Cartop Glamping: Thule Method M Rooftop Tent Evaluation

If Instagram and overlanding exhibits are any indication, rooftop tents are all the trend. When Swedish journey gear large Thule acquired Tepui (a California-based RTT model) in 2018, many in that sphere thought of it an indication that RTTs weren’t only a passing fancy.

Thule then upped the ante by providing its personal RTTs alongside Tepui fashions. In 2023, Thule bought $882+ million. A model of that measurement investing in RTTs nudged me to begin attempting them myself after years of nay-saying. The Thule Method M earned a spot on my Subaru Outback Wilderness.

I used the Thule Method M on a number of spring and early summer time weekend tenting journeys. I discerned how the RTT carried out on the campsite. However I additionally paid consideration to high quality, having fairly a number of experiences with RTTs that had been costly however junky.

The Method M lived atop my automobile for 4 months. It was on obligation for journeys with situations starting from close to freezing to over 90 levels and all the pieces in between. It usually slept me, one other grownup, and my canine, Patches.

Briefly: Thule Method M is extraordinarily comfy and spacious for two-plus — nearly luxurious. It protects its inhabitants from pounding rain and powerful winds whereas offering glorious air flow when wanted. The construct high quality is extraordinarily excessive, and I foresee it lasting a really very long time.

Thule Method M Specs

The Thule Method M is a softshell RTT that measures 49 x 56 x 11 inches in packed mode and is claimed to weigh 128 kilos. It folds out perpendicular to the automobile’s lengthy axis to offer a flooring area of 95 x 54 inches with a peak inner tent top of 40.2 inches. The Method M’s static weight capability is 600 kilos. It requires a roof rack crossbar unfold of at the least 31 inches.

The tent’s base is product of tubular aluminum with an aluminum cap sheet. The inside flooring is roofed with dual-density foam. The Method M’s cover is product of waterproof 600D polyester, and the rainfly is product of thermoplastic-coated nylon. Each window has a mosquito netting layer, and the zippers are all sizeable and burly. Lastly, the telescoping ladder can be product of aluminum.

Total, every part of the Thule Method M felt tremendous high-quality in comparison with different softshell tents I’ve seen and used.

Thule affords the Method in two different sizes: a smaller Method S and a bigger Method L. Every mannequin has two to a few colour choices.

Set up

First, Thule’s packing of the field confirmed some forethought. Following the instructions, the field was splayed out with the tent logically oriented right-side-up. Notably, Thule already put in the mounting tracks on the underside panel.

4 units of mounting brackets and the ladder wanted restricted meeting. All of this took me an unhurried 20 minutes.

The remainder of the set up course of was just like different RTTs, however the mounting brackets didn’t must be positioned beforehand. This meant I may put the tent on the roof rack rails first, which made last positioning a lot simpler. I did must get a pal to assist me heave it onto my Thule roof rack. Then, I slid it round myself to get it into the ultimate place.

The brackets connect to the tent base’s mounting rails from beneath the roof rack crossbars, taking two bolts per clamp. Thule well features a torque wrench for this important step. This helps guarantee security and ease of rechecking, which they advocate after the primary 124 miles. Every bracket has a keyed lock for safety.

The Thule Method M Whereas Driving

Given its completely sq. format, the Method M was surprisingly quiet whereas driving at freeway speeds. At 11 inches tall, plus the added top of the crossbars, I anticipated some horrendous wind noise. However that one way or the other wasn’t the case.

There have been no annoying flapping sounds, whistles, or vibrations. The tent solely made the same old uninteresting hum I used to be used to from different rooftop objects. The one factor that received my consideration was the zipper pull on the quilt, which I merely tied up.

The load of the tent, up excessive on my rack, upset the chassis on the Subaru Wilderness Outback inventory suspension. However all the pieces with important mass does the identical.

All unfavorable chassis actions had been accentuated: braking dive, acceleration stink bug, physique roll, compression, rebound, and many others. This isn’t a knock on the Thule Method M. It’s a reminder that your automobile will behave in a different way it doesn’t matter what RTT you utilize. Relying on what else you’ve up there, you’ll have to change the suspension to take care of management and luxury.

My informal mileage commentary revealed that the Method M value me about 4 mpg. This was compared to the double bike mounts I had up there earlier than, and 80% of my mileage was on highways.

On the Campsite

Tent Setup

Deploying the Thule Method M couldn’t have been simpler. And the pace matched that of establishing a clamshell sort of RTT.

All I needed to do was unzip the quilt after which lengthen the ladder, which rested on high of the folded tent in journey mode. I then leveraged the prolonged ladder towards the sting of the tent (which has hinges), and the Method M unfolded like an accordion.

The size of the ladder and the fulcrum level on the tent’s base made the drive requirement minimal. All I needed to do from there was set the ladder to the right size. I used to be inside in lower than 2 minutes of getting out of my automobile. One minor inconvenience was the separate journey cowl. It’s fairly sizeable, and I needed to stow it someplace.

Sleeping Lodging

The Thule Method M’s total consolation was immediately obvious. The twin-density foam flooring supplied the right mix of cushiness and help for my 162-pound physique whereas sitting, lounging, or sleeping on my aspect. This was simply probably the most comfy RTT mattress I’ve examined.

