Ladder for Roof Top Tent: Length and Angle

A ladder for a roof top tent needs to reach from firm ground to the tent floor at an angle of roughly 65 to 75 degrees. In practice that means a ladder about 4 to 10 percent longer than the height of your tent floor, so a 2.6 m ladder suits a floor sitting about 2.35 to 2.5 m off the ground.

Below is how to measure your own height, what angle to aim for, telescopic vs fixed ladders, and how to climb safely in the dark.

How Long Does a Roof Top Tent Ladder Need to Be?

Your ladder should be a little longer than the height from the ground to your tent floor, because it leans out at an angle rather than standing straight up. The steeper the angle, the closer the height gets to the ladder's full length.

Makers size ladders the same way. iKamper says its standard 230 cm ladder suits heights up to 211 cm, and sells a 30 cm extension for taller vehicles. That is a ladder roughly 9 percent longer than the height it serves.

Here is what a 2.6 m ladder reaches at common angles. The maths is simple trigonometry, so you can do the same for any ladder.

Ladder angle from the ground	Height a 2.6 m ladder reaches	Feet out from under the tent edge
60°	2.25 m	1.30 m
65°	2.36 m	1.10 m
70°	2.44 m	0.89 m
75°	2.51 m	0.67 m

The RIGDUP Nomad 1.4M comes with a 2.6 m ladder, so the table above is the range it works in.

How Do You Work Out the Height You Need?

The most accurate way is to measure it: park on level ground, open the tent and measure from the ground to the edge of the tent floor where the ladder hooks on. That one number is all you need.

If the tent is not fitted yet, add it up from three parts:

Vehicle roof height. Find the overall height in your owner's manual or on the maker's spec sheet. Check whether that figure includes factory roof rails.
Rack or cross bar height. Measure from the roof to the top of the bars, or check your rack maker's spec.
Tent base. The tent floor sits a little above the bars. Your tent's manual or spec sheet shows the base or closed height.

Then allow for what changes it on the day:

A lift kit or bigger tyres raise the floor
A heavy load or a sagging rear end can lower one corner
Sloping ground, soft sand or a camp on a lean changes the height at the ladder end

Our fitting guide covers which vehicles and racks suit a RIGDUP tent, and our roof top tent install guide shows where the tent sits on the bars.

What Angle Should a Roof Top Tent Ladder Sit At?

Aim for about 65 to 75 degrees from the ground. That is a common rule of thumb, not a standard, so follow your tent's manual if it says otherwise. Too steep and the ladder feels like a wall, and your weight sits behind your feet as you climb. Too shallow and the feet can slide out, and the rungs flex more in the middle.

For a reference point, SafeWork NSW says extension ladders should sit at a 1:4 ratio, which is 1 m out for every 4 m up, or about 75 degrees. A roof top tent ladder is a different setup, since it hooks onto the tent rather than leaning on a wall, but the same idea holds: steep enough to climb straight, not so steep it wants to tip back.

A quick check at camp: stand the feet about a third of the ladder's height out from under the tent edge. For a 2.4 m floor that is roughly 0.8 to 0.9 m out, which puts you near 70 degrees.

Telescopic or Fixed Ladder: Which Is Better?

Telescopic ladders are better if you change vehicles, camp on uneven ground or want the ladder to pack small. Fixed and sliding ladders are simpler and have fewer moving parts. Here is how they compare.

	Telescopic	Sliding (two piece)	Fixed or folding
How it adjusts	Each rung section locks at a set height	Slides and pins at set lengths	One length
Packed size	Very short	About half its full length	Full length, or folds with the tent
Uneven ground	Easy to shorten or lengthen	Some adjustment	Little or none
Things to watch	Pinch points, sand in the locks	Pins must be fully in	Angle changes with ground height

Whichever you have, rinse it after beach and desert trips. Salt and fine sand are what jam locks and wear the feet.

What If Your Ladder Is Too Short or Too Long?

If it is too short, buy the maker's extension for that ladder, or a longer ladder rated for the tent. Never stand the ladder on an esky, a block or a rock to make up the gap. It will move.

If it is too long, set it at a shallower angle within the 65 to 75 degree range, or shorten it if it is telescopic. A ladder that pokes far past the floor edge is an easy trip hazard when you climb in.

A tall vehicle with a high rack can push the floor past what a standard ladder reaches. Measure before you buy a tent, not after.

How Do You Use a Roof Top Tent Ladder Safely?

Set the feet on firm, level ground, lock every section and climb facing the ladder with three points of contact. SafeWork NSW defines that as two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the ladder at all times.

Check the top hook is fully seated on the tent before you climb
On a telescopic ladder, check every section has clicked into place
On sand or soft dirt, put a board or ladder pad under the feet
Keep the rungs clean of mud and dew, and wear shoes with grip
Light the ladder at night, from the tent or a head torch
Climb down facing the ladder, never facing out
Keep kids off the ladder unless an adult is right there
Do not carry gear up in your hands: pass it up or use a bag
Stow or secure the ladder before you drive

Ladder placement matters too. Where you can, set the ladder away from passing traffic, at the rear or on the kerb side.

FAQs

What length ladder comes with the RIGDUP Nomad 1.4M?

The Nomad 1.4M comes with a 2.6 m ladder. At 65 to 75 degrees, that reaches a tent floor about 2.36 to 2.51 m off the ground.

Can I use a normal household ladder for a roof top tent?

It is better to use the ladder made for your tent. It hooks onto the tent floor, so it cannot slide sideways the way a leaning ladder can.

Do you need a ladder with a hardshell roof top tent?

Yes. Hardshell and soft shell tents both use a ladder to get in and out. See our hardshell vs softshell guide for the other differences.

Is a steeper ladder angle safer?

Not past about 75 degrees. Steeper than that, your weight sits behind your feet and the ladder can feel like it wants to tip back. Stay in the 65 to 75 degree range.

Why does my ladder angle change at different campsites?

The ground height changes. If the ladder end of the vehicle sits higher, the angle gets steeper. Level the vehicle first, then adjust a telescopic ladder to suit.