Quick Facts:
- Product: TMON from OVS’s Light Duty line, a 2-person aluminum clamshell hardshell.
- Sleeps: 2 people on a 78.5″ x 45.5″ bed, per OVS.
- Weight: 150 lb dry.
- Setup: 1 minute per OVS; 2 minutes per Spirit of 1876.
- Left out: No blackout fabric, anti-condensation mat or heater port.
- Price: $1,749 at Spirit of 1876; $1,749.99 direct from OVS.
- Best for: A solo camper, a couple who sleep close, or a parent and one kid.
 8 min read
In This Review
OVS TMON Review Overview
This OVS TMON review covers the cheapest hardshell in the Overland Vehicle Systems lineup. The TMON is a 2-person aluminum clamshell rooftop tent. It pairs an aluminum honeycomb shell and base with two gas struts and a 600D ripstop poly-cotton body. Dry weight comes to 150 pounds, and Spirit of 1876 lists it at $1,749. OVS says it sets up in 1 minute and packs away in 1 minute.
LD stands for Light Duty, the entry tier below OVS’s HD and XD tents. OVS says it built the TMON for budget-conscious overlanders, and Overland Expo reports the name stands for “The Middle Of Nowhere.” So the useful question for this tent is what the lower price leaves out, and whether you miss it.
I flew from California to Castle Rock, Colorado, to put rooftop tent questions to Mike, who owns Spirit of 1876. His shop sells OVS tents and advertises with 4wdTalk. We have not slept in a TMON or deployed one on the trail. This OVS TMON review draws on OVS’s published specs, Spirit of 1876’s product notes, Mike’s interview answers, and owner reports.
Who the OVS TMON Fits
I usually camp with my girlfriend, her son and my son, so a 2-person tent covers half of our crew. The TMON fits a solo camper, a couple who sleep close, or a parent and one kid. Spirit of 1876 recommends it for anyone trying a rooftop tent at a low entry price. However, the shop does not recommend it for anyone taller than 6 feet 2 inches, or for couples who want space. For scale, OVS’s 45.5-inch bed width runs 8.5 inches narrower than a 54-inch full mattress.
Where to Buy the OVS LD TMON
Spirit of 1876 lists the TMON at $1,749, down from $1,799, and says it accepts returns on unused, undamaged products within 14 days. Meanwhile, OVS sells it direct for $1,749.99 with free lift-gate freight shipping. Spirit of 1876 also runs an install bay at its Castle Rock showroom, which matters if you lack two helpers to lift 150 pounds onto your roof.
Key Specs at a Glance
| Specification | LD TMON (per OVS) |
|---|---|
| Sleeps | 2 people |
| Sleeping area | 78.5″ x 45.5″ |
| Closed | 82.7″ x 50″ x 6″ |
| Open | 82.7″ x 50″ x 65″ |
| Weight | 150 lb dry |
| Shell and base | Aluminum honeycomb |
| Body fabric | 600D ripstop poly-cotton, 2000PU waterproof rating |
| Rainfly | 420D polyester oxford |
| Mattress | 2.5″ high-density foam |
| Struts | 2 nitrogen gas struts |
| Ladder | 81″ telescoping aluminum |
| Included | Interior lighting, pockets, shoe bags, mounting hardware |
| Warranty | 2-year fabric and structural |
Compared to the OVS figures above, Spirit of 1876’s listing differs. It lists a 2.25-inch mattress, a 50.5 by 80-inch sleeping area, a 7-inch closed height, a 46-inch open height and 2 minutes each to open and close. Spirit’s 50.5-inch width matches the outside width of the tent, so use OVS’s 78.5 by 45.5-inch bed for sleeping space. For garage clearance, use the taller 7-inch closed height. Because the open heights differ by 19 inches, ask Spirit of 1876 how it measured before you count on room to sit up.
Other Clamshell Tents at Spirit of 1876
Clamshell Rooftop Tents at Spirit of 1876
What the OVS LD Tier Leaves Out
OVS’s spec sheet marks several features as missing. The fabric carries a 2000PU waterproof rating and no blackout coating. OVS also lists no anti-condensation mat, cold weather insulation kit, AC or heater port, skylight, annex room or lid storage rack. It does include interior lighting, and Spirit of 1876 names LED lights and boot bags among its favorite features.
