Soft-Shell Rooftop Tent (Smittybilt Overlander class)
The most common entry into overlanding sleep gear: a fold-out soft-shell rooftop tent that hard-mounts to a roof rack. Setup is 5 minutes, you sleep off the ground, no setup time at camp burns daylight.
A soft-shell rooftop tent (RTT) is the budget end of "sleeping on the rig." It folds out off one side of the vehicle and is supported by an aluminum ladder. The XJ roof can take the static load of an RTT without issue — what you need is rack capacity rated for the tent's static (sleeping) load, typically 600-800 lbs. Cheap factory crossbars are not adequate; plan to upgrade to Yakima HD, Front Runner Slimline, or a full overland rack.
The Smittybilt Overlander is the price floor — heavy fabric, basic mattress, no insulation. Tepui Kukenam and iKamper Annex tents are the mid-tier with better fabric, weatherproofing, and a real mattress. Setup at camp is 5 minutes once you remember the muscle memory.
The honest trade-offs vs. ground tents or a hard-shell: soft RTTs are heavy (130-170 lbs), kill MPG with the wind drag, and add significant top-end weight on the trail. They're not appropriate for hard-trail rigs where weight is the enemy. Bigger XJ wheelers often roll a ground tent or a hard-shell.
Why it works
- 5-minute setup, sleep off the ground
- Cheaper than a hard-shell by 2-3x
- Plenty of headroom inside; sleeps 2-3
- Mounts to any decent roof rack
Trade-offs
- 130-170 lbs of top-end weight — kills MPG and ride
- Soft fabric weathers and leaks eventually
- Requires a strong rack ($300-500 added)
- Not appropriate for technical trail
Tools required
- metric sockets
- torque wrench
- extra hands
Parts
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Smittybilt Overlander XL | Smittybilt | ~$1100 |
| Tepui Kukenam 3 | Thule/Tepui | ~$1500 |
| Crossbars rated to RTT load (Yakima HD / Front Runner) | Front Runner | ~$350 |
Related
- Hard-Shell Rooftop Tent (iKamper Skycamp class)
- Cargo-Area Sleep Platform + Mattress (Budget Overlanding)
- All Jeep Cherokee XJ guides & tools
- Browse the full DIY database
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. How we source guides. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.