Top 5 Best Roof Top Tents for FJ Cruiser (Lightweight Picks)

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a popular base for overland trips, and a roof top tent turns it into a camper you can park almost anywhere. The catch is weight. A roof top tent is one of the heaviest things you can put on a roof, and the FJ's roof and rack have to carry it every mile you drive.

This guide is for FJ owners who want a tent light enough to stay within their roof and rack ratings with some margin to spare. We ranked five soft shell tents by the manufacturer's listed weight, lightest first. They range from 108 to 122 lb.

One caution before you shop. An earlier version of this guide gave specific load ratings for the FJ's factory roof rack. We could not confirm those figures from Toyota, so we no longer print them. Check the rating for your own FJ and rack before you buy, as explained below.

Top Picks at a Glance

How We Chose

We started with the weight each manufacturer publishes, because weight decides whether a tent belongs on an FJ at all, and ranked the tents from lightest to heaviest. We then compared sleeping capacity, closed and open size, and what comes in the box. We removed tents that can no longer be bought and tents whose current version weighs too much.

The Best Roof Top Tents for the FJ Cruiser

1. Front Runner Roof Top Tent – Lightest Pick

The Front Runner Roof Top Tent is the lightest tent in this guide. Front Runner is now part of Dometic, and Dometic's page for this tent leads to its current version, the Feather-Lite II. Dometic lists it at 49 kg (108 lb), including the ladder and the travel cover.

Dometic gives the closed size as 48 x 51.2 x 13 in and the open size as 126 x 51.2 x 47.2 in. It sleeps two adults on a 6 cm foam mattress. The body is 260 g poly-cotton ripstop, the rainfly is 400D polyester rated to 2000 mm, and mounting tracks, universal mounting plates, and a telescopic ladder come in the box.

The Amazon listing is older than the Feather-Lite II, so check which version it ships. Retailer Northridge4x4 lists the original version at 103.6 lb. Whichever arrives, check the tent's weight plus your rack against the FJ's dynamic roof load rating and your rack's rating.

• Weight: 108 lb (49 kg) with ladder and cover
• Sleeps: 2 adults
• Closed: 48 x 51.2 x 13 in (L x W x H)
• Open: 126 x 51.2 x 47.2 in
• Load rating: 600 lb (270 kg)

Pros

• Lightest tent in this guide
• Low 13 in closed height
• Mounting tracks and plates included

Cons

• Sleeps only two
• Opens to 126 in long, so plan where the ladder lands
• The Amazon listing may carry the original version, so confirm the model

Check Price on Amazon

2. Tuff Stuff Trailhead – Best Budget Pick

The Tuff Stuff Trailhead is the lowest-priced roof top tent in Tuff Stuff's current lineup, and at 110 lb it is only 2 lb heavier than the Front Runner. It is a two-person soft shell that measures 56 x 48 x 13 in closed and 56 x 96 x 50 in open.

The tent body is 600D polyester Oxford with a PU coating rated to 3000 mm, and the rainfly is 420D polyester Oxford. The sleeping pad is 55 x 95 in and 1.75 in thick. Tuff Stuff includes mounting hardware for crossbars up to 2.75 in wide, a 7.5 ft telescoping ladder, a shoe bag, and a PVC driving cover.

Tuff Stuff asks for crossbars that support at least 150 lb and sit at least 40 in apart. That is the tent maker's requirement, not a statement about the FJ, so check the Trailhead's weight plus your rack against the FJ's dynamic roof load rating and your rack's rating.

• Weight: 110 lb
• Sleeps: 2
• Closed: 56 x 48 x 13 in
• Open: 56 x 96 x 50 in
• Floor capacity: 800 lb

Pros

• Second-lightest tent here
• Lowest-priced tent in Tuff Stuff's lineup
• Ladder, shoe bag, and driving cover included

Cons

• Rated as a three-season tent
• Thinnest mattress in this guide at 1.75 in
• We could not confirm a current Amazon product page, so the link opens a search

See Options on Amazon

3. Smittybilt Overlander 2783 – Room for Two or Three

The Smittybilt Overlander 2783 is Smittybilt's first-generation standard soft shell. Smittybilt's weight figures differ slightly: its spec sheet lists 116.5 lb and its installation manual lists 118 lb. One large retailer, RealTruck, lists 132 lb, so plan around the higher figures until you can weigh or confirm the tent you receive.

Smittybilt lists the open size as 95 x 56 x 51 in, and RealTruck lists the closed size as 47 x 55 x 11.5 in. Smittybilt's spec sheet says the mattress sleeps three, and retailers describe it as a two-to-three-person tent. The canopy is 600D ripstop polyester tested to a 1500 mm water column, and the tent comes with an 18 in wide ladder, an LED light strip, a shoe bag, and a one-year warranty.

Smittybilt's manual says a rack must handle upward and shock loads as well as downward weight. Check this tent's weight and your rack against the FJ's dynamic roof load rating and your rack's rating.

• Weight: 116.5 lb (spec sheet) or 118 lb (manual)
• Sleeps: 2 to 3
• Closed: 47 x 55 x 11.5 in (RealTruck)
• Open: 95 x 56 x 51 in
• Base load capacity: 300 kg (about 661 lb)

Pros

• Room for up to three on the mattress
• Wide ladder, LED strip, and shoe bag included
• Opens to either side of the vehicle

Cons

• Weight figures vary between sources, up to 132 lb
• Smittybilt's website no longer lists this model; its current standard tent weighs 154 lb

Check Price on Amazon

4. Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 – Best for Three

The Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 is the pick if three people will sleep on the roof. Thule rates it for three, and lists the weight at 119 lb. It measures 48 x 56 x 12 in closed and 96 x 56 x 52 in open, with 52 in of peak height.