Mike says hardshells usually cost about twice as much as softshells and open faster. The TMON keeps the speed and cuts the price, so the savings come from dropped comfort features such as insulation. For a budget hardshell rooftop tent, the fair test is whether those missing features matter for how you camp.
Condensation and the Missing Mat
Condensation is the complaint owners raise most, on three separate platforms. One owner closed the tent right after a trip and drove 6 hours home, then found the bedding and pad damp, though not soaked. He recommends airing it out before closing and possibly storing it without the mattress. During the trip, two fans cut his condensation. A tester at OVR Magazine spent about $140 on an aftermarket anti-condensation mat. Budget for one. Our guide on how to reduce condensation in a tent covers more fixes.
Cold Weather and the OVS TMON
I do a lot of winter camping with diesel and gas heaters, so the missing heater port stands out to me. Without one, a heater duct would need to route through a window or door gap. If so, seal the gap around the duct and carry a carbon monoxide alarm. The sources also disagree on cold weather add-ons. Spirit of 1876 calls the TMON a 4-season tent with optional wedge insulation kits, while OVS lists no cold weather insulation kit for it. For this reason, ask Spirit of 1876 which kit fits before you count on winter use.
Weight, Roof Racks and the 150-Pound OVS
Roof loads have two ratings: dynamic, while driving, and static, while parked. According to the 23Zero roof load guide, most passenger vehicles carry dynamic ratings between 100 and 165 pounds. At 150 pounds, the TMON sits near the top of the range, which leaves little room for the weight of the rack.
Mike says the biggest mistake is putting a tent on a new vehicle’s factory rack, since factory racks are built for cargo boxes, skis and bikes. As a result, he says a proper aftermarket rack often belongs in the tent budget. He also flags Jeep gutter mounts on fiberglass hardtops, and he puts their limit at 150 pounds. The TMON matches the limit exactly, before you add the rack.
Below, the clip starts at the weight and safety chapter of the interview, 17 minutes and 24 seconds in.
Vehicles, Payload, Fuel and Garage Height for the OVS TMON
Spirit of 1876 says it has installed the TMON on vehicles from RAV4s to Jeeps. One owner runs it on a long-bed Tacoma with low-rise crossbars, where it overhangs the tailgate by a few inches. If you drive a RAV4 or 4Runner, check your roof’s dynamic rating in the owner’s manual, and measure your roof against the 82.7-inch tent length. Static load matters once two people climb in, so check your rack’s static rating as closely as the dynamic one.
Our guide to static vs dynamic weight ratings covers both numbers. Next, our guide on how to calculate payload capacity helps you total the rest of your gear. On fuel, Mike’s customers report a 1 to 2 mpg drop, and up to 3 mpg in the worst cases. Before you pull into a garage, add the 6 to 7-inch closed height to your rack height. Mike notes many Colorado garage doors stand around 7 to 7.5 feet tall.
Owner Notes: An OVS TMON Review Roundup
First, owner data on the TMON is thin. The five reviews on OVS’s site carry most of it, along with a handful of Reddit and Facebook posts, which we read as search excerpts. For this OVS TMON review, we counted a theme only when owners raised it on more than one platform. We label single reports as single reports.
Pros
- Owners call it strong value for a hardshell.
- One owner calls it bombproof and reports zero leaks.
- Setup and pack-down take about 30 seconds for one owner.
- A 6-foot-1 owner sleeps stretched out, and a 6-foot owner fits two adults.
- One owner says the company fixed shipping damage quickly.
Cons
- Condensation, with no anti-condensation mat included.
- The firm foam sends one side sleeper to a topper, and another owner adds memory foam.
- One owner struggled to find crossbars for the lid’s T-slot channels, and others ask which bars work.
Fit for two depends on height. A 5-foot-8 owner says a much taller sleeper sharing the bed would find it short, since his own head sits a few inches from the fabric. An OVR Magazine tester also found little shoulder room for two. In addition, one owner wants a front wind diffuser to cut noise. Mattress views split: one owner calls the foam soft and supportive, while another plans a 1-inch topper. Our HEST Foamy Wide mattress review covers one upgrade.
