We took the iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Rooftop Tent on a couple of sprawling road trips, taking on the remote deserts of Southern Utah and Northern Arizona before exploring the windswept coastline of Big Sur to test its mettle and see what the hardshell was made of.

Before we dive into the details and process of installing the rooftop tent, there are a few terms you’ll need to know to ensure that your vehicle is ready for the road.

1. Dynamic load limit: It’s important to know how much weight your roof rack and the roof itself can support while driving. The roof rack should have its capacity listed in the instruction manual, and most vehicles have the dynamic roof load limit listed in the owner’s manual, but it can also typically be found with a quick google search. In most cases, the roof rack’s capacity will be higher than the roof’s but be sure that you keep the load beneath whichever has a lower capacity. The iKamper Skyview 3.0 weighs 165 pounds, so you will want to be sure that your roof and racks capacity are above 165 pounds + however much your mounting system (crossbars, roof tray) weighs.

2. Static load limit: This is how much weight the roof can support when the car is not moving. Typically, the static load limit is five times the dynamic weight, but this varies from vehicle to vehicle, so be sure to do some research of your own. This is important so you know how much weight and how many people can sleep in the tent without damaging the car.

3. Roof tray or crossbars: The mounting brackets on the Skycamp 3.0 require a flat platform running the width of our vehicle. We mounted the tent on a Toyota Rav-4 with a Front Runner Slimline II Tray. Roof racks with elevated sides will not be compatible with the Skycamp 3.0 mounting system.

We found the Skycamp 3.0 to be easier to install than similar hardshell rooftop tents. The tent is big and heavy, so we recommend recruiting extra hands to help lift the tent onto your roof rack and adjust it into place. We had four people lifting and it went smoothly, but two or three experienced mounters should be able to hoist the tent into place. The mounting brackets slide on the track of your crossbars or the frame of your roof tray, and then you just tighten the bolt in each bracket using the included extra-long allen wrench that keeps your fingers out of harm's way. This does mean you have to either keep track of the specialty extra-long allen wrench or invest in tooling of your own. This system doesn’t require your hands to fit into any hard-to-reach places, which we really appreciated and found much easier than other rooftop tent mounting systems. In all, this process took us between 5 and 10 minutes.

We got the tent set up, popped it open to familiarize ourselves in the daylight, and set off down I-15 at a cool 75 miles per hour. The tent created some wind-resistance on top of the car and subsequently caused our gas mileage to drop from our usual 29 on the highway to 27 MPG. At slower speeds in the city the car handled well, taking turns as we expected with a balanced feel.

Compared to an older softshell tent, the Skycamp 3.0 was significantly more fuel efficient, especially at speed. The aerodynamic design of the hardshell sends most of the air rushing over the top of tent. Wind noise was still noticeable from the cab, albeit much quieter than the softshell tent that was previously on the vehicle.

We arrived at our campsite outside of Big Water, Utah, late and in the dark, and setting up the tent was a breeze. We’ve tested softshell tents in the past, and the process was significantly faster and easier with the Skycamp 3.0. Once we had unlocked the latches and pushed the top into the “open” position, the hydraulic pistons pushed the tent to its full height. From there we just reached up, grabbed the extendable ladder, pulled it towards us, and the fold-out platform created the entryway. We do recommend taking a few extra moments to ensure the ladder is stable, as it supports the fold-out floor.

Beneath the tent door there’s a zippered sleeve that holds flexible rods that keep the entryway awning and window awnings elevated. Once the awnings were secured open, then it was as simple as organizing the two-piece mattress and getting our sleeping space set up. We will note that on our first go at setup it took a few extra minutes to get familiar with the process, most notably with ensuring the ladder was firmly in place and finding the eyelets for the awning and window rods, but after gaining some experience we were able to get the tent set up in a flash.

Breaking the tent down is less convenient. The process is straightforward, collapsing the ladder and using it to push the fold-out section back into the main body of the tent, but it can be a bit of a trick to get the canopy to fold into the hardshell neatly. Two side straps are designed to help ensure the sides fold in, but we found ourselves having to tuck the fabric in before we could fully close the tent. We easily pulled the front strap down to get the tent in position, but you’ll need the latch key handy to secure the tent in its closed position. You will have to remember to move the smaller section of the mattress back on top of the larger section to ensure the tent can fully close, but even with that taking up space we were able to stash two sleeping bags and two pillows inside the tent without any trouble.

