Legendary Overland Reliability - Toyota
The Toyota Hilux is one of the best vehicles for a roof tent, with plenty of options for creating anything from a simple weekend camping setup to a serious overland touring vehicle.
TUFFTREK® can help you choose the right roof tent, canopy and mounting system for your Hilux, with professional fitting available at our East Sussex workshop.
Roof tent specialists since 2013 • UK showroom • Professional fitting available
Can You Put a Roof Tent on a Toyota Hilux?
Yes. The Hilux is an excellent roof tent platform – but choosing the right mounting system is important.
There are three main options:
| Setup | Best For |
|---|---|
| Cab roof rack | Simple roof tent setups |
| Load-bearing canopy | ⭐ Touring & overland builds |
| Bed rack | Open pickup-bed setups |
For dedicated camping and touring Hilux builds, a load-bearing canopy is often our preferred option. It gives you a strong platform for the tent while retaining secure storage underneath.
A Note About Hilux Roof Bars
We don't recommend door-frame clamp-style roof bars for carrying a roof tent on a Toyota Hilux.
For cab-mounted tents, we recommend a properly rated roof rack or suitable fixed mounting system designed to carry the load.
If you're unsure, read our Can My Car Carry a Roof Tent? guide or talk to us before buying.
Which Roof Tent Is Best for a Toyota Hilux?
The Hilux works extremely well with both soft top and hard shell roof tents.
Soft Top Roof Tents
Soft tops provide excellent sleeping space and value, making them a great option for couples and families.
Shop TUFFTREK® Soft Top Roof Tents
The TUFFTREK® Pro-Ruggedised range is particularly well suited to tough 4x4 and touring use.
Hard Shell Roof Tents
For regular touring and overland travel, a hard shell provides fast setup, rugged construction and a compact travelling profile.
Options include the TUFFTREK® Kalahari-X and Overland Mk3, alongside premium tents from ALU-CAB, James Baroud and BunduTec.
Not sure which style suits you? Read our Roof Tent Buying Guide.
Toyota Hilux Roof Tent + Canopy
For a serious Hilux camping setup, mounting the roof tent above a load-bearing canopy is one of our favourite configurations.
It keeps the cab roof free while creating secure storage below and a versatile platform for your tent, awning and other camping equipment.
RSI SmartCap for Toyota Hilux
The stainless-steel RSI SmartCap is an excellent option for a Hilux overland build.
With a 150kg dynamic and 350kg static roof load rating, it provides a strong platform for roof tents and other touring equipment.
View RSI SmartCap EVO Adventure for Toyota Hilux
For Hilux owners carrying dogs or wanting additional ventilation, the RSI SmartCap EVO Sport for Toyota Hilux adds sliding side windows.
If you prefer to keep the weight down we can also supply the legendary ALU-CAB Exploer or the new, sleeker looking CONTOUR Canopy range from South Africa. These are lower weight and come fully assembled from factory, ready to fit!
Build Your Hilux Camping Setup
One of the Hilux's strengths is how easily it can become a complete touring vehicle:
Roof Tent + Canopy + 180°/270° Awning + Fridge + Lighting + Storage
Planning the system together helps ensure your tent, canopy, awning and accessories work properly together – rather than buying individual components and discovering compatibility problems later.
TUFFTREK® can supply individual products or help you plan the complete Hilux build.
Professional Toyota Hilux Roof Tent Fitting
Prefer us to fit everything?
TUFFTREK® offers professional roof tent, canopy and awning installation at our East Sussex workshop.
You can also visit our Roof Tent Showroom to compare different tents in person before deciding what's right for your Hilux.
Making Adventures Great Since 2013.
Toyota Hilux Roof Tent FAQs
Can you put a roof tent on a Toyota Hilux?
Yes. The Toyota Hilux is an excellent roof tent vehicle when the tent is fitted to a suitable, correctly rated roof rack, bed rack or load-bearing canopy.
Can I fit a roof tent over the Hilux cab?
Yes, provided the vehicle and mounting system are suitable and correctly rated. We don't recommend door-frame clamp-style roof bars for carrying a roof tent.
Can I put a roof tent on a Hilux canopy?
Yes, provided the canopy is specifically designed and rated to carry the load. A load-bearing canopy such as the RSI SmartCap can make an excellent roof tent platform.
Is a hard shell or soft top better for a Hilux?
Both work well. Soft tops provide excellent sleeping space and value, while hard shells offer faster setup and are particularly suited to frequent touring and overland travel.
Is a canopy better than mounting the tent above the cab?
For many dedicated Hilux touring builds, we prefer a load-bearing canopy. It provides secure storage below the tent and creates a versatile platform for an awning and other overland equipment.
Can TUFFTREK® fit my Hilux roof tent?
Yes. We offer professional roof tent, canopy and awning fitting at our East Sussex workshop and can help you plan the complete setup before you buy.