– The ladder is an integral part of the frame, this is directly connected to the backbone of the tent (i.e. to the hinging of the two halves of the planes) by 2 omega support profiles placed diagonally, so as to better distribute the weight of the occupants. The result is: less flexions, more resistance, more stability and reduced thickness to a minimum.
A patent born in Autohome that since many tried to imitate, without success. Its uniqueness is the result of several interrelated factors:
Goto Sunday Campers to know more.
– It is always ready and easily deployed.
– It is designed with a ladder block, to avoid slipping on slippery ground or floors.
– EASY USE telescopic adjustment is a very reliable smart solution, that has made the history of the roof tent. It is easy to adjust and is always functional.
– The ladder can be quickly extended to fit any height, within its maximum length of 2.30 m
– Compact and linear, it does not generate protrusions or malformations to the cover when the tent is closed while travelling.
– It is fitted with sturdy wooden steps, waterproof and water-repellent. Elegant, natural and of pleasant design, they offer a wide non-slip support. They also do not warm up in the sun and thus always allow you to climb barefoot.
Our Cover is even more sturdy.
A solidity which is the result of specific choices, starting from the materials: 600Gr/sqm PVC with 900gr/sqm reinforcements in the most stressed points. A solidity enhanced by a special shaping with internal seams, more resistant than normal welding. More precisely, they do not fall apart. A synergy to withstand even the highest climatic temperatures and offer superior aerodynamic stability.
With a regular parallelepiped shape, our covers have slightly rounded corners to enhance stability and safety, so they do not require upper ties with visible straps, affecting the tent aesthetics of the tent. The result is a clean and tidy line, to always travel with style.
Drawing on the experience of the most performing commercial vehicles, such as big lorries and curtain-sided trucks, Autohome covers also use a perimetral adjustable elastic rope for binding, in order to compensate for any expansion of the materials due to weather conditions: the cover remains well-fitted to the tent, without any zipper.
A choice of reliability made in and always confirmed, considering also that the elastic rope is easy to replace. 6mm in diameter and variable length according to the perimeter or model of the tent. The coupling and the regulation are carried out by two carabiners placed at the ends. Today the coupling and uncoupling is easier even when the tent is fixed on the roof bars or on baggage racks, thanks to the special tool supplied together with the cover.
This practicality is appreciated in every condition: you will have no problem in case of unfastening or coupling even in the desert, in marshy areas, on muddy roads, in the presence of foliage and shrubs, because the elastic tie rod always works and will never fail.
The quality of our cover is branded with the Autohome logo on the 110 cm short side, while on the long side there is a label representing the legendary paths of Nino Cirani. Black was chosen for the colour: always elegant and anti-stain.
Our Cover is even more sturdy.
A solidity which is the result of specific choices, starting from the materials: 600Gr/sqm PVC with 900gr/sqm reinforcements in the most stressed points. A solidity enhanced by a special shaping with internal seams, more resistant than normal welding. More precisely, they do not fall apart. A synergy to withstand even the highest climatic temperatures and offer superior aerodynamic stability.
With a regular parallelepiped shape, our covers have slightly rounded corners to enhance stability and safety, so they do not require upper ties with visible straps, affecting the tent aesthetics of the tent. The result is a clean and tidy line, to always travel with style.
Drawing on the experience of the most performing commercial vehicles, such as big lorries and curtain-sided trucks, Autohome covers also use a perimetral adjustable elastic rope for binding, in order to compensate for any expansion of the materials due to weather conditions: the cover remains well-fitted to the tent, without any zipper.
A choice of reliability made in and always confirmed, considering also that the elastic rope is easy to replace. 6mm in diameter and variable length according to the perimeter or model of the tent. The coupling and the regulation are carried out by two carabiners placed at the ends. Today the coupling and uncoupling is easier even when the tent is fixed on the roof bars or on baggage racks, thanks to the special tool supplied together with the cover.
This practicality is appreciated in every condition: you will have no problem in case of unfastening or coupling even in the desert, in marshy areas, on muddy roads, in the presence of foliage and shrubs, because the elastic tie rod always works and will never fail.
