Car roof tent accessories suitable for winter, maximum comfort in every season

Camping in winter seems to be a challenge for many, but once you have overcome your fear, you will find that with the right precautions, it is actually quite feasible. One of the positive aspects of winter camping is that there will be much less campers than in summer, so you can enjoy the scenery and nature without the risk of clutter and unwanted noise. Another major advantage is that insects, such as mosquitoes and flies, are not present in winter.

Yes, it's true that you need to be well equipped, but don't worry about that. Here are a number of tent accessories to take with you on your camping trip in the coldest season of the year.

Thermal insulation inside your car roof tent

During your plein air winter holidays, it is essential to think about the thermal insulation of your tent.There are several accessories on the market that you can buy to keep warm inside your habitat. One of these, which is very important to have with you, is a thermal coating that decreases heat dissipation and improves the thermal insulation performance of the tent. It works by creating a gap between the tent and the inner lining that acts as a cold barrier. In roof tents, as the walls get very cold, the cold is transmitted from the walls to the inside of the tent. The presence of this coating reduces the transmission of cold into the living space. Our advice is not to go without this thermal coating if your destination has a really cold climate, with temperatures dropping even below zero. The insulating tent cover is easy to install as it adapts perfectly to the shape of the tent and, thanks to its high-quality, thin material, it protects against the cold without taking up too much space.

Another very useful accessory is the anti-condensation mattress net. This net helps to reduce the formation of condensation by allowing air to pass under the mattress. Avoiding the build-up of condensation in the tent is a problem that many winter campers face from time to time and which often finds them unprepared.

An anti-condensation net under the mattress is definitely a must-have product because it helps prevent moisture from building up under the mattress.

In addition, a tent that is suitable for camping in areas with cold temperatures should have a honeycomb panel that increases the thermal insulation and breathability of the tent base. That is why all Carcamp tents have this equipment.

See all the anti-condensation nets for roof tents selected by us!

Discover all thermal roof tents coverings selected by us!

Another way to protect yourself from the cold and damp is to use the Annex Room to your advantage. The Annex Room is an additional living unit to the tent, suitable either for use as a "storage room" for wet clothes and shoes, which would create more condensation in the tent, or, for those tent models where the annex room surrounds the tent entrance, as an additional barrier against wind and cold between the main tent entrance and the outside.

Choose the Annex Room that best suits your car roof tent!

Internal tent heating, yes or no?

For many people, having an internal heater in the car roof tent may seem dangerous, but in reality this is not the case.This may have been the case in the past, but nowadays many companies are equipped and offer specific, and therefore completely safe, heaters for camping tents.

In any case, there are several ways of heating the tent environment. One of the more rustic, do-it-yourself methods is to fill thermos flasks with hot water and use them overnight as you would use a hot water bottle at home. It is not a permanent solution, as it cools down over the course of the hours, but it is still useful when undressing for bed. For colder temperatures you can rely on more efficient heaters, such as oil-fired air heaters.These heaters are extremely efficient and produce hot air with minimal diesel consumption. Heaters must be positioned outside the tent, because they emit exhaust gases and the burner exhaust pipe reaches very high temperatures. The connection between the heater and the tent must be made via a large connecting pipe. Carcamp tents are easily adaptable to this accessory. In fact, we advise you to combine the air heater with the heat-insulating accessories mentioned in the previous paragraph, in order to achieve maximum comfort in terms of temperature, while combating the formation of condensation. 

Some tips for your winter camping trip by car, 4WD or van

Now that we have discovered all the car rooftop tent accessories you need to be prepared for the harshest and coldest weather, we want to give you a few more tips to make sure you can enjoy your winter holiday to the fullest:

1. Air the tent by opening the windows often. It is very important not to keep damp clothes, shoes or wet objects inside the tent to prevent condensation from forming.
2. Park your 4x4 or car in a strategic location, ideally in a place where the sun shines for a good number of hours during the day. Orient yourself towards the east so that the rising morning sun hits your tent directly. Make sure you always have a headwind at the entrance to the tent.
3. Make sure you have the correct equipment for your car, including winter tyres and snow chains.
4. Always carry a first aid kit including hand warmers, thermal blanket and heating pads.
5. Use thermal and heavy clothing that is waterproof and warm but at the same time stays as dry as possible. Wearing headgear and heavy socks helps to keep body heat in at night. Also bring polarised spectacles that block the annoying reflections that can be created in a totally snowy environment.
6. Don't underestimate nutrition, the body consumes a lot of calories when in a low temperature environment. Enjoy warm, simple meals and remember to drink often so you don't risk becoming dehydrated.

Now that you know everything you need to be well equipped for the most extreme temperatures and you know all the tent accessories you need for a winter holiday, all that's left to do is organise a new winter adventure.