ARB Altitude Electric vs Bundutec BunduTop King
The ARB Altitude Electric and the Bundutec BunduTop King are both hardshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. ARB and Bundutec take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the ARB Altitude Electric brings 106 kg, 3.63 m² of floor, 118 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Bundutec BunduTop King counters with 91 kg, 3.33 m² of floor and sleeps 3.
The BunduTop King is 15 kg lighter at 91 kg against 106 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Inside, the Altitude Electric gives 3.63 m² of sleeping floor against 3.33 m², about 9 percent more, and it sleeps 2 to the BunduTop King's 3. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. ARB also backs the Altitude Electric for 3 years against 1.
They open differently: the Altitude Electric is a clamshell and the BunduTop King a pop-up. That is not cosmetic — it decides whether headroom is even across the tent or tapers towards one end, and how much of the roof the tent occupies when closed. The Altitude Electric uses fiberglass; the BunduTop King uses aluminium. Canvas differs too: 380GSM poly-cotton canvas against ripstop canvas. Closed, the BunduTop King sits 7 cm lower on the roof — 30 cm against 37 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
ARB
Altitude Electric
The Altitude is ARB's flagship electric hardshell, opening and closing automatically at the push of a button. It has a fiberglass shell, a 70mm dual-density mattress and an internal 12V system with dimmable lighting, a fan and USB charging. It is the most expensive and heaviest of ARB's current rooftop tents.
- Automated push-button setup and pack-down
- Integrated 12V electrics with lighting, fan and USB
- Solar-ready with a 20kg dynamic roof-load capacity on top
- Heaviest tent in ARB's range at 106 kg
Bundutec
BunduTop King
The BunduTop King is the mid-large size in Bundutec's electric hardshell rooftop tent range, listed by BundutecUSA at 82 x 63 inches (footprint). It comes with a 4-inch high-density foam mattress, two interior 12V fans, an aluminium ladder, interior 12V power and an LED light. It is wider than the Standard and Standard+ but shorter than the Super King.
- Wider 63-inch footprint than the Standard for more sleeping room
- Two interior 12V fans, versus one on the Standard
- Includes mattress, ladder, LED, 12V power and solar wiring
- Manufacturer does not publish closed/packed dimensions, capacity, setup time or warranty
Which one to pick
Take the BunduTop King if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the Altitude Electric if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Beyond that the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex, cargo rails — are where the remaining difference lies.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $6,000— worst of the tents compared | $5,839.95— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 234 lb— worst of the tents compared | 200 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 5 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 14.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 39.1 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 35.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2.8 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Fiberglass | Aluminium |
| Fabric | 380GSM poly-cotton canvas | Ripstop canvas |
| Warranty | 3years— best of the tents compared | 1year— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | Yes | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | Bundutec product page |
Related comparisons
- Altitude ElectricvsSkyPeak HD
- Altitude ElectricvsSkyera
- Altitude ElectricvsSkycamp 3.0
- BunduTop KingvsBunduTop Standard+
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Altitude Electric and the Bundutec BunduTop King.