Before you buy a second hand roof top tent, open it fully, check the seams, zips, fabric, mould, hinges or struts, mattress, ladder and mounting hardware, and ask the seller for the weight and dimensions. A used tent can be a good buy, but the ones that cost you money are the ones bought without that check, so do it in daylight, with the tent set up in front of you.
Below is a checklist you can take to the inspection. It also covers warranty, weight, and how to meet and pay safely. Most of it works for any brand, hard shell or soft shell.
What Should You Check on a Used Roof Top Tent?
Check the parts that fail first: the fabric, the seams, the zips, the opening mechanism and the mattress. Ask the seller to put the tent up while you watch, because a tent folded on a roof hides most of its faults.
| Part | What to Look For | Walk Away or Haggle If |
|---|---|---|
| Seams | Tape along the seams lying flat. Stitching tight and even. Look inside with the fly closed and hold it up to the light | Tape peeling, thread missing, light showing through needle holes |
| Zips | Run every zip fully open and shut, several times. Check the teeth are straight and the pullers are still attached | Zips that snag, split behind the slider or will not stay closed |
| Fabric | Pinch and tug it gently. Look at the fly and the areas that face the sun | Fabric that feels brittle or chalky, or tears with light pressure |
| Mould | Smell it first. Check the corners, the mattress base and the folds | A musty smell that does not go, black spotting that is deep in the weave |
| Hinge, struts or poles | Open and close it three or four times. It should hold open without help | Struts that sag, a lid that drops, bent poles or a hinge that grinds |
| Mattress | Press it all over. Lift it and check the underside | Damp, mould on the underside, foam that stays squashed |
| Ladder | Is it there, and is it the right one? Check the locks and feet | Missing ladder, bent rungs, locks that slip |
| Mounting hardware | Are the brackets, plates, bolts and nuts all there? | Missing or rusted parts you will have to source yourself |
Take a torch, even in daylight. Inside a tent with the fly closed it is dim, and a torch shows pinholes and stains you would otherwise miss.
How Do You Spot UV Damage on a Roof Top Tent?
UV damage shows up as faded, dry or brittle fabric, and the test is to feel it and tug it. Tents that lived on a roof in the Australian sun, unprotected, for years can have fabric that looks fine from a metre away and then tears when you pull the tent open.
- Compare the colours. Look at a sheltered part, such as the inside of a flap, then at the sun side. A big difference means a lot of sun.
- Feel the fabric. Healthy canvas or poly-cotton is soft and flexible. Rotted fabric feels dry, stiff or powdery.
- Look at the stitching. Thread rots in the sun too. If the thread is white and fuzzy, or snaps when pulled lightly, expect seams to fail.
- Check the waterproof coating. If water soaks in rather than beading, the coating is gone. Some coatings can be redone, but price that in.
Rot like this is hard to fix. Patching helps with a small tear, but if the whole fly is weak you are buying a new fly, not a bargain.
How Can You Tell If a Used Roof Top Tent Has Mould?
You can tell by smell, by black or green spots, and by damp on the underside of the mattress. Mould is a risk with any tent that has been packed away wet, and the smell is the quickest check.
Stick your head inside and breathe in. A faint stale smell can come out with a clean and an airing. A strong musty smell that hits you at the door usually means mould in the fabric and the foam, and it is hard to shift. Look at the mattress base, the corners where the walls meet the floor, and any fold in the canvas. Condensation sits there first.
Our guides on preventing condensation and mould in a roof top tent and cleaning a canvas roof top tent show what can be cleaned and what cannot. Light surface spotting on a wipeable surface is one thing. Mould that has gone through the weave or into the foam is a reason to walk away or take a big chunk off the price.
What Should You Check on the Hinge, Struts and Mattress?
Open and close the tent several times and watch it move. A good tent opens smoothly, stays open on its own and closes flat. If it fights you or drops, something is worn or bent.
- Gas struts. They should hold the lid at full height without creeping down. A strut that sinks over a minute is losing pressure. Ask what a replacement costs.
