A rooftop tent is mostly a weight question with a bed attached. Whatever you choose has to sit on your roof rack or load bars, travel at highway speed and on corrugations, and then hold one or two adults overnight. The table below sets out what six tents commonly sold in South Africa weigh and measure, according to the companies that make them.
We have not slept in, fitted or driven with any of these tents. Every figure comes from the manufacturer's own page (linked on each row), checked on 15 October 2026. Where a maker doesn't publish a figure, the table says so. Makers also measure differently: some quote weight with the ladder and mattress, some without, so read the "what the weight includes" column before comparing.
The table
| Model | Type | Published weight (kg) | What the weight includes | Open / sleeping size (mm) | Closed height (mm) | Mattress thickness (mm) | Tent fabric | Published load rating | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 3-RAlu-Cab | Hard shell, gas-strut pop-up | 76 | Tent only, listed as ±76 kg. Excludes the mattress (3 kg) and ladder | Interior 2100 L × 1300 W × 1600 H | 210 front / 280 rear | 70 | Double-layer 400 gsm canvas | 50 kg on the roof cargo rails | alu-cab.com |
| StealthEezi-Awn | Hard shell, gas struts with a scissor lift at the front | 90 | Includes the ladder, packed | Mattress 1300 × 2150 (full open size not published) | 320 (closed footprint 1450 W × 2200 L) | 80 | 280 gsm ripstop canvas | not published | eezi-awn.com |
| Series 40th Edition (1.4 m)Eezi-Awn | Soft shell, fold-over | not published | not published | 2440 L × 1400 W × 1300 H (1.6 m and 1.8 m widths also listed) | not published | 65 | 360 gsm ripstop canvas on aluminium bows | not published | eezi-awn.com |
| Stargazer Deluxe New Gen (1.4 m)Howling Moon | Soft shell, fold-over, with roof panels that open | 56 | Listed weight for the 1.4 m size; page doesn't say whether the ladder is included. 1.6 m listed at 66 kg, 1.8 m at 70 kg | 2400 L × 1400 W × 1200 H (setup size, converted from the cm figures listed) | 360 (packaged height, converted from 36 cm) | 80 | 380 gsm ripstop canvas | Ladder rated to 140 kg | howlingmoon.co.za |
| BunduTop (Standard)BunduTec | Aluminium roof raised and lowered by a winch | 73 | Tent only; the ladder adds 7 kg (80 kg total) | 2100 × 1350 (Standard; King 2100 × 1600, Super King 3000 × 1600) | not published | 100 | 300 gsm Riptech canvas | No figure; BunduTec says the roof is designed to carry solar panels only | bundutec.co.za |
| Feather-Lite IIFront Runner Series (Dometic) | Soft shell, fold-over | 49 | Includes the ladder and cover | Interior 2460 L × 1300 W × 1100 H at the peak | 320 | 60 | 260 g poly-cotton ripstop body; 400D polyester rainfly | 270 kg (tent); ladder rated to 300 kg | dometic.com |
- Alu-Cab Gen 3-R: Alu-Cab lists a hydrostatic head above 1000 mm for the canvas and a telescopic ladder that stows inside the tent.
- Eezi-Awn Stealth: Eezi-Awn says the scissor mechanism lifts the front end by 300 mm, and the 230 cm ladder stows under the tent.
- Eezi-Awn Series 40th Edition (1.4 m): Eezi-Awn describes this as an updated Series 3, with 9 mm marine plywood floorboards and a 230 cm retractable ladder.
- Howling Moon Stargazer Deluxe New Gen (1.4 m): Howling Moon calls the Deluxe the base tent in its range, now with the Stargazer opening roof.
- BunduTec BunduTop (Standard): BunduTec says the tent opens and closes in around 20 seconds and can be entered from any side.
- Front Runner Series (Dometic) Feather-Lite II: Front Runner products are now sold through Dometic's website; this tent is listed as sleeping two adults.
Reading the table
Weight, and what's counted in it
This is the number that decides whether a tent can go on your vehicle at all. The makers don't agree on what to include. Alu-Cab quotes the Gen 3-R without its mattress and ladder, Eezi-Awn quotes the Stealth with the ladder packed, BunduTec splits tent and ladder, and Front Runner includes ladder and cover. Before comparing two tents, add the missing pieces back in so you're comparing like with like. Then add the mounting brackets, and the roof rack or load bars themselves, because all of that sits on the roof too.