The quality of our cover is branded with the Autohome logo on the 110 cm short side, while on the long side there is a label representing the legendary paths of Nino Cirani. Black was chosen for the colour: always elegant and anti-stain.
How many kilometres of road and how many years of history lie between Dallas in Texas and Rivarolo Mantovano, an ancient medieval town dominated by the Gonzaga family? A lot. And maybe just the idea of a journey, of sharing special experiences could lead me to choose to leave the US to move here. A decision that says a lot about what Autohome means to me, the mythical roof tents for big travellers, like Nino Cirani for example. In Texas we may not know Rivarolo Mantovano, but we know well what Autohome quality means: travelling quietly all over the world. Masterpiece tents, like the works of art that made Italy great. Like the creations of the most famous fashion designers.
Since I have been here in Italy, I have noticed that Italians are all a bit artists, and in Mantua even more: the taste of beauty is in their hearts, they carry it inside them, if only to judge by the monumental and architectural beauties that characterize their territory.
Today I am 37 years old and have been working in Autohome since . 19 years of working life in the midst of roof tents. So, I think I know these products very well, which allow you to have a rewarding holiday in complete freedom: you stop where you want, especially with the shell tents that remain more shaped to the car. The fabric tents are obviously not bad, also very habitable. But a little more binding when you have to make scope at least in different European nations. It is better to go camping or in equipped areas. At Autohome we are a big and beautiful family, all enthusiastic about the products we manufacture. If I have to say the product that I prefer for me is Maggiolina Extreme Forest. I really appreciate the colour green, perhaps also because I have always been looking for it. Texas is largely desert, while my soul is in the great forests… All to be covered with an Autohome tent on the roof.
I introduce myself: I am Alessandro Spiridonica and in Autohome I am liable for the warehouse. I joined the company three years ago and I became manager, a result that naturally gives me great pleasure and many satisfactions. Although I am aware of the great responsibility that this role entails.
It is in fact a job that if on one hand I like a lot, on the other hand it requires an extraordinary effort, especially at some times of the year… For example, in the months of June and July I would rather be… somewhere else in the world, travelling with my Overzone, my favourite tent. I appreciate the military green colour. It is, among other things, a particular green, at the same time delicate and with a strong personality. Combined with the safari-coloured roof, it makes the tent a pass-partout for any destination and adventure: congratulations to the colleagues of the style office! In addition, the fabric is particularly consistent, because it responds to precise military specifications, another element that gives solidity to the tent. A safety that does not give up comfort and well-being: the degree of breathability is in fact high, equal to 53 mm/s, in line with ISO -97 standards. I do not want to be too “technical”, but they are decisive when choosing a tent. These are the factors that lead me to say: do not be “dazzled” by the mirages of low-cost products that seem of quality, but then result in low breathability. During travel they can become your worst nightmare!
Remember instead that Overzone is a real roof top tent, with a roof that is integral to the walls. It is 100% original Autohome and Made in Italy. That is all I have to say.
Working with fibreglass I think is “an art”. A sort of alchemy, when human and technical skills are perfectly matched. It is a demanding job, which requires knowledge in different disciplines: physics, chemistry, mechanics… Supplemented by a lot of manual wisdom and patience as well.
Being in charge of one of the company departments that deals with “shells” (the first in order of time… we were real pioneers in our sector!) is always exciting, even if now there are many of us in the team. I am one of the oldest employees of the company, I started in and today I am proud to teach the job to young people willing to. I manage about 20 great people. Our activity is mainly related to shell painting. In other words, this is the first operation followed by the laying of the glass fibre using rollers and brushes, an almost entirely manual operation.
As I said, dexterity is matched with technology. I also mentioned patience, because the times for moulding a fibreglass product are very long. However, this attention plays a significant role in defining the superior quality of Autohome. Because our shells are not made of molded or thermoformed plastic, typical of certain serial productions made in Asia, where even more than 20 pieces per hour are mechanically manufactured… too many, but not very good quality as well!
While in Autohome, making a shell takes almost a lifetime, but it is the right way to get a more stable and durable tent. In short, fiberglass has always been the Top for 60 years, as we try to explain in our info. I smile when they tell us: “you in Autohome are geniuses, Italian geniuses…” While I simply think that we are a great family, certainly Italian, who loves things done well.
