High life

‘Roof-tent camping’ is becoming increasingly popular – Cameron Burns tests Porsche’s new option on a trip to the Club’s Abbey Wood campsite

Roof tents have been around for over half a century, but in recent years these cool canvas cabins have enjoyed a surge in popularity. They are easy to fit, easy to store when not in use and can be fitted to any car with a standard set of roof bars. Although there is a plethora of manufacturers out there building roof tents, Porsche has recently become one of the first car makers to offer its own unique design as an optional extra. Porsche UK invited me to try out its new design on the roof of a Cayenne E-Hybrid, the overall winner of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards for 2024.

I travelled down from my home in West Yorkshire to the Porsche press office on the outskirts of London to pick up the Cayenne, stylishly finished in the optional Goodwood Green metallic paint.

In my eagerness to get on the road, I foolishly declined a demonstration of the roof tent erection procedure because… how hard can it be? As the car quietly glided onto the motorway, its advanced computerised air suspension system set to comfort mode, I did become aware of a little wind noise from the roof bars, but this was to be expected. This posed no problem as the car was fitted with £4,620-worth of Burmester sound system – simply outstanding.

My destination was Abbey Wood Club Campsite in south-east London. By the time I arrived, the hybrid battery was empty and the lively 3.0 V6 petrol engine had roared into life. The Cayenne’s massager seats helped calm my nerves while negotiating central London and, for such a large car, I couldn’t believe how effortless it was to drive.

Worries unfounded

I have to confess that, by this point, I was a little wary about the roof tent set-up process. The Cayenne was already raising a few eyebrows on site, and I was certain that anything less than a perfect attempt would reduce me to a laughing stock. I needn’t have worried. Once the retaining locks were undone, all that was needed was a gentle shove and the twin gas struts did the rest. My car-top accommodation took shape in about the same time it usually takes me to put the corner steadies down on my caravan. With the ladder pulled down, the tiny 1.46m × 1.4m × 0.3m roof box had expanded into a whopping 2.58m × 2.57m ×1.18m.

Inside the tent, there is a memory foam mattress, skylight, storage pockets and two windows offering an elevated view of the campsite (they also have insect and blackout screens). The top of the casing is padded with quilting, offering insulation at the end of the tent where your head would be positioned. I unpacked my camping paraphernalia and climbed up into the tent to read a book. It was quite thrilling to observe the comings and goings of Abbey Wood from such a high perch – it was like a little treehouse hideout.

I got a brilliant night’s sleep, even managing to exit the roof tent the next morning without losing my dignity on the ladder. With coffee brewing on my small stove, it felt like business as usual as far as camping was concerned.

My plan was to head into central London for the day; the tent seemed to fold away even more quickly than it had gone up, and within minutes I was exiting the site, ready to join the hustle and bustle of our capital city. Unfortunately, the traffic was so bad that it took well over an hour to get to my destination – in fact, one of Abbey Wood’s main selling points is its proximity to the new Elizabeth Line, meaning I could have done the same journey significantly quicker had I left my outfit on site.

Versatile

After my day in London, I returned to site for a second night in the roof tent. It struck me that this is an incredibly versatile way of enjoying the great outdoors – your ‘day car’ can double as your holiday accommodation, no additional equipment is needed, and it’s a very affordable entry to the world of camping. A roof tent could provide extra accommodation for kids who have outgrown the bunks in the caravan, or enable a quick weekend getaway with the minimum of preparation.

Sadly, I had to return the Porsche on my way back to Yorkshire – I would have liked more time to explore its many incredible features. Staying in the roof tent had been a very enjoyable experience. It gave me a youthful sense of adventure and helped me feel that bit closer to nature. And regardless of your camping accommodation, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

• Are you or your family interested in roof tenting on Club campsites? Look out for more information of how to book in the May 2025 issue of the Club's magazine.

TentBox offer

You can save 10% on TentBox roof tents via Club Shop – see shop.camc.com and pages 80-81 of the February 2025 issue of the Club magazine, where we also put the spotlight on handy camping kit ideas.