4WD camper styles compared: inside sleeper, rooftop tent, tent camping or caravan

The four styles at a glance

Scroll sideways to compare all columns.

The four styles at a glance — comparison
Style	Bed	Living space	Luggage	Before driving
Inside sleeper	In the camper body, or up a ladder under a pop-top roof	Inside, with a table on some models; the kitchen may open to the outside	Shares the body with the bed and seating	Lower a pop-top roof
Rooftop tent	In a tent on the roof, up a ladder	Outside, under the awning	The whole load space	Fold the tent away
Tent camping	In swags or tents on the ground	Outside, around the camp	The whole vehicle	Pack up the camp
Trailer or caravan	In the caravan or trailer, with bunks on some	In the caravan or under its awning	Vehicle and trailer	Hitch up

How much luggage fits

Inside sleeper

A Britz Maverick with its roof raised and awning out

Inside an Apollo Adventure 4WD: a bench seat, cupboards and the bed above

Some models have a table and kitchen inside; others are mostly bed and storage, with the kitchen opening to the campsite, as on the Britz Maverick. On a pop-top the roof lifts when you park for headroom and usually an upper bed, and comes down again before you drive. Models differ most in the bed, so check:

Where the bed is: at floor level, or in an alcove up a ladder
Whether you can stand up inside
Whether the bed is made up from the seating each night
On a pop-top: how the roof goes up, and which walls are fabric

See inside sleepers

Rooftop tent

A Landcruiser with its roof tent open and ladder down

A Landcruiser at camp with its rear doors open and the load space packed, roof tent above

With the bed on the roof, the whole load space below stays free for gear, as on the Landcruiser Workmate. What varies is the tent itself, so check:

Mattress size for the people sharing it
The ladder, if anyone gets up at night
What shelter comes with it: awning, walls or privacy tent

See rooftop tents

Hardshell, softshell or electric

A Hilux Adventurer with its hardshell roof tent raised

An Apollo Overland with one softshell and one hardshell roof tent, both open

A Ford with an electric roof tent raised

Rooftop tents come in three kinds, and how the tent opens shapes each evening and morning. In wind, loose softshell canvas can be noisier than a hardshell or electric tent. The fitted model sets its own weather limits.

HardshellPacks into a rigid case and often opens with gas struts.
SoftshellFolds under a cover and usually involves more steps: uncovering, unfolding, adjusting the ladder and fitting poles.
ElectricUses power to raise the roof; the power supply and backup procedure need checking.

Tent camping

A person lying in a swag set up on the ground

Camp chairs beside a fire pit on red earth

The vehicle carries only people and gear, so this style has the most room for luggage and the most setting up each day. What the supplier includes varies most here, so check:

Which bedding and mattresses are included
What shelter is included for rain and sun
How long setup and pack-down take

See tent camping

Trailer or caravan

An off-road caravan parked under pines with its awning out and outdoor kitchen open

Bunk beds and storage inside an off-road caravan

An off-road camper trailer with its tent unfolded

Unhitched at camp, the caravan or trailer stays set up while the 4WD is free for day trips. Towing is the trade-off, so check:

Whether you are comfortable towing on your roads
Whether the combination is allowed on your route
The sleeping layout, including any bunks

See trailers & caravans

Choosing a vehicle style