Outside of riding motorcycles, I love heading out of the city, pointing my decked out Toyota Hilux somewhere remote, and just figuring it out from there. I’ve got an awning setup, recovery gear, and enough camping kit to get by. So yeah, you could say that I’m kind of an overland dude in my free time.
Sure, my setup works, but it’s still very much a ground tent life. Uneven terrain, rocks under your back, and packing everything up and stuffing it all in the bed of my truck. That’s why what iKamper just rolled out has me seriously rethinking my setup. The Skycamp 4.0 is their latest rooftop tent, and it looks like the kind of upgrade that instantly changes how you camp.
The concept is simple. It mounts to the roof rack on your UTV, pickup truck, or SUV, and just stays there like a cargo box. When you get to camp, you undo a couple latches, flip it open, and you’re basically done. Setup takes about a minute, maybe less if you’ve done it a few times. No poles, no stakes, no guesswork. You go from driving to lounging around in record time.
Photos by: iKamper
Once it’s open, it doesn’t look like a compromise either. This thing can sleep up to four people, and it opens into a surprisingly roomy platform that builds on the already generous footprint of previous Skycamps. The 4.0 squeezes out more headroom and usable space without making the shell any bigger when it’s closed, so you’re not dealing with a bulky brick on your roof when you’re back on the road.
The hard shell design is a big part of the appeal. Instead of dealing with a soft cover that you have to wrestle on and off, you get a fiber reinforced shell that acts like a proper roof box when closed. It’s cleaner, more aerodynamic, and just way easier to live with. On long drives or rough trails, that kind of simplicity pays dividends.
Inside, it actually looks like a legit place to sleep, not just something you tolerate for the night. The mattress setup has been improved, with options depending on how plush you want things, and the bigger windows help with airflow so it doesn’t feel stuffy. It’s also built as a four season setup, with weather resistant fabric and an insulated floor system that uses cork to help manage temperature when things get cold or damp.
Of course, this kind of convenience comes at a price. The Skycamp 4.0 ranges from $4,415 all the way to $5,095 USD, depending on how you spec it out. That’s not small money for a tent, but it’s also doing a lot more than a normal tent. It basically turns your vehicle into a home away from home without the hassle of towing a trailer or constantly booking accommodations.
Photo by: iKamper
Of course, we can’t ignore the fact that there are tradeoffs. You’re adding roughly 150 to 200 pounds on the roof, which isn’t nothing. That affects fuel economy, and yeah, with fuel prices right now, that’s something you feel. And once you’re set up, your vehicle is tied down unless you pack everything up again. But hey, that’s the case with all RTTs, anyway.
Still, it’s hard not to want one. Especially if your weekends already involve dirt roads, long drives, or hauling bikes out to ride. Pull up, pop the tent, crash, wake up, repeat. No setup drama, no packing headaches.
Now, I’ll be completely honest. I’ve been perfectly fine running a ground tent for years. But with what iKamper’s doing with the Skycamp 4.0, I’m starting to feel like I’ve been doing it the hard way this whole time.
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