Cascadia Vehicle Tents Mt. Hood 2 Tent vs Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002)
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents Mt. Hood 2 Tent and the Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002) 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. Cascadia Vehicle Tents and Rhino-Rack take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Cascadia Vehicle Tents Mt. Hood 2 Tent brings 135.89 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002) counters with 65 kg, 2.73 m² of floor and sleeps 2.
Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Mt. Hood 2 Tent is a clamshell and the Hardshell (61002) a fold-out. 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. Canvas differs too: 280GSM polyester (600D Oxford cover) against 600D rip-stop PolyOxford body, 210D fly, PU coated (CPAI-84).
Cascadia Vehicle Tents
Mt. Hood 2 Tent
The Mt. Hood 2 is a clamshell-opening aluminum hardshell offered in 50-, 56- and 60-inch widths, all priced at $3,299. CVT lists a 2-4 minute setup, a maximum interior headroom of 53.5 inches, an LED light strip with USB connector, and curved wraparound channels on the shell for attaching gear. It is CVT's low-profile clamshell hardshell in the current range.
- Clamshell opening with a stated 2-4 minute setup
- Published maximum headroom of 53.5 inches
- LED light strip with USB and shell channels for gear attachment
- Manufacturer does not publish weight, dimensions, or mattress thickness
Rhino-Rack
Hardshell (61002)
Rhino-Rack's fold-out hardshell tent sleeps two on a 70mm HD foam mattress and opens with gas-strut assistance. Its published kit weight is 65kg (143lb), covering the tent, ladder and mounting system, and the hard lid is rated to carry up to 20kg (44lb) of gear. The body is 600D and the fly 210D rip-stop PolyOxford, and an LED strip light and boot bags are included.
- Gas-strut assisted fold-out opening
- Hard lid rated to carry up to 20kg of extra gear
- LED strip light and boot bags included
- Manufacturer does not publish a peak/interior height
Which one to pick
These two are closely matched on the numbers that usually decide it. Read the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex — and let whichever of those you will actually use break the tie.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,299— best of the tents compared | $3,300— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 143 lb |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 8 in |
| Packed height | — | 15 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 6 ft 11 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 3 in |
| Floor area | — | 29.4 sq ft |
| Interior height | 4 ft 5 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | — | 2.8 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 3 min— best of the tents compared | 5 min— worst of the tents compared |
| Shell material | Aluminum | — |
| Fabric | 280GSM polyester (600D Oxford cover) | 600D rip-stop PolyOxford body, 210D fly, PU coated (CPAI-84) |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Cascadia Vehicle Tents product page | Rhino-Rack product page |
Related comparisons
- Mt. Hood 2 TentvsLightrize
- Mt. Hood 2 TentvsRidgeback Eco Poly
- Mt. Hood 2 TentvsIntrepid 2.0 (1285mm)
- Hardshell (61002)vsAlpha II
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents Mt. Hood 2 Tent and the Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002).