The canopy is a 260 g ripstop polyester and cotton blend over a 5/8 in wrapped aluminum frame, and the base is aluminum with an insulated fiberglass sheet. The mattress is 2.5 in high-density foam, Thule rates the tent for all seasons, and panoramic skylights, large windows, and mesh panels help with airflow.

Thule gives a static weight capacity of 600 lb and a minimum bar spread of 33.5 in. Check the tent's 119 lb plus your rack against the FJ's dynamic roof load rating and your rack's rating.

• Weight: 119 lb
• Sleeps: 3
• Closed: 48 x 56 x 12 in
• Open: 96 x 56 x 52 in
• Static weight capacity: 600 lb

Pros

• Sleeps three
• Tallest open height of the tents here at 52 in
• All-season poly-cotton canopy

Cons

• Heavier than the two lightest picks by 9 to 11 lb
• Needs at least 33.5 in of bar spread

Check Price on Amazon

5. Thule Foothill – Slimmest Pack

The Thule Foothill is a two-person soft shell with an unusually narrow pack. Thule's current version, the Foothill 2, measures 84 x 25 x 11 in closed and 84 x 49 x 37 in open. On an FJ, that 25-inch width leaves room beside the tent for other gear, but anything you add counts toward the same roof and rack limits.

The canopy is a breathable, water-resistant 600D polyester ripstop made from recycled plastic bottles. The base is welded aluminum tube with insulation, the mattress is 2.4 in foam with a removable cover, and there are four internal pockets. Thule rates it for all seasons and sells the mounting brackets separately.

Thule lists the weight at 122 lb, the heaviest tent in this guide. Check it, plus your rack and any gear beside it, against the FJ's dynamic roof load rating and your rack's rating.

• Weight: 122 lb
• Sleeps: 2
• Closed: 84 x 25 x 11 in
• Open: 84 x 49 x 37 in
• Static weight capacity: 660 lb

Pros

• Narrowest pack here, with rack space to spare
• Stays 84 in long when open
• Recycled canopy fabric

Cons

• Heaviest tent in this guide
• Sleeps only two
• Mounting brackets are sold separately

Check Price on Amazon

How to Choose a Roof Top Tent for an FJ Cruiser

Find Your FJ's Roof and Rack Ratings

Thule's rooftop tent guidelines say to check your vehicle's manual or ask a dealer for the roof's dynamic weight capacity, which is the most weight the roof can carry while you drive. The edition of Toyota's FJ Cruiser owner's manual we read does not print a roof rack rating. Toyota's installation sheet for its factory FJ roof rack says a caution card goes in the glove box with the owner's manual, so look for that card, check your own manual, or ask a Toyota dealer.

Use the Lowest Rating

If you have fitted an aftermarket rack, its maker publishes its own rating. Thule notes that the component with the lowest weight capacity sets the maximum for the whole rack system, and the vehicle's roof limit still applies on top of that. Use the lowest figure you find, not the highest.

Add Up Everything on the Roof

Thule says the rack system has to support the combined weight of the racks and the tent. Add the tent, the rack, the mounting hardware, and anything else you carry up there, such as fuel cans or a spare tire. Smittybilt adds that a rack must handle upward and shock loads, not only the downward weight of the tent.

Understand Dynamic and Static Load

Static load is the weight of the tent with people inside while the vehicle is parked. Thule explains that static capacity can exceed dynamic capacity and that each tent has its own stated static capacity. A tent rated for 600 lb or more of static load tells you what the tent can hold, not what your FJ's roof can carry on the road. Our guide on how to mount a roof top tent covers fitting it safely.

Drive Differently With a Tent on Top

Toyota's FJ Cruiser owner's manual warns that cargo on the roof raises the vehicle's center of gravity. It says to avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking, and abrupt maneuvers, and to slow down in gusty crosswinds. A roof top tent is exactly that kind of load, so drive with it in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FJ Cruiser's roof rack weight limit?

We could not confirm a figure from Toyota, so we don't print one. Check your owner's manual, the caution card Toyota supplies with its factory rack, or ask a Toyota dealer. If you use an aftermarket rack, also check its maker's dynamic rating, and use whichever limit is lower.

Why is the Smittybilt 2883 Overlander XL no longer in this guide?

The 2883 Overlander XL can no longer be bought. Smittybilt's current XL tent, the Gen2 Overlander XL, weighs 170 lb according to Smittybilt, which makes it too heavy for a guide built around light tents. If you need room for four, see our guide to roof top tents for a family of four, and check the roof ratings with extra care.

Can I put a hard shell roof top tent on an FJ Cruiser?

Hard shells tend to weigh more than the soft shells here. The lightest in our hard shell roof top tent guide, the Roofnest Falcon 3 EVO Air, weighs 130 lb, heavier than every tent in this guide. Check its weight plus your rack against your ratings before choosing one.

Does a lighter tent leave room for other gear on the roof?

Yes, a lighter tent leaves more of your rating for other things, but everything on the roof counts. The Foothill's narrow pack frees up rack space, and the Front Runner's low weight frees up capacity. Add every item before you drive.

Verdict

The Front Runner Roof Top Tent is our top pick for the FJ Cruiser because it is the lightest tent here, which leaves the most room under your roof and rack ratings. Choose the Tuff Stuff Trailhead for a budget tent at almost the same weight, the Smittybilt Overlander 2783 or the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 if a third person will sleep up top, and the Thule Foothill if you want a narrow pack with space beside it.

Image credits: Featured image by Michael Aleo on Unsplash; Photo by Jenny Uhling on Pexels.