Clumsy extensions, flimsy fabrics, and cumbersome installation of rooftop tents have often marred the camping experience for many, including the creators of the Altus – a mobile habitat. This was essentially before the hardshell tents made it to the scene. These tents are growing in number, and their differences in functionality are just making the space more clustered with undeniable options.
The Altus – Hardwall Rooftop Cabin – lands in an undeniable category, considering the well-rounded approach it brings to the rooftop tents. Created in Standard and XL models (difference based on size rather than functionality), the Altus by Denver-based Mohab is positioned as a hard-sided rooftop cabin that automatically goes from 8.7-inch drive height to 45-inch, livable quarter, in under 60 seconds.
Designer: Mohab
The claim is unsubstantiated at the time of writing, but if it’s anywhere around the quick timeframe, the setup definitely gets a five-star from me. That said, the way this electric-lift system of the cube really deploys is what makes the setup even more intriguing. As the videos on the product listing page on Mohab’s website show, on the click of the deploy button, the sidewalls of the cabin flex up to form a living space. The walls on the front and back flip down independently later, once the walls on the side have been erected. The Altus series comes with a manual deploy system as well. It allows users to set up the cabin without power.
Sitting atop the cuboid – they call the Altus – is its pop-up roof. This roof hinged at the rear, rises up on the front, creating standing headroom and a significant perch for your panoramic sighting of the surrounding vista on a clear day. You’ll want the all-weather housing (provided with heating and air conditioning) of the Altus to remain completely shut and airtight amid a downpour.
Coming to the construction, the Altus series hardwall rooftop cabins feature aluminum alloy frames and PET panels. The material used in construction allows the cabin a lightweight form factor: Altus weighs 120 kg, and the Altus XL is just 5 kg heavier at 125 kg. The former measures 93 x 54 inches, which is enough space for a double mattress. The XL model, on the other hand, measures 101 x 54 inches, which should provide space for an extra person to fit in. Both models have a similar design with slider windows on either side and a hinged pop-up roof.
The boxy, hard-walled Altus can conveniently mount on a range of rugged trucks and 4x4s with Mohab’s Fortis rack systems (sold separately). Of course, that’s a bump in the overall cost of the rooftop tent, but with the convenience and efficiency offered, the Altus definitely makes up for the extra cost. Price for the Altus rooftop cabin starts at $5,139 with a pickup bed rack. The Altus XL with a pickup mount starts at $5,449.
