Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout vs Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition
Both of these are Direct4x4 tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Expedition Foldout and the RoofTrekk Expedition share Direct4x4's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Expedition Foldout is 14 kg lighter at 66 kg against 80 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 RoofTrekk Expedition gives 4.64 m² of sleeping floor against 3.36 m², about 38 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Expedition Foldout's 3. Headroom separates them further: 130 cm in the Expedition Foldout against 117 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Expedition Foldout lists $384 lower, at $1,216 against $1,600.
Canvas differs too: 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm against poly-cotton canvas, water column 3,000 mm. Closed, the Expedition Foldout sits 5 cm lower on the roof — 29 cm against 34 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Direct4x4
Expedition Foldout
The Expedition Foldout is Direct4x4's soft-shell fold-out tent for three (two adults and a child), available in sand, granite grey and forest green. It opens to 240 x 140 cm with a 130 cm interior height on a 2.5 cm corrosion-resistant aluminium/polyurethane sandwich base and folds down to 29 cm tall at 66 kg. The 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas is rated to a 2,000 mm water column, and the tent ships with a fold-out ladder, mosquito net, zip-on annex skirt and a waterproof travel cover.
- Available in three colours (sand, grey, green)
- Ships with a zip-on annex skirt, mosquito net and travel cover
- 6 cm high-density foam mattress
- Canvas water-column rating is 2,000 mm
Direct4x4
RoofTrekk Expedition
The RoofTrekk is a soft-shell fold-out rooftop tent rated for four people, built from Direct4x4's poly-cotton canvas with a 3,000 mm water column. It opens to 220 x 211 cm with a 117 cm interior height and packs down to 34 cm tall. Direct4x4 sells matching annex room add-ons for both the 3- and 4-person RoofTrekk, and the tent ships with a 4 cm mattress and a telescopic aluminium ladder.
- Sleeps up to four
- Compatible with Direct4x4's own annex room add-ons
- Packs down to a 34 cm closed height
- Canvas water-column rating (3,000 mm) is lower than Direct4x4's hard-shell TrailTop
Which one to pick
Take the RoofTrekk Expedition if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Expedition Foldout 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— worst of the tents compared | 4— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,220— best of the tents compared | $1,600— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 146 lb— best of the tents compared | 176 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.4 in— best of the tents compared | 13.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 49.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in— best of the tents compared | 1.6 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. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm | Poly-cotton canvas, water column 3,000 mm |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Direct4x4 product page |
Related comparisons
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- Expedition FoldoutvsCross 1200 MK2
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition.