The 3rd generation, 4th generation, and 5th generation Toyota 4Runner are all good vehicles. There have been debates about whether or not it is the best and longest lasting rig out there or if there are better options.
Despite the debate, there is one thing we can all agree on: Toyota 4Runners are excellent vehicles.
You can also do a lot of mods to them and end up with a gorgeous result. A 4Runner can handle almost any imaginable option, whether it’s racks, suspensions, recovery gear, or even rock sliders.
Off-road performance is another reason why they are so popular with over landers.
Using Off Road Tents’ accessories, racks, and roof top tents, you can modify, customize, or build your vehicle to match your style.
In this article, we will recommend some of the best rooftop tents for Toyota 4Runner 3rd, 4th, and 5th Generations. We have included not only the top tents, but also the best possible roof racks for carrying these tents and gear.
The purpose of this article though, is to give you some basic information about tents, camping, overlanding, etc., that you might not know if you’re just getting started with those things.
Then we will cover roof rack systems that can be fitted to your new 4Runner that will allow you to transport these RTTs as well as use this roof rack for the rest of the year so that you may use the rack for its intended use.
Lastly, we will cover some of the best roof top tents available for Toyota 4Runner, which we haven’t arranged in any particular order. Neither of us prefer one over the other due to the fact there are many factors to consider such as budget, people camping at the time of year, location, etc.
Tepui Autana Ruggedized
Almost a decade ago Tepui ventured into the American roof top tent market. One of the first brands that come to mind when you think of RTTs is Tepui. Quality and experience go hand in hand. Autana Ruggedized 3 is incredibly rugged and not too big.
A tough canvas with a solid aluminum plate base, Ruggedized canvas is one of the toughest canvas on the market. There is enough insulation and coverage during the colder months of the year, making it a perfect 4 season tent. Heavy rain and really strong winds won’t harm it.
In addition to Olive Green and Haze Gray, other attractive colors are available for the Autana Ruggedized. Your 4Runner will certainly be inspected well by them. RTT brand Free Spirit Recreation designs very different models than anyone else in the world. Despite its ease of opening and closing, the High Country Series provides a very spacious sleeping area.
The High Country 80″ Premium features enough room for four adults, or even a family of five with two adults and three children. A softshell tent that is so well designed that opening and closing it takes just about 60 seconds, like a hard shell.
The tent’s canvas has been given an extra layer of insulation, so it is thicker and more durable, making it a true four-season tent. Your house will stay dry and warm. A great feature of the tent is its wide windows on all sides, offering a great airflow and ventilation, along with a very soft and comfortable mattress.
Thule Tepui Foothill
With the Foothill, Thule struck just the right balance. Unlike some hard shell tents that can be used with gear racks connected to them on top, this softshell tent only takes up half of the roof of the car. This leaves room for things like a kayak, a bike, or even a thin rocket box to be stored in.
During our tester’s trip, he found that the tent has a nice interior, with padding, that you can have complete darkness with the windows closed (if that’s your thing), and that it maintains a comfortable temperature similar to a ground tent.
It isn’t difficult to set up the Foothill, but it is a bit labor intensive, even when you’ve got it installed on your car’s roof. The tester indicated that when he or she is setting up the tent, you install the ladder, place three poles inside, and then attach eight poles for the rain fly.
The first time I set it up, it took much longer and took more effort than setting up a standard tent, so the second time should be faster, but there are still quite a few steps.” Having to put the ladder inside the car was also not a selling point. It was a bit simpler to breakdown than pitching a tent and trying to stuff its bag, according to our tester.
Crua outdoors air
Aer has one of the most intriguing builds we’ve seen for a rooftop tent. It is designed to be easily removed from the base attached to your car’s roof so you can use it on the ground instead of the roof. As a consequence of its weight, it can’t be taken on a backpacking trip, and you will need a few add-ons to use it, but that capability makes the Aer more useful.
During testing, we found the Aer to be easy to install with two people, and Crua designed it to mount to the roof rack without requiring any tools. During the month or so it was on our tester’s car, the system proved fast, effective, and stayed in place. Despite its lack of sophistication and elegance, the Aer is remarkably effective and you can get replacement parts at a hardware store.
Additionally, they pointed out that the tent does not have an integrated locking system, so keep that in mind as well. The logistics of deployment were difficult to master, since there were several buckles, zippers, and poles to play with. In practice, however, our tester was able to do the task in five minutes. Aer has the same wind noise and average fuel economy as his Thule box, so it’s not too bad.
Overland Vehicle Systems Nomadic 3
Nomadic tents by Overland Vehicle Systems are made with heavy-duty materials that will withstand even the worst rainstorm. This premium canvas body is constructed of 600D double ripstop polyester and cotton canvas, which not only breathes well, but also provides protection from harsh weather conditions. More airflow is provided by screened windows and a skylight. It is available as a separate purchase with an annex room. Additional cover can be provided by a removable waterproof rainfly. An enclosure constructed of diamond-plated steel is mounted on a marine-grade steel base.
There’s an insulated base, 3 inches of high-density foam, a quilted cotton cover, six pockets, a storage loft, and a power bank pouch. A mini broom and dustpan are included as well as LED lights, memory foam pillows, and a lap table. The installation process is straightforward and does not require drilling or modification of stock roof racks; however, to lift the system onto the roof, two people are needed.
Napier Backroadz Tent , Grey/Green, Full Size Regular Bed (6.4′-6.7′)
There are 2 large mesh windows that allow maximum ventilation through the mesh. The interior space is large and the headroom is sufficient
It is equipped with a full rainfly that provides ultimate weather protection, as well as additional storm flaps covering both doors and windows. Through the mesh of the two large windows there is maximum ventilation through the mesh
There is a lot of space inside the cabin and there is a lot of headroom as well. In addition to the rainfly, the house has extra storm flaps that cover the doors as well as the windows, which results in excellent weather protection