A car roof tent is a camping modality widely used by offroad lovers in the United States and lately gained more and more followers in Europe.

Many novice users believe that they are complicated to install, or that the fixing system will vary depending on the model of the car and the brand of the store, but nothing is further from reality. They are very simple to install, and in this article, we will explain how to do them in simple steps.

1. Place the roof tent on the roof racks of the car

Two adults of medium build and strength can lift the chest to place it on top of the car since the weight of these tents usually ranges between 50 and 90 kg. Another option is to use the Thule pulley, which is as practical to install the roof tent as it is to store it. You will not have to find a space in your garage, just leave it hanging from the pulley while not in use, next to the ceiling.

In order to place a roof tent on your car, the vehicle and the luggage racks must meet minimum conditions.

Minimum conditions of the vehicle: The roof of the vehicle must be at least 110 cm long and 95 cm wide, and its angle of inclination must be less than 10º. You must install luggage racks to be able to tie the roof tent. Never place a roof tent directly on the roof of the vehicle.

Minimum conditions for roof racks: The roof rack must support a dynamic load greater than the weight of the roof tent (most bars support a dynamic load of 75 kg). Keep in mind that this is the load that the moving vehicle supports. When stationary, a vehicle has a static load much higher than the dynamics (more details in the next section). We recommend that you consult the manual of the vehicle and the manufacturer of the roof bars for the maximum dynamic load of the roof bars.

Static charge vs. dynamic load

First of all, it is important to remember that a roof tent is placed on the crossbars, which are fixed to the steel frame of your vehicle. The roof tent is not placed at any time on the actual roof of your car.

Secondly, the maximum load limit shown in the manual of your roof bars refers to dynamic loads, as opposed to static loads.

Dynamic load refers to the maximum weight allowed while your vehicle is in motion, and static load is when your vehicle is stationary. The weight capacity of the tent in use with the car stationary and people inside the tent (static weight) may exceed the dynamic weight capacity of the roof bar. As a guideline, it can be used in static mode (roof bar and tent included) three times the indicated capacity of the roof bar.

2. Attach the roof tent to the roof rack

Once the luggage rack is properly installed, the tent will be fixed to it by four anchor points, for which we will use a plate and 2 or 4 screws adjustable by nuts, with a simple wrench (these tools are usually included in the kit of the roof tent).

To do this, follow these 3 simple steps:

First step: Before you start tightening the nuts, make sure the base is located in the center of the vehicle’s roof while installing the tent.

Second step: With the tent centered on the ceiling, place the top fixing plates on the rails with the screws in place.

Third step: Overcome the roof rack bars with the fixing screws that you have previously inserted and fix the second plate to the lower face of the screws with the nuts.

3. Unfold the roof tent and check that everything is in place

Deploying the roof tent will depend on each model, manufacturer, and type of store. The canvas tents open like a book by a central hinge. The rigid shells open upwards like an accordion.

Check that your store is in good condition and that you have all the material ready, and you are ready for your getaway!

Have you noticed that your children have a hard time engaging in recreational activities that require them to run and jump? We explain what these types of activities are about and why they are important to include them in the routines of your little ones. In addition, later we will present you with several game ideas that motivate them to move.

What are recreational activities?

These are actions that are carried out in order to entertain and distract, with them your little ones can get out of the routine and also offer them a fun environment.

Recreational activities go beyond play, in the case of children, they have a fundamental role in cognitive, physical, and social development. That is, it activates them physically.

Importance of recreational activities in children’s development

When children are in the first stage of learning they begin to perform different activities that help them know their environment. The game is the best way for them to acquire this knowledge.

As they get older, it’s time to do homework! They also have at their disposal television and electronic devices, for these reasons the attitude of children toward physical activities is reduced.

As parents they should know the importance of creating a plan that motivates them to stay physically active, but where fun is the order of the day.

Did you know that children need 1 hour of physical activity per day? Sports and recreational activities help them improve their self-esteem, work as a team, and foster communication skills. In addition, they are important for their physical, psychological, and emotional development.

Recreational activities that will encourage your children

We advise you not to start with activities that demand a lot of physical effort; If your child isn’t used to it, they can get tired and discouraged. Remember that there are children who are innate athletes and others who do not like sports. To do this, think about the following:

~Choose an ideal activity for your little one’s age and taste.

*Offer different options.

~Make the main goal fun, don’t push it. If you organize an activity and get involved for a short time, that’s great, too.

Now, let’s get to work! It is time to prepare fun, playful recreational activities that allow you to share family time.

° Imitation game

The best thing about this game is that it can be adapted to different ages. Its benefits? Children learn to express themselves, activate self-knowledge and perform the physical activity while imitating. In addition, it favors social interaction.

Young children usually like to sing and imitate. Therefore, find a happy song and invite them to imitate all your movements such as: jumping on one foot, bending, getting up, raising their hands, and taking a walk.

The option for older children is to imitate so that others guess an action, phrase, or word. Write several funny words on paper and insert them into a box. Then, ask one of the participants to take out a word and imitate what it says there so that the other family members guess.

° Yincana: one of the most fun recreational activities

Create a game called the hidden treasure, this gymkhana will delight your children. The first thing you need to do is create several tracks and then hide them. Have the children look for them.

However, be sure to place them in places where they have to go up or down the stairs in case they do it at home. The first to find the treasure will win a prize. That incentive will help them seek out so actively that they won’t notice they’re exercising.

° Explosive paint

This is one of the recreational activities where your little ones will learn while having fun. Take a piece of square cardboard and stick white paper on top ideal for painting watercolors. Then, fill small balloons with paints of different colors and stick them on top of the white paper. Make your children explode the balloons with darts.

Every time they do the balloon will release the paint and create a cool effect. When this happens, you can explain how colors combine to generate different shades and why when we see blue we think of cold, and if we see yellow in heat. Remember to place a waterproof material on the floor!

° Family nature walk

Take your little ones to a natural park to perform different activities such as climbing, and hiking, among others. In addition to disconnecting, the little ones will be able to learn about the ecosystems and will be active throughout the day. It’s definitely one of the best recreational activities to spend family time!

° Obstacle course

You can organize it inside your house, in your garden and even in a park. Look for recycling materials such as bottles, empty boxes, and pillows. They also serve you hula hoopsor toys such as bowling and colored plastic balls.

With this game, your children will be on the move while jumping and running dodging obstacles. In addition, this type of activity allows children to learn to work as a team, the advantages of leadership, and tolerance to frustration.

Dare to do these recreational activities, both you and your children need to be active and on the move. Remember that to have a healthy life you must perform regular exercise. But, no one said it must be boring.