Thule states the Method M can sleep two adults and one youngster. Nevertheless, I concluded that it’s a very spacious two-person RTT. The size of the tent was excellent, at nearly 8 toes lengthy. At 5’11”, I had loads of area to unfold out as a lot as I wished. And my canine may lie under my toes with out feeling cramped.

I by no means wakened with my head crammed into the tip of the tent, which frequently occurs with tents which might be simply lengthy sufficient for my physique. The tip partitions of the tent are vertical, which supplied much more usable size and made the inside look cavernous.

With a 40-inch inside peak top, I additionally had sufficient room to sit up. The wall structure left loads of room to alter garments with out bumping into them with my arms.

At 4.5 toes vast, it was additionally super-wide in comparison with regular tents for 2 adults. With one other grownup on board, we by no means ran into one another. The width would work with a really small youngster, however that will be the restrict. And even then, for me, at the least, it could be a stressed night time at 1.5 toes of width per individual.

With two adults and a 50-pound canine, I had loads of room to put all of the gear I ever wanted. This included a 500-600Wh transportable energy station.

The one comfort-oriented nick I may give it was concerning the telescoping ladder. It damage my toes badly to make use of it barefooted or with simply socks on. I’ve delicate toes, so I requested others to strive it, they usually all concluded the identical factor.

The rungs are fairly slim, and the perimeters are sq., which places intense strain on the bottoms of my toes. I needed to at the least put slippers on, which meant I needed to put them contained in the tent.

Weatherproofing and Air flow

It’s muggy, even in winter, in my dwelling base of Central Texas. Air flow is vital for any tent, and the Thule Method M had it in spades. With the fly off, the vast majority of the roof and each ends had been vast open (with bug screens). Cross-ventilation was a actuality irrespective of which means the tent was oriented in relation to the prevailing winds. The open roof panels additionally made for glorious stargazing.

The cover with out the fly proved slightly rainproof by itself. I wakened one early morning as rain got here in by means of an open roof window. I zipped it shut and lazily refused to get the rainfly up. It was a modest drizzle with occasional gentle rain, and no water penetrated any of the cover panels.

After I did want the rainfly, it was considerably awkward and finicky to arrange. However a lot of this was resulting from not with the ability to stroll across the tent, as is the case with customary, on-the-ground tents.

As soon as I did get the rainfly on, the Thule Method M was extremely weatherproof for an RTT. I confidently sat out reasonably sturdy Texas rainstorms with out fear. I discovered the tent’s construction and supplies extremely strong for an RTT.

Moreover, the rainfly could be arrange in one in all three modes. This is able to have made protecting up a no brainer had I employed one in all them. The three modes within the video above present the assorted methods the rainfly could be within the ready-to-go place. Varied ranges of protection could be attained, from “customary” mode for reasonable rain to “storm” mode for when it’s actually blowing.

Notably, the rainfly has a transparent part. I may peer out to verify the climate, and it let in gentle to ease the dreariness of stormy days.

Stowing the Tent

When it was time to pack it in, the Thule Method M was simple and fast to transform to journey mode. The method was the precise reversal of the deployment process. It took barely longer as a result of placing the quilt again on took extra time than eradicating it. This might need value me an additional 2 minutes if my thoughts was hazy resulting from a scarcity of caffeine.

I assumed packing the tent can be a ache, given the tight match of the quilt and the 90-degree bends the zipper needed to make. However my worries had been dashed the primary time I broke camp.

To me, folding the tent again up, shortening the ladder, after which zipping the quilt on was simpler than going round a clamshell RTT and stuffing the material inside so it could shut correctly. Once more, it took me perhaps 4 minutes as a substitute of the 2 it took me to deploy it.

Thule Method M Sturdiness

Though I didn’t take a look at the Method M for an extended period, for the 4 months it lived on my automobile, it suffered zero harm. I can’t say this about many issues I take a look at, significantly mushy items. The materials and their coatings felt remarkably strong, the zippers had been large, and the general high quality of development was seen and apparent.

The materials, coatings, and development high quality within the Thule Method M instilled confidence that the Method M would final an extended time than another RTT I’ve tried. It was simply probably the most durable-feeling and -looking softshell RTT I’ve ever used.

Conclusions on the Thule Method M Rooftop Tent

Excessive-quality RTTs are a big funding. Consider what number of common tents you can purchase for a similar sum of money. Understanding this, an RTT should meet excessive requirements to occupy the precious rack area of my each day driver. And the Thule Method M had all of it.

It couldn’t have been simpler or faster to deploy and strike down. It was so spacious and cozy — downright luxurious for somebody used to plain tents. I felt like I used to be glamping all the time, particularly comfortably lounging on my again and stargazing. I gained’t use the tent with out packing wine and cheese anymore.

And presumably most significantly, it was probably the most strong and well-built softshell RTT I’ve ever used or seen.

I don’t assume I can provide a softshell RTT any increased reward. Sure, the MSRP of $2,500 will purchase a number of common tents. However if you happen to worth the consolation, area, quickness, being off the bottom, and different attributes of RTTs, the Thule Method M is certainly price contemplating.