Yes, you can put a roof top tent on a ute, and there are three places it can go: on a rack over the cab roof, on a rack over the tray or tub, or on top of a canopy. The right spot is the one where the tent plus everything under it weighs less than the weakest load rating in the chain while you drive.
That chain is the vehicle, the rack or canopy, and the fittings. Each one has its own rating, and the lowest number is your limit. This guide covers all three spots, how to work out your real load limit, what changes with payload, and what to check before you bolt anything on. If you drive a Hilux or a Ranger, we have model guides for the roof top tent on a Toyota Hilux and the roof top tent on a Ford Ranger. This one stays general, so it works for any ute.
Can You Put a Roof Top Tent on Any Ute?
Most utes can carry a roof top tent, but not every ute can carry it on every spot. A dual cab, an extra cab, a single cab, a tub and a tray back all give you different options.
A dual cab has the longest cab roof, so it is the most common choice for a cab mount. An extra cab or single cab roof is shorter, so a full size tent can hang past the windscreen or over the back. On those, a rack over the tray or tub often makes more sense.
The bare roof of a ute is not built to take a tent. You always need something load rated in between: a roof rack on proper mounting points, a tub or tray rack, or a canopy with a roof rating. RIGDUP does not sell racks or canopies, so you will buy that part from a rack or canopy maker. Pick it first, then pick a tent that fits under its rating.
Where Does a Roof Top Tent Go on a Ute?
A roof top tent goes on the cab roof, on a tray or tub rack, or on a canopy. Here is how the three compare.
| Spot | What you need | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cab roof | Load rated roof rack or heavy duty bars on the vehicle's mounting points | Keeps the tray free for gear, low overall height on a dual cab | Cab roofs usually have the lowest rating of the three. Short roofs on extra and single cabs |
| Tray or tub rack | A rack built to carry a tent, bolted to the tray or tub | Higher rating than most cab roofs, tent sits over the back axle | Takes up space above the tray. Check the tent clears the cab when it opens |
| Canopy roof | A canopy with a stated roof load rating, plus rails or bars on top | Lockable storage under the tent, lots of room to mount it | Canopy ratings vary a lot between makers. A canopy adds its own weight to your payload |
There is no one right answer. A couple doing weekend trips in a dual cab might be happy on the cab roof. Someone who carries a fridge, water and recovery gear in a canopy often ends up putting the tent on top of it.
Is a Ute Cab Roof Strong Enough for a Roof Top Tent?
It can be, but the cab roof is usually the tightest of the three spots. The vehicle maker sets a roof load limit, and on many utes it is low enough that a hardshell tent plus a rack gets close to it or goes over.
Find your ute's roof load limit in the owner's manual, usually in the section on roof racks or carrying loads. If it is not there, ask a dealer for your model, year and body style. Do not use a number from a forum or a mate's ute. Body style, rails and year can all change it.
There are two figures to know:
- Dynamic (on road) rating: what the roof can carry while you drive. This is the number your tent and rack must fit under.
- Static rating: what the roof can hold when parked. This covers the tent with people sleeping in it.
The dynamic rating is lower because braking, corners and corrugations put far more force on the roof than the load sitting still. Off road, some rack makers rate their systems lower again. Rhino-Rack's load rating calculator shows how it splits on road and off road ratings, and uses the figure from your owner's manual as the starting point.
Length matters too. Measure your cab roof between the mounting points and compare it with the tent's closed length. A tent that hangs well past the windscreen adds drag and wind noise.
Is a Tray or Tub Rack Better for a Roof Top Tent?
For many ute owners, yes. A tray or tub rack bolts to the chassis side of the ute rather than the cab roof, so it is often rated well above what the cab can take. The tent also sits over the back axle, where the ute is built to carry weight.
There are a few kinds:
- Tub racks (bed racks): bolt to the sides of a styleside tub. Some are fixed height, some adjust.
- Tray racks: bolt to the tray on a tray back ute. Often called headboard or ladder racks when they extend over the cab.
- Racks that span cab and tray: carry a longer tent over both, so the load is spread.
What to check: the rack's stated load rating for a roof top tent (not just its general load figure), whether the rack maker approves it for your tub or tray, and that the tent clears the back of the cab when it opens. A clamshell hinges at one end, so think about which way it faces before you bolt it down.
The trade off is space. A tent over the tray sits above your gear, so tall items like a fridge in a drawer system need to fit under the rack.
Can a Ute Canopy Hold a Roof Top Tent?
Many can, if the canopy is built and rated for it. Canopy makers publish their own roof ratings, usually as a dynamic figure for driving and a static figure for when you are parked. Those ratings vary a lot between brands and models, so read the spec for the exact canopy, not the range.
Some things to check on a canopy:
- The roof rating, in writing, for both dynamic and static load. If the maker does not list one, assume it is not built for a tent.
- Internal frames or roof bars. Some canopies need extra frames inside to carry a tent. Ask what your canopy needs.
- How it mounts to the tub or tray. The canopy is only as strong as its fixings to the ute.
- The canopy's own weight. It counts against your payload before you add the tent.
