The simple rule
Two Numbers. That's The Whole Test.
Forget the spec-sheet rabbit hole. Tick both numbers, fit a set of bars, and you are in. Not sure? We will check it for you.
Bars 91cm apart
That is the gap between your two roof bars, front to back. A tent needs something to sit on, and this is the minimum spread to hold it safely.
80kg roof rating
A roof rated for 80kg or more when moving. Every modern car has a number, and most clear this comfortably. Why "when moving" matters is just below.
Bars, not just rails
Rails run front to back. Bars (the cross bars) go side to side, and the tent sits on the bars. No bars yet? They are an easy, off-the-shelf add for most cars.
Two Ratings. Only One Counts For Driving.
This is the bit that quietly catches people out. Your car has two roof load numbers.
Static load is what the roof holds when parked. It is the big number, the one you and the tent rest on while you sleep, and it is far higher than you will ever need.
Dynamic load is what the roof holds while you are driving. It is the smaller, more cautious number, and this is the one that has to clear 80kg.
Good news: most cars handle a rooftop tent without breaking a sweat, because the weight is spread, low, and sitting still.
Four setups
What's On Your Roof?
Before the bars comes the question of what your roof gives them to hold on to. Nearly every car is one of these four. Here is how to spot yours.
Raised rails
Rails that run front to back with a gap you can slide a hand under. The easy one: clamp-on bars grip straight to them. Common on estates and SUVs.
Flush rails
Rails moulded flush to the roof with no gap underneath. Needs bars with a flush-rail foot kit made for your car.
Fixed points
No rails on show, but hidden mounting points under little covers or trim flaps. Needs fixed-point bars matched to your exact model.
Bare roof
A smooth roof with nothing on it. Needs a clamp system that grips inside the door frame, and it is the heaviest bar setup, which matters more than you would think. More on that next.
No Rails? Your Bars Just Got Heavier.
Here is the bit that catches people out, us included. Your roof's driving limit is not all for the tent. It has to carry the bars too. So the sum that actually matters is simple: your roof's driving limit, minus the weight of the bars, is what is left for the tent.
If your car already has rails, light clamp-on bars barely dent that budget. Start from a bare roof and you need a heavier clamp-in system, and those extra kilos come straight out of the tent's allowance.
Our range runs from Bertha at 38kg to Maggie at 69kg, so that shift can genuinely change your answer. A car that just takes Maggie on light, rail-mounted bars might only have room for a lighter tent like Millie at 61kg once a heavier bare-roof system is bolted on. Same car, different bars, different tent.
The rule of thumb: the heavier your bars, the lighter your tent needs to be. Starting from a bare roof? Lean toward our lighter tents, and if in doubt, send us your car.
The bars matter too
Which Bars? Go Heavy-Duty.
The bars carry the tent, so they are not the place to save a few quid. A quick steer before you buy.
Go heavy-duty
For a rooftop tent, fit proper heavy-duty bars. Think Thule WingBar Evo or an equivalent from Rhino-Rack or Yakima. You want bars rated comfortably above the tent's weight, not just ones that clip on.
Mind the slim aero bars
Some slim, flush-fit aero bars look the part but carry low dynamic limits or narrow mounting channels not made for a tent. "It fits" and "it is rated for it" are not the same thing.
Check the number
Every bar has a rated load. Make sure it clears your chosen tent's weight with room to spare, and remember that the bars themselves eat into your roof's driving budget too.
Three quick steps
How To Check Yours
No garage measuring marathon. Three small checks and you will know exactly where you stand.
1. Open the manual
Grab your car's handbook or search your make, model and year online. Look for the roof load section. Two minutes, tops.
2. Find the driving number
You want the dynamic roof load, the figure for when the car is moving. It needs to read 80kg or more. Most do.
3. Check the bar gap
Measure between your two roof bars, front to back. You are after at least 91cm. No bars yet? A set is easy to add.
Tight On Weight? Meet Bertha.
If your dynamic roof rating is on the lower side, or you just want the widest compatibility going, Bertha is your answer.
At 38kg it is our lightest tent, soft-shell, up in about five minutes, and it fits more vehicles than any other Lofti. Smaller car, smaller worry. It was practically built for the "will it fit?" crowd.
Bertha: 38kg, sleeps 2 plus child, 5 minute setup, £1,495.
Fits most cars
Yes To All
Adventure is meant to be ordinary. So is your car. That is rather the point.
Hatchback to van
You do not need a chunky 4x4. The school-run hatch, the dog-hair estate, the family SUV and the work van all take a Lofti.
UK stock and support
Free UK delivery, UK stock and a real person in Cheshire if you get stuck. Honest answers, no jargon.
Up to 5 year guarantee
German Stabilus struts rated to 45,000 cycles, plus 0% APR finance available. Buy with both eyes open.
Still Not Sure? Send Us Your Car.
Tell us your make, model and year, and we will tell you straight whether it works and which tent suits it best. No hard sell, no jargon, no "it depends" runaround. Life's complicated enough. Checking your car shouldn't be.