Tesla Goes Glamping: Meet the ‘Tentsla’

Tesla and its CEO may be embroiled in a stew of PR and technical snafus, but that didn’t stop an enterprising team of engineers from launching a car-camping system designed to work with the Model Y.

The tent — dubbed the Tentsla — smashed its modest Kickstarter goal and could be an interesting option for Tesla owners looking to explore the great outdoors. The tent inflates with around a hundred strokes on a manual pump. And, Tentsla claims, it’s water- and wind-resistant. It also works with an electric pump.

The Tentsla sleeps four, has mosquito netting underneath its roll-up panels, and comes with pole-supported awnings for card games, cooking, or just hanging out.

Camp Mode, Inflate!

But what sets the Tentsla apart from other car-interfacing tents? The secret sauce is Tesla’s “camp mode.” The feature maintains an ambient temperature inside the car overnight. The Tentsla connects to a Tesla Model Y’s electric trunk via an air tube. That tube channels climate-controlled air to the tent, and, Tentsla claims, is pressurized so there’s no deflation overnight.

The focal claim is that multiseason comfort in a variety of conditions is easier to obtain — a big win for camping families with small children.

Tentsla says its product goes from packed to set up in around 5 minutes. When deflated and rolled up, the Tentsla fits into an included duffel that’s sized perfectly for a Model Y trunk or lower trunk. Although, from the video, it doesn’t look like much else will fit in there with it.

Where to Buy One?

The Tentsla has an MSRP of $1,299. But as of this writing, the product is still in the Kickstarter phase — meaning you’ve got the chance for significant savings before crowdfunding ends on May 15. For instance, pledging at the lowest level ($599) gets you the Tentsla and its standard accessories — along with a 12-volt electric pump, two T-shirts, a keychain, and a pair of gloves.

“It’s like Elon Musk himself created a cozy little haven for you and your Tesla,” the tent’s makers gush on its Kickstarter page.

Whether that makes you want to buy one or not is certainly a matter of preference. But electric vehicles aren’t going anywhere soon, and we’ll likely be seeing more and more outdoor products that interface with the potential that EVs bring to the table.

Roll on over to Tentsla’s Kickstarter page to learn more.

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