• Ark's Newsletter
  • Posts
  • My New Adventure: Trying Out a Rooftop Tent on My Toyota Land Cruiser

My New Adventure: Trying Out a Rooftop Tent on My Toyota Land Cruiser

Author

Ark
April 08, 2025

I recently picked up a rooftop tent from a subscriber in Los Angeles for about $500—a steal considering it’s a used Majioliña, a brand that claims to have pioneered rooftop tents. Handmade in Italy, these tents are still produced today, with new models retailing around $3,300. Mine, however, is about 17 years old, according to the previous owner, who said he only used it about a dozen times. It’s in great shape for its age, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to try something new.

I’ve spent countless nights sleeping in my vehicles—hundreds, easily—but I’ve never tried a rooftop tent. Over the years, I’ve had companies offer to send me free ones for review, but I wanted to start with something affordable and low-commitment. When this opportunity came along, I thought, “Why not? Let’s give it a shot and make some videos about it.” That’s the main reason I bought it: to experiment, compare it to my usual SUV camping setup, and share the experience with my audience.

The tent is now mounted on my 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser, replacing a beat-up cargo box I’d been using. That old black Thule box had a solar panel, gas cans strapped to it, and even a shower tent that doubled as an awning. It was a cool setup, but the plastic mounts were cracking, and I didn’t trust it for the aggressive off-roading I love to do. Rather than replace it with another box, I saw this as the perfect excuse to try a rooftop tent.

Why a Rooftop Tent?

I’ve made hundreds of videos about sleeping in my SUVs, and while I love that setup, there’s only so much more I can say about it. A rooftop tent offers a fresh perspective—something fun, interesting, and useful to explore. How does it compare to sleeping inside the vehicle? When does one make more sense than the other? I’m excited to find out and share my thoughts.

Timing also played a role. Right now, I’m in Arizona with my wife, Cassie, on a month-long trip surrounded by stunning mountain views. We’ve got the Land Cruiser packed with gear, which is great for storage but not so great for sleeping inside. My usual setup—a platform with mattresses that fold out and storage underneath—works perfectly when it’s just me. But with all our stuff in the back, there’s no room for both of us to camp inside. Enter the rooftop tent. On our drive home to Wyoming in a few days, we’ll put it to the test.

Hard-Sided vs. Soft-Sided: Why I Chose This One

I opted for a hard-sided tent over the soft-sided ones you’ve probably seen—the kind with a fabric cover that clamshells open. I’ve never understood the appeal of those. They don’t save much time compared to a traditional ground tent, and you’re still stuck with a bulky thing on your roof. Hard-sided tents, like this Majioliña, are generally faster to set up. Some newer models have gas struts that pop open with a flick of a latch, but mine uses a hand crank. It’s a bit slower, but it has advantages—like working better in cold weather or under snow, which can bog down gas struts.

Setting it up for the first time took me 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Unbuckle the latches, crank it open, unzip the sides, pull out the ladder, and secure the flaps—that’s it. The ladder’s a two-piece design, unlike the telescoping ones on modern tents, but it gets the job done. Inside, it’s roomy—I can sit up easily—with tons of ventilation: a door/window on each side with mesh screens, plus triangular windows at both ends. There’s even a built-in light (though it needs a battery hookup) and a mattress with a couple of pillows. It’s a little dirty here and there, but overall, it’s in solid condition.

First Impressions and Plans

I hadn’t been inside the tent until I set it up for this video. When I bought it yesterday, the seller and his friend helped me mount it on the Land Cruiser, and I gave it a quick once-over. Climbing in for the first time, I was impressed. It’s spacious, airy, and the views through the windows are incredible. We’ll add some bedding—pillowcases, maybe some USB lights—and hit the road. As we use it, we’ll figure out what else we need.

This tent’s crank system is a mixed bag. It’s not as fast as gas struts, but it’s reliable in cold weather (a plus since my Land Cruiser’s rear struts struggle in the chill too). If snow piles up, I can crank it open without worrying about the weight—an issue some cheaper gas-strut tents face. That said, it does shake up my usual setup. I no longer have a solar panel on top (newer Majioliñas have a rack for that, but not this old one), and I can’t strap gas cans or smelly gear up there like I did with the cargo box. Overlanders with steel bumpers have an edge here, but I’ll adapt.

What’s Next?

I’m not expecting this to replace my tried-and-true SUV platform long-term—I love that system too much. But I’m open to being converted. Rooftop tents have their perks: no need to modify your vehicle’s interior, and you can keep the inside unchanged while still having a cozy sleep setup above. We’ll see how it goes. For now, I’ll probably sell or trade it eventually, but I’m excited to try it out, especially with Cassie in the winter conditions ahead.

Stay tuned for the next few videos where we’ll test this thing on our drive home. It’ll be a learning experience—and hopefully fun to watch. Let me know what you think, your favorite part, or any questions you have. For more, check out my new site, AdventureKnow.com, where you can access a map of my free campsites and exclusive monthly videos. For all things SUV RVing, visit SUVRVing.com. Links are in the description. See you in the next one!

Help and support my work : paypal.me/arkjet

Please note that some of the links provided may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support my work and allows me to continue providing valuable content. I only recommend products or services I believe in and think will be helpful to you. Thank you for your support!