The Subaru Outback is one of the most popular vehicles for moderate overlanding and car camping. While we all know that you can easily bring along a regular tent with you, what about a rooftop tent? Can you put a roof top tent on a Subaru Outback?
As long as you have a roof rack on your Subaru Outback, then you will have no issues connecting a rooftop tent to it. In fact, the Subaru Outback is one of the most preferred vehicles for those that are looking to take a rooftop tent out there on the road with them.
We have a lot more information to share with you, so stick around!
Requirements For Putting a Roof Top Tent On a Subaru Outback
You will need a mounting rack for your Subaru Outback. There is a good chance that you may already have one on the top of the vehicle, which is going to save you a whole lot of time.
If you do not have a mounting rack, then you will need to purchase one that has been designed for the Subaru Outback. Make sure that it is able to support a decent amount of weight. After all, you, or perhaps multiple people, are going to be sleeping on the top of the vehicle. You do not want it to give way in the middle of the night, do you?
You don’t really need to purchase a specific tent for your Subaru Outback. Most rooftop tents should be universal. As long as it connects to your mounting rack, then you should be fine.
The only thing that you really need to be thinking about is the type of rooftop tent that you purchase (we suggest getting a hardshell tent), as well as the amount of space that you have inside of the tent. If you are planning on camping in the winter months, then you may also want to make sure that any tent that you do pick up is going to be suitable for being in the blistering cold i.e. a four season tent or insulated add-on.
We always suggest that you try and purchase the best rooftop tent that you can afford. It is going to be responsible for your comfort while you are out there on the road!
How Easy Is It To Install a Roof Top Tent On a Subaru Outback?
It shouldn’t be too difficult.
The hardest part will be to install the mounting rack. However, for the most part,. this is no more than screwing a few bolts into place. Your mounting rack will come with instructions that tell you how to do it. If you do struggle, then you will easily be able to find a garage that will install it for you. The cost shouldn’t be too high.
Installing the tent itself is going to be dead simple. Most modern tents will have a couple of clips and bolts. It will take just a few minutes to get it attached to the top of the vehicle. Do bear in mind that many of the best roof top tents on the market can be rather heavy. This means that you may want to have a couple of people it into position.
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This is not a job that you are going to be able to do yourself. In fact, some of the larger rooftop tents on the market require 3 to 4 people to lift it into position!
When you do decide to pitch your tent, you will be able to unfold the rooftop tent. It will come complete with a ladder that you can use to climb into the tent. Honestly, it is going to be a whole lot faster than pitching an actual tent yourself. Once the tent is installed on the roof of your vehicle, you should be able to unfold everything in no more than a few minutes.
Can You Fit a Family In a Roof Top Tent On a Subaru Outback?
Maybe.
You may be able to fit a small family (i.e. a couple with a couple young children) on the top of the vehicle. However, it is going to be a tight squeeze with anything more than that.
You have to remember that the entire tent is sitting on the roof of your vehicle. While some of the best roof top tents will have an annex, the bulk of the support is going to be on the top of the vehicle. This means that you really won’t be able to fit too many people in there.
If you are bringing a larger family along, then you may want to just purchase a normal tent and use the roof top tent as storage, or perhaps as an extra sleeping area.
The best time to use a roof top tent is when you are traveling as a solo traveler or as a couple.
Is a Roof Top Tent On a Subaru Outback Safe?
Absolutely. This is assuming that the roof top tent has been secured in position.
Once it has been secured in position, there is very little that will be able to knock that tent off of the roof. Although, you may want to be careful if you are planning to go camping in areas with fairly high winds. It can rock about a little bit.
The only real danger with using a roof top tent is getting in and out of it. It may take a little bit of getting used to. Remember, you will need to use the included ladder. If you have children, then make sure that they are only ever using the ladder while they are supervised.
Closing Thoughts
You should have absolutely no issues putting a roof top tent on a Subaru Outback. In fact, it may be a fantastic idea if you are planning on heading out on the road. It will save you having to set up an actual tent every single night.
Up Next:
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How Much is a Hard Shell Roof Top Tent?
Are Rooftop Tents Good For Families?
(featured image: ikamper.com)