Sterling Adventure Co Wasatch Lite V2 Review: A 96-Pound Full-Aluminum Hardshell

12 min read

Wasatch Lite V2 Overview

Most hardshell rooftop tents ask you to accept a penalty. You gain a fast setup and a rigid lid. In return you give back 60 pounds of roof load and a few miles per gallon. The Wasatch Lite V2 exists to shrink the penalty. Sterling Adventure Co builds it around a 96-pound aluminum shell and a 4.7-inch closed profile. Sterling calls it the lightest full-aluminum rooftop tent in the world. The claim is narrower than it sounds, because plenty of lighter tents exist with composite or fabric-sided construction. We have no way to verify it, since Sterling does not publish the comparison set behind the claim. Among full-aluminum shells, though, 96 pounds is low. Sterling published a short walkthrough of the tent, and it covers the fold and the shell better than photographs do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoNYeuHC6go Pricing sits at $2,295, down from a $2,595 regular tag. Spirit of 1876 lists it at the same figure and ships from Castle Rock, Colorado. The spec table below comes from Sterling’s published spec sheet. Where a figure comes from an independent install review or an owner report, the text says so.

How We Evaluated This Tent

I flew from California to Castle Rock, Colorado to work through this category in person. Owner Mike walked me across the Spirit of 1876 warehouse floor tent by tent, and those impressions inform this review. However, I have not slept in the Wasatch Lite V2 on the trail. So every durability and comfort claim below traces to Sterling’s specs or to owner reports. I label which is which.

Key Specs at a Glance

These figures come from Sterling Adventure Co’s published spec sheet. Where the brand’s own pages disagree, both numbers appear below.

Two absences matter more than anything in the table. Sterling publishes no static or dynamic roof load rating, only the 600-pound interior figure, so your rack math has to start from your own crossbars. It also publishes no interior peak height, no floor dimension, no ladder length and no window count. Separately, its buying guide gives the platform as 48 by 79 inches, which disagrees with the 78 by 48-inch mattress on the product page.

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Sponsored content. Produced in partnership with Spirit of 1876.

What Changed in the V2

“V2” is real Sterling branding rather than a dealer label. The company uses it in the product headline, in its own image filenames, and in its FAQ. Notably, at least one other authorized dealer still sells the tent without the V2 name. Expect the two labels to describe one product. Sterling names four upgrades, then adds “and more,” so the list is not exhaustive. The four are an integrated power station dock, a dedicated diesel heater port, annex room compatibility, and matte black branding. One item does not hold up. An independent install review of the original, from December 2024, already documented a diesel heater port high on the left side. So read V2 as a features and finish refresh rather than a redesign. Every dimension carries over unchanged. So do the 96-pound weight, the 280g canvas, the 2-inch mattress and the 600-pound interior rating. Only the heater port is provably not new, since Sterling published no V1 feature list to check the rest against. Worth knowing on the annex claim: we found no Sterling annex offered for sale anywhere. This matters for two kinds of buyer. If you already own a Wasatch Lite, the V2 gives you almost nothing worth a trade. Meanwhile a first-time buyer looking at a discounted V1 gets an identical shell, canvas and sleeping platform. Confirm whether the unit has the power station dock, which Sterling lists as new.

Weight, Setup, and Getting It Installed

Weight is the reason to pick this tent over its siblings. At 96 pounds bare and roughly 105 loaded, it undercuts its own Wasatch Lite Pro by 33 pounds and the Sterling Uinta Box Shell by more than 50. Two consequences follow, and owners raise both unprompted. First, installation is a two-person lift rather than a four-person one. The independent install review put the job at about an hour with two people. Second, a 4.7-inch closed profile clears a standard garage door on many mid-size SUVs. Two owners say the tent lives on the vehicle year round because of it. Sterling claims setup runs under 30 seconds. You release two latches, gas struts lift the lid, and you add the two rain fly poles if you want them. The independent 2024 install review measured the full open or close cycle at under a minute. Treat it as the real-world number.

