Roof Space Rooftop Tent Lift: Lift a Tent Up to 100 kg Onto Your Car Alone

Mounting a rooftop tent alone? This lift makes it possible

If you've ever tried wrestling a 60 or 70 kilogram rooftop tent onto your car roof alone or with a helper, you know the drill: beads of sweat on your forehead, a twinge in your back, and the constant worry of damaging your expensive vehicle.

Until now, your only options were asking a neighbour for help or installing a bulky ceiling lift in your garage. But now there's a solution that completely changes the game. At caravan live in Freiburg, Nele talked to Cedric from Roof Space about a genuine world first that makes life with a rooftop tent a lot more relaxed.

The problem: manoeuvring dozens of kilos above head height

As tempting as rooftop tents are, mounting them remains a real challenge. Most rooftop tents weigh between 50 and 90 kilograms – only a few lightweights, like the Tentbox Go at 33 kilograms, come in well under that. Even if you think two people can handle it easily, the reality often proves trickier. With a bit of practice it's doable, but the risk of damaging your car – or your own body – never really goes away. For more on what to watch out for regarding weight and mounting in general, check out our rooftop tent buying guide.

The existing solutions were limited: either you need several people – ideally one for each corner – or you install a ceiling lift in your garage. A lift like that (also called a hoist or rooftop tent lifting system) takes the weight off your hands, but ties you to a fixed location. But what if you're travelling alone? What if you don't have a garage? Or what if you want to stay flexible?

The solution: the mobile rooftop tent lift

This is exactly where Roof Space's world first comes in. The rooftop tent lift was designed to let you mount your rooftop tent onto your car – and take it off again – completely on your own. And here's the best part: it works with almost any rooftop tent worldwide, up to a weight of 100 kilograms, not just with Roof Space's own products like the Roof Space 2 rooftop tent.

The design is well thought out: in storage position, the lift is just 55 centimetres wide and stands upright on four wheels against your garage wall or wherever you have space. When you want to mount the tent, you extend the front supports, forming a stable Y-shape. Using gas-pressure springs, you can move the lift from vertical to horizontal with just one hand. Then you wheel it over the car and lower the tent onto the roof rack using a crank.

Once the tent is resting on the roof rack, you pull the lift back out and bolt the tent down as usual. The whole process is dead simple and easy to manage completely on your own.

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Clever extra features for everyday use

The rooftop tent lift does more than just help with loading and unloading. Cedric's philosophy is simple: "You should never have to hold the rooftop tent in your hands again." In plain terms: it's either mounted on your vehicle or sitting on the lift.

One particularly handy feature: you can open up the rooftop tent while it's still on the lift. Stabilised with two extra supports, you essentially end up with a bed standing in your garden. Even more useful, though, is the option to open up a wet tent on the lift to dry after your trip, while your car is already free to use again.

This kind of storage comes with further benefits. The tent attaches to the lift via mounting rails, so it hangs freely. That means no creepy-crawlies getting in, no dirt building up, and no scratches that can happen with the usual way of storing it.

Which vehicles is the lift suitable for?

The rooftop tent lift is designed for vehicles with a roof rack top edge of 150 to 230 centimeters. That covers everything from tall estate cars to smaller vans like the VW T-series, the VW ID.Buzz, or the Mercedes V-Class. Thanks to the threaded crank system, you get a lift range of 80 centimeters, so you can adjust it telescopically to match your vehicle's height.

Rooftop tent lift alternatives: ceiling lift or mobile lift?

If you're looking for a rooftop tent lift, you'll usually come across classic ceiling lifts: Models like the Geiger Boxlift, the Prime Tech rooftop tent lift, the Autohome Multilift, or the UPnGO are mounted to the garage ceiling and raise the tent using a crank, cable, or motor. You drive your car underneath, lower the tent, and you're done. These systems are tried and tested and often cheaper than the Roof Space lift, but they come with two clear limitations:

• You need a garage with a ceiling that's high enough and sturdy enough — this solution is off the table for carports, underground garages, or outdoor pitches.

• The lift is fixed in place. Loading and unloading only works at home, not at the dealership, in winter storage, or on vacation.

The mobile rooftop tent lift from Roof Space takes a different approach: it stands on wheels, needs no ceiling mount, and can be used in your driveway, yard, or at a campsite. In exchange, it costs more at 899 euros than most ceiling lifts and needs a level surface around the car to operate. As a bonus, it also doubles as a storage rack and drying stand — something a ceiling lift usually can't do.

In short: Got a garage with a sturdy ceiling and always mount the tent in the same spot? Then a ceiling lift is enough. No garage, changing locations, or you want to store and dry the tent on the rack? Then the mobile lift is the right choice.

Focus on materials and sustainability

The construction is made of steel and comes equipped with wheels, gas struts, and a crank. Everything is screwed together, not riveted or glued. That means every spare part can be replaced. This repairability isn't just sustainable — it also significantly extends the product's lifespan.

Development and production happen entirely in-house. Cedric points out in our trade show conversation that Roof Space is based between Bremen and Hamburg and relies on German engineering expertise. Nothing is bought in from elsewhere — everything is designed and manufactured by the company itself.

Price and specs at a glance

At 899 euros, the rooftop tent lift isn't exactly a bargain, but for solo travelers, people with less upper-body strength or shorter stature, and anyone with physical limitations, it's a massive gain in comfort — or the thing that makes mounting a rooftop tent possible in the first place.

But it's worth a closer look for other rooftop tent fans too: if you think about how often you have to load and unload the tent, how much energy and nerves that costs, and the risk it poses to your vehicle, the investment pays for itself pretty quickly.

Where to find the rooftop tent lift

You can find all the details on the rooftop tent lift on the Roof Space website. There, and on the company's YouTube channel, you'll also find detailed installation videos that walk you through the process step by step. Cedric and his team are also out at plenty of trade shows, where you can check out the lift live and try it for yourself.

The lift goes into delivery starting early 2027 and will then also be available through around 50 specialist dealers in Germany that already carry Roof Space products. It'll also be available across Europe.

Verdict: more freedom, less hassle

The Roof Space rooftop tent lift solves a real problem that many rooftop tent campers know all too well. Much like a mover does for a caravan, it makes you independent of other people and saves your back and your car. On top of that, it offers clever extra features for storage and drying.

The high-quality, smart construction, the availability of spare parts for repairs, and the genuinely fair price make it a worthwhile investment for anyone who regularly travels with a rooftop tent and doesn't want to struggle unnecessarily.

The lift is a real game-changer, especially for solo travelers, women camping alone, or campers who aren't (or no longer) up for heavy lifting. You get back exactly the flexibility, spontaneity, and freedom that make traveling with a rooftop tent so appealing in the first place.