We’ve been dreaming about a rooftop tent for the past two years and kept researching the market – finally our dream came true and we chose the 220XL model, which is the perfect fit for our adventurous family. Since I was already pregnant with our third child at the time, we knew that the size of the mattress, speed of set-up and safety were the most important things for us. After six months of use, I want to show you through my experience why it is ideal for families!
Interior
The most important feature for us was the size of the sleeping area, i.e. the mattress, which is 220x230cm. Our family of five comfortably fit in it, equipped with sleeping bags, a few bedtime books, a couple of lamps and lots of children's laughter - perfect for 2 adults and our children aged 6, 4 and 2. One more adult could comfortably squeeze in with us, but this shows us that we will have enough space for everyone even when the children are older. The internal height of 120cm is an advantage for everyone, and children up to about 6 years old can even stand inside. This means a lot if it is raining heavily outside and you don't want to go out right away, and the little ones get impatient. You can use sleeping bags or regular bedding for sleeping because there is enough space! Bonus tip: if you can't find a sheet of that size, use a duvet cover.
Setup
When choosing the 220XL, the speed of setup was also important to us, for which the instructions say 5-10 minutes. And not only the instructions, we really need that much! Opening and setting up the tent is really simple and fast, so much so that it never took us longer than 15 minutes even when we showed each step to the children and answered their questions. Closing is almost as fast, it takes us 10-15 minutes because we have it set up on a van, so it takes a few minutes longer to put up the protective cover due to the height. Because of the height, we always unfold and fold it together, but I believe that one person can do it on a lower car without any problems.
Materials
We tested the tent in wind, heavy rain, summer temperatures, and autumn temperatures of around 7°C . We slept comfortably in every situation, and the mosquito nets allowed air to circulate in the summer and kept us from feeling hot while sleeping. Condensation often occurs in colder temperatures, but with an 8mm anti-condensation mattress pad and slightly open windows, we encountered very small amounts of condensation along the edges. The 6cm mattress is comfortable and you don't need anything extra to sleep on except a sleeping bag or bedding. The first time we slept in windy weather on the mountain, we were a little worried because we had no experience with roof tents before, but it turned out that there was no reason to worry. It was just a loud rustling of the flytop against the "regular" roof. The flytop can be removed in these situations.
Safety
I think safety is important to all of us, especially when you are sleeping on top of a car, right? Two telescopic ladders ensure the safety of that protruding part. They are sturdy when climbing and can be easily adjusted to the required height. In order for children to climb as safely as possible, it is important that the angle is not too steep. After a few "trial" climbs and descents, our 4-year-old girl can already do it by herself. The 2-year-old also climbs by himself, while someone always stands behind him, and learns how to descend safely.
All openings have mosquito nets that also provide us with light protection during the night if we want to leave the window open so that the child does not fall through it. When everything is closed, there is no way for rain and cold air to get inside. However, to reduce condensation, it is good to leave a little air flow.
Organizing things
Organizing and the number of things is a very individual habit, but I believe that everyone will have enough space here. In addition to sleeping bags, stuffed animals and pillows, we also carry in the tent: 2 water bottles (1 for adults, 1 for children), regular and wet wipes, 1 diaper (just in case we have it until morning), a lamp, cell phones and a car key. There are 2 pockets on the sides of the tent that face the front and back of the vehicle. We place the above in them, and hang the lamp on top. Most of the time, 1 or even 2 pockets remain empty, if we leave our cell phones next to our heads. Because of nighttime trips out, to the toilet, etc., we arrange ourselves so that everyone sleeps near one of the ladders and, if necessary, we accompany the child who needs to go out to the exit and the ladder that is closer to us. There is no need to wake everyone up so that one or two people can get out! What we also like, for the future, is the addition of an ezi divider that divides the tent into two parts if the kids say they are too big to sleep in the same room as us.
Real life experience?
After using it in different conditions, weather conditions and length of stay in the same location, I think we couldn't have chosen a better model! Setting up and storing it is really quick and easy, and what surprised me the most was how useful the covered part above the ladder is – my husband enthusiastically prepares meals and hot drinks on his small stove even in bad weather! Even if you don't have an annex, you can get in and out of the tent, dry. Despite that, I'm looking forward to trying the annex soon because it's a different experience. In addition to all of the above, the mattress in the tent is bigger than our bed at home, which all our children crawl into, so we sleep better in the tent because in addition to being in the fresh air, as we have more space! What would I choose if I had to choose again – for me the answer is clear, the 220XL, no doubt about it!
Who is the 220XL ideal for?
For anyone who wants the comfort of a real bed and whose car and roof racks can handle the weight, the RTT is a long-term investment. If you are just planning to have a child or already have one or two, but know you want more, it is better to look at the larger model right away. The extra space will hardly be a problem for anyone, but the lack of it is another story. If you are looking for quick set-up and enough space to sleep without squeezing, the 220XL will be ideal for you and your family!
A big thank you to our blog writer Marija for sharing her honest and detailed family experience with the 220XL. Her real-life insights truly show what traveling with a rooftop tent is like as a family. Make sure to follow her adventures on Instagram @croactive for more inspiration, tips and beautiful family travel moments.
