The only rooftop tent rental on Vancouver Island
Rooftop tent rental at a glance
FarOut Wilderness in Langford (Greater Victoria) rents iKamper hardshell rooftop tents that get installed on your own vehicle in about ten minutes.
Rentals cost CAD $85 per day and include the tent, mattress, ladder, and travel cover, with no need to rent a separate vehicle.
It is the only tent-only rooftop rental service on Vancouver Island, making it a practical option for Island residents and visitors who bring their own SUV or truck on the ferry.
- Duration: Flexible, from a weekend to ten-day or more trips
- Season: Year-round, peak April to October
- Sleeps: 2 people
- Pickup: 4402 Westshore Parkway, Langford (Greater Victoria)
- Best for: Campers trying rooftop tents before buying, Island residents wanting an occasional backcountry weekend, travellers bringing their own vehicle
Why a rooftop tent rental makes sense on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is built for this kind of trip. The camping season runs longer than most of Canada, the backroad network opens up hundreds of lake and coastal sites beyond the main campgrounds, and you can reach wildly different landscapes in a single drive: rainforest on the west coast, rolling farmland in the Cowichan, rugged shoreline on the north island.
A rooftop tent on your own vehicle is the setup that unlocks it. You don’t need to book a full overland camper package, you don’t need to own the gear, and you don’t need to commit to a style of camping you haven’t tried yet. You drive your familiar vehicle, you sleep off the ground, and you can change your plans based on weather and sightings without breaking camp for an hour each morning.
For people who already live on the Island, it’s a way to say yes to a last-minute weekend in Port Renfrew or up the Malahat without owning equipment that sits unused most of the year. For visitors who bring an SUV on the ferry, it’s a way to upgrade the trip without renting a whole second vehicle.
Perfect for
Vancouver Island is built for this kind of trip. The camping season runs longer than most of Canada, the backroad network opens up hundreds of lake and coastal sites beyond the main campgrounds, and you can reach wildly different landscapes in a single drive: rainforest on the west coast, rolling farmland in the Cowichan, rugged shoreline on the north island.
FarOut Wilderness fills a specific gap. Bring your vehicle to their Langford location, and they install a ready-to-go iKamper on your roof bars. When you return, they take it back off. You pay a daily rate and go camping with gear that would otherwise cost you thousands and turn into a garage problem.
This is the same operator behind the full overland camper rental VIBL recommends, but a different offering. No truck, no itinerary planning, no full-service package. Just the tent, on your vehicle, at a price that makes a long weekend feasible.
Reviews & Common Comments
Common themes from renters who have used the FarOut Wilderness rooftop tent rental service:
- The “try before you buy” experience is the most common reason people book, and it’s what repeat customers mention first.
- Installation at the Langford shop is fast and professional, often described as easier than expected.
- The iKamper and Treeline tents are consistently described as clean, in good condition, and comfortable to sleep in.
- Sam is named repeatedly by reviewers for being responsive and flexible on pickup and drop-off timing.
- Several reviewers have gone on to buy a tent after renting, with FarOut applying part of the rental fee toward the purchase in at least one case.
- The setup works on a wide range of vehicles, including smaller SUVs that wouldn’t handle a ground-up overland build.
Recent snapshot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“We weren’t sure about rooftop tents before committing to buying one. I rented from Sam three times over the summer and eventually bought a tent through him. With the kind of service that gives me a reason to recommend FarOut to anyone asking about rooftop tents.”
“This was my first time renting a rooftop tent. Communication with Sam was easy, pickup was smooth, and the setup on my truck took almost no time at all. The tent was clean and comfortable, and honestly it made me reconsider ground tent camping entirely.”
What to Expect
You bring your vehicle to the FarOut Wilderness location in Langford at your agreed pickup time. The install takes about ten minutes. The team checks your roof bars are rated to carry the tent, fits the iKamper, and walks you through how to open, close, and pack it down. You get the travel cover explained, the ladder adjusted to your vehicle’s height, and any questions answered before you leave.