If you think that dealing with fabrics in Autohome means taking care of only one type of material, it is better… that I explain who I am and what I do! I am liable for coordinating the entire fabric department. I am “the Trainer” of a great team, attentive and meticulous. Our job is to draw and cut fabrics, in particular by managing laser cutting machines. I constantly co-operate with the other production and packaging departments. Ours is a very demanding activity, sometimes really stressful, especially because we have to keep a pace to allow the entire production chain to proceed efficiently, without interruptions.
In addition to this task, I am also liable for the quality control of the raw material, I cannot afford mistakes or put into production a fabric that is not perfect. My company is very demanding and so am I.
We have different types of fabrics based on the model of the tent, a range that is based on multiple technical reasons, which would be long now to explain, but which I summarize as follows: quality.
And Autohome always aims to guarantee this goal: for each model a single fabric, at the top for quality. While those who standardize the raw material obviously reduce its production cost at the expense of quality. As you can imagine, many tents that come to the market, from Asia in particular, do not have fabrics suitable for the task they will have to do. While Autohome chooses only European-made fabrics, whose reliability is precisely defined and controlled. Also, for this reason Autohome means prestige. A fact of which I am truly proud of.
To the question “what is the best tent?”, I cannot give an answer, because anyone who knows this product well will tell you: it depends on many factors. Personally, I appreciate the shell models simply because I have a real roof over my head. Experts define these rooftops as “Active Hard Shell”. I think it is a perfect definition and it is worth more than many other words.
In my life I have always dealt with graphics. I love aesthetics, image, beauty in all its forms, whether it is a work of art or a design product. It may be due to fate, but I am now working in a company that knows these values well and applies them in its products.
I am therefore very happy to have been part of the Autohome team for a few years. I am originally from Mexico, whose national colours are exactly like the Italian ones: white, red, and green. Our flags say so much about our characters, which are also a bit similar: passionate like red and nature lovers like green. The white in the middle says: we choose according to our desire to prefer one or the other according to the mood of the moment! Perhaps it is because of these similarities between Mexico and Italy that I immediately found a total symbiosis with the country where the real roof tent was born, the product that Autohome made known and appreciated to travellers around the world.
I am very accurate, and I try very carefully to scrupulously follow every creative and image detail that is indicated to me by my marketing manager, Valentina. A young but very demanding woman, who rightly wants me everyday commitment and creativity, even in the smallest details.
I do not have a roof tent for now but being in Autohome is like… living with these tents every day! The product has all our attention and must be known well. On a general aesthetic level, I particularly love black. So even for tents I prefer the colour black, which is a real colour and knows how to excite! While for the tent model I like to focus on rationality, essentiality, that is why for me I would choose the Black Edition Overcamp.
Reading my name, you immediately understood that I am a person who recalls territories far from Europe, with the spirit of adventure in my blood. I was born in Persia. The rich Mesopotamia and the desert are my motherland, which I know well. Since I was little, I have been living in Germany, where I studied and grew up.
I personally manage the “Autohome DE” sales office. My clients are mostly Germans. In fact, I am liable for the commercial activity in Germany, and I support the Autohome central marketing office in the organization of our participation in the fairs that take place in Germany. My activity with headquarters is easy as I speak Italian.
Very often I also took part in research projects to develop new products, based on the experience I have gained both in the dealer field and with car manufacturers. For example, I was interested in the importance of mosquito nets for a roof tent, the selection of technical fabrics and the choice of some other materials that make up the tent. I believe, for example, that I reported to the Autohome staff how to obtain the best mosquito nets on the market: effective and at the same time rightly obscuring. I am constantly committed, with great passion, to providing advice to develop innovation on the products themselves, and this is thanks to the fact that I always interacted with a very demanding audience.
I am proud that my reports are taken seriously by Autohome Product Technical Management.
For more information, please visit Fibreglass Roof Top Tents.
Although I am far from the company’s headquarters, I am always in contact with my Italian colleagues. My business can be said to have always been strongly linked to the outdoors. Already from my first job I worked in the sector, and I was an integral part of Bernd Woick for the management and sales and purchases of Autohome roof tents, founded and directed by a true master of adventure. I learned a lot from this formidable expert.
