Direct4x4 TrailTop Expedition vs Overland Vehicle Systems LD TMON

The Direct4x4 TrailTop Expedition and the Overland Vehicle Systems LD TMON 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 Overland Vehicle Systems 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 Overland Vehicle Systems LD TMON counters with 68 kg, 2.67 m² of floor, 165.1 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.

The TrailTop Expedition is 13.399999999999999 kg lighter at 54.6 kg against 68 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 2.67 m², about 33 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the LD TMON's 2. Headroom separates them further: 165.1 cm in the LD TMON against 115 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. 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 LD TMON 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 600D rip stop poly cotton Oxford. Closed, the LD TMON sits 16.759999999999998 cm lower on the roof — 15.24 cm against 32 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.