FAQ

Most likely the one you have right now! Most vehicles can support a rooftop tent. We have a variety of models so accommodate as many different vehicles as we can. After finding the right tent for your needs and vehicle, the most important part is to find a functional rack to fit your vehicle. Our team has in depth knowledge on most rack types and can help you find the right fit. You can pick from several brands that we carry, and we can even supply fully custom truck bed racks.

What if we do something better than just a rental? How about.. rent to own? A rooftop tent is a big purchase and we want to make sure you’re buying with confidence. This is why we created our Rent-To-Own system. Whatever money you put toward renting a tent, we’ll put toward your purchase! Learn more about our program and see rates on our Rentals page. Rentals are currently only available from our main warehouse in Alberta, Canada.

All your vehicle needs is a rack/crossrail/loadbars with the proper dynamic (while moving) weight rating for the tent that you want to purchase.

We believe gear made for North American explorers should be made to handle North American weather! Our materials have been selected to perform from long summer nights in the heat, to crisp fall mornings, to long winter nights and back around to the dewiest spring days. Our tents are constructed with durability in mind. Our tent bodies are made from UV resistant from 280g ripstop canvas or 420 oxford ripstop, depending on the model. With double stitching throughout, strong YKK & SBS zippers, reinforced aluminium frames and industrial stainless hardware, basically, you’re set for many moons to come. We've also added upgraded to 2.8 inch (7.1cm) high density foam mattresses in all of our tents, because we believe in top quality and bringing you the best.

We have a wedge style tent because it gives you the ability to sit up completely in your tent and move around. It also results in larger windows and access points, meaning bigger views from your bedside, and easier entry and exit. Another major benefit is that it helps with snow and rain sloughing, allowing any buildup to continuously run down the top of the tent and avoid pooling.

Your tent’s lifespan greatly depends on how much you use and care for it. With extremely good care, safe handling practices, proper winter storage, and average use, you should be seeing 5+ years. This could fluctuate based on region, temperature, use rates, abuse, and terrain.

One of our favourite questions. Yes, but only if you are prepared mentally and physically to spend long nights in the cold. Do you winter camp now? Do you have proper sleeping gear that is fully rated to sub zero temperatures? Do you have some experience sleeping through the night in freezing temperatures? These are the most important questions you need to be asking for your safety while winter camping. Your tent will keep you out of the elements, but the insulation R value is not good enough to keep you comfortable through a cold night without the proper gear needed to sleep in the cold. You should first educate yourself on proper winter camping techniques and gear. The tent will stand up to freezing temperatures and winds but the most important thing in the tent is you!

Tip: Make sure to keep good ventilation in your tent (leave your windows cracked open), especially in winter, to prevent the buildup of condensation and CO2. Cold air is more dense, and so it is necessary to keep air flowing.

Your tent is 100% removable. That being said, you can leave your SMRT Tent on your vehicle for the entire season if you prefer. Please ensure hardware is properly fastened before every trip. If you are wanting to take your tent on and off between every trip, we suggest using quick release brackets, which you can find in our Tent Accessories. It is highly suggested you use a minimum of two people to lift it on and off your vehicle. When storing away, please refer to our proper use and care guide for more information.

You have the ability to set your mounting hardware in 3 places: the back of the tent, or one of the two side entrances. We suggest putting the ladder on the same side as the shoulder of the road, because if you need to have a sleep on a long drive, it's safer to have your ladder on the non traffic side. Included in your mounting hardware kit is one set of ladder mounts. If you’d like to double up on entrance options, we sell extra brackets in the Tent Accessories section. For more in depth information about choosing the correct mounting location for your vehicle, see our Summit Suite User Manual.

While you certainly can’t submerge the tent and expect to be dry, there is no amount of rain that is getting through it. We stand by our promise to make tents suited for the global explorer, and we know that means dealing with some rainy nights and high winds, which is why we’ve incorporated waterproof materials and double layered stitching. We’ve tested these tents in many different climates, from the summits of the rockies, to the rainforests on the west coast of the Americas, to the high wind tunnels of the prairies.

