Smittybilt Overland GEN2 Review: The Budget Rooftop Tent
Buy the Overland GEN2 if you want to find out whether rooftop camping suits you without spending two thousand dollars, and you camp in reasonable weather. Skip it if you camp in sustained rain or cold, where a breathable poly-cotton canopy makes a real difference to condensation and comfort.
660 lb of load rating and a full-size bed for a thousand dollars, and the fabric you are compromising on.
Smittybilt Overland GEN2 Tent STD, SB2583
~$1,140
A soft shell rooftop tent sleeping two to three, with a full-size 92 by 55 inch bed and a stated 660 lb load rating.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Open size | 95 in wide by 56 in long by 51 in high |
|---|---|
| Sleeps | 2 to 3 |
| Bed size | Full, 92 in by 55 in |
| Max load rating | 660 lb / 300 kg |
| Colours | Grey tent body with a light grey rainfly |
Specifications above come from Smittybilt's published feature list. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- A full-size 92 by 55 inch bed at this price is the headline, and it is the same footprint people pay twice as much for.
- A stated 660 lb load rating means the tent structure is not the limiting factor; your roof is.
- It is cheap enough to be an experiment rather than a commitment, which matters because plenty of people try rooftop camping and go back to a ground tent.
- Smittybilt is widely stocked, so replacement covers, ladders and hardware are easy to find.
- Soft shells pack lower than hard shells, so garage clearance is less often a problem.
Where it falls short
- The canopy is synthetic rather than a poly-cotton blend, and that shows up as condensation on cold nights more than as anything you can see.
- Zips, the travel cover and the ladder hardware are where budget tents are built down to a price, and they are what owners replace first.
- Setup and pack down take real minutes every time, like any soft shell.
- 660 lb is the tent's rating, not your vehicle's. Roof capacity while driving is a much lower number and it is the one that governs.
- It is heavy enough to matter on payload, and that weight sits at the highest point on the vehicle.
What owners report
Reports on budget rooftop tents follow a clear pattern: the structure and the bed are fine, and the failures happen at zips, covers and stitching over time. That is a reasonable trade at roughly half the price of a premium tent, and it is worth knowing rather than discovering. The format decision itself is covered in our hard shell versus soft shell comparison.
The second theme is condensation. A fully synthetic canopy holds moisture inside on cold nights in a way a breathable blend does not, and the fix is ventilation rather than a different tent. Open the mesh panels even when it feels cold, because still air and body heat are what produce the water.
Third, mounting and weight. The tent's own load rating is generous and irrelevant to whether your roof can carry it: the vehicle's dynamic roof load while driving and the rack's own rating both govern, and the lower number wins. Check what is left for everything else with the payload weight calculator, and read our bed rack versus roof crossbars comparison if you are still deciding how to mount it.
Who it suits
- First-time rooftop campers testing the format.
- People camping mostly in dry or mild conditions.
- Anyone who wants a full-size bed on the roof for the least money.
Who should skip it
- Cold or wet climate campers, who will notice the fabric difference every night.
- Daily movers, who want a hard shell regardless of budget.
- Vehicles with a low dynamic roof load rating.
Alternatives worth considering
Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3
~$2,000
A poly-cotton blend canopy that breathes properly, better hardware, and genuine three-person capacity. The upgrade is comfort in bad weather rather than more space.
Check price on AmazonRhino Rack Batwing Awning
~$550
118.5 square feet of 270 degree shade turns the area under the tent into usable living space, which is where most of a camping day is spent.
Check price on AmazonMAXXAIR Maxxfan Deluxe Vent, Fan and Vent Cover
~$420
If the vehicle has a roof you could cut, powered ventilation in a van beats a tent on the roof for cold and wet weather comfort.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Hard shell vs soft shell rooftop tent compared
- Bed rack vs roof crossbars compared
- Payload weight calculator
- Thule Tepui Kukenam 3 review
- Rhino Rack Batwing review
- MaxxAir MaxxFan Deluxe review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Smittybilt Overland GEN2 any good?
For the money it is a lot of tent, and the compromise is fabric and hardware rather than size. If you camp in mild conditions and want to try the format, it is a sensible buy. In sustained cold and rain, a breathable canopy is worth the upgrade.
What does the 660 lb load rating mean?
It is what the tent structure can support when pitched. It is not permission for your roof to carry that much: the vehicle's dynamic roof load rating while driving is far lower and it is the number that governs your purchase.
Why is my rooftop tent wet inside in the morning?
Condensation, almost always. Warm moist air from breathing meets a cold canopy and condenses. More ventilation is the answer even when it feels counterintuitive, and a synthetic canopy shows it more than a poly-cotton blend.
How long does it take to set up?
Minutes rather than seconds, every time, in both directions. That is the defining difference between soft shell and hard shell tents and it is what makes daily moves tiring.
Can I fit it to crossbars?
Only if the bars and their mounting points are rated for the tent's weight plus occupants when stationary, and the vehicle's dynamic roof load while driving. Check both ratings and use the lower one.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, standards documents including ABYC E-11, and verified owner reviews. We do not test gear in person. Vehicle payload, roof load and charging limits vary by model and year, so confirm yours against the door jamb sticker and the owner's manual rather than any number published here.
Totalling your own build weight against your payload? The Overland Build & Power Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.