Gasell Adventure GC132 vs Ironman 4x4 Ursa 1300
The Gasell Adventure GC132 and the Ironman 4x4 Ursa 1300 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. Gasell Adventure and Ironman 4x4 take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
Inside, the Ursa 1300 gives 3.28 m² of sleeping floor against 2.44 m², about 34 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the GC132's 2. Headroom separates them further: 165 cm in the GC132 against 133.1 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. List prices are within $114 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. Ironman 4x4 also backs the Ursa 1300 for 3 years against 2.
They open differently: the GC132 is a clamshell and the Ursa 1300 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 GC132 uses aluminum; the Ursa 1300 uses ABS hardshell with aluminium honeycomb base. Canvas differs too: poly-cotton, 280 g/m2, PU-coated, 3000 mm waterproof rating against 420D polyester Oxford fly; 320gsm ripstop nylon mesh. Closed, the GC132 sits 14 cm lower on the roof — 18 cm against 32 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Gasell Adventure
GC132
The GC132 is Gasell Adventure's aluminium hard-shell clamshell tent, opening to a 165 cm interior peak on a 210 x 132 cm footprint. Gasell lists a 75 kg weight, a 350 kg roof load, a 50 mm high-density memory-foam mattress (200 x 122 cm), poly-cotton fabric (280 g/m2, 3000 mm) and a setup time of under a minute, with room for two adults and one small child. The product-page URL references 'GC138' while the product heading and specifications identify the model as the GC132.
- Aluminium hard shell opening to a tall 165 cm clamshell interior on a 210 x 132 cm footprint
- Manufacturer states a setup time of under a minute
- Includes a 50 mm high-density memory-foam mattress and LED lighting
- Rated for two adults and one child on a narrower 122 cm mattress than the GM and GA models
Ironman 4x4
Ursa 1300
The Ursa 1300 is the smaller of Ironman 4x4's two Ursa hardshell fold-out tents, sized for CUVs, SUVs, wagons and most truck beds. It sleeps two adults and a child on a 2.4-inch high-density foam mattress and deploys via two base latches and assisted gas struts, expanding sideways from a 65 x 48.8 inch packed footprint to a 63 x 80.6 inch open floor. Integrated star-gazing sky windows, LED strip lighting and a heater/AC hose inlet are included.
- Two-latch, gas-strut fold-out deployment the maker rates at under 5 minutes
- Integrated star-gazing sky windows and LED strip lighting
- Heater/AC hose inlet for cold-weather diesel-heater use
- Manufacturer publishes the 160 lb weight in imperial only, with no metric figure
Which one to pick
Take the Ursa 1300 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 | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | 4-season |
| List price | $3,110— worst of the tents compared | $2,999— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 165 lb | — |
| Packed length | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared | 12.6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 26.3 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 35.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 5 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.4 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 sec | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Aluminum | ABS hardshell with aluminium honeycomb base |
| Fabric | Poly-cotton, 280 g/m2, PU-coated, 3000 mm waterproof rating | 420D polyester Oxford fly; 320gsm ripstop nylon mesh |
| Warranty | 2years— worst of the tents compared | 3years— best of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Gasell Adventure product page | Ironman 4x4 product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Gasell Adventure GC132 and the Ironman 4x4 Ursa 1300.