I personally used several Autohome models. I do not think I am “biased”, in saying that Autohome for me is number one. All those who really know a roof tent say so. My favourite tent is a special Overland, the Black Edition version. The reason for this choice is that I cannot stand the early morning lights. When I sleep, I only want the dark, I do not want to find myself in a tent that lets the first light of the morning pass. With Autohome the fabrics are always very thick and protect very well from light. To rest without limits of… light, choose Black tents! They are the best for me.
What do I do in Autohome? Everything that is production and business organization. I do not even have a precise role: I am active in every direction and in every department to optimize production lines. Everyone knows they can count on my help and commitment. Because my mission is to make Autohome run in the best way! To be clear, I could be the field commissioner, trainer, or coach of a football team. Everything must work, productivity must not be slowed down even more when half the world is waiting to receive our tents. We are in a phase of great market expansion and therefore I have the task of understanding what to improve to push further on the accelerator. All without giving up even a detail of our renowned quality. The team must run, play well in each department and be winning; the product must be perfect from every point of view.
Moreover, I have always been concerned with the quality and suitability of the goods and raw materials we receive from trusted suppliers. This often means supporting our logistics activities too, so that everything is planned and carried out according to our plans.
Personally, the tents I prefer are those that remain in shape inside the mirrors, practically all the rigid tents with a Fiberglass roof. For example, even the expandable ones could be, if assembled, however, as the mythical Nino Cirani taught us. He rests the ladder on the front bonnet and the entire structure remains in shape. You can then stop everywhere without any problems. Life is already quite stressful, at least while travelling and on holiday we make sure to keep you relaxed to the fullest!
It was a challenging adventure, at times really hard, but we managed to get the roof tent appreciated all over the world. We have a planetary success, a new way of understanding the freedom to travel. We are proud of this result, even more than the important development of our company.
I remember that at the beginning of our activity there were many problems: in particular, the economic funds available were always few, but thanks to so much determination and desire to carry out our project, we were able to get the company off the ground.
A strategic factor was to decide to take part in the sector fairs: only in Italy more than 10 fairs per year. Every trade agreement we draft was always a win that filled us with satisfaction. However, sometimes we also happened to return to the site disappointed by the poor results. What bothered us morally the most was the fact that some people made fun of us for the “strange” product we offered. There were moments that seemed that we had to cross desert, an arid ground destined to make nothing grow. Other than adventures in the dunes in 4×4… it was us who saw success as a mirage!
Producing the first Maggiolina, then, was not easy. In the early years we did not have the technology necessary to combine the quality of craftsmanship to the speed of production. In short, we were not ready to make huge numbers of tents. I remember that we even cut the windows of the tent one by one, that is, the fabrics with tailor scissors!
I particularly like to remember two episodes that give a good idea of our development. Two parallel Italian stories, one in Mantua with Maggiolina in the land of the Gonzaga and the other in the great Milan, the city that has always been the productive and industrial heart of Italy. There would be many stories to tell, but in particular I remember these two episodes for the meaning they have. So, I always remember a German manager, owner of a large communication agency, who told to me: “You are Italian, therefore in a better place than me who am German. You are more inclined to fun and happiness, therefore more inclined to express creativity and imagination, unlike me who was educated to reveal less of my emotions”. Another episode that I always take with me is the dialogue with an important French manager who told me: “You are Italian so you are good at cooking, so you know that to make a great dish there are many ingredients that must be carefully dosed.”
Also, with regard to memory, it is important to stress the great satisfaction thanks to the collaborative dialogues with the Automotive manufacturers. I did not think I would get that high. A top manager of a very prestigious brand, in one of our meetings, told me: “In Autohome you are amazing with marketing.” In the second meeting, another manager at their headquarters added: “We appreciate Autohome very much and we want to continue to spread the story of the roof tent that binds us together”. Episodes of this type repeated several times and continue to happen. For example, another strong satisfaction at a recent Las Vegas fair, where many customers came to our booth saying: “Beautiful design, you can see that it is an Italian product”. What does my memory have to do with recommending a tent? I think they are consistent with those who are looking for a product that, in tune with the Autohome spirit, guarantees satisfaction, fun, serenity, well-being and, above all, freedom.
