Is The TentBox Lite XL Worth Buying? Family Review
Discover If The TentBox Lite XL Is A Good Option for Camping With Kids!
We love a road trip and earlier this year we went on a four-week European adventure with the TentBox Lite XL. Having three kids can limit accommodation choices so, to keep it simple, we decided to take our own!
The TentBox Lite XL seemed like the perfect family camping solution, but was it worth the investment?
If you’re considering a rooftop tent for your family adventures, let us help you decide if the TentBox Lite XL is right for you by sharing our experience of its features and functionality and, most importantly, our honest opinion.
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TentBox Lite XL
✅ Elevated Camping
✅ Quick & Easy Pop-up Tent
✅ Large Family Sleeping Area
✅ Built-In Mattress
✅ Weatherproof and Robust Design
✅ 360 Views Including A Double Skylight
What is The TentBox Lite XL?
The TentBox Lite XL is a large rooftop tent that can be mounted on top of almost any vehicle. Designed in the UK with families in mind it can be set-up, single-handedly, in minutes and is robust enough to be used in summer and winter.
There is plenty of space for four, making it ideal for families looking for an elevated, high-quality, easy-to-set-up camping solution.
Taking your home-from-home with you on your travels is a great way to save on accommodation costs, and the TentBox Lite XL makes it easy.
Tent Box XL Features
Ease Of Tent Set-up
A major consideration for many families when choosing a tent is how long it takes to set up. The TentBox Lite XL is quick and easy to erect and can be fully ready in just a few minutes.
After a couple of days, we were doing it single-handed, but with a little help, you’ll get it up even quicker!
Even when fully packed there is enough space within the tent to hold your bedding, saving valuable space in the car and making camp set up much faster.
Large Comfortable Family Sleeping Area
The TentBox Lite XL is one of the largest rooftop tents available. It comfortably sleeps four making it suitable for families with one or two children.
The roomy interior of 180cm x 240cm by 115cm also gives kids room to move around.
We had three adult-sized kids share the space without feeling restricted. Families with young kids can camp together comfortably on the 6cm thick foam mattress without needing extra padding.
Elevated design
Rooftop tents provide families with the added safety of being raised well above the ground. This is especially useful where insects, reptiles and wildlife might otherwise find their way in, or where surface water and mud are an issue.
The elevated design of the Tentbox also means your family can have a comfortable camping experience regardless of the ground conditions; great for wild camping in remote locations while you are road-tripping.
Durable Rooftop tent Design
The TentBox Lite XL is designed to withstand most weather conditions and is a good choice for families wanting to explore all year round.
The robust weatherproof material protects against rain, wind, and cold, keeping the interior comfortable and dry whatever is happening outside; an important consideration, especially when camping with children. Kids and adults will love the option to sleep under the stars or perhaps even view the Aurora with the roof windows offering panoramic views of the sky.
In really cold conditions, you can add the TentBox thermal liner. This will keep you warm to well below freezing, and reduce condensation. The high-quality canvas blocks out light, providing near-blackout conditions, even in daylight, perfect for preventing early waking kids!
The robust structure stands up to everyday living and you can expect to get many years of exploring out of your tent, whatever the season.
Family Pros of The Tent Box Lite XL
We have used a wide selection of ground and rooftop tents when travelling with our kids. These are some of the advantages we’ve found when camping with a TentBox Lite XL:
- Large Family Space: The TentBox Lite XL is large enough for a family of four. We had three teenagers share the king-size area and they had plenty of room to move around. The high roof gives space to comfortably sit up or even kneel inside.
- Quick to Setup and Take Down: The XL model is both quick and easy to set up and pack away with just one adult. It is easier if you are tall and we found a small plastic stool was helpful. You can have it fully ready in under 5 minutes.
- Comfortable Camping Space: The TentBox XL has a thick, wall-to-wall built-in foam mattress. Its large windows give 360-degree views and it has insect nets for ventilation without the bugs! All-in-all, perfect for a comfortable nights sleep.
- Durable Design: TentBoxes are extremely robust and are specifically designed to cope with being repeatedly set up on road trips in any weather. We’ve tested ours in Scotland and can attest to its durability! There is no need to wait for the sun to enjoy camping with kids. With a Tentbox Lite XL you can have a family adventure come rain, wind or even snow.
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Potential Challenges – TentBox Lite XL
We’ve used our TentBox Lite XL for several extended road trips including 4weeks in Europe. This has given us plenty of time to discover (and workaround!) some of the potential challenges:
- Weight and Size: Being a large rooftop tent it is also heavy (62kg); consider the installation, removal and long-term storage of the TentBox XL before you buy.
- Safety: Younger kids may find the telescopic ladder difficult to climb and the height can pose a risk of falling.
- Price: The TentBox XL is more expensive than most traditional tents. Your car may also use more fuel while carrying the tent, although by adjusting our driving style, we found this was minimal.
- Movement: You may notice a little rocking when you move around the tent depending on how stiff your suspension is.
