishly EXPENSIVE?

YES, but you won't have any regrets. It is one of those items you buy once and use for YEARS and YEARS.

Skycamp Mini is compact, lightweight, and low-profile.

You might find a little overhang, as most UTV roofs are not that big. But there won't be any wind drag or drop in your MPG.

You can USE Skycamp in any weather you want. Light rain, thunderstorm, snow, wind, dust storm -- you name it!

The body fabric is very thick and 100% waterproof. You won't find any water leaks even when it's raining cats and dogs.

Sleeping in Skycamp is so comfortable that it almost feels like home. Night and day difference compared to ground tents.

The 9-zone foam mattress it includes is 2.25" thick. It's plush and comfortable!

There is excellent insulation on both the roof and base. You will be warm like an apple pie even when it's freezing outside.

60 seconds avg! That's how long it will take to open and close this tent. MIND-BLOWINGLY EASY AND EFFORTLESS.

Best Value - Roam Vagabond Lite

Best Value UTV Roof Top Tent

Vagabond Lite is "Bang for your Buck". Not perfect, but you can't get a better deal for the price.

Roam Vagabond Lite is the KING of mid-range UTV roof top tents.

It doesn't compare to Skycamp Mini, but it definitely over-delivers in every department.

Vagabond is super COMPACT and LIGHTWEIGHT. It fits perfectly without overhang on most UTVs.

But it is a bit bulky when closed. You might see a 1-2 mile drop in your MPG.

The body fabric of Vagabond is very durable. It's UV, water, and mold resistant.

FEEL FREE to use it in any weather. You won't have any issues.

The foam mattress of Vagabond is 3" thick. The quality and feel are very similar to Skycamp Mini's mattress. You will SLEEP LIKE A BABY.

There is good insulation on the base. You will be reasonably warm in cold weather.

But a 0-degree sleeping bag is a must when camping in FREEZING temperatures.

It's very easy to set up and take down Vagabond Lite. It takes about 5 minutes on average (even in bad weather).

For the price, Vagabond Lite over-delivers! It does a FANTASTIC job in the sleeping department and bad weather protection.

Yes, It has a few minor flaws but nothing that screams dealbreaker.

Best Affordable - Thule Tepui Ayer 2

Best Affordable UTV Roof Top Tent

Thule Ayer 2 is an excellent basic tent. It has its flaws but does a decent job overall.

Tepui Ayer 2 is the best cheap option we could find for UTVs. It's also the second most lightweight RTT we could find.

Cheap doesn't mean it's going to break after a few trips. FAR FROM IT.

But the quality of materials used is slightly lower than tents like Vagabond Lite.

Tepui Ayer fits on most UTVs without overhang. But it does create wind drag, so you might see a few miles drop in your MPG.

You can use Ayer 2 in most weather except extreme weather conditions.

With proper upgrades, you can use it even in extreme conditions. More on that soon.

Ayer is waterproof -- you won't find any water leaks even in heavy rain.

But you will find condensation build-up underneath the mattress and on the walls in cold and wet weather.

It's not hard to clean it but not very fun to wake up on a wet mattress. You can prevent this by buying an ANTI-CONDENSATION MAT ($130 avg).

Ayer 2 flaps and makes a lot of noise in windy conditions (over 30 mph). Not a big deal, but it's not pleasant when you want to get some sleep.

The mattress included is 2.5" thick. It's not the most comfortable, but it isn't bad either. Adding some extra padding will make it better.

On the plus side, All the windows, including the two skylight windows, are HUGE! The air-flow inside is excellent, even during boiling summer days.

Setting up and taking down Tepui Ayer is EASY but a bit slow. It takes about 10 minutes. Probably more when it's raining.

Tepui Ayer 2 is not perfect! But it is the BEST in its price range and 10x better than any ground tents.

With a few upgrades like a mattress and an anti-condensation mat -- you can turn this into a BEAST.

Best Hybrid - Roofnest Meadowlark

Best Hybrid UTV Roof Top Tent

Roofnest Meadowlark is the most lightweight option. Few issues here and there, but it's a great tent overall.

If a $3000 and $1000 roof top tent had a baby, Roofnest Meadowlark is what you will get.

LOL!

90 lbs! That's how light Meadowlark is.

Plus, It is so COMPACT that you might have little space left on your roof to mount a storage box or something similar. (Depends on the width of your UTV)

The body of Roofnest Meadowlark is waterproof. But the fabric is not very thick and is a bit lower quality compared to other tents on this list.

Lower-quality fabric doesn't mean it will leak during HEAVY RAINFALL.

For peace of mind, There's also a rainfly on the roof. It adds an extra layer of protection in bad weather and heavy rain to keep the water/dust out.

Roofnest Meadowlark's DUAL-DENSITY MATTRESS is 2.5" thick.

Not the best, but good enough to get a good night's sleep without waking up with body pain.

There is NO anti-condensation mat included. You will find condensation during cold weather.

You can buy an anti-condensation separately to solve this issue. It typically costs around $150.

Setting up and taking down Roofnest Meadowlark is a BREEZE. Not as fast as tents like iKamper, but it comes very close to it.

Overall, Meadowlark is a bang for your buck at this price. It has flaws but does a good job providing a comfortable camping experience.

How To Install A Roof Top Tent on Your UTV?

You will need a flat or level roof rack to mount the roof top tent on UTV.

Many companies make cage roof racks for UTVs. But only Prinsu Designs make flat racks.

Note: You cannot mount a roof top tent with cage racks.

Prinsu Flat UTV roof racks cost somewhere around $730-830. You can check out the entire Prinsu UTV roof rack collection here: Prinsu UTV Racks

Verdict

While you can mount any roof top tent on UTVs, ONLY a few work well with them.

Out of the few, Skycamp Mini is easily the best UTV roof top tent your money can buy. Expensive? Yes, but is it worth it? Hell YEAH!

If you have any questions about any of the above RTTs or want to know more about mounting one on your side by side, feel free to get in touch with us, and we will do our best to help you out.