Suggesting a specific tent is not easy. Exactly like a father who has to say if one child is better than another… The personalities are quite different. The family values they interpret are important. If you choose to stay in the great Autohome family, you will certainly be satisfied, because those values are in every tent.
I’ve always had a great passion for travelling and having adventures, for exploring new territories, in particular I love to know far-away cultures and customs. With a similar anticipation, where did I go to work? Of course, in the Autohome Export Office! It was a great satisfaction for me to join the company team and the very office where I wanted to be committed to.
It allowed me to reach this goal, especially my ability to manage different languages: I have a degree in languages, and I speak English, French, Spanish, and Chinese. I learnt the extraordinary Chinese language, complex but fascinating, directly in the city of Chongqing where I studied for about 2 years. A fantastic experience, where I learnt a culture rich in contrasts and full of wild landscapes to discover.
You certainly understood: in Autohome I am perfectly at ease. In fact, I can continue, while working, to fuel my passion for geography and ethnography, discovering different cultures and speaking with customers of many nationalities. I learn their way of thinking and their behaviours. Many different people, but all united in the positive judgment on Autohome roof tents.
Autohome quality is… transnational! It has no borders. This is also why it is not easy to say which tent I prefer. When travelling I want to have a practical tent and no problems: therefore, my tent for the roof of the car must be the easiest to open and close, the most stable and safe, considering that you sleep about 2 meters from the ground. However, I would like to give you some advice: it is better to have a roof. A peace of mind that makes travelling even smarter. Now I know what you’re thinking, and I tell you that you’re right: for me the top is always Maggiolina! Any model is fine, but it is important to have the handle to open and close the tent. That gesture for me is a real symbol: I am travelling, I am free, I am myself.
Sometimes I seem to exaggerate, but every day I would like to do my job in Autohome better. I think it is the result of the climate that we live in the company, where everyone wants to give their best, first of all because we love and respect the product we make.
Where do I do my job? My activity takes place in the fabric tent assembly department. My colleagues and I are in charge of assembling fabric tents, as well as scrupulously checking the quality of materials.
It is a real pleasure for me to participate in creating these tents, still today after 5 years since I have started working for Autohome.
It is always a thrill to think that the tent I am about to check is the same version Nino Cirani used in his ventures. For me, the adventure of Cirani is an extraordinary story, the reference for every travel-adventure enthusiast, masterfully told by the wonderful images it gave us.
I can tell you that the scale reproduction of the Defender 110 by Cirani, purchased in a model shop, is always on my home desk. It is true, the mythical Aziza is located instead at the Turin car museum, together of course with the Overland that stands on the roof. Sooner or later, I am going to see this vehicle, which for me is more than a means of transport: it is the symbol of a philosophy of life.
I have been part of the Autohome staff for several years and I mainly deal with the construction of fiberglass shells. In truth, I also have another task, which I am very proud of – I am the “Master of keys” of the company. What does that mean? With my team we work on the real “heart” of the tents, that is, the opening and closing mechanisms.
We are liable for connecting the base of the tent with the roof, the most delicate phase of the entire construction, which requires experience and special attention. A roof tent is characterized by its ability to open and close quickly… and it is on this point that quality really makes the difference! As it happens, Autohome tents became so famous and appreciated for the quality of these mechanisms. They always work and do not give you any trouble. There are three systems of crank openings for Maggiolina, two with gas springs for Columbus and four with gas springs for Airtop.
All systems are guaranteed for five years. Tested mechanisms of total reliability consolidated in more than 60 years of history. It is consistently reported in our advertising because we invite those who want to buy a roof tent to check how these mechanisms work. In unreliable tents, breakages (in every way!) start from here… For the sake of completeness, I would remind you that there are also folding opening systems for fabric tents. Devices that are assembled and controlled by other colleagues of mine. About “companions of adventure”: in the company they call me “wild” because I am always to help in other departments when they need it most, especially just before the summer season, when the requests are very high.
These are times when you say, what am I doing here? No issue. Working at Autohome is challenging and sometimes I feel like I am having an adventure. It is nice to work in the environment of travel and holidays, but you cannot help but think that it is not… your holiday!