- Windows: The design of the window zips may not work for everyone! They are a little fiddly and opening the insect mesh to close the windows seems counterintuitive.
Our Family Review using The TentBox Lite XL
We did a lot of research before purchasing the TentBox Lite XL, evaluating all of the potential pros and cons. We also considered buying a large ground tent which would have been cheaper but occupied more space in the car. Ultimately, we took the plunge and opted to invest in a rooftop tent.
As we are a family of five with three tall teenage kids, one of the main attractions of the Lite XL was its large size and robust structure. They slept in the rooftop tent, while we used a two-person ground tent. This arrangement worked well, with the option for us to sleep in the vehicle giving a fully self-contained solution when ground space was tight.
We liked that once fitted to the car the TentBox Lite XL is super quick to set up and almost as quick to pack down. It is virtually identical to another brand we hired for two weeks in Costa Rica where we slept with one adult and three kids.
It worked well during a European summer road trip, keeping us dry through several heavy showers. We suggest purchasing the Lite XL living Pod add-on to give an additional weatherproof living space. Allowing the outer tent to dry before packing it away for the day makes setting it up again a more pleasant experience although we didn’t have any water ingress to the interior.
Who is The TentBox Lite XL for?
The TentBox Lite XL is aimed at families and those who:
- Camp frequently and want to save time on setup and takedown.
- Prefer not to sleep on the ground (especially useful in rocky, wet, or uneven campsites).
- Enjoy road trips and need a portable, comfortable sleeping solution without the cost of a campervan.
- Have a vehicle that can handle the size and weight of the TentBox Lite XL.
- Are willing to invest in a high-quality, durable rooftop tent for long-term use.
Things to consider before you Buy the Tentbox XL
There are several things we recommend you consider before purchasing a TentBox Lite XL. It is a sizeable investment and, if you only camp occasionally, you may be better off buying a cheaper alternative. It is also fairly large and you should be sure it is compatible with your intended vehicle; there are some that cannot carry it.
You may wish to consider whether anyone using the tent might have difficulty accessing it. The ladder requires a reasonable degree of mobility to climb and the height does come with a slight fall risk.
Finally, think about where you want to camp. Ensure the areas you wish to visit are accessible using your vehicle and consider whether you would rather leave your camp set up and use your car.
Is The TextBox Lite XL Value For Money?
The full price of the TentBox Lite XL is £1,895, although there are savings with add-on bundles and seasonal sales. In addition to any discounts given during sales or with a set, you can save an additional £50 by using the code “trekkingthedream” at checkout.
While the initial investment is higher than a traditional tent, it is comparable to other similar-sized rooftop tents and is extremely well made. The savings made on accommodation costs will quickly add up and we were better off within just three weeks of purchase,
It comes with a full five-year guarantee and is a durable option for adventurous families. It is also very quick to set up and take down, giving you extra time together.
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TentBox Alternatives For Families
While the Lite XL is the largest rooftop tent that TentBox sell, some alternatives have slightly different features and sit at different price-points.
⛺iKamper Skycamp 3.0 – suits families looking for a slim hard-shell rooftop tent box with a sleeping space equivalent to a king-size bed, accommodating up to four people.
⛺Thule Tepui Autana 4 – a large rooftop tent for up to four people. The extended canopy provides private access and keeps the surrounding area dry.
Camping In A TentBox FAQs
Some common questions families have about rooftop tents for camping with kids.
Well, almost anywhere! Your TentBox will go with your vehicle and you are only really limited by local camping rules and any safety considerations such as nearby roads, trees and wildlife. Wherever you stop, make sure you feel comfortable and have the amenities you need.
TentBox is made of a quality canvas that will protect you from draughts even in a strong wind. For additional warmth in cold climates, a thermal kit can be added to your TentBox Lite XL.
The TentBox Lite XL is 183 cm wide by 240 cm long and 115cm high. It weighs 62 kg, including the mattress. When closed, it is 183 cm by 120 cm and 25 cm high.
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Final Thoughts: Is The TentBox Lite XL Worth It?
The TentBox XL is worth it for families who want a large, easy-to-set-up roof-top tent and the flexibility to camp almost anywhere. We love the ability to pull up and pitch up quickly, especially when it’s wet and every second counts!
Sleeping off the ground has several benefits over a traditional tent, not least of which is always having a flat base to sleep on. Its elevated position is great for looking out over your chosen area and gives a little more privacy.
We wouldn’t be without our TentBox Lite XL for our family adventures.
Where To Camp With Kids In A TentBox XL?
The TentBox Lite XL is a versatile solution for any family road trip. Camping with a rooftop tent has allowed us to explore destinations where accommodation sells out fast, such as the magical Isle of Skye in Scotland, remote hiking areas in Switzerland and even a non-glamorous car park near Paris, France.
In short, you can pitch your TentBox Lite XL (almost!) anywhere! Just make sure your chosen spot is legal to camp and that you can safely get your vehicle in and out.
