Ironman 4x4 Cross 1200 MK2 vs RoofBunk Explorer
The Ironman 4x4 Cross 1200 MK2 and the RoofBunk Explorer 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. Ironman 4x4 and RoofBunk take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Explorer is 6 kg lighter at 50 kg against 56 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Floor area is close to identical at 4.38 m² and 4.34 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. List prices are within $185 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. Ironman 4x4 also backs the Cross 1200 MK2 for 3 years against 2.
Canvas differs too: 420D polyester Oxford fly; 120gsm super-fine insect mesh against 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly. Closed, the Explorer sits 12.93 cm lower on the roof — 30 cm against 42.93 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Ironman 4x4
Cross 1200 MK2
The Cross 1200 MK2 is Ironman 4x4's softshell fold-out tent, whose fold-out design roughly doubles its footprint to a 120.5 x 56.3 inch open floor sleeping two adults and a child. At a published 125 lbs it is lighter than the brand's hardshell tents and uses 420D polyester Oxford fabric with a 2.8-inch high-density foam mattress. Ironman 4x4 sells a matching Cross 1200 annex room, and the tent is rated for 3-season use.
- Lighter than Ironman 4x4's hardshell models (125 lb published)
- Optional matching Cross 1200 annex room available from the brand
- Integrated star-gazing sky windows and a heater/AC hose inlet
- Rated 3-season, versus the 4-season rating on the brand's hardshells
RoofBunk
Explorer
The Explorer is the entry model in RoofBunk's three-tent soft-shell Explorer range, a fold-out tent the maker rates for 2-3 occupants. RoofBunk lists open dimensions of 310 x 140cm - a figure that includes a 70 x 140cm entrance canopy over the ladder - a packed size of 140 x 120 x 30cm and a 6cm memory-foam mattress. It uses a 320gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas body (3000mm HH) with a 600D Oxford polyester rainfly (5000mm HH) and is marketed as 4-season.
- 4-season rating with a 3000mm-HH canvas body and 5000mm-HH rainfly
- Supplied with a 6cm memory-foam mattress, USB strip light and two skylights
- 2-year warranty, extendable to 7 years per RoofBunk
- Manufacturer does not state what the 50kg weight includes
Which one to pick
Take the Explorer 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 | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3 | 3 |
| Season rating | 3-season— worst of the tents compared | 4-season— best of the tents compared |
| List price | $1,299— best of the tents compared | $1,480— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 125 lb— worst of the tents compared | 110 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 16.9 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 10 ft— worst of the tents compared | 10 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 8 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 47.1 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 46.7 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.8 in— best of the tents compared | 2.4 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. | 4 min |
| Shell material | Soft shell | — |
| Fabric | 420D polyester Oxford fly; 120gsm super-fine insect mesh | 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly |
| Warranty | 3years— best of the tents compared | 2years— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Ironman 4x4 product page | RoofBunk product page |
Related comparisons
- Cross 1200 MK2vsGO
- Cross 1200 MK2vsGalaxy
- Cross 1200 MK2vsLite Cruiser 120 XL
- Cross 1200 MK2vsExpedition Foldout
Or read the full spec sheets for the Ironman 4x4 Cross 1200 MK2 and the RoofBunk Explorer.