Smittybilt GEN2 Overlander Review

As a brand synonymous with affordable, reliable products in the 4x4 world, it is no surprise that Smittybilt has applied their decades of experience and product R&D to construct affordable rooftop tents. Building upon the basic platform of their original Overlander tent, the Smittybilt design team has made a couple of key improvements to the GEN2, which make it an even better choice than the previous model for those who are shopping for an RTT on a limited budget.

Performance Comparison

Space and Comfort

The first thing we assess when we evaluate a rooftop tent is the level of comfort it provides. After all, what good is this big, heavy, and often expensive camping accessory if it doesn't provide a good night's sleep? We spend a minimum of five nights camping in each tent, noting any benefits or flaws in terms of space and comfort each day. Because this metric holds the most value to us in terms of overall importance, we have dedicated the largest percentage of it to each tent's overall score.

The Smittybilt GEN2 Overlander easily earned its place as one of the top-scoring models for this portion of our review. With a full-size memory foam mattress that covers the entire inside of the tent floor, there is more than enough room for two people to sprawl out, and three people would be fine – especially if you're used to a three-person ground tent and camping on sleeping pads. The peak of the roof measures 51 inches, leaving more than enough room inside to sit upright, change, or stretch.

The GEN2 includes several bells & whistles that add to its overall comfort. There are two pockets on either side of the bed and a fifth pocket near the roof on the entrance side that is perfect for a phone. This model includes an LED light strip that can be plugged into your vehicle or an external battery that is great for settling into bed after dark.

One of our favorite features of the Smittybilt GEN2 Overlander is the included large rubber boot bag. A major downside of most rooftop tents is that once you're inside the tent, you're on the mattress so there is nowhere to put wet or dirty gear. Being able to sit at the top of the ladder and remove your shoes to be stowed outside is a major benefit.

The rainfly on the GEN2 is one of our favorite improvements to the previous model. The new and improved version provides substantially more coverage than older Smittybilt iterations as well as other brands' tents that are built on a similar platform. The way that it is designed creates a 360-degree blockade from precipitation, whereas many models leave the corners of the tent in between window awnings completely exposed to pesky water falling from above.

Durability

Here at GearLab, durability is one of the primary factors we consider when evaluating products. Unlike many of our competitors that take a manufacturer's tech specs as scientific facts, we get our hands dirty and use every product in real life. For rooftop tents, we convert every tent from travel mode to camping mode 25 times and open and close every zipper just as many times in addition to studying the materials. Additionally, we look at the cover closures, the window ties, and the construction of the ladder while we are conducting our assessment.

The GEN2 Overlander scores well in terms of durability. The older version used 420D ripstop for the main tent material and 600D for the rainfly, but this version skips the middleman and uses 600D for the main tent canopy.

This tent's rainfly uses a water-repellent-coated 420D Oxford ripstop but has large, clear plastic windows over the tent windows, which let light in but definitely keep the rain out.

While a lot of manufacturers have switched their main cover clips to plastic, the GEN2 uses a double stack of metal D rings. As a team whose job is to figure out flaws with gear, we value details that make a product bomb-proof and able to withstand years of heavy use. While it may not be the most convenient system, the combination of straps and metal rings will keep your cover secure while driving on the interstate, even if the velcro wears out.

Ease of Conversion

One of the most attractive benefits of owning a rooftop tent is how easy they are to set up and break down once they're installed. In our years of reviewing these particular products, we have never come across a tent that takes more than a few minutes to convert from travel mode to camping mode and back, making them a great choice for those who want to spend more time enjoying their trip and less time fumbling with the many components of a traditional ground tent. To score this metric, we simply timed the conversion process over and over again and then calculated an average.

The Gen 2's setup time and process is about as quick and easy as it gets when it comes to soft-shelled fold-out rooftop tents. You simply release the cover straps, extend the ladder, and unfold the tent. At this point, the tent is ready to sleep in and any additional setup on top of this is optional and situational. If you choose to set up the window awnings, installing the poles takes no more than an extra couple of minutes after some practice. Deploying the rainfly takes a few minutes and is much easier with one person, but more often than not, we've found ourselves leaving the rainfly in the truck or even at home depending on the forecast, considering that the 600D ripstop of the main canopy is plenty sufficient for light rain. To fold the tent up, you just go through the setup process in reverse – remove the window awning poles and use the ladder to fold the tent up, then collapse the ladder, put the cover on, and hit the road!

Ease of Assembly and Installation

One of our main gripes with the GEN 2 is the assembly and installation process. When rooftop tents first came on the scene, almost all of them had a moderate amount of required assembly, but in the past few years manufacturers have begun to ship the tents ready to slap on a rack directly out of the box.

This model still requires you to install the mounting rails before you can install it – a process that can be quite the pain if you're alone or if you haven't done it before. Also, several rooftop tents now offer either tool-free or streamlined installation, but the GEN2 is still using a nut & bolt mounting system. This tent comes with all of the tools needed to attach it to your rack, but if you're looking for a model with the most painless and simple installation possible, there are several models available that have an easier attachment process.

Cover Convenience

The final portion of our rooftop tent assessment is allotted to the difficulty of dealing with the cover. While it's not possible to score as high as a hardshell model that uses the cover at the tent's roof, the GEN2 scores well when compared to other softshell models.

The GEN2's cover is reasonably easy to deal with. We are fans of this system, which combines a main cover zipper with straps for added travel security and a bit of velcro here and there to keep things from flapping around while you're driving down the freeway. There are straps that help to compact the tent as small and tight as possible once it's folded, which help to ensure there is plenty of room to put the cover in place.

Should You Buy the Smittybilt GEN2 Overlander?

The GEN2 is for those who want a comfortable and durable model that is relatively easy to convert from travel mode to camping and back. While it may not be the highest-scoring model in any of these aspects, the fact that it scores reasonably well across all of these metrics is what leads us to recommend this tent to friends. The biggest benefit of the GEN2 is the price. While there are a great deal of factory specials popping up all over the internet, Smittybilt is a dependable brand that you can trust.

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