What tent to recommend? Choose instinctively the one that attracts you, the one that you feel you adopt as your own. Autohome tents are all beautiful and all work great. That is why many people want them and then it happens that you have to wait a while. But even this problem can be solved: book them in time!
Ok, so you are looking to buy a roof tent and you want to know, what makes a good car roof tent? We have put together some of our experiences and knowledge about rooftop tents for you to use while shopping for your very own rooftop tent. This will hopefully help you pick the best car roof tent in the UK (for you).
So where to start? The first thing you need to decide is which type of roof tent is best for you?
If you are looking for a soft-shell roof tent, material quality is very important when making your purchase. Hard shell/top roof tents have a solid (normally fibreglass) waterproof top but the sidewalls of hard shells are material and need to be waterproof but breathable. The various types and acronyms of materials can be confusing, especially when they are just versions of the same fabric.
For simplicity, we highlight the important specifications to look for or ask about when you are buying your roof tent.
What to look for when checking the waterproofing of your rooftop tent? Well, the best thing to look for is the Hydrostatic Head rating or HH rating. This is measured in millimetres and measures the height of a column of water that a material can withstand before it leaks. For example, a HH rating of 200mm would mean a material can support a water column about the height of a pint glass before it starts to leak. The higher the HH rating the better waterproofing, make sure to check this rating when selecting your rooftop tent.
Virtually every time you use your rooftop tent you will be exposing it to the sun. Thus, it’s important that the material isn’t going to be affected by the sun’s rays. UV rays that are thrown out by the sun will fade or even degrade the material on your roof tent. By making sure the material used in your roof tent is UV resistant then you will prolong the life of your tent. Which fabrics do this the best? Materials such as Polyester, Nylon and Ripstop are all great UV resistant fabrics. For more information on the best fabrics for the outdoors, see this helpful article.
As a resident of the UK, we all know that camping here will no doubt at some point involve rain. But this is not the only way your tent will get wet, morning drew or even condensation with make your roof tent wet or damp. Consequently, you will need to dry your tent out before packing away and this isn’t always possible. So being able to pack your tent away while still damp is an important factor.
Mould resistant material will stop your roof tent from going mouldy, (but not forever!). You still need to air your rooftop tent out, if you put it away wet or very damp. The keyword here is ‘resistant’, make sure not to leave your tent wet across the winter. If you have packed it away wet, wait for the next dry day and give it a little airing to stop it from being mouldy when you open it the following summer.
Some roof tents have multiple windows and even skylights to enable light and air to flow through your tent. The key things to look for are the quality of the zips and their use of bug nets to keep out unwanted guests. Skylights in roof tents are great for extra sun and light during the day but perfect for stargazing at night.
When you’re bedding down for the night in your new tent, the worse thing to find out is that your mattress is uncomfortable or maybe it’s damp and mouldy. The industry standard is to have a high-density foam mattress at least 50mm or 2 inches thick. However, we would suggest that 60mm or 70mm thick options will give you a better night’s sleep. Also, make sure that the mattress cover is removable for washing.
A great extra feature that isn’t industry standard, is an anti-condensation mat that fits underneath your mattress. This is an important bit of kit to stop your mattress from going damp and mouldy. Some roof tent manufacturers will sell these separately but we would suggest finding a roof tent with this included.
Roof tent annex rooms are great for extra accommodation space for kids or pets. Not only are they good for sleeping but good for storage, cooking or eating if the weather is bad. Some roof tents will come with an annex room included but other manufacturers will charge extra for this feature.
There is one thing you will need to check when considering the use of an annex room with your vehicle and that is mounting height. For an annex room to peg out correctly, the mounting height of your tent will need to be from 1.75m to 2.1m. A little tip if your vehicle is a little short of this height, buy some camper van leveling ramps to rise your car’s height.
Beyond the listed features above, there are lots of other extra bits and bobs that can make camping in a roof tent that extra bit more special. LED lights that plug into your 12v, storage nets for clothes, shoe bags because where do you put your muddy shoes in a roof tent? We suggest having a good look at what’s included and not included with your rooftop tent.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of canvas roof top tent. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.