Here at Rheem offsite, we love a good adventure; and a rooftop tent is a perfect partner for exploring the outdoors with freedom and flexibility. There’s no need to plan in advance, book expensive accommodation, or worry about getting to a destination on time to set a tent up. Instead, you can simply get out there and do it!

We were fortunate enough to recently test the Wild Land Desert Cruiser DC2 Aluminium Hard Shell Roof Top Tent for a weekend of fishing and exploring in the Coromandel. The DC2 is made by Wild Land – a renowned, growing manufacturer that’s been in the game for over 20 years – and is imported and distributed in NZ by Composite Developments.

This aluminium hard shell roof top tent uses a unique hybrid side opening design and features the lowest profile on the market. Tough weatherproof and anti-scratch construction helps it handle NZ’s harsh weather better than other brands’ fiberglass or ABS plastic options, and top-mounted gear racks have room for your surfboard, kayak, or other toys. There’s also a range of accessories like an annex room, side awning, and winter thermal insulator that allows you to customise the DC2 to fit your needs.

The DC2 has been engineered with a ‘keep it simple’ philosophy. Initial setup is easy; all you require are roof racks on your vehicle on which to secure the tent with the assembly nuts, bolts, and plates provided. Once installed, popping the tent up is a breeze; it only takes a minute with the patented gas struts and there’s no heavy lifting or awkward reaching required. Pack down is equally straightforward and takes less than two minutes.

Our test weekend threw up a range of weather conditions. The DC2 lived up to its waterproof billing and the dustproof rubber reals kept the dust out of the tent when travelling on the gravel. The low weight – just 57kg for the 120cm wide version and 64kg for the 140cm – and low height meant it didn’t slow our progress and wind noise wasn’t a concern at open road speeds.

Access into the DC2 is simple with the ladder, and it comfortably accommodated two of us for a night in the bush. I was particularly impressed by the room on offer; I’m 6’3” and like to snooze at full stretch! The frame base and waterproof Oxford lining also meant there was none of the condensation that can occur with solid floor roof tents.

The DC2 is available in 120cm and 140cm wide models and is significantly cheaper than comparable aluminium hard shells on the market.