Find the programme of the roof tent festival on the website www.rttfestival.com.

Selection of campsites around Huriel in the Allier

The roof tent festival offers you a campsite where the atmosphere promises to be festive during these three days in Huriel. However, if you are looking for a little more peace and quiet, we have a selection of campsites around Huriel with pitches for caravans, tents, motorhomes and, of course, roof-tents.

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The Duö Hussarde roof tent on the road

The Duö roof tent was installed on the roof of our vehicle (a Citroën Berlingo) by the NaïtUp teams at the Alès factory. The Berlingo offers only three possibilities to position the roof bars. Two of them at the front of the vehicle, separated by only 70/80 cm. Fortunately, the tent requires roof bars separated by at least 70 cm (and 120 cm maximum). It is attached to the roof bars with a system of clamps that are tightened with a tool provided by NaïtUp (see photo). The first thing to notice, once in place, is that the tent is not that bulky. Even though it is 28 cm high at its thickest part, it is rather well shaped and does not take up more space than a simple roof box.

As soon as the tent is set up, it undergoes its first tests on the road. The main concern with this type of material is the increase in consumption. In addition to its weight of 55 kg, it also offers an additional wind resistance. On a country road, we are pleased to see that the average consumption hardly varies. On the motorway, even though strong winds and rain showers on the return journey slightly distort the comparison between the outward journey without the tent and the return journey with the tent, there is an increase in consumption of around 10%. This increase can be almost completely eliminated by driving at around 120 km/h instead of 130 km/h. It should be noted, however, that the test was carried out on a Berlingo, which is not the most profiled car on the market. The second concern was noise. Depending on the roof bars and what you load on the roof of the vehicle, sometimes vibrations or the whistling of the air can produce very disturbing noises. Nothing like that here. The tent is securely fastened, does not vibrate and there is no air whistling. In short, you quickly forget that you have a tent on the roof. Be careful, though, because between the roof bars and the tent, your vehicle has just gained almost 40 cm in height. It would be a shame to smash your tent against a gantry.

The NaïtUp Duö tent at the campsite

As we saw at the factory with the Quattrö, the Duö tent is very easy to unfold thanks to a jack system. It takes less than 30 seconds to open. On your own. And it doesn’t take much longer to fold it up. That’s a real advantage, especially when you’re staying at a campsite and use your car for sightseeing or shopping. It’s quick and easy enough to do so that it doesn’t feel like a chore every time you move the car. A cover is offered as an option by NaïtUp. It allows you to cover the mattress and the duvet if your tent is wet when folded. So you can go for a ride after a rainy night. I have not yet had the time to test the tent in these conditions, so plan a little addendum in a few days.

One of the advantages of the tent is its multiple openings, equipped with mosquito nets. Ideal for breathing in hot weather. We also opted for the cotton version, made by Cabanon. It’s a not cheap option (+350 €), but it gives a real touch of extra comfort to the tent which breathes much better this way.

Inside you have a space of 2.1 m x 1.2 m. On its own the tent is spacious enough. It can also be used by two people up to a maximum of 200 kg. You do have to be a couple in love, because two people are very close to each other on this 120cm mattress. But it works very well with two people. However, if there are two of you and both of you like to have space to sleep, you should opt for one of the Quattrö or Family models. A mattress option is offered by NaïtUp. We didn’t take it, opting for our Duvalay mattress which fitted perfectly in the tent as you can see on the video. A small padlock is supplied with the ladder when the tent is delivered. This allows you to attach the ladder to the tent to prevent a prankster from stealing it during the night.

first night of camping in the roof tent

The first night in the tent was really conclusive. In combination with the Duvalay mattress, the tent is very comfortable and the large openings are particularly appreciated, allowing you to enjoy the views from the high position. Once up, it even attracts curious onlookers and becomes a topic of discussion with the neighbours.

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French and eco-responsible production

The idea of NaïtUp was born from the need of two friends (Patrice Brochier and Christophe Soteau) to install a roof tent on their car, a Fiat Panda. As they could only find tents for 4x4s on the market, they decided to create their own. They decided to create their own tent. Sixteen years later, Christophe Soteau left the adventure to travel the world, and NaïtUp has 24 employees and produces 1400 tents per year.

The NaïtUp workshop is located in Alès, in the Gard, in Southern France. A workshop that is living its last hours since, in order to meet the ever increasing demand, the company will soon move to new premises capable of supporting a significant increase in production. But the company will hardly move away. It will remain in Alès. In addition to this geographical location, the company is also economically established in the region and in the country. All of the brand’s subcontractors are located within a 500 km radius (Oyonnax for the plastic, in the Rhône for the steel). Only the fabric is a little further away as it comes from Dunkirk. It has to be said that in order to afford quality tent material, NaïtUp went to Cabanon and its expertise in the field of tent material. For those who like cotton that breathes rather than synthetic that sweats, you can choose your tent with cotton canvas made in Cabanon (paying option).

