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Smittybilt Overlander Review

With a durable design and many handy features, this model competes with the top models while costing significantly less
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Smittybilt Overlander Review (The Overlander competes well with the top-tier of rooftop tents, despite costing significantly less.)
The Overlander competes well with the top-tier of rooftop tents, despite costing significantly less.
Credit: Ross Patton
Price:  $1,326 List
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Manufacturer:   Smittybilt
By Ross Patton ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 28, 2022
67
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 13
  • Space and Comfort - 30% 8.0
  • Durability - 25% 7.0
  • Ease of Conversion - 20% 6.0
  • Ease of Assembly and Installation - 15% 5.0
  • Cover Convenience - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Smittybilt Overlander is a great rooftop tent, on par with others in our review and even excelling in some aspects. With included extra features like a hanging boot bag for your muddy footwear and an innovative LED light strip, Smittybilt has considered every tiny detail while designing this product. The mattress offers top-notch comfort, and the canopy is built to withstand the gnarliest of storms. That said, the cover system has some quirks — the velcro is a bit awkward to put back on, and because the cover is completely removed instead of hanging from one side, it is a bit harder to put back on. Not deal breakers, and if you're looking for a durable rooftop tent without totally breaking the bank, this is a solid choice. Get the skinny on how it stacks up against other top products in our article on the best rooftop tents.
REASONS TO BUY
Wide and sturdy ladder
Boot bag
LED light strip
Spacious
REASONS TO AVOID
Ladder may require drilling
Velcro cover not the most efficient cover system
Heavy

Compare to Similar Products

 
smittybilt overlander
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Top Pick Award
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Price $1,326 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
67
78
74
66
43
Star Rating
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Bottom Line A reasonably priced rooftop tent that offers excellent performance in almost every aspectA high-performance model that doesn't injure your bank accountIf you want a rooftop tent that won’t take up your entire rack, this is the oneA two-person model with mostly standard features and some added assembly stepsThe lightest tent out there, but at a sacrifice in durability
Rating Categories Smittybilt Overlander Smittybilt GEN2 Ove... Thule Tepui Foothill CVT Pioneer Series... Front Runner Roof T...
Space and Comfort (30%)
8.0
8.0
7.0
5.5
5.0
Durability (25%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
3.0
Ease of Conversion (20%)
6.0
8.0
6.0
8.0
4.0
Ease of Assembly and Installation (15%)
5.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
4.0
Cover Convenience (10%)
6.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Specs Smittybilt Overlander Smittybilt GEN2 Ove... Thule Tepui Foothill CVT Pioneer Series... Front Runner Roof T...
Seasons 3 3 3 3 3
Weight 144 lbs 154 lbs 122 lbs 98 lbs 93 lbs
Max Inside Height 51 in 51 in 38 in 45 in 55 in
Pockets 5 5 2 2 2
Windows 3 side, 2 roof 3 side, 2 roof 3 side, 2 roof 3 side 2 roof 3 side, 2 roof
Floor Dimensions 56 in x 96 in 56 in x 96 in 87 in x 40 in 96 in x 48 in 52 in x 98 in
Floor Area 38 sq ft 38 sq ft 24 sq ft 32 sq ft 35 sq ft
Packed Size 12 in x 48 in x 56 in 12 in x 48 in x 56 in 9.5 in x 24 in x 83 in 48 in x 48 in x 15 in 12 in x 48 in x 53 in
Floor Materials Aluminum Aluminum Welded aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Main Tent Materials 420 D 600 D 600 D 280g poly-cotton ripstop 400 D PVC
Rainfly Materials 600 D 420D Oxford 600 D 420D 200 D
Number of Poles 8 8 6 8 6
Design Type Fold-out Fold-out Fold-out Fold-out Fold-out
Capacity 2-3 Person 2-3 Person 2 Person 2 Person 2-3 Person
Extras Interior LED, extension cords, boot bag Interior LED, extension cords, boot bag Double level pockets, loop inside for hanging lights and gear n/a Velcro loops on roof for hanging gear

Our Analysis and Test Results

Smittybilt has always been a straightforward, blue-collar company. They offer well-designed products that the average person can afford, and their rooftop tent reflects this. The Overlander is durable, it includes features that other manufacturers make you pay extra for, and best of all, it's priced much lower. For someone that doesn't mind a bit of extra setup time or a little customization, the Overlander is a great choice.

Performance Comparison


smittybilt overlander - the smittybilt model is more laborious to install and convert, but...
The Smittybilt model is more laborious to install and convert, but for many folks, the cost savings are well worth a little extra effort. Don't let the price fool you - this is a high-quality rooftop tent.
Credit: Ross Patton

Space and Comfort


The Overlander is one of the most spacious and comfortable tents we've tested. With a maximum inside height of 51 inches, you can easily sit up and enjoy the view and have plenty of room to change clothes. The floor space is the same (38 sq ft) as the top-shelf competitors, and there are two side windows and two roof windows.