- Hinges and pivots. Look for cracks, rust and bent metal near the points where the shell meets the base. Any play or grinding is a flag.
- Poles and frames on soft shells. Check they are straight and that every pole and clip is there.
- Latches and clasps. The tent should close and lock firmly. If it does not, it will rattle or open on the road.
- Mattress. Press it in a few places and check it springs back. Lift it and look underneath for damp. If it is worn out, a new one is a known cost. Our guide to a roof top tent mattress covers what to look for.
Does a Used Roof Top Tent Come With a Warranty?
Usually not, or not in a way you can count on. Warranty terms are set by the maker and some do not pass to a second owner, so ask the maker before you pay, and ask the seller for the original receipt.
Do not take the seller's word on it. Email or call the maker with the model name, the serial number if there is one, and the purchase date, and ask in writing whether cover transfers and what it includes. Get the reply before you hand over money.
For comparison, new RIGDUP tents carry a 2 year warranty and 30 day returns. That is about buying new, and it is a fair thing to weigh. A used tent that is clearly cheaper may still win on value. Just price it as if no warranty exists.
What Should You Ask the Seller?
Ask for the model, the age, the weight, the dimensions, how it was stored and why they are selling. The answers tell you if the tent will fit your car and how it was treated.
- Brand and model, and the year bought. It lets you look up the maker's specs and check the seller's claims.
- Weight. It decides if your roof can carry it. Compare it with your vehicle's roof load rating and your bars' rating. Our guide to roof rack weight limits for roof top tents explains how.
- Closed and open dimensions. You need to know it fits your roof and your garage, and how much room it takes at camp.
- How it was stored. Dry, in a shed, or on the roof all year in the sun?
- Has it been repaired? Ask what was patched, re-taped or replaced, and by whom.
- What is included? Ladder, bars or brackets, mattress, cover, manual and any extras.
- Why are they selling? A vehicle change is common. Vague answers are worth noting.
Missing parts are a real cost. Missing parts are a real cost, so ask what a replacement ladder costs from the maker before you agree on a price, and our ladder for roof top tent guide shows what to measure. Mounting hardware is often specific to the tent and the bars.
How Do You Meet and Pay Safely When Buying Used?
Meet in person in daylight, view the tent set up, and pay in a way you can trust. Never pay a deposit to a stranger for a tent you have not seen.
- Inspect it in person. Skip any deal that wants money up front for a tent you have not seen and touched.
- Meet somewhere public if you can. If you go to the seller's home, tell someone where you are.
- Be wary of urgent pressure. "Other buyers are coming" is a common push. A good tent will still be fine after a day of thought.
- Pay when you hold the tent. A bank transfer made on the spot, with a receipt, leaves a record. Cash is fine too, with a written receipt that names the item and the amount.
- Beware of overpayment, fake payment screens and postage-only offers. If a buyer or seller asks you to use a service you do not know, stop.
For help with a scam or a dispute, contact the platform you used and your state consumer protection agency. Rules about private sales differ from state to state, so check the official page for yours.
Is a Used Roof Top Tent Worth It, or Should You Buy New?
A used tent is worth it if it passes the checklist and the price reflects its age and missing cover. If it does not, a new tent with a warranty is the safer way to go.
If you are still deciding what kind of tent you want, read how to choose a roof top tent first. That way you know what you are looking at when you inspect one.
FAQs
Where can I find a used roof top tent for sale?
Online classifieds, marketplace listings, 4WD clubs and forums, and secondhand gear stores all list them. Whatever the source, inspect the tent in person before you pay.
How much should a second hand roof top tent cost?
It depends on the brand, age and condition. Look up the maker's current price for the same model on its own site, then take off for wear, missing parts and no warranty.
Can I use a used tent on any roof rack?
Not always. Check the tent's weight and mounting hardware against your vehicle's roof rating and your bars' rating, and confirm the brackets suit your bars.
Want a Tent With a Warranty Instead?
If the used market is not turning up a tent that passes, the Nomad 1.4M roof top tent is a clamshell hard shell that sleeps 2, with a 2 year warranty and 30 day returns. Check the weight against your roof rating first.
