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A rooftop tent is bought once and paid off over nights. The tool spreads the price of a tent from our November 7, 2026 check (cheapest seller), plus the extras you type, over the nights you expect, and compares that with what a night costs you otherwise. It uses no hotel, campsite or resale figure of ours: you type them.
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How the numbers are worked out
Cost per night = net cost / (nights a year x years)
Break-even nights = net cost / (cost of a night otherwise - campsite fee)
Two examples, worked by hand
The default: the cheapest tent in our check, the Naturnest Andromeda at $1,099, 20 nights a year for 5 years, no extras, no resale: $1,099 / 100 = $10.99 a night [calc].
A Roofnest Falcon 3 EVO Air at $3,036, a $400 rack (your figure), 15 nights a year for 6 years, 40% back at resale, a $25 campsite fee, against a $140 motel night: (3,036 + 400) x 0.6 = $2,061.60 net, / 90 nights = $22.91 a night, $47.91 with the campsite fee; break-even after 2,061.60 / (140 - 25) = 17.9, so 18 nights [calc]. Every figure except the tent price is an example: replace them with yours.
Cost is one part of the decision. The tent also has to be within your roof and rack ratings (Will my roof carry it?), fit your crew and your garage (Fits my crew and garage), and every seller's price is in the comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the tool not give a hotel price?
Because we could not read one that applies to you: it depends on the place, the season and the kind of room. Type what a night costs you otherwise, including the drive to a motel if that is your real alternative, and the tool does the rest.
What extras should I add?
Whatever you would not buy without the tent: crossbars or a platform rack, an awning, the shipping charge (iKamper publishes "flat $249 shipping" for rooftop tents to the lower 48), an annex or a mattress upgrade. Leave out what you already own.
What resale value should I type?
We publish no resale figure: we have not tracked used prices. If you plan to sell after a few seasons, look at listings for the same model near you and type the share you expect to get back. Leave 0 to be safe.