A canopy plus a tent is a popular build because you get lockable storage underneath and a big flat area on top. It is also the heaviest of the three setups, which is why payload matters so much on a ute.
How Do You Work Out the Load Limit for a Roof Top Tent on a Ute?
Your limit is the lowest rating in the chain, and the tent plus the rack must weigh less than it. Work through it like this:
- Write down the vehicle maker's rating for the spot you are using (the roof load limit from the manual for a cab mount).
- Write down the rack, bar or canopy maker's rating for your exact setup.
- Take the lower of the two. If you drive off road, use the off road figure if the maker gives one.
- Add the tent weight, the rack or bar weight, and anything else mounted up there (an awning, a solar panel, recovery boards).
- That total must be under the number from step 3.
| Line | Where to find it | Your number |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle rating for that spot | Owner's manual or dealer | |
| Rack or canopy rating | Rack or canopy maker's spec or fitting instructions | |
| Your limit | The lower of the two | |
| Tent weight | Tent maker's spec | |
| Rack or bars weight | Rack maker's spec | |
| Other gear up top | Each maker's spec | |
| Total | Must be under your limit |
Our guide to roof rack weight limits for roof top tents goes through the sum in more detail.
Does a Roof Top Tent Affect Your Ute's Payload?
Yes. Everything you add counts against your ute's payload, which is the gap between its kerb weight and its GVM (gross vehicle mass). The tent, the rack, a canopy, a drawer system, water, fuel, people and the towball download all come out of that one number.
Your GVM is on the vehicle's compliance plate and in the owner's manual. A loaded touring ute can go over it faster than most owners expect, and a canopy plus a tent plus drawers is a big chunk before you pack anything.
To know for sure, weigh the ute fully loaded for a trip at a public weighbridge. If you are close to the limit, a lighter setup or a GVM upgrade are the usual options. GVM upgrades have their own rules, so talk to your state transport authority before you go down that path.
What Should You Check Before Fitting a Roof Top Tent to a Ute?
Run through this list before you buy anything:
- Ratings in writing for the vehicle spot and the rack or canopy. Use the lower one.
- Tent length vs mount length. Measure between the bars or rails, not just the roof.
- Bar spacing. The tent maker will say how far apart the bars should be. Make sure your rack allows it.
- Opening direction. Work out where the ladder lands and which way the tent opens before you mount it.
- New height. Measure the ute with everything fitted. Car parks and servo canopies catch people out.
- Payload. Add the tent, rack and canopy to everything else you carry.
- Load restraint. The tent has to be secured so it cannot shift. The National Transport Commission's Load Restraint Guide sets out how loads on light vehicles must be held.
- Your state's rules. Height and load rules can differ between states, so check your state transport authority's website. Tell your insurer about the accessories too.
- Bolt checks. Torque to the tent and rack makers' figures, then check again after the first drive.
The RIGDUP fitting guide walks through vehicle and rack fit before you buy.
Which Roof Top Tent Suits a Ute?
The one whose weight and length fit your mount. That means getting the ratings first and choosing the tent second, not the other way round.
The RIGDUP Nomad 1.4M is a clamshell hardshell with gas struts that sleeps 2. It weighs 72 kg and measures 217 x 150 x 18 cm closed, so it can suit a tray rack or a rated canopy if their ratings cover it, and a cab roof only if your numbers show room for 72 kg plus the rack. Cross bars come in the box, but they still need a rated rack or base that suits your ute. It has an aluminium shell, an aluminium honeycomb base, 70mm memory foam, a 2.6 m ladder and a 255W solar panel, and it is up in about 60 seconds.
If your rating is tight, a lighter tent or a different mounting spot is the honest answer. It is better to change the plan than to run over the limit.
Ready to Put a Tent on Your Ute?
Pick the spot, get the ratings in writing, take the lower number, and check the tent plus rack fits under it with room for payload. Then fit it properly and check the bolts after the first drive. If a 72 kg clamshell for two fits your numbers, see the RIGDUP Nomad 1.4M roof top tent. Shipping is free Australia-wide.
FAQs
Is it better to put a roof top tent on the cab or the tray?
It depends on your ratings and how you use the tray. The tray or tub rack usually has a higher rating and puts the weight over the back axle. The cab roof keeps the tray free for gear but often has the lowest limit.
Can I put a roof top tent on a single cab or extra cab ute?
Yes, but the cab roof is short, so many people mount the tent on a tray or tub rack instead. Measure the space between your mounting points and compare it with the tent's closed length.
Do I need a canopy to put a roof top tent on a ute?
No. A tub rack or tray rack works without a canopy. A canopy is only needed if you want lockable storage under the tent, and it must have a roof rating that covers the tent.
Where do I find my ute's roof load rating?
In the owner's manual, usually in the roof rack or load carrying section. If it is not listed, ask a dealer for your exact model, year and body style.
Does RIGDUP sell ute racks or canopies?
No. RIGDUP sells roof top tents and awnings, not racks or canopies. Buy a rack or canopy rated for a tent from a rack or canopy maker, then check the tent fits under its rating.
