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A rooftop tent annex is a fabric room that hangs below a fold-out rooftop tent and reaches the ground, turning the space under the tent into a private, sheltered room. It is almost always made for one specific tent, it weighs about 8 to 12 pounds in the two makers' specs below, and its height has to match how high your tent floor sits. This guide draws on maker specifications and aggregated owner reports rather than our own use.
How an Annex Attaches
A fold-out rooftop tent opens with part of its floor overhanging the side or rear of the vehicle, supported by the ladder. The annex hangs from that overhang. Smittybilt’s GEN2 Standard annex attaches with heavy-duty zippers, while Yakima’s SkyRise HD Annex attaches below the tent floor’s SideTrack and extension hoop. The lower edge is staked to the ground; Yakima includes stakes and a storage bag. Because the attachment is designed around one tent’s floor, annexes are tent-specific: Smittybilt states that its GEN2 Standard annex only works with the GEN2 Overlander Standard tent, part number 2583.
Two Annexes Compared on Published Specs
| Spec | Smittybilt GEN2 Standard Annex (2588) | Yakima SkyRise HD Annex |
|---|---|---|
| Fits | GEN2 Overlander Standard tent (2583) only | SkyRise HD tent (SideTrack and extension hoop) |
| Height × width × length | 85 × 70 × 80 in. | 92 × 48 × 78 in. |
| Weight | 12 lb | 8 lb |
| Fabric | Polyurethane-impregnated polyester | PU-coated 210D ripstop nylon, 3 walls |
| Floor | Zippered, removable | Not listed |
| Openings | Side door and roll-up windows with mosquito netting; inner flap to the vehicle | Zippered mesh door; 2 mesh windows with zippered fabric covers |
| Attachment | Heavy-duty zippers | Below the tent floor's SideTrack |
Annex height is the dimension to check first, because it has to span the distance from the tent floor to the ground. On a lifted truck, a vehicle with taller tires or a tent on a tall bed rack, the floor can sit higher than the annex was cut for, leaving a gap at the bottom. Measure from level ground to the underside of the open tent floor and compare it with the annex height. The same measurement tells you whether the tent's ladder reaches: iKamper, for example, lists an 88.5-inch telescoping ladder for its Skycamp 3.0. Weight is small next to the tent itself, but on a roof it still counts toward the dynamic load rating while it is packed for the drive — see static vs dynamic roof load.
Best for Owners of the Smittybilt GEN2 Overlander Standard tent only.
- Maker lists 12 lbs and 85 H x 70 W x 80 L inches.
- Zippered removable floor.
- Confirm with the seller for your exact year/trim.
Best for Owners of the Tuff Stuff Delta Overland or Trailhead tents.
- Annex with floor, per the listing.
- Listed for Delta Overland and Trailhead tents.
- Confirm with the seller for your exact year/trim.
Best for Owners of Overland Vehicle Systems TMBK tents.
- Floor and travel cover included, per the listing.
- 420D polyester oxford material.
- Confirm with the seller for your exact year/trim.
Floor or No Floor
Smittybilt lists a heavy-duty, zippered removable floor that keeps out mud and bugs. Yakima’s published SkyRise HD Annex specs describe three walls, a mesh door and two windows with fabric covers but do not mention a floor. The trade-off is practical: a removable floor can be unzipped and shaken clean, while an open base suits owners who use the annex as a shower or toilet room.
What Owners Use an Annex For
Owners report four main uses: a changing room at busy campsites; a sheltered place for boots, bags and gear that would otherwise sit on the ground or in the vehicle; a private room for a portable toilet or camp shower; and shelter around the ladder from wind and insects. Smittybilt's annex includes an inner door flap for access to the vehicle, and its side door and windows roll up behind mosquito netting.
Downsides to Weigh
An annex adds setup and pack-down steps, which cancels some of the speed advantage of a rooftop tent if you move camp daily. It needs ground you can stake into, and like the tent it should be dry before long storage. It also suits only fold-out tents; clamshell hard shells open straight up with no overhang to hang from, so owners pair those with an awning and awning walls instead.
Who Should Get an Annex
An annex is most useful for owners who stay several nights per camp, camp in cold, wet or insect-heavy places, or travel as a family and need a private changing space. For tents with a matching annex, see our Smittybilt Overlander review, Yakima SkyRise review and best rooftop tents for trucks. This guide uses makers’ published specifications and owner reports; we do not buy, set up or camp with this gear ourselves — see how we rank and our affiliate disclosure.
Sources
- Smittybilt — GEN2 Standard Tent Annex (2588) — 85 H × 70 W × 80 L in., 12 lb, zippered removable floor, zipper attachment, inner vehicle-access flap, side door and roll-up windows with mosquito netting, PU-impregnated polyester; fits only the GEN2 Overlander Standard (2583).
- Yakima — SkyRise HD Annex — 8 lb, 78 × 48 × 92 in., three walls of PU-coated 210D ripstop nylon, mesh door and two mesh windows with fabric covers, ground stakes and storage bag; attaches below the SkyRise HD floor's SideTrack and extension hoop.
- iKamper — Skycamp 3.0 Specifications — Skycamp 3.0 telescoping ladder extends to 88.5 in.