From there it’s up to you. Drive to a campsite, a forest service road spur, or a provincial park. Park on reasonably level ground, unlatch the tent, extend the ladder, and the bed is made. The iKamper includes a waterproof mattress already inside, so your evening setup comes down to unrolling your sleeping bags and figuring out what’s for dinner.
When your trip is over, you drive back to Langford, the team removes the tent, and you drive home in an unburdened vehicle. No storage problem, no maintenance to worry about, no tent taking up half the garage until next summer.
The Details
Rental rate
CAD $85 per day.
Pickup location
4402 Westshore Parkway, Langford, BC. FarOut Wilderness handles tent fitting at this location. Pickup is by appointment only.
What’s included
- iKamper rooftop tent (hardshell model)
- Waterproof mattress is already fitted inside the tent
- Telescopic ladder adjustable to your vehicle height
- All-weather travel cover for transit
- Skylight panel for stargazing
- Full install and fitting at the Langford location
- Handover walk-through and ongoing support during your rental
What you bring
- Your own vehicle (SUV, truck, or any vehicle that can carry the tent safely)
- Roof bars with cross bars rated for the tent’s dynamic load
- Sleeping bags and pillows
- Your own food, cooking gear, and camping kit if you want them (tent-only rental does not include cooking equipment)
Season
Rentals are available year-round, with the main camping season running April to October. Vancouver Island’s milder climate means the shoulder seasons are legitimately comfortable for rooftop camping, and FarOut can advise on insulation if you’re booking outside peak summer.
Travel range
You can take the tent off Vancouver Island. Ferry travel to the mainland or into Washington is fine. Confirm your specific route with FarOut when booking.
Know Before You Go
- Check your roof bars. Your vehicle needs roof bars and cross bars rated for the tent’s weight while moving. If you’re unsure, send FarOut your vehicle details before booking and they’ll confirm.
- Pickup is in Langford only. FarOut does not deliver the tent to your location, and the fitting needs to happen at their shop.
- Bring your own sleep gear. The mattress is inside the tent, but sleeping bags, pillows, and bedding are on you.
- Trip planning is not included. The full custom itinerary service comes with FarOut’s overland camper rentals, not with tent-only bookings. You’re expected to know where you want to go. (use VIBL’s Itineraries for ideas)
- Fire conditions. During summer campfire bans, check BC Wildfire Service before any trip that involves cooking over a fire. Consider a small propane stove as a backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Add to your rooftop tent rental weekend
A rooftop tent rental is the gear. The trip around it is up to you. For the best long weekend with your rental, here are a few ways to round out the plan.
- Build your route first. Before you pick up the tent, sketch out where you want to sleep each night. Our Vancouver Island trip planner has regions, ferry timing, and drive-time guidance to help you choose how far to go.
- Pick a region that suits the season. Vancouver Island has distinct regions, each with its own camping character and seasonal sweet spot. Browse the Vancouver Island regions guide to choose where to point the truck before you pick up the tent.
- Stock up before you head out. Langford sits on the edge of Greater Victoria with plenty of grocery and gear options on the way out of town.
How the rental fits into a Vancouver Island trip
The rooftop tent rental is most useful for trips that move between sites rather than sitting at one campground the whole time. Because you can pack up in a few minutes, it suits the kind of Island road trip that crosses from Victoria up the east side to Campbell River, cuts west into Strathcona, or loops south through Port Renfrew and back. You’re not tied to a single booking, and you’re not wasting an hour each morning repacking a ground tent.
For trips where you want help planning the route, accommodation stops, or food, the full overland camper package from the same operator is worth a look. For trips where you already know where you’re going and just need the gear, this is the cleaner option.
The Operator
Sam runs FarOut Wilderness and its sister brand, Vancouver Island Roof Top Tents, out of Sooke & Langford, renting iKamper setups to anyone who wants to try rooftop camping before buying.