The Thule Tepui Autana 3 has everything we’ve come to love from Tepui RTTs. It is well-built with a comfortable interior and a rugged exterior that can handle anything that Mother Nature throws at it. Its extended canopy entrance with removable annex provides extra protection and privacy, so although it does cost a bit more than other fold-out softshells, there’s also a lot of value attached to the price tag. The covered ladder is also an excellent boost to the overall weather protection, even if it does add a bit of time to the conversion process. Our only real issue with the Autana 3 is that most of the things we loved about it can also be found in the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3, all for $400 less. If these are a huge selling point for you, the Autana 3 would make an excellent purchase.

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See Our Best Rooftop Camping Tents Review 2021 HERE!

The word Tepui means “house of the gods” in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana in southeastern Venezuela, home to Tepui’s founders. These tepuis are tabletop mountains or mesas, and one of the most impressive tepuis is called Autana, which means “tree of life.” Okay, geography lesson over—the Thule Tepui Explorer Autana 3 is a fantastic rooftop tent with a 3-person capacity. Retailing for $2,299.95, this fold-out softshell is roomy and comfortable, with high-quality construction inside and out. Its extended canopy entrance with removable annex provides extra protection and privacy. Although it does cost a bit more than other fold-out softshells, there’s also a lot of value built into the price tag.

Comfort

The Autana 3’s expansive interior is 122” x 56” with the canopy entrance included; the sleeping footprint measures 96″x56″ for a total of 37.3 sq ft. It has 52″ of max headroom. There are two side windows in the main tent body with canvas layers that can be converted into awnings using the included tension poles. Since these side windows cannot be rolled up completely, you will lose some views out the sides, unlike similar RTTS like the iKamper Skycamp 2.0.

The canvas top on the Autana 3 can also be converted into a pair of skylight windows; however, they will be obstructed with the detachable rainfly deployed. The detachable annex includes a large entryway with a zippered mesh doorway and two large mesh doors on the side; all three sides can also be closed shut for privacy and weather protection.

Inside the main tent body, you’ll find four storage pockets as well as mesh panels near the top for additional ventilation. The 2.5” high-density foam mattress is among the most comfortable that we’ve tested, and most campers should have little concern about bottoming out even if they are a side sleeper.

Ease of Conversion

With a bit of practice, it should take roughly 5-minutes to fully deploy the Autana 3; it takes just a bit more time to fully convert than the Tepui Kukenam 3 due to the included awning. 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.

Your next step will be to slide out the U-shaped support pole for the ladder canopy and insert each end into the corners of the tent body; the angle of the fabric should make it relatively simple to figure out the orientation. To install the additional annex, first angle the ladder 90° to lift up the extension panel and provide easier access. You’ll then pull out your annex wall and slide the top edge of its innermost wall through the slot located on the underside of the base panel; the other three sides are connected to the underside of the canopy with zippers. To ensure that the canopy and annex are fully secured, you will need to stake out the corners using the included rope attachments. Complete the canopy/annex installation by reorienting the ladder at 60°.

The final setup step will be to climb inside your Autana 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 Autana 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 Autana 3 comes nearly fully assembled but will require some preparatory steps before it’s ready to be mounted on your vehicle; if these steps sound nearly identical to that of the Kukenam 3, that’s because they are. 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 Autana 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, which enables the Kukenam 3 to unfold over the back end of your vehicle rather than the side. This process will also require you to use a saw (not included) to shear off the overhanging beams. We preferred to orient the Autana 3 in the traditional manner, not only because we didn’t have a saw handy but also because the rear-entry method will most likely prevent access to your vehicle’s trunk, as it will be blocked off by the ladder. 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 Autana 3 weighs 152 lbs (one of the heaviest RTTs we reviewed) 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 Autana 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 Autana 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 will stack up to any tent in our review.

Optional Extras

Several accessories are available for purchase to improve your camping experience in the Autana 3 (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 Insulator ($199.95)
• Tepui Siesta Luxury Mattress ($499.95)
• Tepui Sheets ($169.95)
• Tepui Flannel Sheets ($199.95)

The Bottom Line

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