Ironman 4x4 Ursa 1300 vs Tuff Stuff Overland Alpha II
The Ironman 4x4 Ursa 1300 and the Tuff Stuff Overland Alpha II 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. Ironman 4x4 and Tuff Stuff Overland take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
Floor area is close to identical at 3.28 m² and 3.06 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. The Ursa 1300 lists $246 lower, at $2,999 against $3,245.
The Ursa 1300 uses ABS hardshell with aluminium honeycomb base; the Alpha II uses ABS. Canvas differs too: 420D polyester Oxford fly; 320gsm ripstop nylon mesh against 280 g poly/cotton ripstop; 210D Oxford PU 5000 mm rainfly; aluminum honeycomb floor.
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
Tuff Stuff Overland
Alpha II
The compact two-person Alpha, side-opening from a small 60-by-50-inch ABS shell, with a skylight and awning-covered windows.
- Compact, lighter two-person shell
- Side-opening with skylight
- Annex-room compatible
- 141 lb
Which one to pick
These two are closely matched on the numbers that usually decide it. Read the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex — and let whichever of those you will actually use break the tie.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $2,999— best of the tents compared | $3,245— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 141 lb |
| Packed length | 5 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.6 in— best of the tents compared | 14.2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 6 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 35.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 32.9 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 4 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 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. | ~60 secest. | 2 min |
| Shell material | ABS hardshell with aluminium honeycomb base | ABS |
| Fabric | 420D polyester Oxford fly; 320gsm ripstop nylon mesh | 280 g poly/cotton ripstop; 210D Oxford PU 5000 mm rainfly; aluminum honeycomb floor |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| 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 | Tuff Stuff Overland product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Ironman 4x4 Ursa 1300 and the Tuff Stuff Overland Alpha II.