The Skycamp 3.0 is all about comfort, and we really enjoyed the spacious wall-to-wall sleeping area. The king-sized mattress is made of 2.5-inch dual-density foam with an eggshell carton style sleeping platform that was soft and plush. Kendall, our 6-foot 4-inch Gearhead® Expert, had no issues sleeping along the length of the tent with his husky, Ollie, and another person sharing the space.

On our two-person adventure there was plenty of extra room to haul in a few duffel bags without crowding the space, and we could fit four adults laying down with their heads towards the door, although it felt a bit cramped. The space would be totally reasonable for a family of four with two adults and two kids to share, with some extra space along the back wall to store any essential gear.

It was still early spring in the desert when we took our trip, which meant temperatures were hovering around freezing overnight. We packed along 20-degree sleeping bags in preparation for the cold and were pleasantly surprised with how warm and comfortable we were overnight. The quilted insulation on the back wall effectively trapped heat, and after zipping the canvas covers on the door and windows closed, we couldn’t feel the frigid air on the other side of the tent. The thick mattress provided excellent floor insulation, and we were able to get some rest.

We would unzip the canvas window covers during the day, leaving just the mesh screens in place to keep out bugs and allow air to move around the tent, but high winds blowing across the desert made us happy to have full control over the ventilation at night. The door and window awnings kept the fabric taught and sturdy to minimize wind noise, and closing the zippered canvas blackout windows kept our sleeping space from becoming a wind tunnel and allowed us to sleep in as daylight broke across the red rock. The mesh and canvas windows gave us a great deal of control over ventilation, and the Skyview window on the roof offered stellar views of the stars overhead, although the plastic cover offers no ventilation.

While the tent itself is comfortable and spacious, we found it lacking in convenient storage options. We recommend picking up the Storage Rack to stow away smaller items—like headlamps, first aid materials, and gloves—and the Shoe Rack so you can climb the ladder before removing your footwear to keep the sleeping space clean.

iKamper also offers a covered Annex, where you can set up a few chairs in the shade, store extra gear, or prep food. It has 92 inches of roof clearance, a side awning, and multiple doors and windows that make your campsite feel a bit more like home. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with the Skycamp 3.0, expanding your campsite and making your sleeping space and living area feel more connected.

We brought along these string lights and hooked them onto the roof of the tent. They cast a warm glow as we settled into our sleeping bags and allowed us to leave our headlamps in the car. The small battery box stashed away easily and could be left in the tent when we closed it, ready for our next adventure at a moment's notice.

The biggest drawback of the Skycamp 3.0 is the price tag, and we know that at a starting price of $4,199 for the Black Shell option, it’s not going to be for everyone. However, if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line rooftop tent that offers exceptional comfort for four people, the Skycamp 3.0 is waiting for you. If you don’t need quite as much space, the Skycamp 3.0 Mini offers a very similar set of features in a 2-person design that can be mounted on sedans and compact vehicles, something the larger version cannot do. If you want a rooftop tent that offers more customization at a lower starting price, we recommend checking out iKamper’s Blue Dot Voyager Line, which comes in one- and-two person sizes.

If you’re the type of person who is taking frequent trips to tucked away corners and wild lands with family and friends, the Skycamp 3.0 and its line of accessories make life on the road a lot more comfortable. The spacious internal size is perfect for families, and you can even bring along your four-legged friends. We really appreciated the internal storage capacity while the tent was closed, which allowed us to stash our sleeping bags and pillows in the tent for quicker set up when we arrived at our campsites. We loved the easy installation process, quick setup time, and comfortable king-sized mattress. Although it carries a hefty sticker price the durable hardshell is made for years of enjoyment, and if you’re avid about getting out there, it’ll be worth the money.

Still not sure the Skycamp 3.0 is for you? Check out our full line of rooftop tents or call or chat with our Gearheads for help finding the perfect tent for you.

Interested in learning more about overlanding? Read our guide.

Not ready to commit to a rooftop tent? Check out our car camping checklist.

Planning a road trip? Here are our essentials.

Q: What is different about the Skycamp 3.0 and Skycamp 2.0?

• A: The Skycamp 3.0 offers increased internal storage that allows you to leave bedding in the tent while it is closed, improved window design that allows the canvas and mesh windows to be opened simultaneously, and a thicker mattress for more comfortable nights.

Q: Is the Skycamp 3.0 waterproof?

• A: Yes, the ripstop polyester rainfly offers waterproof protection for camping in rainy conditions.

Q: Can I mount the Skycamp 3.0 on any vehicle?

• A: The Skycamp 3.0 can be mounted on compact SUVs, SUVs, and trucks. It cannot be mounted on compact cars like sedans. Additionally, be sure to check your vehicles dynamic load limit to ensure it can support the 165-pound tent.