Adeventure Kings Kwiky Rooftop Tent

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Kings Kwiky Roof Top Tent Review [MKII] – Worth It?

Thinking of getting the Kings hard shell pop up roof top tent but not sure whether this one is right for you? Perhaps you’ve seen some negative reviews and are wondering whether it is best to steer clear?

Well, in this Adventure Kings Kwiky roof top tent review, I will break down the pros and cons of this tent relative to the competition, as well as discuss some of the main features that set it apart.

I have spent hours and hours reading and watching online reviews, so I will also let you know what people like about this tent and more importantly, what they don’t like.

Let’s get started!

Pros & Cons

Kwiky Roof Top Tent Setup

Pros

  • Excellent value for a hard shell RTT
  • NEW MKII hard shell case stronger than before
  • Set up is virtually automatic thanks to heavy duty gas struts
  • Thick 320 GSM canvas for waterproofing
  • Ladder nice and long at 2.3m
  • Windows on all 4 sides with awnings on 2 sides
  • Can access tent from left or right side
  • Bedding can remain in tent even when packed away
  • 1 year warranty

Cons

  • Included mattress quite thin
  • Interior quite narrow, only 1.01m wide
  • Isn’t compatible with all roof racks
  • Quite heavy at 73kg - difficult to move

Now that we know the main pros and cons of the tent, let’s take a look in more detail.

Size

Hard shell roof top tents are naturally much smaller than their soft shell cousins, as they don’t fold out clamshell style like the soft shells.

In saying that, the Kings Kwiky roof top tent is considerably smaller than some of the other hard shell RTTs out there. It is both shorter and narrower than the likes of the Eezi Awn Dart RTT.

The interior width is only 1,010mm, which is quite narrow in my opinion.  For context, a standard double bed (not a queen or king) is typically 1,385mm wide. For a couple this is alright, but for 2 adults friends, it really is quite tight inside.

The 930mm internal ceiling is fairly low and means that you can just barely sit up in the tent, as long as you are not too tall.

Basically, the tent is alright for a couple or 2 good friends who don’t mind squeezing in together. Don’t expect to be doing anything in the tent other than sleeping, as it isn’t very roomy.

When it comes to the packed dimensions, the smaller size is actually a bonus, as it frees up some space on your roof if needed.

Packed up, the tent is 320mm high, which isn’t too bad. The design is reasonably aerodynamic, so you shouldn’t notice much extra drag on the highway.

Kings Kwiky Roof Top Tent

Weight

Hard shell RTTs are naturally quite heavy and the Kings Kwiky is no exception. It comes in at a hefty 73kg, so don’t expect to carry it unless you have at least 3 people handy.

Weatherproofing

The hard shell case is made from ABS plastic and the sides are made from 320 GSM canvas (the same as is used in their soft shell roof top tent).

The plastic case is waterproof of course, and the canvas is too as long as you season it before using it for the first time. Seasoning involves getting the canvas wet to help the fibres swell up and close and holes left when the canvas was sewn during the manufacturing process.

You can read this to find out how to season a tent.

Kwiky Pop Up Tent Roof Racks

Roof Rack Compatibility

According to Adventure Kings, due to the length of the Kwiky, it is not compatible with all roof racks. Check out these installation instructions from the 4WD Supa Centre to find out more.

Bedding

The Kwiky roof top tent comes with a 50mm foam mattress which is alright if you are just going away for the weekend, but not particularly comfortable for an extended trip.

If you will be using it a lot, I highly recommend that you look into getting a mattress topper or replacing the mattress entirely. Especially those who have trouble sleeping.

This will add to the total cost you are paying, but the Kwiky is much cheaper than the competition anyway, so you will still end up way in front.

The bedding can be left inside the tent when the unit is packed up, which is great and saves a lot of time.

Setup

Thanks to the heavy duty gas struts on the tent structure, setup is very simple for this tent. Within 2 minutes you can expect to have the entire tent set up.

