Direct4x4 TrailTop Expedition vs Howling Moon Lunar
The Direct4x4 TrailTop Expedition and the Howling Moon Lunar 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. Direct4x4 and Howling Moon take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Direct4x4 TrailTop Expedition brings 54.6 kg, 3.56 m² of floor, 115 cm of headroom and sleeps 3. The Howling Moon Lunar counters with 75 kg, 3.12 m² of floor, 105 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The TrailTop Expedition is 20.4 kg lighter at 54.6 kg against 75 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 TrailTop Expedition gives 3.56 m² of sleeping floor against 3.12 m², about 14 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Lunar's 2. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the TrailTop Expedition is a fold-out and the Lunar a clamshell. 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: poly-cotton, 65% polyester / 35% cotton, waterproof 10,000 mm against heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips.
Direct4x4
TrailTop Expedition
The TrailTop is one of Direct4x4's hard-shell rooftop tents, sold in 3-person and 4-person configurations with a gloss-black aerodynamic shell that folds open. The 3-person version opens to 162 x 220 cm and weighs about 54.6 kg, while the 4-person version opens to 220 x 225 cm at roughly 70 kg. It uses a 65% polyester / 35% cotton poly-cotton canvas rated to a 10,000 mm water column and ships with a 4 cm mattress and a telescopic aluminium ladder.
- Offered in both 3-person and 4-person sizes
- Poly-cotton canvas rated to a 10,000 mm water column
- Includes a 4 cm mattress and telescopic aluminium ladder
- Manufacturer does not publish a warranty period or season rating
Howling Moon
Lunar
The Lunar is a clamshell hardshell tent with a fibreglass top and bottom raised by a gas-strut lifting mechanism, fitted with a fully quilted 100 mm high-density foam mattress. Aluminium mounting rails are built into the top of the lid to allow fitting a solar panel or other accessories. It has large screened aperture windows and is available in black, grey or white.
- Thick 100 mm quilted foam mattress
- Fibreglass shell with lid mounting rails for solar/accessories
- Fully published open and packed dimensions
- Ladder is sold separately
Which one to pick
Take the TrailTop Expedition if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the TrailTop Expedition 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 |  Direct4x4 TrailTop Expedition
| |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,920— best of the tents compared | $1,970— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 120 lb— best of the tents compared | 165 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.6 in— best of the tents compared | 13 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 5 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 38.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 33.6 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 1.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 3.9 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 | — | Fibreglass with scratch-resistant coating |
| Fabric | Poly-cotton, 65% polyester / 35% cotton, waterproof 10,000 mm | Heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
- TrailTop ExpeditionvsKozi Pop Up G2
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- LunarvsKozi Pop Up G2
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 TrailTop Expedition and the Howling Moon Lunar.