In the last several years, wedge campers have skyrocketed in popularity, bringing a comfortable and manageable sleeping footprint to the overlanding scene. For years, rooftop tents dominated the market for vehicle mounted setups that deployed quickly.
In 2017, GFC introduced a new camper category. Where there were previously only large and (very) expensive setups (like 4 Wheel Campers), there was now a wedge style tent paired with a truck bed topper (shell, etc.) with a pass through between them. And so, a wave of these new campers hit the market and continues to do so. New options and features are popping up fast.
That’s where Roveroll picked up, a rooftop tent-focused company that dove into the camper scene and produced the Skynest Tent Combo. Roveroll’s camper is unique in its styling and features, all while maintaining a relatively competitive price point in the market. In today’s article, we’re going to discuss the initial thoughts and impressions on this unit, compare it to big names like GFC, Super Pacific, Topo Toppers, and see if it’s something that might check your boxes when considering a camper.
Big shout out to Roveroll for sending me one of these to test!
Let’s get started!
Table Of Contents
Camper Contents & Assembly
The Skynest Tent Combo ships to your door disassembled, with the camper shell and tent separated. The entire assembly is required, and I strongly recommend having two or more extra sets of hands when lifting the shell and tent onto the truck. Or if you don’t feel comfortable, take it to your local off-road shop.
For the assembly, there is absolutely zero you need to purchase. It comes with all the necessary hardware, tools, and accessories to assemble it. Roveroll has two YouTube videos of the camper installation that’ll be linked down below to help guide you along the way!
The installation took me a few days, working at a slow pace and sorting everything out. I was able to lift the camper onto the bed with the help of three extra people and bolt it down within a couple of hours.
Install Video 1:Â Click Here
Install Video 2:Â Click Here
Initial Thoughts
After some quality time of ownership, I’ve gained enough knowledge of the platform to give my initial thoughts on it. Below, we will highlight truck fit, general features, and overall impression.
Fitment
The fit of the camper on the truck is solid. After laying down the weather stripping on all sides, there are still a couple of gaps, both on the cab side and tailgate side. While these things aren’t a huge deal and can be remedied easily by adding additional stripping or sealant, it is still something to keep in mind. I added extra to make it as weather/environment resistant as possible. As for visibility, it’s as you’d expect, with the window on the cab side and tailgate making the rearview mirror still useful.
Other than that, the camper mounts and sits on the bed rails nicely, and I haven’t had any issues with it moving. Additionally, the camper’s height is approximately 3/4″ above the antenna, and the tent portion is roughly 9 inches thick. This is something to note for garages and low-hanging trees, as my stock truck with the camper on it doesn’t fit in a standard 7-foot garage.
Exterior & Interior Accessories
Roveroll loaded this camper with a range of accessories and customization options. The exterior is equipped with floodlights, corner lights, grab handles, and MOLLE panels, along with eyelets to hang trash bags, hammocks, or whatever you so choose. Furthermore, the tent is slotted and comes with extra threaded slot nuts, allowing you to attach accessories of your choice.
The interior is also customizable, with the ability to add a shelf, a provided switch panel with USB power, both in the tent and shell portions, plus LED strip lights. There is even a fan… yes, a small USB-powered fan in the tent. How cool is that! Interior-wise, this camper excels, and I’ve been very impressed with the features they’ve packed into it.
Notably, with all shell doors closed and latched, the side doors and rear door cannot be opened from the inside. The latch mechanism doesn’t allow it to be operated from the interior, so I’ve been leaving the latches undone or using the provided ladder to access the tent.
Tent Materials
The camper is set up to be a four-season unit. Roveroll provides a full insulated winter liner that can be easily removed for summer and installed for the colder months. The tent fabric is 100% waterproof and tear-resistant, paired with a mesh bug liner, which is ideal for warm, breezy evenings to allow airflow through the tent. Zippers are all YKK and don’t catch or rip.
Living in the south, camping during the summer months has been humid and warm, so I’ve been leaving all sides of the tent walls down, exposing the mesh. The airflow has been adequate, and overall, it’s been a comfortable sleeping arrangement.
Mattress & Pass Through
One of my favorite features of this camper is the mattress and the size of the sleeping area. With almost every wedge tent I’ve been in, either my feet or head hits the ends, making it awkward to find a comfortable sleeping position with two people inside. With the Skynest, the length of the tent as well as the angle it wedges at has given me (6 feet tall) a 4-5″ headroom to play with. I’m very pleased that two people inside this camper are plenty comfortable.
As for the mattress, it features high-density foam that’s approximately two inches thick and has a medium firmness. Paired with some blankets or a sleeping bag, it makes for a very enjoyable low-profile setup to sleep on.
Tent access from inside the camper is great. The panels are split into three sections, with one large and two small sections on gas struts, so there is no lifting of loose panels and wondering where the heck I store them. All panels lift almost 90 degrees, giving you the full width and length of the bed space to stand up and maneuver.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ability to lift all the panels, giving me access to stretch, change, or get out of the weather on a crummy evening. My favorite configuration is leaving one square panel up with the rest down, allowing you to have someone nap while someone else works or stands up and hangs out.
Comparison, Pros & Cons
Let’s compare the Roveroll Skynest to other popular brand wedge campers. Right off the bat, I want to preface that this camper is sweet; however, it’s not a US-manufactured product like GFC, Super Pacific, Topo Toppers, etc.
Features-wise, this camper rocks; it comes with add-ons and additional accessories that you usually have to pay extra for with other brands. The ability to wire in charging ports, switch panels, and lights is really neat for dialing in your overland bed setup, which is also something that’s not as common with others. I find the hydraulic pass-through panels to be a huge bonus, as they eliminate the need to store and deal with loose panels when climbing up and down.
Quality-wise and aesthetically, the camper is acceptable. Roveroll has done a good job with manufacturing CNC parts that not only function great but also look sweet. The exterior accessories, such as lights, handles, MOLLE panels, and hooks, are quite helpful; however, the overall design lacks sleekness and aerodynamics.
Pros
- Price point is good
- Loaded with accessories
- Large sleeping area
- Interior access panels on gas struts
- Interior power supply options
Cons
- Fit is solid
- Chunkier and not super aerodynamic
- Quality is decent, but not as good as premium options
Setup & Takedown Time
Lastly, I would like to cover the time required to set up and take down the tent.
Setup (With Rainfly Poles):Â 30 – 50 seconds
Takedown (With Rainfly Poles):Â 45 – 90 seconds
Setting up and taking down this unit is an absolute breeze. With the CNC latches and tent pole slots, rolling up or leaving camp becomes effortless and straightforward.
Final Thoughts
The Roveroll Skynest Tent Combo is an affordable, ship-to-your-door camper that packs a punch of features, usefulness, and comfort. Coming in at several thousand cheaper than some options on the market, it’s one solution for entering the world of wedge campers. You can find them on sale on occasion if you’re looking for a decent discount.
Overall, if you’re considering campers and unsure where to start or what interests you, consider the Roveroll Skynest Tent Combo as an option. Until we check in for the long-term review…
Happy Trails!
