Quick Facts:
- Product: 23Zero Walkabout 87 2.0, the largest rooftop tent in the 23Zero lineup.
- Type: Soft shell fold-out tent for up to 6 adults.
- Bed size: 87″ W x 96″ L, about 58 square feet.
- Weight: 198 lb.
- Latest update: Rear heater and cooler port for ducting up to 3 inches.
- Price: $2,995 at Spirit of 1876.
- Best for: Families of four to six who camp from one vehicle.
9 min read
In This Review
Walkabout 87 2.0 Overview
The 23Zero Walkabout 87 2.0 is the largest rooftop tent 23Zero builds, and it sleeps up to six adults on an 87 by 96-inch bed. For comparison, a queen mattress measures 60 by 80 inches. Among folding rooftop tents, we found none with a bigger bed. The catch is weight. At 198 pounds, the tent outweighs many factory roof ratings before anyone climbs the ladder. Therefore, this review spends as much time on your rack as on the tent.
Floor space matters most to me, because I usually camp with my girlfriend, her son and my son. For a crew like ours, the 87 and the 72 both make the short list. The 87’s bed works out to about 58 square feet. Also, two doors with two ladders give a full tent two ways in and out.
At $2,995 through Spirit of 1876, it costs about $499 per sleeping spot. In contrast, the Walkabout 72 works out to $674 per adult, and the Walkabout 62 to $832. A hardshell family rooftop tent typically costs more, as the size section below explains.
I flew from California to Castle Rock, Colorado, to put your rooftop tent questions to Mike, who owns Spirit of 1876. We have not slept in a Walkabout 87 or deployed one on the trail. So this review leans on Mike’s answers on soft shells and roof weight, 23Zero’s published specs, and owners who run Walkabouts.
Key Specs at a Glance
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Sleeps | Up to 6 adults |
| Sleeping footprint | 87″ W x 96″ L x 44″ H |
| Open dimensions | 88″ W x 122″ L x 52″ H |
| Packed footprint | 48″ W x 88″ L x 14″ H |
| Weight | 198 lb |
| Fabric | Recycled ECO13B with Light Suppression Technology (LST) |
| Travel cover | 600D PVC |
| Frame | Wrapped frame, stainless steel hinge, lever-lock pole |
| Climate port | Rear port for heater or cooler ducting up to 3″ |
| Entry | Two screened doors, two ladders |
| Also included | Two boot bags, gear loft, rainfly poles, mounting kit, patch kit |
| Seasons | 4 seasons, per 23Zero |
| Price | $2,995 at Spirit of 1876 |
Two gaps stand out on the 23Zero product page. First, the page lists no occupant limit. A separate 23Zero weight FAQ rates the 87 for about 1,320 pounds of campers. Second, the page gives no mattress thickness for the 87. Instead, its install notes tell you to confirm your vehicle’s roof capacity and your rack’s limit before you mount it.
Other Family-Size Tents at Spirit of 1876
Not sure six sleeping spots fits your rig? Spirit of 1876 stocks the smaller Walkabouts and other family-size tents below. Then compare weight and price side by side.
Family-Size Rooftop Tents at Spirit of 1876
Is the Walkabout 87 the Largest Rooftop Tent?
23Zero calls the Walkabout 87 the biggest rooftop tent available, soft shell or hardshell. Among folding tents in our research, we found no larger bed. However, one caveat applies. GentleTent markets its inflatable GT Sky Loft at 73 square feet, against about 58 here. Meanwhile, Roofnest bills the Condor 2 XXL Air as its largest hardshell, at 51 square feet. So among folding designs, the Walkabout 87 ties for the largest rooftop tent bed we found. Retail listings put the CVT Mt. Denali at the same 87 by 96 inches. Across every type, the inflatable GentleTent claims more room.
Where the Largest Walkabout Fits in the Lineup
| Model | Sleeps | Bed | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walkabout 62 2.0 | 3+ adults | 62″ x 96″ | 152 lb | $2,495 |
| Walkabout 72 2.0 | 4 adults | 72″ x 96″ | 165 lb | $2,695 |
| Walkabout 87 2.0 | 6 adults | 87″ x 96″ | 198 lb | $2,995 |
Every Walkabout shares the same 96-inch bed length and 44-inch interior height, so width decides your crew size. Each step up adds 10 to 15 inches of width. For example, the jump from the 72 to the 87 buys 15 inches and two more adult spots for $300.