Simply open up the tent by releasing the straps and the unit will start inflating automatically. It can sometimes form a vacuum inside the tent, so open up one of the doors to let air into the tent and then it will be able to fully open up.

Setting up the Kwiky pop up tent

Build Quality & Warranty

Build quality was a big issue with the original version of the Kwiky roof top tent. Many people found that after a few months of use, the hard shell case started cracking in the corners.

Adventure Kings have addressed this in the MKII version (released in late 2020), which has been redesigned to adjust the stress points and has improved internal bracing to help address this issue.

I haven’t heard any reports of people with the Kwiky MKII hard shell having the same issue with the case (although it is still early days).

In any case, those who did experience problems with the original version of the tent had no issues getting their unit replaced under the 1 year warranty that the tent comes with. Adventure Kings are quick to replace defective units that are still within the warranty period.

Other roof top tents do have longer warranties (often 2 to 3 years), so the Kings 1 year warranty is not the best, but understandable considering the price.

Price

Speaking of price, the Kings Kwiky blows the competition out of the water with a very affordable price tag of a bit over $1,000.

Most other hard shell roof top tents are $3,000+, so the Kwiky is an absolute bargain compared to them. Use the buttons below to check the latest prices.

Kwiky Roof Top Tent

Conclusion - Kings Kwiky Roof Top Tent

The Kings Kwiky is a very solid choice for a hard shell roof top tent. While it is a bit smaller and the included mattress isn’t great, the price is absolutely amazing for what you are getting.

While there were quality issues with the hard shell case in the original version, the new Kwiky MKII seems to have fixed these issues while keeping the affordable price.

For those who are just planning on using their roof top tent occasionally, this is a fantastic choice.

However, if you will be doing extended trips or expeditions, it is probably worthwhile upgrading to a higher quality product that you can absolutely rely on.

Hopefully this Kings Kwiky roof top tent review has helped you figure out whether this tent is the right one for you! If you want to see how it stacks up against the competition, check out my list of the best hard shell roof top tents in Australia!

Review Summary

Reviewer: Louis
Review Date: 2021-04-16
Reviewed Item: Kings Kwiky MKII Rooftop Tent
Author Rating: 4.5/5
Product Name: Kings Kwiky MKII Rooftop Tent
Price: AUD $1099
Product Availability: Available in Stock


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on not just the Kings Kwiky Rooftop Tent, but we have also compared it to out there. We have also read hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of this review is to figure whether this product is right for you, the user. We systematically compare the product to all of the available options on the market, to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

To see which products we compared the Kings Kwiky Rooftop Tent to, check out the list below. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

  • They are shit I had the first version 6months roof cracked got one under warranty same thing even though I was told my first was just a bad batch the second one I have to sika up again now king’s are crap all their gear is like if you go camping twice a year it’ll last that Mabey for two stored out of the elements other than that it will break after not much use buy more quality and avoid the inferior quality that is kings

  • Ive had Kwiky mk2 for over a year and its been perfect. No issues with shell or canvas at all. We did install extra padding to mattress $120 from Clark rubber cut to size. For extra comfort we use an 18v battery fan.
    Love it.

  • I had my kwiky MK2 for about 18 months now and I’m loving it. The design update of the shell must have fixed the cracking issue. Admitted: it’s quite small (my partner and I just fit in there), it’s heavy (so are probably most other hardshell ones), but biggest pro for me is the super quick set-up and the considerably lower price in comparison to other hardshell tents. By the time of writing the price dropped to $900. I paid more for it.

  • I have a couple of questions if they can be answered.

    I am having troubles closing my MK2 hard shell roof tent. It takes 2-3 people to close. They are advertised with one person putting it up and pulling it down..Any suggestions

    Also can the gas struts have a bit of WD40. They seem to be stiff.

    I bought the tent for a bit of freedom and watched videos on it. I would not have purchased this tent knowing that it was not as easy as it looks..Disappointed in this regard.
    Regards
    Kat

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