Load rating: three different things
A "load rating" on a tent page can mean very different things. Alu-Cab's 50 kg on the Gen 3-R is what you may carry on top of the closed tent, on its cargo rails. Front Runner's 270 kg on the Feather-Lite II is a rating for the tent itself, and its 300 kg ladder figure (like Howling Moon's 140 kg) is about the ladder. None of these tells you what your vehicle's roof can carry. That figure comes from the vehicle maker and the rack maker, and it's covered in the buying guide below.
Open size and mattress
Sleeping length and width decide whether two adults fit comfortably. Most tents here are around 1.3 to 1.4 m wide inside, about the width of a three-quarter to double bed. A wider version (Eezi-Awn and Howling Moon both list 1.6 m and 1.8 m sizes, BunduTec lists King and Super King) adds space but also weight. Mattress thickness ranges from 60 mm to 100 mm. Thicker foam is more forgiving, but it also takes up room when the tent is closed, which is why some hard shells say how much bedding you can leave inside.
Closed height
Closed height affects wind noise, fuel use, and whether you'll fit under a carport, a garage door or a low petrol-station roof. Remember to add the height of your rack and mounting rails. Several makers don't publish a closed height, so measure one in a shop before you buy if clearance matters to you.
Fabric weight (gsm)
Grams per square metre tells you how heavy the canvas is, not how waterproof it is. A heavier poly-cotton canvas generally breathes well and blocks light and heat, but it takes longer to dry and adds weight. Waterproofing is a separate figure: Alu-Cab and Front Runner publish a hydrostatic head or water-column rating, the others don't. If you camp in Lesotho, the Drakensberg or the Western Cape in winter, ask the seller for that figure.
Buying guide
Start with your vehicle's roof rating, not the tent
Find your vehicle's maximum roof load in the owner's manual, then your rack or load bars' rating from their maker. The lowest of these numbers is your limit. Most vehicle makers quote a dynamic load, which is the weight allowed while driving. A static load (parked, with people sleeping in the tent) can be higher, but it isn't always published. Alu-Cab, for example, gives its large RT-4S separate closed-static (200 kg), closed-dynamic (50 kg) and open-static (30 kg) roof ratings, which shows how far apart these numbers can be. If your manual only gives one roof figure, treat it as the driving limit and ask the vehicle dealer about static loads before you buy.
Add up everything on the roof
Tent weight + ladder + mattress if excluded + mounting brackets + rack or bars + anything strapped on top (solar panel, recovery boards, jerry cans). It's easy to find that a 70 kg tent on a 30 kg rack has already used most of a vehicle's dynamic roof allowance. Weight up high also changes how a vehicle handles, so drive more gently on gravel and through corners when the tent is fitted.
Hard shell or soft shell
Hard shells (Alu-Cab Gen 3-R, Eezi-Awn Stealth, BunduTop) open quickly and some can hold bedding when closed, but the ones listed here are heavier than the lightest soft shell. Fold-over soft shells (Feather-Lite II, Stargazer Deluxe, Series 40th) are often lighter and open into a bigger floor area, but you have a travel cover to fit and canvas to tuck in. Think about how often you'll pitch: if you move camp every night, set-up time matters more than if you stay a week in one place.
Check how it mounts to your rack
Ask which mounting kit is needed for your rack or bars, whether it's included, and how far the tent can overhang the rack. Several makers list compatible vehicles or specific brackets. A tent that needs an extra mounting kit or a longer ladder because your vehicle is tall adds both cost and weight.
Think about local conditions
Dust, UV and heat are the norm on most South African trips, with cold, wet nights in the mountains. Ask about zip quality, how easy the mattress cover is to wash, ventilation, and whether there's insulation or a condensation mat. If you'll run lights, fans or USB charging in the tent, check what's built in and how it connects to your vehicle's power.
Ask about warranty and local backup
Several of these tents are made in South Africa, which can make spares (zips, struts, canvas repairs) easier to get. Ask the seller who handles warranty claims and repairs, and get the warranty terms in writing. We have left warranty out of the table because the tent pages don't all state it.