Jeep’s New Pop-Up Tent Concept Was Made for Overlanding Lovers
The flow of concepts from Jeep shows no signs of slowing.
The storied SUV maker unveiled an all-new overlanding system called the Awning and Rooftop Tent (ARTT) this past weekend at Overland Expo West. And the company used one of its Easter Safari builds, the Wrangler 4xe Sunchaser, to show off the new prototype.
The popularity of rooftop-mounted awnings and tents has taken off as overlanding has gained traction among off-roading enthusiasts. Jeep has combined the two normally separate systems into a single lightweight piece of hardware that can be mounted on top of the current, long-wheelbase Wrangler, the four-door Unlimited.
The Jeep Awning and Rooftop Tent system stows away in a carbon-fiber shell
Stellantis
Unlike most awnings and pop-up tents, ARTT, which was developed Jeep Performance Parts and outdoor brand Dometic, is mounted directly onto the vehicle instead of sitting atop a heavy roof rack. Not only does this help cut down on weight—vital when it comes to overlanding gear—but it also makes the tent accessible directly from inside the vehicle. Thanks to the Wrangler’s removable Freedom Panels, campers can access the tent from the front seats. There’s even a carbon-fiber step that can be installed on the center console.
The tent was designed to be as easy to set up as possible. It’s also surprisingly roomy. Jeep has used the awning’s 270 degrees of coverage to maximize the available sleeping area. Because of this, there’s room inside for a queen-size mattress. Once broken down, the awning and tent both fit in a single carbon-fiber shell. It does add some height to the Wrangler, but it’s so much more aerodynamic than other setups out there.
The tent is accessible from inside any current Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Stellantis
It’s unusual to see a concept mounted atop another concept, but it’s easy to see why Jeep decided to use the Sunchaser to show off ARTT. The modified off-roader was one of the highlights of this year’s Easter Safari lineup. Finished in Solar Flash and Satin Black, the four-door is loaded with all the off-road gear you need to have fun on the trails from sunup to sundown, including a two-inch lift kit, steel fender flares over 37-inch mud tires, and a Warn winch.
It’s still unclear if Jeep has any plans to put the Sunchaser into production, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see ARTT eventually make it to market. If it does, you should have no problem recreating one of the best overlanding rigs we’ve seen yet.
Click here for more photos of the Jeep Awning and Rooftop Tent concept.
Stellantis
