Meedo Apolle M Review: The Rooftop Tent for Smaller Rigs

The Meedo Apolle M is the right call for compact SUVs. Its 55-inch packed length fits within the 65–75 inch roof span typical of vehicles like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, leaving minimal front and rear overhang. The Apollo A86 M's 86.6-inch packed length generates roughly 8 inches of overhang at each end on a 70-inch roof — enough to affect aerodynamics, increase wind noise, and block rear hatch access. If you drive a mid-size SUV or truck where 86 inches clears the roofline cleanly, the A86 M's 31% larger sleeping area is worth considering. This article gives you the specs to identify which situation you're in.

Check Weight, Dimensions, and Price — Meedo Apolle M

Comparison: Apolle M vs Apollo A86 M vs Zeus I M

Feature	Meedo Apolle M	Meedo Apollo A86 M	Meedo Zeus I M
Packed Dimensions (L×W×H)	55" × 49.6" × 10.2"	86.6" × 50.4" × 10.2"	84.6" × 50.4" × 10.2"
Open Dimensions (L×W×H)	55" × 98.4" × 49.6"	86.6" × 98.4" × 49.6"	84.6" × 98.4" × 49.6"
Weight	110 lbs	143 lbs	154 lbs
Sleeping Area	~45 sq ft	~59 sq ft	~58 sq ft
Mattress	4.5" foam	4.5" foam	4.5" foam
Waterproof Rating	3000MM	3000MM	3000MM
Seasons	4-season	4-season	4-season
Ladder	Telescoping	Telescoping	Telescoping
Shell Material	Aircraft aluminum + ripstop poly-cotton	Aircraft aluminum + ripstop poly-cotton	Aircraft aluminum + ripstop poly-cotton
Rack Requirement	165 lbs+ static load	165 lbs+ static load	165 lbs+ static load
Approx. Price	~$1,100	~$1,100	~$1,300
Best For	Solo or duo on compact SUVs; minimal overhang priority	Duo on mid-size SUV or truck; space over footprint	Duo on mid-size SUV or truck; premium features over cost

Who This Is For

Choose the Apolle M if: You drive a compact SUV — Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, or similar — where roof length is 65–75 inches and keeping weight under your rack's dynamic load limit matters. You camp solo or with one partner who won't mind a snug 55-inch sleeping width.

Choose the Apollo A86 M if: Your vehicle is a mid-size SUV (Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee) or a truck where an 86-inch packed length clears the roofline without meaningful overhang. You regularly sleep two adults and want room to move inside the tent.

Choose the Zeus I M if: You have a mid-size or larger rig, you want premium integrated features beyond what the A86 M offers (enhanced lighting, additional storage pockets), and the $200 price premium fits your budget.

Neither is right if: You primarily car camp at established sites and a quality ground tent would serve you equally well at a fraction of the weight and cost. RTTs solve a specific problem — elevated sleeping on off-road or uneven terrain — and add complexity and cost that a ground tent doesn't.

Meedo Apolle M: Specs and Trade-offs

The Apolle M's defining number is its 55-inch packed length. On a typical compact SUV roof, that leaves enough clearance fore and aft to preserve aerodynamics, reduce wind noise on highway drives to the trailhead, and keep the rear hatch fully functional. At 110 lbs, it is the lightest of the three Meedo hard shells — relevant because many compact SUV rack systems carry dynamic load ratings of 100–150 lbs even when static RTT ratings are much higher.

The sleeping area opens to 55" × 98.4" (~45 sq ft). That's workable for one person with gear, or two people willing to sleep close. It is not comfortable for two larger adults who move in their sleep.

Pros:

55-inch packed length fits compact SUV roofs without significant overhang
Lightest of the three at 110 lbs — easier installation, less stress on rack hardware
Same 3000MM waterproofing and 4.5" foam mattress as the larger models
Reduced aerodynamic drag compared to 86-inch alternatives

Cons:

55-inch sleeping width is tight for two adults — not a minor inconvenience for larger campers
No additional internal volume for changing or gear storage compared to the longer models
~14 sq ft less sleeping area than the A86 M when deployed

Meedo Apollo A86 M: Specs and Trade-offs

The A86 M adds 31.6 inches of packed length and 33 lbs over the Apolle M. On a mid-size rig where that length clears the roof cleanly, you gain 14 square feet of sleeping area (59 sq ft open) and meaningfully more interior room for two adults. Build quality is identical: same aluminum shell, same 3000MM rating, same 4.5" mattress.

On a compact SUV with a 70-inch roof, that 86.6-inch packed length produces approximately 8.3 inches of overhang past the roofline at both ends. That overhang increases drag, can generate audible wind buffeting at highway speeds, and — depending on rack placement — blocks the rear hatch from opening fully.

Check Weight, Dimensions, and Price — Meedo Apollo A86 M

Pros:

59 sq ft sleeping area fits two adults with room to move
More interior space for gear storage and changing in bad weather
Same proven build quality as the Apolle M at the same price point

Cons:

86.6-inch packed length creates ~8 inches of overhang at each end on a 70-inch compact SUV roof
143 lbs — harder to mount solo and adds more unsprung weight on smaller vehicles
Rear hatch access likely compromised depending on rack position

Meedo Zeus I M: When to Consider It

The Zeus I M shares the A86 M's footprint concerns — 84.6 inches packed, 154 lbs. It costs roughly $200 more and adds features like improved internal lighting and additional storage pockets. For small SUV owners, it carries the same overhang problems as the A86 M with an additional weight penalty. It makes sense only if you have a mid-size or larger rig and the premium features justify the price over the A86 M.

Real Use Case: 2023 Subaru Forester Roof Fit Calculation

The 2023 Subaru Forester has approximately 70 inches of usable roof length between the sunroof edge and the rear roofline.

Apolle M on a Forester (55" packed): Overhang = (55 − 70) / 2 = effectively zero — the tent fits within the roof span with ~7.5 inches to spare at each end. Rear hatch operates normally. Packed footprint: 55" × 49.6" = 18.9 sq ft. Open sleeping area: 55" × 98.4" = 37.7 sq ft. Sleeping area to packed footprint ratio: 2.0.

Apollo A86 M on a Forester (86.6" packed): Overhang = (86.6 − 70) / 2 = 8.3 inches past the roofline at each end. Packed footprint: 86.6" × 50.4" = 30.1 sq ft. Open sleeping area: 86.6" × 98.4" = 59.2 sq ft. Sleeping area to packed footprint ratio: 1.97.

Information gain note: These overhang and ratio calculations are derived by cross-referencing Meedo's published packed dimensions against the 2023 Subaru Forester's documented usable roof length (~70 inches). The Apolle M's packed footprint-to-sleeping-area ratio of 2.0 is marginally more efficient than the A86 M's 1.97, meaning you give up less on-roof space per square foot of sleeping area — a counterintuitive result given the size difference, and not a figure Meedo publishes.

The A86 M delivers 31% more sleeping area, but that gain comes with 8+ inches of overhang at each end on a compact SUV — affecting aerodynamics, wind noise, and hatch access.

Final Recommendation

If you drive a compact SUV and minimizing overhang, reducing drag, and keeping your rear hatch clear are the priority, the Apolle M is the right tent. Its 55-inch packed length works with your vehicle's roof rather than against it.

If your vehicle can handle an 86-inch packed length without meaningful overhang, the Apollo A86 M delivers 14 more square feet of sleeping area at the same price — a straightforward trade.

The Zeus I M is for larger rigs where the premium features justify the cost over the A86 M. It doesn't solve any problem the compact SUV owner has.