A Pop-Top Camper For Your Prius

[leadin]The Black Fin Camper Box is a hard-shell, self-erecting shelter that sits on your car’s roof rack. It’s easy to set up and marketed toward small car owners.[/leadin]

The two-person, weatherproof sleeper extends to three feet high and, according to its website, pops up automatically in five seconds when the quick-release tabs are released.

The tent is 83 inches long by 50 inches wide, collapses down to 11 inches when not in use – making it among the sleeker rooftop campers on the market – and is designed for installation on any type of crossbar system for roof racks.

Roof-mounted pop-up campers are nothing new – the Air Top, made by Autohome, and the Evasion by James Baroud – both European brands – offer very similar features and sticker price – $3,000-$3,500. And we’re testing a model by the brand Tepui now, and loving it.

While the Camper Box will retail just as pricey as other rooftop tents, there are significant discounts for Kickstarter backers, making it a potential value find for anyone in the market for a car-mounted, pop-up camper.

Really, what sets the Black Fin Camper Box apart is marketing. While many rooftop brands portray lifted trucks offroading to camp, Black Fin touts small car owners hitting park campgrounds. They even show it on a Prius, something that could be a death wish for a Jeep oriented offroad brand.

Average Price, Weight

Beyond the marketing hype, most everything about the Black Fin is similar to other products already on the market. It looks like a solid option, but not particularly unique.

Everything sold with the Camper Box – telescoping ladder, camp light, foam mattress, hooks, and pocket storage – fits inside when collapsed for storage during travel and weighs 130 pounds.

It also has four windows with screens to provide breathability within the fire-retardant, UV and waterproof canvas walls.

We haven’t tried it, but the company promises installation on your car takes 15 minutes or less and is compatible with almost any vehicle. Once done, full setup for camping is ready in 30 seconds.

First Look: Tepui 'Kukenam Sky' Rooftop Tent

With large areas of mesh for a breezy interior and lots of views, the Kukenam Sky is a rooftop abode that turns any car, truck, or van into a modest camper. Read more…

There are advantages and disadvantages of rooftop car camping, and we’ll be addressing them in an in-depth review soon. But in brief, these look like a useful tool for those who want to sleep in a parking space, on top of their car.

The Black Fin Camper Box will begin shipping in July.