James Baroud Roof Top Tents
James Baroud Roof Top Tents and accessories is a European company dedicated to adventure and 4WD travel. With over twenty years of research, design development and testing stand behind their roof top tents and accesories and it shows.
James Baroud staff from the CEO to the design team are all experienced adventure 4WD enthusiasts. James Baroud even employ a former Paris To Dakar rally pilot just to conduct proving tests of each of our roof top tent models.
Our products are built to exacting ISO world standards and underline everything you’d expect from a quality ‘European build’.
The James Baroud products are not cheap imitations; they are the real thing and the design most often copied by our competitors.
The patented automatic opening system of their hard shell rooftop tents means only 10 seconds to erect and less than 30 seconds to stow away and their ability to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and outstanding construction make these world leaders and your first choice in hard shell roof top tents.
James Baroud roof top tents are used by the support crews in the Paris to Dakar rallies, so what better recommendation for reliability and durability can you get?
James Baroud are so confident of the quality of their tents and accessories that they are the only ones to offer a full 5 years guarantee.
AutoBivouac Pty Ltd are the sole Australian distributors for James Baroud roof top tents, awnings and 4WD accessories.
About AutoBivouac
Your Official Distributor of James Baroud in Australia and New Zealand
The first thing you need to know about Jean-Marie and Valerie, founders of AutoBivouac, is that they are fellow travellers. The type of people you meet on the road who will help you change a tyre, or invite you over for a cup of tea, the type of travellers who remain good friends when the trip is over.
A French couple, well seasoned in international travel they have retired to the north coast of NSW and continue to travel the length and breadth of Australia.
Their extensive travels have led them to discover the benefits of using a James Baroud roof top tent, which evolved into a professional commitment with the formation of AutoBivouac, now sole distributors for James Baroud.
While impressed by the innovative design and quality of James Baroud roof top tents, it was the concept and freedom that won them over. All the bedding and shelter is on the roof, there's even room for other storage inside the hulls, it can be set up in less than 10 seconds and stowed away in less than 30 seconds.
This changed the way they travelled, extra room inside their 4WD, sleeping accommodation whenever required, in style and unencumbered by towing, they could now access locations previously impossible.
AutoBivouac celebrates the love of travel and camping. You will be dealing with someone who uses and tests the products in actual 4WD touring conditions as a fellow traveller.
As owners of AutoBivouac, Jean-Marie and Valerie stand proudly by the James Baroud reputation and their products.
Why Use A Roof Top Tent?
The best roof top tent creates extra space inside your vehicle. Think about how much room is taken up with traditional tents and bedding... and think what you could do with that extra space? It may mean being able to take an extra person on your next trip.
While your friends are dealing with the ropes, pegs and poles of traditional tents, your James Baroud rooftop tent is open and ready to use in less than 10 seconds. It just doesn't get any easier.
Sleeping elevated away from rough ground on a comfortable foam mattress, screened from biting insects and unwanted pests, your cosy sleeping space is thoroughly waterproof, wind tested to 120 KM/hour and well ventilated.
Fantastic for a weekend away fishing, surfing safari or an extended touring holiday, their versatility also make them the preferred option for outback or cross country travel required as part of your work or research.
It's also good to know that our range of hard shell roof top tents are equally suitable for sedans, station wagons, vans and utes. Check out our gallery to see the range of vehicles using our rooftop tents and some ingenious mounting configurations. visit our gallery.
Beware of cheap imitations. A closer look at the specifications of our competitors will soon show that only James Baroud roof top tents have maintained the fastidious quality standards in the development and manufacture of these tents, ISO ratings for the fabric, fittings, mattress etc and a 5 year guarantee on fabric, hull and mechanism.
AutoBivouac are proud to import these remarkable products into Australia and believe that James Baroud hard shell, roof top tents offer a new and exciting alternative to traditional camping accommodation, giving you a new level of freedom to go wherever you vehicle can go.
In these changing times it’s always good to find better ways to do things and this is definitely a better way to go camping.
How To Buy
We have a national dealer network that can provide you with products and support for all James Baroud roof top off-road tents and accessories. To find your nearest dealer, click here
Customer Testimonials
If you've enjoyed traveling with your James Baroud off road tent, we'd love to hear about, drop us a line and let us know about your experiences.
Here's what some of our customers had to say. You can email your feedback using our contact page.
I have seen a lot of "rubbish" out there in my travels. I was overnight camped on the outskirts of Albany on the south coast of WA quite some years ago now, when a freak storm hit the site in the middle of the night, with squalls gusting to 130 kms! I probably would have slept through it all, if it wasn't for the screams and yells from other campers. There were debris, tents and tree branches flying everywhere. Maybe there was a bit of luck involved, but in the morning, I was the only dry and undamaged camper on the site.
To be fair I did know that a storm with "damaging winds" was forecast, and took the trouble to park my 4x4 Space Cab Rodeo /James Baroud rooftop camper into the "wind", and away from potential flying objects. Mostly for this reason I think that for all round travel, comfort and strength, your "Clamshell" JB is the best. I mean, it takes me about a minute to set it up! 4 minutes for my side awning, and another couple of minutes to put the kettle on and feed my kelpie. How good is that?