Read also: Guided tour of the Cabanon factory in Dunkirk

It must be said that NaïtUp is committed to following an eco-responsible policy. Thus, no programmed obsolescence for its tents. They are guaranteed for 5 years and are designed to be easily repairable. In case of a problem, the parts will be sent to you so that you can easily change them. Only major problems warrant a return to the workshop. Also, if the use of plastic could not be avoided, it comes from recycled bottles.

Questions about the life span of La Hussarde tents? A user tells us about his experience with a QUATRÖ TENT since 2016

The advantages of La Hussarde tents

What distinguishes La Hussarde tents from many other tents on the market is their ability to be carried on any type of car. Depending on the model, the weight of the tent varies between 55 kg (Duö) and 85 kg (Quatrö). The advertised driving weights for cars range from 40 kg to 100 kg. The vast majority of vehicles can therefore be equipped with one. The weights mentioned here are the weights when driving. When stationary, the load-bearing capacity of your roof racks is much greater and the Duö will easily accommodate two normal adults… I mean, if you’re going on holiday with the Mountain character from Game of Thrones, you may have to consider another solution for your holiday. But if not, you can go! The Duö supports 200 kg and the Quatrö 250 kg. As you are reminded on the NaïtUp website, a car is designed to roll over and to support its own weight when it is on its roof.

In addition to the weight, a significant issue when buying a tent is the height of the vehicle. In addition to the roof bars, the tent adds 28 cm to the height of your car. On a low car like a Clio for example, this leaves your total height under 2 metres. On the other hand, on taller cars or vans, such as a Berlingo or Kangoo, this brings you to more than 2 metres and prevents you from entering certain car parks. On the other hand, as far as tolls are concerned, it is the vehicle that defines your class, the roof rack is not taken into account. You will therefore remain in category 1.

The other advantage of La Hussarde tents is the ease of opening and closing. It only takes a few seconds to open a Duö and hardly any more time for a Quatrö (see the video, with the opening in real time by one person). And there is no “can’t fold” effect, well known to those who have ever camped with a Queshua 2s. Closing is as easy as opening.

To regulate temperature and condensation, La Hussarde tents have windows with mosquito netting and a ceiling ventilation system. This creates an air flow and evacuates condensation (see video).

The different models of the La Hussarde roof tent

Depending on whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or as a family, there are several La Hussarde tents to suit your needs.

The Duö roof tent is designed for a couple. It is suitable for vehicles with a load capacity of 55 kg and can hold 200 kg when stationary. The inner dimensions are 120 x 210 cm.

The Quatrö roof tent is designed for two adults and two children, or three adults. The difference with the Family is that the sleeping direction is perpendicular to the car, whereas in the Family you sleep in the direction of the car. It is suitable for vehicles that can carry 75 kg. Its interior dimensions are 170 x 220 cm.

The Family roof tent can accommodate two adults and three children. Like the Quatrö, it can be fitted to vehicles that can carry 75kg when rolling. The interior dimensions are 170-210 cm.

For more information, you can consult the website of the roof-tent manufacturer NaïtUp and its very complete FAQ. In a few days we will be testing the Duö roof tent.

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Five top tips

1 Flexibility is key. A toilet tent with some kind of removable groundsheet can usually also do duty for showering in.

2 Tents like this are often a bit more susceptible to windy conditions. Keep an eye on them and/or make sure they’re properly pegged out.

3 Always check out packed dimensions and weight so as you know you won’t have any transportation problems.

4 Make sure any chemicals you’re using – eg toilet fluids – are stowed out of harm’s way. It’s also always worth checking if your chosen campsite is set up to deal with any particular chemicals you’re using.

5 As ever, make sure you dispose of any waste properly – especially if you are using a toilet with chemicals.

Three of the best

Quest Instant Utility Shelter
Perfect for use as a shower and/or toilet tent, this is so easy to pitch – it should take one person less than two minutes thanks to the integral, extending frame system, called the Zero Tension Frame.
The UV-coated fabric comes with a 50+ sun protection rating. There’s also a groundsheet that can be folded back when not required, plus an integral shelf that will come in handy especially when showering.
Dimensions are 155cm x 155cm and it’s 220cm at its highest point. It weighs 5.5kg and packs down to 17cm x 17cm x 105cm.
Pay no more than £119.99
www.questleisure.com

SunnCamp Utility Lodge
This stand-alone upright tent has a maximum standing height of 210cm and a particularly waterproof (6000mm hydrostatic head rating) flysheet.
There’s a groundsheet you can remove if you want to use it as your own dedicated shower room (SunnCamp also sells suitable, solar-heated showers).
Fully adjustable guylines help make sure it all stays in one place. Its footprint is 210cm x 140cm. Other key features include: 150D Oxford polyester fabric, roll-up zipped front door, rear vented panel and steel poles. It’s supplied with pegs and guylines.
Pay no more than £165
www.sunncamp.co.uk

