ARB Intrepid rooftop tent offers 36% more space

ARB has unveiled its new Intrepid rooftop tent, and the idea behind the design is simple. Create a rooftop tent that stays compact on the road but feels far less cramped once you’re camped for the night. Because anyone who’s tried to change clothes inside a rooftop tent while sitting cross-legged knows the struggle is real.

The result? The ARB Intrepid rooftop tent, a unique RTT featuring a proprietary bi-fold roof system that expands the internal volume by 36 per cent compared to traditional clamshell tents, while remaining just 18cm tall when packed down for travel.

Let’s be honest, rooftop tents can sometimes feel like a trade-off. They’re great for getting off the ground and setting up camp quickly, but space can be tight once you’re inside. ARB’s new Intrepid rooftop tent appears to tackle that problem head-on.

For those who just want the quick rundown before diving into the details, here’s the short version.

In a nutshell

ARB unveils the Intrepid rooftop tent, designed to maximise living space without bulk.
It features a bi-fold roof system that increases internal volume by 36%, while remaining 18cm tall when packed.
The tent offers quick setup in about 60 seconds, internal headroom of up to 138cm, and comes in three sizes.
Key features include multiple ventilation options, built-in dimmable LED lighting, and modular accessory compatibility.
The ARB Intrepid rooftop tent is backed by a three-year warranty.

Slim profile for travel

One of the key design focuses for the Intrepid is its low-profile packed height, measuring just 18cm when closed.

This slimline profile is designed to minimise wind drag and keep the overall vehicle height down while driving – an important consideration for modern dual-cab utes and SUVs often already loaded with accessories.

And if you’ve already got a roof rack, awning, shovel, MaxTrax and a light bar up there, every centimetre of height matters.

Despite its compact travel footprint, the tent expands to offer up to 138cm of internal headroom once deployed. Setup is designed to be quick, with quad stainless-steel gas struts enabling a claimed 60-second opening time.

Lightweight construction

The Intrepid uses a honeycomb aluminium shell designed to keep weight down while maintaining strength.

The smallest version weighs around 70kg, which keeps it within the roof load limits of many vehicles. Although that’s still a two-person lift unless you’ve been hitting the gym harder than most of us.

The tent fabric itself uses 300-denier double ripstop material, with ARB also including a condensation mesh layer and multi-layer mattress system to improve comfort and airflow.

Three sizes available

ARB is offering the Intrepid rooftop tent in three sizes:

Intrepid 2.0 – 1285mm wide – from $4,995
Intrepid 2.5 – 1400mm wide – from $5,195
Intrepid 3.0 – 1600mm wide – from $5,595

Ventilation and weather protection

The tent includes multiple ventilation options including side windows, mesh panels, roof vents and a rear awning, allowing airflow while still providing weather protection.

Two transparent roof panels also double as stargazing windows, with blackout covers included. Perfect for a bit of late-night stargazing – or realising you probably should have checked the weather forecast before setting up camp.

Entry is flexible as well, with three-sided access, allowing the ladder to be positioned depending on campsite layout or vehicle setup.

Built-in lighting and storage

Inside the tent, ARB has included dimmable LED strip lighting with both warm amber and cool white settings.

The lights can be powered via USB connection to a power bank or hardwired into a vehicle system.

Internal storage pockets are built into the tent walls, with additional storage options available through optional accessories such as a roof cargo net and front wall organiser.

Modular accessory system

ARB has also designed the Intrepid with T-slot channels around the tent’s perimeter, allowing owners to add accessories such as:

roof cross bars
solar panels
awnings
shoe organisers
additional lighting

Designed to integrate with modern builds

The tent is compatible with most roof rack systems, including ARB’s BASE Rack, with an optional quick-release clamp kit available for faster removal.

Specs on the ARB Intrepid rooftop tent

Warranty: 3 years
Length (folded): 2250mm
Width (folded): 1285mm/1400mm/1600mm
Height from: 180mm
Height to: 1470mm
Colour: black as standard, but can be painted any colour
Housing material: aluminium
Type: 2 person (+1 child)
Material: polycotton
Quality, Grade: PU coated
Waterproof: up to 3m
Mattress thickness: 50mm
Net weight: 70kg/75kg/85kg

With rooftop tents continuing to evolve, the Intrepid shows how brands are experimenting with new designs to improve liveability without adding bulk to already accessory-heavy 4WD setups.

Whether the extra space and bi-fold design will appeal to travellers used to traditional clamshell tents remains to be seen, but it’s another example of how rooftop camping gear is becoming more refined as remote touring and overlanding continue to grow in popularity.

Either way, it’s clear ARB isn’t done tinkering with the rooftop tent formula just yet and that’s probably good news for anyone who’s ever tried to wrestle zips, ladders and bathroom trips in the dark.