Darche Detachable vs Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite
The Darche Detachable and the Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite are both softshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Darche and Ironman 4x4 take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Detachable brings 54 kg and sleeps 2. The Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite counters with 47.2 kg, 2.82 m² of floor, 99.06 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Uber Lite is 6.799999999999997 kg lighter at 47.2 kg against 54 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Detachable is a clamshell and the Uber Lite 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. The Detachable uses aluminium Honeycomb base; the Uber Lite uses soft shell. Canvas differs too: 140gsm 200D Ripstop Polyester Oxford body with blackout (2000mm); 140gsm Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly (2000mm) against 600D ripstop poly-oxford fly with 3000mm water-head rating.
Darche
Detachable
The Detachable is a softshell rooftop tent whose tent body (13kg) can be separated from its aluminium honeycomb baseboard, which with the ladder and transit cover weighs 41kg. It has an oversized sky window on body and fly, blackout coating, a built-in LED strip and a 50mm high-density foam mattress. Two floor mats and a heavy-duty PVC transit cover are included.
- Detachable tent body separates from the baseboard
- Oversized sky window and blackout coating
- Lowest price point in Darche's rooftop range
- No single combined weight published (13kg tent + 41kg base/ladder/cover)
Ironman 4x4
Uber Lite
The Uber Lite (IRTT0034) is Ironman 4x4's entry-level softshell tent, catalogued at a $1,299 list price. It folds out from a 50 x 48.4 x 13.4 inch packed size to a 93 x 47 inch sleeping floor with a 39 inch open height, on a 1-inch high-density foam mattress. The fly is 600D ripstop poly-oxford with a 3000mm water-head rating, three windows with mesh vents and a built-in USB-powered LED light strip.
- Lower published weight (approx. 104 lb) than the brand's Cross 1200 softshell
- 600D ripstop poly-oxford fly with a 3000mm water-head rating
- Built-in USB LED light strip and an under-5-minute setup claim
- Thin 1-inch mattress versus 2.4-2.8 in on the brand's other tents
Which one to pick
Take the Uber Lite if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | 3-season |
| List price | $1,320— worst of the tents compared | $1,299— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 104 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.2 in— best of the tents compared | 13.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 9 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 3 ft 11 in |
| Floor area | — | 30.4 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 3 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— best of the tents compared | 1 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | Aluminium Honeycomb base | Soft shell |
| Fabric | 140gsm 200D Ripstop Polyester Oxford body with blackout (2000mm); 140gsm Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly (2000mm) | 600D ripstop poly-oxford fly with 3000mm water-head rating |
| Warranty | 3years | 3years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Ironman 4x4 product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Detachable and the Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite.