ARB Altitude Electric vs ARB Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm)
Both of these are ARB tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Altitude Electric and the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) share ARB's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) is 21 kg lighter at 85 kg against 106 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 3.63 m² and 3.6 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 138 cm in the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) against 118 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) lists $2,306.95 lower, at $3,693 against $5,999.95.
The Altitude Electric uses fiberglass; the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) uses honeycomb aluminium. Canvas differs too: 380GSM poly-cotton canvas against 300D double rip-stop polycotton, PU coated. Closed, the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) sits 19 cm lower on the roof — 18 cm against 37 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
ARB
Altitude Electric
The Altitude is ARB's flagship electric hardshell, opening and closing automatically at the push of a button. It has a fiberglass shell, a 70mm dual-density mattress and an internal 12V system with dimmable lighting, a fan and USB charging. It is the most expensive and heaviest of ARB's current rooftop tents.
- Automated push-button setup and pack-down
- Integrated 12V electrics with lighting, fan and USB
- Solar-ready with a 20kg dynamic roof-load capacity on top
- Heaviest tent in ARB's range at 106 kg
ARB
Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm)
The Intrepid 3.0 is the widest (1600mm) honeycomb-aluminium hardshell in ARB's Intrepid range, rated for three people. It shares the range's 180mm pack-down, 60-second gas-strut setup and 138cm internal headroom, and features dimmable dual-temperature LED lighting and two stargazing windows. It is the largest and heaviest of the three Intrepid sizes.
- Widest sleeping space of the Intrepid range, rated for three
- Slim 180mm pack-down and 60-second setup
- Dimmable dual-temperature LED lighting and skylights
- Heaviest Intrepid variant at 85 kg
Which one to pick
Take the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) if the budget is fixed. Take the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) 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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $6,000— worst of the tents compared | $3,690— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 234 lb— worst of the tents compared | 187 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 5 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 14.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 39.1 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 38.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.8 in— best of the tents compared | 2 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. | 60 sec |
| Shell material | Fiberglass | Honeycomb aluminium |
| Fabric | 380GSM poly-cotton canvas | 300D double rip-stop polycotton, PU coated |
| Warranty | 3years | 3years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | Yes | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | ARB product page |
Related comparisons
- Altitude ElectricvsDiscovery
- Altitude ElectricvsGen 3-R Expedition
- Altitude ElectricvsSkyera
- Altitude ElectricvsMaggiolina Airlander Plus
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Altitude Electric and the ARB Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm).