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FAQ

1. The maximum allowed load weight on my vehicle roof is 75Kg. Is it really possible to fit a tent?
In general, in the Countries belonging to the European Community, the rating given by the manufacturers is not a binding Law but an advice for safety during travel: while breaking, on an akward or curvy road. The load weight of 75 kg. is respected according to the tent chosen.
The lightest Autohome products are the carbon fibre shell tents, which in comparison to the traditional glass fibre (GRP) are on average 10 kg lighter.
Please respect the maximum allowed load on the roof, usually indicated on the vehicle instructions.
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2. My wife and I, together weigh more than 200 kg. Do we exceed the maximum permitted load?
Normally the car roof structure can take its own weight as it is crash tested.
If the fitting is done correctly, neither the vehicle nor its occupants risk any damages.
3. On my car roof there are no rain gutters for water drainage. Can I still fit the tent?
We can supply roof racks suitable for any type of vehicle (with the exception of cabriolet models)

4. The car manufacturer provides roof racks. Can I use them to fit the tent?
Generally speaking any type of rook rack is suitable to fit a Roof Tent wide enough to carry a bycicle.
The roof bars (across the vehicle from side to side) should:

  1. Be as long as the width of the roof tent
  2. Be smooth and flat, with no bending or protruding brackets
  3. Have a minimum cross section of 20 x 30mm and maximum 30 x 40mm.
5. What can I carry on the roof racks?
According to the road code, the load should be no more than 2.5 m wide, up to the front bumper and up to 1 meter protruding from the back bumper. No more than 4 m high from the road level. The total load weight should not be higher than the car weight.

6. On my car roof there are railings. Are there any roof racks suitable for the tent fitting?
If you can fit a hand between the roof and the rack, there is enough space to fix the tent to the roof racks.
However, the roof racks should:

  1. Be as long as the width of the roof tent
  2. Be smooth and flat, with no bending or protruding brackets
  3. Have a minimum cross section of 20 x 30mm and maximum 30 x 40mm.
7. At home I have got a slatted bedspring. Is this available among your products?
No. Slats under the mattress adjust to your profile where the most pressure is exerted giving a greater degree of comfort and at the same time allow air to circulate under the bed. Slats inside the tents would be lying on the tent floor preventing any adjustment or as there is not much space under the mattress, any air circulation. This makes them of no use and would only increase the weight and price for no benefit.
8. How could I avoid water condensation build-up between the mattress and the tent base?
It is not possible to completely eliminate condensation, like gravity it exists and very little can be done to counteract it, particularly as a sleeping person will release up to 0.5l of moisture a night.
It can however be very significantly reduced, one method is to use the ACS - 3D “Air Circulation System”, which allows air circulation under the mattress. However all Autohome fabrics are characterized by a high breathability and water vapour transmission ratio: the only way to counteract condensation and humidity.
9. I would like to fit the Roof Tent on my off-road vehicle. Are there any additional things I need to know?
Yes. We would recommend a minimum of 3 (Three) roof racks for light off road use. For the heavy off road use we suggest reinforcement brackets to connect the racks feet and avoid the swinging movement forward and backward.
10. What speed can I travel at with a tent on the roof?
Provided that the roof tent is fitted according to instructions and closed, we suggest to travel at a speed of about 90-100 km/h with the side closing tents with travel cover, and at a speed of about 130 km/h with the shell tents without any extra load on their roof.
We know that many customers travel at higher speed. However, higher speed strain the roof racks on the attaching points to the vehicle.
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11. Can you lock a tent?
It is possible to put locks on a GRP or Carbon Fibre shell roof tent if required, but opening a Maggiolina roof tent without the handle is exceptionally difficult given the time most opportunist thieves may have. In all the thousands of roof tents we’ve sold over the years, no one has ever mentioned a roof tent being opened or disassembled by thieves!
12. Are all the Autohome tents the same quality?
Quality is standard with all Autohome roof tents. Tents used by professional rally raid teams and explorers are exactly the same as the products bought and used by the general public.
13. I am travelling to Scotland and it will certainly pour down with rain. Is the tent suitable for use in these weather conditions?
All roof tents meet a minimum waterproofing standard (measured by “water column”) of 250 mm for the ‘vertical fabric’ and 600 mm for the ‘horizontal fabric’. The water column is the weight/pressure of water, in millimetres, in a vertical column on the fabric over a certain given area. Such values are certified through UNI EN 20811 tests.
14. Is it possible to avoid water condensation build-up by adding an ‘inner tent’ inside the tent?
A second or inner skin does not eliminate condensation problems. It would simply lead to a reduction of the internal available space, and a reduction in ventilation. To help reduce condensation, it is better to select a fabric with a high breathability or high water steam transmission rate to the outside.
Every square centimetre of the fabric must “breath” and have the above described characteristics. Inner tents are normally used to hide condensation , usually created by the lack of breathability of the textiles such as nylon, Pvc and plastic fabrics in general.
15. Is it possible to limit condensation using a small battery internal fan, letting air move?
No, small fans are not effective at all. They do not compensate for the problems caused by poor fabric transpiration. These commercial gadgets do not solve ventilation and//or condensation problems (plus they’re noisy!). The only partial remedy to condensation build-up, is the use of the Eberspacher or Webasto style blowers, which can help dry the interior.
16. How can I see whether a fabric is breathable or not?
A simple and fairly effective method is to press your mouth on the fabric, and blow very hard. Place your hand on the other side of the fabric and see if you can ‘feel’ your breath with your hand. The more breath you can feel the more breathable the fabric is, please note, a good cloth such as the Autohome cloth also has to be waterproof at the same time.
17. What is a water column?
Water column refers to the water pressure, measured in millimetres, which a fabric can take before it lets water in. The value is used to refer to the water penetration resistance, on tents, fabrics and outdoor equipment. The higher or greater the water column, the better the waterproofing. Please note: a very high level of waterproofing can also mean a poorer or lower level of breathability.
The suggestions here above refer to the Italian regulation. Please check the road code in your own Country
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