Best Bang for Your Buck

The Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3, often just called the Tepui Kukenam 3, is a fold-out softshell with a three-person capacity. At $1,899.95, it is significantly less expensive than its hardshell counterparts. It’s built to last thanks to its high-quality materials and construction. The interior is spacious, and the mattress is comfortable. Most of all, the price feels quite appropriate for its value. While we did find that the initial installation and conversion took just a bit more work than some other tents, these are rather negligible qualms in the grand scheme of things and would not deter us from purchasing this tent. For those campers who aren’t fixated on having a hardshell, the Kukenam 3 may just be one of the best RTTs on the market. As such, it was the natural choice for our “Best Bang for Your Buck” Award.

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See Our Best Rooftop Camping Tents Review 2021 HERE!

Tepui is a California-based RTT company that produces a wide range of beloved roof-mounted softshell tents with names that pay homage to its owners’ Venezuelan roots. In December 2018, Tepui was purchased by Thule, one of the biggest names in vehicle-mounted gear-carrying systems, to gain a foothold in the fast-growing RTT market. This promising partnership has only served to illustrate Thule’s respect for its acquisitions and its recognition of Tepui’s prowess in the RTT market.

The current Thule Tepui lineup includes more than a dozen rooftop tents ranging from the pint-sized Low-Pro 2 to the monstrous Autana 4. One of its most popular offerings is the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3, often called the Tepui Kukenam 3 (there is also a Ruggedized Kukenam 3 that costs $500 more). This fold-out softshell has a three-person capacity, and at $1,899.95, it is significantly less expensive than its hardshell counterparts.

Comfort

The inside of the Kukenam 3 measures 56″ x 96″, which adds up to 37.3 square feet of space. Peak headroom is 52″, which is typical of fold-out RTTs. The inside of the Kukenam 3 is simply a pleasant place to be; it has a 2.5” high-density foam mattress that’s among the most comfortable of any we’ve reviewed, along with 4 large storage pockets at the bottom and mesh panels at the top to boost ventilation. It also offers fantastic views of your surroundings, with mesh windows on all four walls and not just one but two mesh skylight windows (however, these will be obstructed with the rainfly attached).

Both side windows have mesh and canvas layers, and the canvas layers convert into awnings with the included tension poles. The awnings for the doorways will require the rainfly to be attached, as their canvas layers are rolled up above the doors. Although only one of the two doorways can be accessed using the attached ladder, the Kukenam can be oriented with the doorway facing multiple directions depending upon how you install the crossbars on its underside, which we will discuss later. 

Ease of Conversion

Although hardshell RTTs have earned a well-deserved reputation for record-setting 60-second deployments, the Kukenam 3 still manages to clock in a very respectable 3-minute conversion time. You’ll first need to unstrap and slide off the travel cover, which can later be rolled up and clipped underneath the tent, as well as undo the straps connecting the base to the extension panel and the strap holding down the attached ladder. You’ll then pull out the telescoping ladder to fold out the extension panel and pitch the tent walls; the collapsed rungs should be at the top of the ladder, and it should be oriented at roughly a 60° angle to provide optimal support to the extension panel. The removable rainfly cover can be left attached to the tent even when packed away, but full deployment will require you to attach the four tension poles in the corner. If you’re not anticipating any rainfall and wish to partake in some stargazing, the rainfly unhooks with 6 buckles located on the front and back and can be rolled up and stashed away.

The final setup step will be to climb inside your Kukenam 3 and remove the four bungee cords running from wall to wall inside the tent. The purpose of these cords is to hold in the fabric while you collapse your tent, and attaching these will be your first step when it’s time for teardown. Remove all tension poles, stuff them in the included storage bag and toss them inside your Kukenam 3, then use the ladder to collapse the extension panel. Ensure all the fabric is stuffed in, attach the straps holding the two panels, and lock down the ladder on top. Finally, unroll the travel cover and drape it over the tent, cinching it down in all the corners and then locking down the two straps that run across the top.