Mike’s take on size is blunt. He calls soft shells the best value in rooftop tents, because they give you the most square footage for the money. Hardshells, he says, typically cost about twice as much and hold fewer people. For a family of four who wants room, a soft shell is an awesome option, in his words. Owners back him up. One 87 2.0 owner reports sleeping five of a family of six on a trip to the Arctic Circle.
Weight, Roof Racks and the 198-Pound Problem
Every roof rack carries two ratings: dynamic, for driving, and static, for parked. According to the 23Zero roof load guide, most passenger vehicles carry dynamic ratings between 100 and 165 pounds. As a result, the largest rooftop tent from 23Zero tops the high end of the range by 33 pounds before you count the rack.
The most common mistake, according to Mike, starts at the dealership. Buyers bolt a tent to the factory rack on a new 4Runner, yet factory racks target cargo boxes, skis and bikes, not 200-pound tents. For this reason, he says a proper aftermarket rack sometimes belongs in the tent budget. He also flags Jeep gutter mounts on fiberglass hardtops, which top out at 150 pounds. Even so, he still sees 200-pound tents on them around Colorado.
The clip below opens at the weight and safety part of the interview, 17 minutes and 24 seconds in.
Static Load, Fuel and Garage Fit for the Largest Walkabout
Static load matters once your family climbs in. Six adults outweigh even the largest rooftop tent several times over. 23Zero rates the 87 for about 1,320 pounds of campers. Check your rack’s static rating as closely as the dynamic one. Our guide to static vs dynamic weight ratings covers both numbers. Next, add bumpers, drawers, a fridge, batteries and water. Mike’s advice here is to get out the calculator, and our guide on how to calculate payload capacity walks you through it.
Fuel economy draws the next question. According to Mike, his customers report a 1 to 2 mpg drop, 3 at worst, while some report no change. Also, check your garage. Mike notes many Colorado garage doors stand around 7 feet tall, and the tent adds 14 inches on top of your rack.
Living With the Largest Rooftop Tent
Pack-Down Is the Price of the Largest Bed
Setup goes fast, even on the largest rooftop tent 23Zero makes. One 87 2.0 owner reports about 3.5 minutes to open it solo, while closing takes about 12 minutes. Pack-down tops the owner complaints we found, from the 72 to the 87. Owners describe tucking fabric and a travel cover zipper prone to catching. Spirit of 1876 counts eight window rods on the Walkabout, against four on the Breezeway. For reference, Mike closes a soft shell in about 5 minutes once practiced, or 10 the first time. In contrast, he times a hardshell at about 30 seconds.
Light, Weather and the Heater Port
Owners praise LST more than any other feature. 23Zero’s Light Suppression Technology cuts incoming light, and owners say the tent stays dark at midday. I do a lot of winter camping with diesel and gas heaters, so the rear port is the upgrade I’d point you to first. It accepts heater or cooler ducting up to 3 inches.
Owners also report no leaks in heavy rain, and one 87 owner describes riding out wind above 60 mph. Still, Mike notes every tent sold as four-season runs hot in the heat and cold in the cold. One owner calls the Walkabout closer to three-season, while another reports sleeping fine below freezing. 23Zero sells an 87-inch winter liner separately.
Sleeping Comfort in the Largest Walkabout
The mattress splits owners. 23Zero firmed up the rebound foam for the 2.0, and some owners love it, while others add a foam topper. Mike’s point on mattresses applies here: 3-inch foam differs from brand to brand, and cheap foam stiffens in the cold. He lists HEST among the easy upgrades, and our HEST Foamy Wide mattress review covers one option.
What Owners Say About the Largest Walkabout
We dug deep into Reddit, owner forums and YouTube reviews. Then we looked for what owners agree on about the largest rooftop tent in the Walkabout range. Several themes come from owners of the 72 and 62, because those tents share the fabric, frame and pack-down routine.
Pros
- About 58 square feet of bed for up to six adults, the most sleeping area 23Zero sells.
- LST fabric keeps the tent dark in daylight, the feature owners praise most.
- Two screened doors and two ladders offer two ways in and out.
- The rear port takes heater or cooler ducting up to 3 inches.
