The Napier Backroadz SUV tent is a pretty popular tent these days. At just a few hundred dollars, it is an attractive option for campers that are looking for a bit more comfort and convenience out of their tent when they are out in the bush.
Napier have a foothold in the automotive tent niche, with very successful models in the SUV, Roof Tent and Truck Tents alike. Focusing in on SUV tents, they have multiple models on the market that are all doing fantastically well, with the Backroadz being one of the top sellers, alongside the Sportz and Cove tents.
But, the burning questions from most potential buyers are, is it built with quality and is it worth the money in comparison to other brands like Kodiak and Rightline. Today were gonna answer a few of these questions and also deal with some commonly asked questions regarding this tent.
Read on as we dive deep into Backroadz SUV tent review.
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Introducing The Napier Backroadz Tent for SUVs
Our First Thoughts
When it comes to camping, there are no right or wrong ways to do it, and if you are the type that embraces unique experiences, we think you will love what this style of tent can do for you. Families are the main target market for these tents, as they usually drive SUVs to transport the kids, and afford a lot of additional trunk space for hauling various items.
It is this trunk space that can be linked up with the tent to create a more comfortable sleeping area, or convenient storage space, effectively providing you with a larger overall interior.
Napier has crafted it well, and we feel the price is extremely affordable and reasonable for the caliber of tent you are getting. Anyone who is into casual camping should seriously consider this functional and flexible tent.
Important Specs at a Glance
| Type
SUV Tent (19100 Model) |
Dimensions
10 x 10 feet (100 sq. ft.) |
| Height
7 feet |
Assembly
10 Minute Setup Time |
| Capacity
Up to 5 Adults |
Price
$209.95 USD |
| Materials
Tent: 68D 185T Polyester Taffeta Floor: Polyethylene Poles: Shock-Corded Fiberglass |
Waterproof
800mm Polyurethane Coating Bathtub Floor Taped Seams |
| Seasons
Spring / Summer / Fall |
For Use With:
SUV / CUV / Minivans |
Overview of Features
- SUV Tent Connects to Your Vehicle
- Connects to SUVs, CUVs, Minivans
- 100 Square Feet Fits Up to 5 Campers
- Fully Waterproofed
- Made with High-Quality Materials
- Good Airflow Throughout
- 1 Year Warranty
What We Love – Our Top 3 Features
GOLD QUALITY – Easy Attachment
Why use an SUV tent? It’s a fair question considering there are many tent options on the market that aren’t quite as labor intensive to set up, and equally as large (or larger).
The main reasons campers love these tents are because of their increased comfort and convenience. As the tent attaches to the rear of your SUV, you can convert the back of your vehicle into a large sleeping area, which can be more comfortable, and sometimes safer (depending on where you are camping), than sleeping on the tent floor.
If you are camping as a couple, you can then use the tent as more of a living space or lounging area. Families can use it to sleep parents in the car, and kids in the tent (or vice versa), to give a bit of separation and privacy.
Easily Attached and Detached
The convenience that these tents afford is that you can have everything confined to the same space. No longer will you have to traipse in and out of the tent when you have to grab something you forgot to bring with you.
With SUV tents you can also use the vehicle’s cargo area to store all your camping gear and supplies so everything is within arm’s reach, giving you an increase in interior space to do with as you please. Additionally, your car’s battery can be used to hook up electrical, which comes in handy when you want to run an electric fan, heater, or need a power source to charge up your devices.
SILVER FEATURE – H2 NO
Waterproof tents are pretty much the standard today, as they have to stand up to all kinds of weather during 3 season use.
The Backroadz SUV tent comes with a rain fly to cover the shelter, with sealed seams to keep moisture from breaking through any cracks in its armor. An 800mm polyurethane coating does a good job of keeping rain from soaking the lining.
Safe Enough to Have Blankets and Pillows without Fear of Water damage
While it is adequate, we always recommend going over your shelter with sealant spray if you have the DIY know-how, for a foolproof layer of protection.
