There’s a reason the Subaru Outback is one of the most popular adventure vehicles on the road. It’s efficient, capable, and comes standard with factory roof rails on nearly every trim. This guide focuses on the modern Outback (Gen 5 and Gen 6; 2015–present), but most recommendations apply to earlier generations as well.
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The Outback can support any iKamper tent when paired with the right rack system, though roof length and proportions mean some models will have more overhang than others. Compact tents—like our Mini and X-Cover models—tend to create the cleanest overall fit, while full-size tents may extend farther over the front or rear. That overhang is normal for wagons and crossovers, and compatibility ultimately comes down to rack strength and crossbar spacing rather than how the tent looks on the roof.

The Outback supports three primary ways to mount a roof top tent:

Each setup has different load limits and usability considerations.

The good news: the Outback community is huge, and there are many rack options designed specifically for Subaru’s unique roof rail system.

Subaru’s fold-out factory crossbars are convenient, but they have very low dynamic weight ratings—typically 100 lbs or less depending on model year. This is well below the weight of all iKamper tents, including the Mini and X-Cover series.

Because of this, factory crossbars are not suitable for mounting any iKamper tent.

If you want to run a roof top tent on your Outback, you’ll need to upgrade to aftermarket crossbars or a full platform rack designed for higher dynamic load capacity.

Aftermarket crossbars that clamp to the Outback’s factory side rails offer a major improvement in strength and stability. With crossbars rated appropriately for your tent, the Outback can support any iKamper model—Skycamp, BDV, or X-Cover.

They’re affordable, easy to install, and ideal for customers who don’t want a full platform rack.

Examples to get you started:

For Outback Wilderness (flush rails): Use towers and bars specifically designed for flush mounts and confirm dynamic ratings carefully—they vary by manufacturer.

Always verify the dynamic weight rating of the bars you choose.

Platform racks span most or all of the Outback’s roof and create a strong, stable mounting surface for a roof top tent. They distribute weight evenly, support accessories, and are compatible with all iKamper tents.

There are two main installation styles:

Rail-Mounted Platforms - These clamp directly to the Outback’s factory raised rails.

Common examples include: Rhino-Rack Pioneer (rail-mount) and some Yakima LockNLoad configurations.

Direct-to-Roof / Rail-Replacement Platforms - These replace the factory rails or attach to Subaru’s hidden fixed mounting points.

Examples Outback owners often consider:Front Runner Slimline II and Prinsu full-length platform racks (fitment varies by model year).

Things to keep in mind:

Many Outback trims come with a factory moonroof. A roof top tent won’t interfere with the moonroof itself, but once a rack and tent are mounted:

If moonroof usability is important to you, choose a rack design and tent position that allows as much clearance as possible.

If you'd like help choosing the right rack or confirming compatibility, send us a photo of your roof and current rack setup to [email protected]—we’re happy to assist.