- Owners report no leaks in heavy rain, and one sleeps fine below freezing.
- Owners report fast warranty help, including a travel cover replaced within a week.
Cons
- The firm mattress sends some owners shopping for a topper.
If the Walkabout 87 fits your crew and your rack, Spirit of 1876 carries it with fitment help and installs at its Castle Rock showroom.
23Zero Walkabout 87 2.0
Give the whole crew room to spread out on an 87 by 96 inch bed, with two doors and two ladders so nobody climbs over anybody at midnight.
- 87 x 96 in bed sleeps up to 6 adults
- Two doors and two ladders for easy crew access
- Rear port takes up to 3-inch heater or cooler ducting
- LST fabric cuts light for later wake-ups
- At 198 lb it needs a rack rated above most factory roof ratings
- Soft shell pack-down takes longer than a hardshell
Walkabout 87 vs. Walkabout 72
The Walkabout 72 is the next size down from the 87. It sleeps four adults on a 72 by 96-inch bed, weighs 165 pounds and sells for $2,695. Compared to the 72, the 87 adds 15 inches of width, two adult spots and 33 pounds for $300 more.
Pick the 72 if your crew is two adults and two kids. It also saves 33 pounds when your roof rating runs tight. One 72 owner reports fitting two adults, two kids and a small dog. However, pick the 87 if you need a true 6 person rooftop tent, or if your teens take up adult space.
If neither soft shell suits you, a hardshell trades space for speed. Before you settle the family rooftop tent question, read our softshell vs hardshell rooftop tents guide. Also, our Roof Space 4 family tent review covers a four-person alternative.
Final Thoughts
The Walkabout 87 suits families of four to six who want the largest rooftop tent their rack carries and camp from one vehicle. Its biggest strength is space: about 58 square feet of dark, dry bed for $2,995, or roughly $499 per sleeper. Mike’s rule holds here, since a soft shell gives you the most room for the money.
The trade-offs are real, so plan for them. Pack-down takes longer than any hardshell, and 198 pounds asks more of your rack than most factory bars allow. If you camp as a couple, or you drive a small SUV, the Walkabout 72 or 62 fits better.
I camp with my girlfriend, her son and my son, so I’d shop the 87 first and the 72 second, once the rack numbers check out. A 6 person rooftop tent leaves our crew of four room to grow. Also, the heater port suits the winter camping I do with diesel and gas heaters. My advice mirrors Mike’s. Confirm your rack’s dynamic and static ratings before you order. Then buy for the crew you expect in a few years, because Mike says many of his customers come back to upsize.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest rooftop tent on the market?
23Zero bills the Walkabout 87 2.0 as the biggest rooftop tent available. Among folding tents in our research, none had a bigger bed than its 87 by 96 inches. However, inflatable models claim more area, and the GentleTent GT Sky Loft lists 73 square feet against about 58 here.
How many people fit in a Walkabout 87?
23Zero rates it for six adults. One owner reports sleeping five people from a family of six. Another sleeps a family of four with room to spare. Owners report four or five sleepers in comfort.
How much does the Walkabout 87 weigh, and what rack does it need?
It weighs 198 pounds, above the 100 to 165-pound dynamic range 23Zero cites for passenger vehicles. You need a roof rack or bed rack with a dynamic rating for the tent, plus a static rating for the tent and its sleepers. Check both numbers with your vehicle and rack makers before you buy.
How long does the Walkabout 87 take to set up and pack away?
One 87 2.0 owner reports about 3.5 minutes to open it solo and about 12 minutes to close. Mike at Spirit of 1876 puts a practiced soft shell close at about 5 minutes. Expect your first few pack-downs to run longer.
Is the Walkabout 87 a four-season tent?
23Zero rates it for four seasons, and one owner reports sleeping fine below freezing. The rear port accepts heater ducting up to 3 inches, and 23Zero sells a winter liner. Still, another owner calls it closer to three-season.
Related Reading
Advertising disclosure: Spirit of 1876 is a 4wdTalk advertising partner and an authorized dealer of this tent. The two product modules above are paid placements. Spirit of 1876 did not pay for, review, or approve this article before publication. This review draws on 23Zero’s published specifications, current owner reports, and a sit-down interview with Spirit of 1876 owner Mike in Castle Rock, Colorado. 4wdTalk has not slept in this tent or deployed it in the field.