Ease of Installation

The Tepui Kukenam 3 comes nearly fully assembled; the main tent body is ready to go, but you will need to do a bit of handiwork before the tent is ready to be lifted onto your vehicle’s crossbars. First, remove the travel cover and undo the straps so that you can pull out the ladder, accessories bag, and the included tools. Next, layout the collapsed tent with the bottom facing up to install the two aluminum support beams that enable the Kukenam 3 to attach to your vehicle’s crossbars. You’ll need to reach inside to feed the bolts through the four holes in the bottom panel.

These beams can be mounted one of two ways: the traditional way is for these beams to run parallel with the hinges so that the extension panel will run above your vehicle’s rear doors on either the left or right. Alternatively, the beams can be mounted perpendicular to the hinges (this will cause them to hang out past the base panel due to their 56” length), which enables the Kukenam 3 to unfold over the back end of your vehicle rather than the side. We preferred to orient the Kukenam 3 in the traditional manner because the rear-entry method will most likely prevent access to your vehicle’s trunk. Once the beams are bolted into place, flip the collapsed tent onto its newly installed beams to bolt your ladder and its hinges to the top.

Before installing the tent to your vehicle’s crossbars, you’ll first want to ensure they are compatible and oriented appropriately. Your crossbars must be at least 1.5” tall and 3.25” wide with a minimum weight capacity of 165 lbs and minimum width of 33.5”. They should also be centered on your vehicle with ample space in between to optimize balance and weight distribution. The Kukenam 3 weighs 130 lbs and will require at least two people to lift onto your vehicle. Once it’s up top, slide the 8 hanging bolts into the aluminum railings so that each pair of bolts is flanking either side of its respective crossbar. Make sure your tent is centered both front-to-back and left-to-right, then attach the mounting plates to the underside of each crossbar. We recommend you attach these plates loosely at first to allow one final look-over before locking them down completely, just in case the tent has shifted from its centered position.

All packed up, the Kukenam 3’s dimensions are 12″x 48″x 56″, which is similar in size to a 2-person pop-up hardshell. You’ll certainly need a bit of dedicated space to store your tent during the off-season, but its storage size is still much smaller than many other 3-person RTTs.

Durability & Weatherproofing

The floors on the Kukenam 3 are composed of insulated fiberglass reinforced with aluminum edges. At the same time, the main canopy is a 600D, 260g ripstop polyester cotton that is UV and mold-resistant. The rainfly is a PU-coated 420D polyester oxford. The 8 internal poles are all aluminum, and the zippers and seams are solid and well constructed. We were more than satisfied with the quality of the materials used for this tent both inside and out. We have little doubt that its ruggedness and weather resistance are comparable to or better than any tent in our review.

Optional Extras

While there aren’t many accessories that come with the Kukenam 3, several are available for purchase (14 in all). We’ve listed a few of our favorites below: 

• • Thule OverCast 6.5 Awning ($349.95)
  • Tepui Boot Bag ($39.95 – $69.95)
  • Tepui Weatherhood ($269.95)
  • Tepui Tent Table ($49.95)
  • Anti-Condensation Mat ($159.95)
  • Tepui Annex ($339.95)
  • Tepui Insulator ($199.95)
  • Tepui Siesta Luxury Mattress ($499.95)
  • Tepui Sheets ($169.95)
  • Tepui Flannel Sheets ($199.95)

The Bottom Line

It’s hard to find anything wrong with the Thule Tepui Kukenam 3. It’s built to last thanks to its high-quality materials and construction; the interior is spacious and the mattress is comfortable; and most of all, the price feels quite appropriate for its value. While we did find that the initial installation and conversion took just a bit more work than some other tents, these are rather negligible qualms in the grand scheme of things and would not deter us from purchasing this tent. For those campers who aren’t fixated on having a hardshell, the Kukenam 3 may just be one of the best RTTs on the market. It was the natural choice for our “Best Bang for Your Buck” Award.

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