If the TMON fits your height, your partner and your rack, Spirit of 1876 carries it with install help at its Castle Rock showroom.
OVS LD TMON
Get an aluminum clamshell with gas struts and a 150 lb build, with interior lighting and shoe bags in the box.
- Aluminum honeycomb shell and base
- Two gas struts lift the lid
- 150 lb dry weight, per OVS
- Interior lighting, pockets and shoe bags included
- No anti-condensation mat, blackout fabric or heater port
- Spirit of 1876 does not recommend it above 6 ft 2 in
OVS TMON vs XD Lhotse
The XD Lhotse is one of OVS’s top-tier aluminum clamshell rooftop tents for two. It shows what the extra money buys in the same clamshell design. Spirit of 1876 lists it at $2,799.99, which is $1,050.99 more than the TMON’s $1,749.
| Per OVS | LD TMON | XD Lhotse |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 150 lb | 230 lb |
| Sleeping area | 78.5″ x 45.5″ | 76″ x 44.5″ |
| Waterproof rating | 2000PU | 5000PU |
| Blackout fabric | No | Yes |
| Anti-condensation mat | No | Yes |
| Insulation kit | No | Yes |
| Lid crossbars | No | 2 bars, 100 lb closed |
| Warranty | 2-year fabric and structural | 6-year fabric, lifetime structural |
The Lhotse suits cold or wet weather, gear on the lid and a longer warranty. However, it weighs 80 pounds more. At 230 pounds, it sits above the 100 to 165-pound dynamic roof ratings 23Zero cites for most passenger vehicles. It also adds no sleeping room, since its bed runs slightly smaller. The TMON suits a roof rating between 150 and 230 pounds or a budget near $1,750, plus the anti-condensation mat.
We also reviewed another budget hardshell rooftop tent priced below this one. Our Featherlyte Baseline review covers a 110-pound aluminum clamshell for two. If you would trade hardshell speed for a lower price, our OVS two-person tent guide compares the brand’s softshell options.
Final Thoughts
The LD TMON gives you an aluminum shell, gas struts and a fast open and close at 150 pounds for $1,749. One owner reports zero leaks, and several call it strong value. In exchange, you give up blackout fabric, an anti-condensation mat, insulation and a heater port.
For my own crew, a 2-person tent would sleep two of us while the other two used a ground tent. Before buying, I would add an anti-condensation mat and a topper to the budget. With a mat at about $140, the total reaches about $1,890 before a topper or rack. Taller campers should note the 6-foot-2 limit Spirit of 1876 states. If you camp in winter or want gear on the lid, the XD Lhotse costs more and covers most of those gaps, though not sleeping room. For a first aluminum clamshell rooftop tent on a budget, this OVS TMON review rates the TMON a fair trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the OVS TMON come with an anti-condensation mat?
No. OVS lists no anti-condensation mat for the TMON, and one owner reports damp bedding after closing the tent right after use. One tester spent about $140 on an aftermarket mat.
Is the OVS TMON a four-season tent?
Spirit of 1876 calls it 4-season with optional wedge insulation kits. OVS lists no cold weather insulation kit and no heater port, so confirm the kit with your dealer first.
Will a 6-foot person fit in the OVS TMON?
A 6-foot-1 owner reports sleeping stretched out, and a 6-foot owner fits two adults. Spirit of 1876 does not recommend it for anyone taller than 6 feet 2 inches.
What does LD mean in the OVS LD TMON?
LD stands for Light Duty, the entry tier below OVS’s HD and XD tents. The XD Lhotse clamshell adds blackout fabric, an anti-condensation mat, an insulation kit and lid crossbars.
What roof rack does a 150-pound tent need?
Your rack and roof need a dynamic rating above 150 pounds plus the rack’s own weight. Mike of Spirit of 1876 warns against factory racks built for cargo boxes and bikes.
Related Reading
Advertising disclosure: Spirit of 1876 is a 4wdTalk advertising partner and sells this tent. The two product modules above are paid placements. Spirit of 1876 did not pay for, review, or approve this article before publication. This review draws on Overland Vehicle Systems’ published specifications, current owner reports, and a sit-down interview with Spirit of 1876 owner Mike in Castle Rock, Colorado. 4wdTalk has not slept in this tent or deployed it in the field.