OlPro Blue Pop Up Shower and Utility Tent
A removable groundsheet that zips in means this tent can be used for showering as well as toileting. The pop-up design and integrated frame means it takes just a couple of minutes to put it up, and you get a full standing height of nearly 200cm.
The blue and orange polyester fabric has a 1,500mm hydrostatic head. Luminous guylines and pegs are included.
You can get this direct from Olpro (although there’s a €5 delivery charge for purchases if they come to under €150).
Pay no more than £69
www.olproshop.com

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Anthony and Adrien are two young engineers with a passion for 4x4s and outdoor life. So when Adrien was looking to fit out the back of his pick-up to sleep in, they discovered on the internet a 10-year-old American concept that had never been used in France before: the Weekender Camper Package. The system is simple: thanks to four electric jacks powered by the car’s battery, the Weekender Camper Package raises the pick-up’s hardtop by 45 cm. The openings on the sides and rear of the pickup make way for tent material, turning the rear of the vehicle into a cross between a van and a roof tent. Seduced, the two young people contacted the American company that had developed the concept and became its exclusive dealer in France and Europe.

Easy to install

The system is easy to install (according to two engineering school graduates). If you follow the video tutorials prepared by A&A Explorers, you can expect to spend a day or a day and a half equipping your pick-up with the Weekender Camper Package. The jacks must be attached to the bottom of the bed and to the hardtop. However, if you are not a handyman, you can always take the installation option and let Anthony and Adrien do it. Once in place, this system will only slightly impact the weight of your vehicle (less than 40 kilos).

Holiday and daily use

The Weekender Camper Package has a dual purpose. You can, of course, use it in its holiday mode, with the tent canvas stretching over the sides and rear of the vehicle. It is attached with Velcro and can be easily removed. All that remains are the jacks, which significantly increase the rear volume when the hardtop is raised. Practical if you have bulky things to transport. It fits all pick-ups on the market with a rear bed of 1.5 m to 2.1 m. The tent can be adjusted by means of adjustable Velcro fasteners so that it is always taut.

A comfortable living space

Once the hardtop is up and the canvas are stretched, the Weekender Camper Package offers a comfortable living space with a living height of about 1.4 m. On the length side, a tent pole is fitted to the rear of the vehicle, increasing the length of the bed by 40 cm. The Weekender Camper Package does not include the interior equipment, so you can customise it to suit your needs. For occasional use, it can be combined with products such as the Duvalay bedding. With its large windows with mosquito nets on the sides, it offers a good compromise between the pleasures of the tent and the needs of travelling campers who like to have a system that is quick and easy to set up. As you can see in our video, it takes only a few minutes to set up or close the hardtop.

Price: 2600€ for the whole system and 1570€ just for the four electric jacks
To order : www.aa-explorers.com

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The Cabanon brand was founded in 1959 in Bailleul, in the north of France, before moving to its current location in Dunkirk in 2005. Since its early years, Cabanon has been a 100% French brand. All products are manufactured in the Dunkerque factory, from the design office where new products are conceived to manufacturing. 54 people work in this factory to create 4000 tents and folding caravans per year. Cabanon represents a real know-how which has been awarded this year with the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label (could be translated in Living Heritage Company Label). A well-deserved award for this company, which remains the last tent manufacturer in France and which takes particular care to source its products from French or European partners. Thus all the fabrics used for Cabanon tents come from Europe.

The operation of the Cabanon factory remains ” handcrafted “, with no assembly line work. In fact, all the people involved in the creation of a tent sign their work on the canvas. If a defect is noted during the final checks, the tent is returned to the person responsible for the defect. This is a way to constantly improve the quality of Cabanon tents.

With 65% of its production exported, the Cabanon brand is very popular with foreigners, especially our Dutch neighbours, who are great fans of tent camping. You will undoubtedly come across Cabanon tents or folding caravans during your stays on campsites in France and Europe.

An online internet shop since spring 2020

In addition to the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label received in February, the big change at Cabanon in 2020 was the launch of a brand new website in the spring: www.cabanon.com. For the first time, the brand now offers an online shop. Here you can buy Cabanon tents and folding caravans as well as accessories such as windbreakers and sunshades.

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Made up of a memory foam mattress and a built-in duvet, Duvalay mattresses give you a touch of extra comfort during your camping holiday. This mattress comes in different sizes for one or two people and different thicknesses. They come in a wide variety of colors. The Roofvan model has been designed especially for vans with a liftable roof.

To find out more about Duvalay : www.duvalay.co.uk

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