One of the best features of the Overlander is the included LED light strip, which illuminates the tent to make setting up your bedding in the dark a simple task. Also, the included external rubber boot bag makes it so that you'll never have to bring muddy footwear inside, and the wide, sturdy ladder takes a lot of the danger out of climbing in and out of the tent.

smittybilt overlander - an led light strip attaches to the inside of the tent using velcro...
An LED light strip attaches to the inside of the tent using velcro and can be powered by the 12 volt outlet on your vehicle or a USB battery pack.
Credit: Ross Patton

Durability


To test durability, we thoroughly combed through each manufacturer's tech spec pages to note any differences in materials or waterproof ratings. We then took each tent camping for at least five nights per model, during which time we converted them from travel to camping mode 25 times. To check the zippers, we opened and closed every window and door a minimum of 25 times as well. The Smittybilt Overlander did well during this assessment.

Smittybilt is not known to put its name on weak products. The 600D polyurethane canopy will withstand just about anything the weather can throw at it. The ladder is the widest of any that we tested. At 17 inches, it makes bringing gear, children, or pets up to your sleeping zone a much safer, easier task than other ladders. You never know when or why you'll need to get down in the middle of the night, so having the extra ladder width really does help.

smittybilt overlander - the overlander cover has straps with double stitching and high...
The Overlander cover has straps with double stitching and high quality Velcro.
Credit: Ross Patton

One feature that also boosts durability on the Overlander is the included boot bag. With your boots staying outside, you'll minimize the risk of damaging the floor or the mattress. We noticed that the zippers on this model aren't quite as beefy as some of the competition — we didn't find any problems with this during our wear tests, but it's something to consider.

smittybilt overlander - the included rubber boot bag gives you a place to stow footwear...
The included rubber boot bag gives you a place to stow footwear outside of the tent.
Credit: Ross Patton

Ease of Conversion


Converting the Overlander to camping mode is relatively easy. It only takes undoing two straps, and then you can just completely remove the cover by tearing off the velcro that holds the cover around all four sides of the tent. After the cover is removed, the ladder easily extends thanks to its sliding design.

What is time-consuming and laborious is setting up the awning. There are four poles to install if you want your side window awning out and four more if you want the awnings on each door. Once the LED light strip is installed, it can live inside the tent while in travel mode, but the Overlander does require you to spend an extra few seconds to hang or remove the boot bag. Smittybilt also uses an internal bungee system to help the canopy collapse, making getaway times from campsite to home (or your next destination) pretty quick.

smittybilt overlander - the internal bungee system helps make converting from camping mode...
The internal bungee system helps make converting from camping mode to travel mode a piece of cake.
Credit: Ross Patton

Ease of Assembly and Installation


The Overlander is not the easiest tent to assemble or install. It's one of the heaviest tents we tested, so every little move or adjustment requires more effort. The installation kit only came with the most basic tools, so unless you have a ratchet set on hand, it will take some extra time. Also, the sliding ladder comes pre-drilled with two sets of holes, but unless your rack height matches one of these sets, you're going to end up drilling additional holes. Even if you have the right tools, drilling into metal is no easy task, especially when the holes need to be drilled with the utmost precision. The LED strip also takes a few extra minutes to set up but is worth the trouble in the long run.

If you're looking for a rooftop tent that's easier to assemble and install, the Yakima Skyrise Medium uses mostly Allen wrenches, which take the frustration out of the process. Also, the Skyrise mounting system is tool-free, so once you properly align the clamps with your crossbars, it only takes seconds to mount or remove the tent from your vehicle. If you want a tent that doesn't require any assembly at all, we recommend checking out one of the hardshell models in our comprehensive best rooftop tent review.

smittybilt overlander - the led kit comes with a long extension cord so that you can use...
The LED kit comes with a long extension cord so that you can use your 12 volt outlet in your vehicle. It takes a little longer to install, but having power in your tent is worth the trouble.
Credit: Ross Patton

Cover Convenience


When converting from travel to camping mode, you completely remove the Overlander cover. It's nice to have the cover out of the way, but then you're left with a big rubber cover that needs stowing. On all of the other softshell models we tested, the cover stays attached on one side, making it easy to roll up, stow, and put back on when it's time to hit the road. We found that it's harder to orient the cover if it's not attached to the tent when it comes time to pack up camp.

Value


The Overlander offers a lot of value and is ideal for someone who wants to get in the rooftop tent game but doesn't want to empty their bank account to do so. It is one of the cheapest rooftop tents on the market but offers a similar amount of space, comfort, and convenience to products that cost twice as much. Not only does it compare to the more expensive tents, in some ways it offers more. The innovative LED light strip illuminates the tent like the lights in your living room, and the rubber boot bag makes it so that you'll never be bringing wet shoes inside the tent. If you don't mind that it's a few pounds heavier, might take a little more time to install, might require a little customization, and takes a few more minutes to convert, then this is a solid rooftop tent for you.

Conclusion


When you're investing this much money, value is important. The Smittybilt Overlander is a great rooftop tent that won't leave your wallet empty, earning it a coveted award in our review. It isn't the lightest or most convenient, but if you're looking to get a rooftop tent without spending thousands of dollars, the Overlander is the one.

Ross Patton