Rack, Install, and What It Costs to Get It Home

Sterling ships universal mounting hardware and a 13mm ratcheting wrench in the box. The independent review describes brackets secured with knobs rather than a traditional nut and bolt system, which should make removal quicker than installation. Ladder mounts slide into the lower track of the base, letting you position the ladder on any side. The same review measured a 46.5-inch crossbar spread on its own vehicle. Sterling publishes no required spacing, though, so treat 46.5 inches as one installer’s choice rather than a specification. What you do need is your own rack’s dynamic and static rating against roughly 105 pounds of tent plus two occupants. Our hardtop rooftop tent buyer’s guide explains dynamic and static rack ratings in full. One pricing detail belongs here. Sterling charges $250 for home delivery of a rooftop tent, and its own buying guide quotes an MSRP of $2,495 plus shipping rather than the $2,295 on the product page. The December 2024 independent review listed it at $2,700. Ask any seller in writing whether the $250 delivery charge applies to your order.

Inside the Wasatch Lite V2

The mattress measures 78 by 48 inches at 2 inches of high-density memory foam. The independent reviewer calls the result comfortable for two adults, “albeit snugly.” Sterling’s FAQ says owners up to 6’3″ report fitting head to toe, which is a relayed owner report rather than a published interior dimension. Wedge geometry sets the limit, since the roof tapers toward your feet. One design detail improves on the usual wedge, according to the independent 2024 review. The lid opens closer to 55 or 60 degrees rather than the 45 degrees common in the category. In his write-up, the extra angle buys more usable height over the legs and more room at the foot end. The canvas is the same 280g polycotton with a PU5000 coating and UPF50+ Sterling uses across its line, and Sterling specs it as blackout. Real hardware backs the four-season claim: a diesel heater port, a condensation pad, and optional clip-in winter insulation. The integrated lighting draws standard USB-A power and runs from a remote, per the independent review. It offers amber, white and warm white at dimmable levels. Storage is better than the footprint implies. The independent review counted six pockets on the roof panel, two shoe bags on the edge, and more pockets on both sides. Sterling also sells optional crossbars for the closed lid, rated 110 pounds closed and 35 pounds open.

What Owners Report

Sterling’s review widget needs a caveat before any of its numbers get used. It pools reviews across the whole catalog rather than per product. As a result, the V2 page and the Pro page show an identical rating and identical top reviews. One review on the V2 page is explicitly about the Pro. So treat the headline score as a brand rating, not a model rating. Even so, the reviews attributed to this tent cluster around three themes. Low profile comes first. One Bronco owner writes: “the low-profile is so low, I can drive into my standard garage door with it on. I never take it off.” Another owner is blunter: “At 96 lbs, its hard to beat!” Weight comes second, and it changes behavior. One owner replaced a 180-pound folding tent. In their words, the Wasatch Lite “now lives on my 4Runner all the time, allowing me to use it much more frequently than before.” Fit comes third, and here the picture is mixed. Owners at 6′ and 6’3″ report lying head to toe. The independent reviewer, also 6 feet, added a caveat: his feet barely touched the edge. One owner at 6’4″ found the Lite “a little small” before upgrading to the Pro.

Complaints and Gaps in the Record

One owner review is genuinely critical, and its complaint is specific. Writing in August 2026, a Bronco owner reports two problems. First, “the ladder cannot be attached with the tent cover closed.” Second, “for the price a ladder bag would have been nice.” The same review opens with “Tents seems high quality” and closes with “the customer service is excellent though.” A second owner had a mounting bolt break during install. Sterling shipped a replacement within two days. Two separate owners praise the support response, which is worth something on a young brand. The gap in the record is long-term durability. The reviews are recent, and none describes a season or more of use. One owner posted a comfort verdict while noting he had not taken the tent camping yet. No leak, strut or shell problems appear in the reviews, beyond the broken bolt above. Nobody has yet reported a failure, and nobody has yet reported three seasons either.

Wasatch Lite V2 vs. Wasatch Lite Pro

The Pro is the tent most Wasatch Lite shoppers weigh against this one. The X-hinge drives the difference. Our full Wasatch Lite Pro review covers it in depth.

96 lbs, Sterling's Lightest ShellBest for: daily drivers who want a hardshell they barely feel on the roof

Sterling Wasatch Lite V2 Aluminum Hardshell

A 96-pound aluminum shell packing to 4.7 inches closed, low enough to clear many garage doors. The mattress, telescopic ladder, integrated lighting, condensation pad and mounting hardware all ship in the box.