Vic Puodziunas, WA
"Hi Guys, just a note to let you know how much I enjoy using the RTT (roof top tent), we have had some great trips. The ease of setup and packup of this tent is absolutly perfect, been in some cold wet and windy conditions without any hassles.Thanks for the great product.”
David Stripeikis
Best thing I brought was this rooftop camper. I'm so happy with our rooftop camper we have used it so much. 5 weeks in WA on the Gibb River Road and Cape Leveque. 2 adults and two kids 6 and 2 year old sleep comfortably. It's sealed so well we have been in Darwin with the wet season and opened it up and not one leak or mould. Best thing I ever brought. Recommend to anyone. |
From Kristy
"I set off from Margaret River with my James Baroud roof tent mounted on a roof rack, for a few days around Albany and Esperance for the long weekend.The weather could best be described as very wet, in varying degrees of wetness! It is a five hour trip from where I live in Margaret River to the camping spot at Two Peoples Bay, just the other side of Albany. It rained non-stop, from light drizzle to torrential stuff, necessitating low speeds down to 40-50 kph on the South Coast Highway.On arrival, I put the tent up, a quick ten-second pop the top, to inspect inside. Surely it had to have taken some water inside, given what it had been subjected to, but no, not one drop inside the tent. This was late afternoon on the Friday, and the weather just got worse. In fact, Albany had one of its heaviest rainfalls ever for June, over 150mm in that 24-hour period, which provided for a cheerful start to the long weekend!That night a storm hit, and continued right through the night – sheet lightning, rolling thunder, and continuous heavy rain. Not only did the tent provide some warmth, it also did not take in any water at all, despite some strong winds which came with the rain. If anybody ever wants a true reference as to how this product performs in bad weather, please feel free to get them to contact me.I have to say I am absolutely delighted with what I have bought, and it is most definitely, without question, weather-proof. "
Nick Christie, WA
"Attached photos fyi. [see our gallery]. Its a ripper - we're very happy with it ! ..."
Ross & Helna, Darwin
"... I am very happy with the quality of the roof top tent and it has surpassed my expectation which have been based on the Maggiolina Tents ...”
Peter, Clarkson WA
"... all in all, you have provided some of the best service I have experienced and It's when things go wrong when service is important. I look forward to continuing doing business together and to meeting you in Melbourne ...”
Basil, Brighton VIC
"Among my friends or my customers, nearly all of them use James Baroud equipment. As for me, I can not imagine going with an other brand. I do not wish to have emergency repairs to do during my trips. For my comfort and my peace of mind, I did choose James Baroud. Until now, I never have had to regret it” JEAN DA SILVA : Famous pilot and Paris-Dakar Rally winner, Jean Da Silva cannot count all the events that he has participated during his 20 years, either as a pilot or co-pilot. An icon of the rally world.
" I followed my brother for several years on many Rallies. In 1999 I wanted to offer myself a little comfort and bought a James Baroud roof top tent. It is on all of my journeys since 9 years and it is permanently on my Toyota … For me it is a real great product.” Read in TLC magazine 17
JEAN-PAUL SCHLESSER : French racing driver with experience in circuit racing and cross-country rallying. He is known for his successful wins of many different competitions.
"We use a James Baroud tent since 5 years, and it gives us complete satisfaction. The advantage is that the bed is ready when we open it, and still ready when we stow it. We never sleep in motels, when we go for 5 to 7 weeks in summer, it does handle very well the heat (in Iran, up to 52°c) as the cold and the rain (Scandinavia). The bed is very comfortable? We go next summer for a months holiday and we're going to buy a new James Baroud tent, the Explorer Evo model which has got an automatic opening thanks to struts. Also with 4 openings, we can use the roof rack ladder and so we do not need the ladder any more (save room). This tents, unlike the Autohome Maggio, can have a 50 kg load that we do not need to unload when erecting the tent. We have also installed a very practical warming system for the cold countries. The hard shell does allow us to go under trees without fear of tearing the canvas. The cost is easily covered by saving on motel bills, and we insist on the fact that the mattress is much more comfortable than in many motels".
Virginie, Lyon-France
"Roof top tents, a wide subject to talk about. In my opinion, it offers the advantage of a spacious and comfortable bedding, and is quick and easy to erect. They are many different models, and two main types : the cubic as the Autohome Maggio and the James Baroud Explorer, and the “wallet” type as the Autohome Columbus and the James Baroud “Discovery”. I personally think that the “cubic” one is really better. It is so easy to erect and stow, the waterproofing is better, it makes a good luggage box in the tent, and on the luggage rack on top. The best as for quality is (along my experience) the J.Baroud. Several models are available. An important point is to check where the openings are mounted in relation to the vehicle. We were suspicious about roof top tents, but being 5 in a VW van, it was a bit short. We did buy a second hand James Baroud tent last year (still over 1,500€), and then we spent 6 weeks in Norway, and we have been delighted. Quick set up, the bedding is always ready, very good wind and rain resistance, no condensation. On the bad : to store the ladder (impossible in the tent, because of the height of our vehicle), and when we have to wee in the night, it is always the one on opposite site of the ladder who needs !!! as for the cuddles, we have to be ZEN, otherwise we will wake up all the vehicle !!!
Marc, Bordeaux