Rooftop tents are havens for campers who get scared about anything that creeps on the ground. For anyone having a day out in the wild, comfortably spending the nights in an elevated tent at the top of their camping vehicle feels refreshing. But while these tents can hold about anything, including a camper’s weight, is it a good idea to leave sleeping bags in the rooftop tent? This article discusses that possibility and helps you make a more informed decision on your next camping outing.
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Need a quick answer to the question of wheater you can leave the sleeping bag inside of your rooftop tent or not? Here is the quick answer!
In general, you can leave the sleeping bag in the rooftop tent for a longer period of time. But you should take the sleeping bag out of the rooftop tent when the campground has very high humidity or when the sleeping bag is wet. There is a risk that the rooftop tent will start to get moldy or the materials will be damaged.
You should definitely take the sleeping bag out of the rooftop tent and store it in the vehicle when you fold/collapse the rooftop tent to drive to another location. The sleeping bag could exert too much force on the rooftop tent’s hinges and latches, damaging the rooftop tent’s structure.
Why are Rooftop Tents a Good Idea?
A vast majority of seasoned campers understand just how much rooftop tents offer. They’re always ready to go and elevate campers a few feet above the ground, offering much-needed peace of mind. They’re also easy to set up, unlike the conventional ground camps, and keep you off the niggling critters and bugs that may perhaps nag you in your sleep. Besides, you don’t have much to worry about uneven, rugged, and rocky ground since your camping vehicles offer a comfortable and even plane.
But one question remains: can you leave your sleeping bags inside?
Should You Leave Your Sleeping Bags in a Rooftop Tent?
Most campers may affirm that leaving sleeping bags in rooftop tents is a good idea. However, that’s not usually the case since it can do more damage than good. As much as it seems to offer more storage room, leaving your sleeping bags in the rooftop tent isn’t always recommended. Of course, that’s arguable, as you can still leave your sleeping bags in your rooftop tent, but that’s only circumstantial.
The best thing about camping sleeping bags is that they hardly take up space. So, strapping one shouldn’t be so worrying as you fold your tent. However, you should only do that if it allows you to use the straps and achieve proper grip; sleeping bags add a little thickness to the mattress. If perhaps your sleeping bag in your folded tent makes your straps more strained, including them isn’t a good idea.
When not to Leave Your Sleeping Bags in a Rooftop Tent?
Leaving your sleeping bags in the rooftop tent isn’t recommended for the most part. That’s because sleeping bags put more strain on your folded tent’s straps and may damage it in the long haul. Here’s when you shouldn’t leave your sleeping bags in a rooftop tent.
When Folding Your Rooftop Tent
If you’re casually hanging out while leaving your tent patched up, leaving your sleeping bag inside shouldn’t be an issue if they’re dry and clean. However, folding your rooftop tent with your sleeping bag inside can be terrible as you’ll likely damage it. Worse still, leaving several sleeping bags inside your folded tent can create too much strain on the straps, and it won’t possibly hold much tighter than it should. That’s because sleeping bags can be bulky and may increase your folded tent’s thickness.
When You Get Out in the Morning
It’s also good to get your sleeping bag out right after you get out in the morning. Remember that you may sweat as you sleep, making the sleeping bag moist. Also, condensation due to your body’s warmth may occur if you’re camping during cold weather, making your sleeping bag wet. Therefore, you shouldn’t let your sleeping bag stay in your rooftop tent in that case since it can lead to mold development and damp, uncomfortable odors.
When Driving
Most campers may store their sleeping bags in rooftop tents to save on storage space in the trunk. However, that’s not always a good idea since it increases the risk of loose straps and everything flying about at top speeds. Moreover, more items in the folded tent would create a bulge that compromises the top cover’s ability to wrap everything in place. Most campers who prefer driving with their bedding left in folded rooftop tents must always be on the lookout and drive at slower speeds. That can be tiring and takes the fun off your adventure.
When Sleeping Bags are Dirty
Of course, sleeping in dirty and soiled sleeping bags is pretty unreasonable. It makes your nights long and uncomfortable. Therefore, you may need to wash them more frequently to enhance your camping experience. You shouldn’t, however, do that or neither stores them inside the tent. It’d help to wash your sleeping bags outside to avoid soiling your rooftop tent. That lifts off the tedious double-cleaning work since you’ll need to tidy up your tent after.
When the Top Cover Doesn’t Attach Properly
The top cover helps keep everything in place, securing items with extra strapping. That means manufacturers create sizes that hold the mattress more fittingly. If you’re lucky that your cover fits at least one sleeping bag, you can reconsider your options. However, it’s not always recommended that you add anything that bulges the load and compromises the straps’ ability to hold the folded tent. They’ll likely get loose and keep you more worried as you drive.
When the Sleeping Bag Accidentally Gets Wet or is Moist
Camping is usually for the summer season, but if you love doing it all year round, you might get caught in wet weather. That, therefore, predisposes your sleeping bag to moisture, and a high chance of getting damp exists. It’d help if you didn’t leave your moist or wet sleeping bag in your rooftop tent before it dries out. After all, it’d feel overly uncomfortable sleeping in it afterward, making your camping less fun. Taking your sleeping bag out in the sun to dry is more feasible and will minimize the chances that mold will grow in your tent.
Conclusion
Camping enthusiasts might question whether or not leaving their sleeping bags in rooftop tents is a good idea. It’d help if you only used your sleeping bag when you had to go inside your rooftop tent. However, you should leave it out in the sun to dry if you aren’t using it or when folding your tent. That helps you prevent damage to your rooftop tent.
If you leave the sleeping bag inside the rooftop tent, never try to fold the rooftop tent by force. Due to the additional dimensions inside, high loads can act on the tent structure during folding and damage sensitive structures or connections.
It is important that you regularly take the sleeping bag out of the rooftop tent and clean it outside and also let it dry, this way you prevent dirt from accumulating inside the tent or moisture from forming inside the roof tent.