You can absolutely pack up your tent when it’s wet. We suggest leaving your windows zipped up because that will help keep the moisture on the outside. Give it a good shake and get as much water off as you can before pack-up. Once you've arrived at your new location, it is imperative that you don't forget to open it up and air it out completely! Try not to leave it more than 36 hours – as soon as you can is best.

Adding extra weight to your vehicle will naturally affect your fuel mileage. We’ve tracked this as length, and there is a small change in your fuel economy, although it is not as drastic as you would think – even with our thickest rooftop tents.

No, you cannot use an automated car wash while you have a rooftop tent installed. The probability for tent and vehicle damage is extremely high. Instead, you can use a wand wash to give your vehicle the clean it needs. It's best to wash the rooftop tent by hand, and don't forget, if you get it wet, you have to dry it out.

Shipping is free on orders over $500. Orders including a Rooftop Tent have a $150 Oversize Shipping and Handling fee.* *Yukon, Nunavut and NWT have case-by-case Oversize Shipping and Handling fee. Please inquire. Shipping not available to P.O. Boxes.

Tents will arrive anywhere from 3-14 days after they are shipped out; you will get a call to set up a delivery time on the day of delivery.

It is crucial that you thoroughly inspect the tent for any damages as soon as it is delivered, before you sign for it and the shipper leaves. Once the package arrives, you have 15 minutes to fully inspect the tent with the driver present – open the box and inspect the top, bottom, and all the sides for shipping damage. You must note any damage to the tent within the 15 minutes and write “Damaged - Do Not Accept” on the shipping form. If there appears to be any shipping damage, you MUST REFUSE THE SHIPMENT and the liability will fall on the shipping company. We will send you a replacement tent. This is the best of a worse case scenario. We can’t stress this enough, you must refuse the shipment and write “Damaged - Do Not Accept” on the shipping form! If you sign for the package, it means that you’ve received the products in good working order. If you don’t inspect the tent thoroughly at the time of arrival, and notice damage after you’ve signed, please contact orders@smrttent.com IMMEDIATELY. Our team will assess the situation, and if a tent replacement is deemed appropriate, the return full shipping cost (not the flat rate) as well as the shipping of the replacement tent will fall on the customer. *This also applies to other bulk items such as Awnings, Shower Kits, etc.

Simply add what you'd like to your cart and check out! If you're having trouble, you can contact us at orders@smrttent.com and someone from the team will be happy to assist you.

Preorders for Tents are refundable upon request, minus a $50 fee.

Please contact us immediately for any order cancellations or changes at orders@smrttent.com within 24 hours of purchase time. This will ensure that your order hasn't yet left the warehouse and we can make the necessary changes. You will receive a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours. If you wish to cancel your order after 24 hours, and the shipment has left, it will be your responsibility to ship the items back and charged a restocking fee.

We believe the best warranty policy starts with prevention. That’s why we are dedicated in our manufacturing processes to bring you a durable and reliable product! If by chance you find a defect in workmanship, we have a two year manufacturer defect warranty on our hardshell tents, and a one year warranty on our soft-shell tents. Warranty does not cover regular wear and tear, such as punctures, rips, and burn marks from use, as well as damage caused by improper handling and storage of the tent. If you believe your product has a manufacturer defect, please fill out the warranty request form here, and our team will get back to you shortly. If approved, you are responsible for return shipping on the defective tent but you will receive free shipping on your replacement!

You will get up to date tracking information from Shopify once your product leaves the warehouse, and for tents you will also receive a call on the day of delivery!

Believe it or not, we've actually never had a tent returned! But we know life can get in the way, and circumstances can arise. This is why we have a 14 day return policy on our tents, as long as the product is unused and in brand new condition with the packaging intact. If you think you qualify for a return, please send your inquiry to orders@smrttent.com and a team member will assist you with either a repair, exchange or refund (refunds will only be issued after the warehouse team receives product and inspects it).