• 96 lbs bare against 138 lbs for its own Wasatch Lite Pro sibling
• 4.7-inch closed profile clears many standard garage doors
• Honeycomb aluminum base rather than weight-saving slats
• Diesel heater port and condensation pad for cold weather
• Ladder, mattress, integrated lighting and hardware included

• Wedge geometry caps comfortable height around 6 feet 3 inches
• Ladder cannot be attached with the travel cover closed
• Sterling publishes no roof load rating and no ladder length

See It at Spirit of 1876 →

Sponsored content. Produced in partnership with Spirit of 1876.

Which One Fits You

The X-hinge lifts the wedge side and buys more room for $300 and 33 extra pounds. Sterling puts the gain at 30 percent more space in its bullets and 33 percent in its prose, on the same page. One owner who upgraded puts it directly: “at 6’4″ the lite was great but a little small with the lite pro I can stretch all the way out without issue. The x hinge makes all the difference.” So the decision rule is simple. At or under 6 feet, or if roof weight is your binding constraint, the V2 does the job for $300 less. Above 6 feet, or if you camp for a week rather than a weekend, the Pro earns its premium. Sterling itself points taller pairs toward a third model, the Wasatch Double Channel, which adds 12 inches of length.

Is the Wasatch Lite V2 Worth It?

For drivers who keep a tent on the roof year round, yes. The Wasatch Lite V2 solves the two problems behind most hardshell removals: weight and garage clearance. At 96 pounds and 4.7 inches closed, it removes both. One owner who replaced a 180-pound folding tent says it now lives on his 4Runner full time. The four-season hardware is real rather than a badge. Sterling specs aluminum on the top, sides and lower shell, plus a honeycomb base rather than open slats. A diesel heater port, a condensation pad and PU5000 blackout canvas complete the winter package. Sterling’s warranty page also describes three years structural cover on hinges, struts and T-slot attachments, though its product badge and FAQ disagree. Three reservations belong on the record. First, wedge geometry means two adults sleep snugly, and anyone above 6 feet should weigh the Pro instead. Second, Sterling’s published information contradicts itself on warranty terms and on price, and its review widget pools ratings across models. Third, no public review describes a full season of use, and no retailer displays product-specific reviews for this tent. So here is the practical read. Buy the Wasatch Lite V2 if you daily-drive the vehicle, park in a garage, and sleep two at average height. Step up to the Wasatch Lite Pro if either of you passes 6 feet. One more branch deserves naming. If a documented multi-season track record matters more to you than 96 pounds, buy an established shell instead and accept the extra weight. Sterling’s public record on this tent runs under two years deep. Our best rooftop tents roundup covers the longer-running options. Whichever way you go, confirm the warranty term in writing and check your rack’s ratings before delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Wasatch Lite V2 weigh?

The shell weighs 96 pounds, and Sterling puts the fully loaded figure at roughly 105 pounds. For comparison, its own Wasatch Lite Pro runs 138 pounds loaded. Sterling publishes no roof load rating, so check your own crossbars.

What is the difference between the Wasatch Lite V2 and the original?

Sterling lists a power station dock, a diesel heater port, annex room compatibility and matte black branding, then adds “and more.” The heater port already existed on the original. Every dimension, the weight, the canvas and the mattress carry over unchanged, so V2 is a features refresh rather than a redesign.

How many people does the Wasatch Lite V2 sleep?

Two adults, on a 78 by 48-inch mattress. Sterling relays owner reports of people up to 6’3″ fitting head to toe. Because the wedge tapers toward your feet, though, campers above 6 feet will find the Wasatch Lite Pro more comfortable.

How long does the Wasatch Lite V2 take to set up?

Sterling states under 30 seconds. You release two latches and gas struts lift the lid, then add the two rain fly poles if you want them. An independent install review measured the full open or close cycle at under a minute.

What warranty comes with the Wasatch Lite V2?

Sterling’s warranty page describes a 2-year standard warranty plus a 3-year structural warranty on hinges, struts and T-slot attachments. However, a product badge advertises a flat 3 years and the FAQ says a flat 2 years. Ask your dealer to confirm the term in writing.

Is the Wasatch Lite V2 worth it?

For daily drivers who want a hardshell they barely notice, yes. The 96-pound shell and 4.7-inch closed height justify the $2,295 tag. Campers above 6 feet should weigh the Pro, and anyone needing a multi-season public track record should buy an established shell instead.