Ironman4x4 RTT/Awning

When it comes to camping, specifically vehicle based camping, there are a large number of options for roof top tents, awnings, rooms and other options. Aside from brands, there are also several different styles, each with their own benefits, downsides and associated costs. So why did I choose Ironman4x4, and more specifically, why did I choose the RTT and awning that I did?

Bottom line is at the time, all my decisions came down to cost, and Ironman4x4 had a spectacular sale going on at the time. Not only did I get my Classic Soft Shell RTT with the annex, I purchased my 6.5' awning with room at the same time and due to the way the sale was structured, I essentially got the awning with room package for free! So while the price fit the budget and allotted me a complete "glamping" setup well under the $2k mark, how is the overall quality? How has it held up in the long run? Will I ever change the setup or chose another brand?

Now that I have used this tent through every moody seasonal temperature and weather swing, I can give accurate feedback on it. Starting with the tent, it is roomy enough for two adults with room to spare. The 3" thick mattress isn't bad at all, and I'm sure if I didn't have the back problems I deal with, I could sleep on it for a week straight without the need for additional padding. However, with that said, I do utilize additional padding for my own personal reasons, but the mattress included is more than comfortable. The overall construction of the tent is solid, and I can only note a couple areas where craftsmanship lacked, mainly where the holes were drilled for the window rods, but these are more cosmetic gripes than anything. Inside the tent are side mounted storage panels/nets that give you an organized area to store your phone and other personal items. The fabric and zippers have been wonderful, and even with melting snow on the top of the tent, absolutely zero moisture was introduced. My only real complaint is the packout process can be a tad cumbersome after rain or snow when alone. Getting everything neatly packed down to allow the cover to go on is definitely a back and forth process, tucking here and there, lift this and tuck that, but with two people this process is a breeze. This may seem like a short review, and that is simply due to the simplicity of the tent. There isn't much to it, but it doesn't leave you wanting more either. Overall the tent has kept me dry, warm in colder months, cooler in warmer temps with the windows open and screens up to keep bugs out. It has endured 40+ mph winds, -10 degree temps and overall been a great companion and coming in at 130lbs its suitable for most vehicle applications and easy to install.

The 6.5' awning is just as great as the tent, and the room additions for both give a whole bunch of extra useable enclosed space. The awning can be setup in under a minute, with some practice of course, but it simply unrolls with two vertical legs and two horizontal legs that are easy to extend and just as easy to pack away. The awning itself is just that, and aside from its ease of use and great quality, there isn't much more to add. Now, as for the two rooms, the annex for the RTT and the room addition for the awning are both of great quality and provide enough room to setup all your camp gear inside if weather is not favorable, even additional sleeping space within both. Lighting can be installed in either with the Ironman4x4 LED lighting strips, and the elements are kept out with the doors/windows zipped up. Both the room and annex are installed easily, but much like packing out the tent, both are easier to install, setup and packout with two people. Aside from the again slightly annoying solo adventure of setting up or packing out, the room and awning do take up substantial space when packed in their included storage bags. So take their size into account when loading your vehicle up.

Overall I have deeply enjoyed all of my products from Ironman4x4, and most of my gripes are personal nit-picky issues, but at the end of it all they have done their job, given me shelter and held up to the elements great, even with 6" of snow piled on top of both. The quality of them is definitely up to the task and I have yet to see any damage or degrading of the materials used in their construction. While I would like to switch to a much faster clamshell style tent, the weight of many of them is simply not applicable to my roof rack, go read the review of that and you will understand my concern and reserve for switching to a heavier tent. As for the awning, again there are many options out there that may be faster and have a more simplified setup, I find it difficult to consider anything else being that this has not only held up through some nasty winds, rain and snow, its lightweight and the room is sufficient enough to camp in with a cot or just a bag and pillows, but has served as a great dayroom and kitchen. Ironman4x4 is here to stay for the time being, and I am confident it will last me many more years to come.