Further waterproofing the shelter, a bathtub floor design helps to keep moisture and dirt out of the tent, and its constructed out of a durable polyethylene, which helps it stand up to foot traffic while eliminating ground water from seeping through.
BRONZE HIGHLIGHT – Crafted With Love (And Very Good Materials)
Napier has constructed this tent out of very good quality materials, protecting the contents of the shelter while simultaneously increasing longevity.
Framing out the tent is a series of interlocking, shock-corded fiberglass poles. These provide an X frame that is not only stable, but flexible to withstand high wind situations. Fiberglass poles also make the structure lightweight for transport purposes.
Quality Build and Simplistic Attachment System
Looking at the fabric, Napier further lightens the weight using 68D 185T Polyester Taffeta, mixing it with a layer of dense mesh on the windows and doors. As mentioned before, the tent floor is made from polyethylene to give it some strength to deal with the foot traffic. We always recommended investing in a footprint to protect the underside of your tent from exposure to harsh terrain.
Main Overview – Breaking Down Every Detail
Multi-Connections
Designed to connect to SUVs, the Backroadz can also be connected to other vehicles – namely CUVs, and minivans – giving them an attractive level of flexibility. Fans of these types of tent have also been known to rig them up to connect to virtually any large vehicle, with trucks being a popular option that allows you to turn its bed into your bed!
Aerodynamic Dome Shape Works Well in Winds (Tongue Twister for you there)
Napier has a tool on their website to help find the model that will attach to your car, eliminating the customization you would have to do to an improperly sized tent. However, if you do want to go that route, using bungees, magnets, and painters’ tape are all ways you can customize the tent sleeve.
Stands on Its Own Merits
Not every camping trip goes 100% smooth. If you have to leave your campsite, be it for stocking up on supplies, fixing gear, or going on a food run, this SUV tent doesn’t have to be 100% broken down. All you need to do is detach the sleeve from your SUV and you are free.
Meshed Pocket Reduces Condensation Accumulating Inside
The sleeve wall can be rolled up and pinned back, so you don’t have this giant piece of the tent flapping in the wind, and the wall can be fully zipped closed so no bugs or rain ruin your weekend.
Ventilation
There is no shortage of fresh air inside this tent. With 1 large door, and 3 mesh windows, you get plenty of venting points around the shelter. The mesh also doubles to keep flying insects outside the tent, and you can zip up the windows to control air flow, while at the same time giving you privacy and keeping you safe from rain.
A Camping Lantern Can Be Hung To Improve Evening Ambiance
A lantern can also be positioned on the hook located at the hub of the dome tent. This will allow you to have a low level light, to help with ids reading or general moving around when the sun goes down. It also creates an ambient environment from the outside looking in, as it lights up the whole tent like a glow light.
Most Asked Questions – We’ve Got You Covered
Will this tent work with my vehicle?
The tent is designed to work with SUVs, CUVs, and minivans. If your vehicle is any of those, there should be no reason the tent won’t be 100% compatible. If you are still unsure, Napier has a “Fit My Ride” tool on their website. You can enter your vehicle specifications, and they will tell you which tent will work best.
Can I use this tent with a teardrop trailer?
You can, provided the trailer circumference is not larger than 210 inches.
Is one person able to set this up on their own?
It is possible, but having a helper will make it easier, with a shorter set up time. The biggest obstacle would be the dual pole design, which interlock to create a large frame that can be challenging for a single person to put together.
What is its packed size?
While there is not official measurement for this spec, it comes with a storage/carrying case that measures around 36” x 12” x 12”.
Our Final Thoughts on the Napier Backroadz SUV Tent
We were impressed by this SUV tent. Not only does it perform very well, but Napier will plant a tree for every tent they sell via ‘Trees For The Future’, making it an environmentally-conscious investment.
The less than impressive set up time can be a drawback for some, and it seems to need some additional waterproofing. If you aren’t afraid of a little DIY, you should have a stable tent that will do what it was designed to do, and won’t break the bank while doing it.
