We Sneaked A Peek Inside Cheshire Leisure’s Brand New Showroom (And Found The Ultimate Overlanding Setup!)

UKSN
1 day ago
7 min read

If there is one thing we love at UKSN, it is gear that works as hard as we do. Whether you are prepping for a weekend in the wild, heading out on a family overlanding expedition, or setting up camp with your local Charter, having kit you can rely on when the British weather turns is non-negotiable.

So when the team at Cheshire Leisure invited us down to check out their brand new Sandbach showroom, we jumped straight into the wagon and headed over.

We were on a mission to inspect the newly arrived range of Moby Mountain roof top tents up close, push the latches, feel the canvas, and see if these hybrid systems live up to the hype.

Spoiler alert: they absolutely do.

Introducing Cheshire Leisure

If you are looking for premium vehicle camping setups in the UK, Cheshire Leisure is a name you need on your radar. They are the exclusive official UK & Ireland distributors for Moby Mountain, meaning their Sandbach showroom is the ultimate destination to explore these Swedish-style Danish setups in person.

The team at Cheshire Leisure could not have been more welcoming. They have the entire Moby Mountain range set up and on display, ready to view and buy. Even better, they genuinely encourage you to climb right inside the tents. Being able to lie back on the mattress, test the head clearance, feel the heavy-duty canvas, and check the panoramic view windows makes all the difference when deciding which rig fits your setup.

During our tour, the team walked us through every single model from top to bottom. They gave us a live demonstration of how the semi-automatic deployment works, popping the tents up and packing them back down in under a minute. Seeing how effortless the latches and gas struts operate in person proved that one-person camp setups are finally a reality.

Who Are Moby Mountain?

Before we dive into the tent specs, it is worth looking at the brand itself. Moby Mountain is a Danish outfit built on a simple, powerful philosophy: making it effortless to inject spontaneous adventure into everyday life.

Danish design is famous for blending sleek utility with real-world practicality, and Moby Mountain brings that exact mindset to rooftop camping:

Spontaneous Freedom: Having a rig on your roof means you can pull up, pop the latches, and be set for the night without hunting around for flat, dry ground or fighting with tent pegs.
Elevated Comfort: Sleeping high off the ground keeps you far away from damp, uneven soil, rocky ground, and curious woodland critters like mice or foxes. The base features insulated honeycomb floor panels paired with a 40mm high-density comfort foam mattress for a proper night's sleep.
Semi-Automatic Deployment: Thanks to their integrated hydraulic gas dampers, these tents pop up in under a minute and include built-in telescopic ladders for easy access.
Aerodynamic Engineering: Packed into ultra-low-profile hardshell boxes, they stay neatly within the roof dimensions of most vehicles to preserve driving dynamics and minimise fuel consumption on long motorway drives.

https://youtu.be/uFz8u8swhFc

How Moby Mountain Compares to the Competition

Around the UK campfires, TentBox is often the entry point conversation for rooftop camping. However, when you stack Moby Mountain side-by-side against mid-market brands, the jump in material quality and engineering becomes instantly clear.

Moby Mountain is built squarely for hard-use overlanding and harsh conditions. Here is how the specifications stack up:

Feature / Spec	Moby Mountain (Premium Overlanding)	Entry / Mid-Market Tents (e.g. TentBox)
Base & Floor Insulation	Heavy-duty insulated aluminium honeycomb panels (Maximum thermal efficiency)	Standard lightweight composite or standard aluminium sheet flooring
Shell & Frame Build	Full hardshell construction built to withstand severe wind loading	ABS plastic shells, soft fabric covers, or lightweight glass fibre
Fabric Grade & Coating	High-density 300g/m² PU-coated poly-cotton with 420D Oxford rainfly	Standard 280g/m² or 210D polyester fabrics
Internal Sleeping Space	Hybrid fold-out design offers a huge interior without adding roof drag when closed	Standard clamshells restrict leg room to the footprint of the hard shell
Setup System	Semi-automatic gas-strut deployment with integrated strut locks for extra safety	Manual fold-outs or basic unassisted gas struts
Target User	Serious overlanders, 4-season campers, and long-distance expedition rigs	Casual weekenders, festival-goers, and fair-weather road trippers

Where entry-level tents rely on ABS plastics or soft covers to keep costs down, Moby uses structural hardshells, thicker canvas, and reinforced hinges designed to take a beating on green lanes without rattling loose.

First Impressions: Premium Kit for Serious Adventurers

Let’s be completely straight from the off. These roof top tents sit squarely in the premium bracket. They are engineered for overlanders, off-grid tourers, and outdoor enthusiasts who require gear that simply will not fail when exposed to standard British gales and downpours.

Every hinge, aluminium panel, and gas strut feels built to last a lifetime. That high-end engineering is naturally reflected in the price tag, but as any seasoned camper knows, buying cheap usually means buying twice. With Moby Mountain, you are paying for peace of mind, rapid deployment, and structural integrity.

Here is how the lineup stacked up during our showroom walkthrough:

Moby Mountain Swell M (2 Adults)

The Ultra-Fast Overland Cruiser

If you run solo or travel as a couple, the Moby Swell M in Slate Grey is a total gamechanger. Built inside a sleek, low-profile aluminium hard shell, it offers incredible aerodynamics on the motorway so you do not lose your mind over fuel efficiency on long drives.

The real party trick here is deployment speed. You can unlatch and fully set up the Swell M in about 60 seconds. When you arrive at camp late at night in horizontal rain, that one-minute setup time is priceless.

Sleeping Capacity: Fits 2 adults comfortably
Tent Dimensions (Open): L 220cm x W 157cm x H 115cm
Hardshell Dimensions (Closed): L 160cm x W 120cm x H 26cm
Weight: 61.7kg (or 51.3kg excluding the ladder and mattress)

Despite its compact closed footprint, the clever fold-out design gives you a massive internal sleeping area once popped open. It is lightweight, incredibly robust, and ideal for smaller vehicles or short-bed setups. The Swell M additionally offers the option of additional storage on top of the rooftop tent. Bicycles, kayaks, paddle boards, roof boxes, or pretty much anything else can easily be mounted on top of the tent using “Swell load rack” (sold separately)

Moby Mountain Peak XL (3 Adults)

The Ultimate Hybrid for Couples & Small Families

Stepping up in size, the Moby Peak XL strikes the ideal balance between internal space and roof footprint. It uses an innovative hybrid design that combines the structural rigidity of a hard shell with the extended floor area of a soft-top fold-out tent.

Designed for year-round UK adventures, the Peak XL stays warm, rigid, and rock solid in heavy winds whether you are camping on a chilly autumn night or taking off on a European road trip. It comfortably sleeps up to three adults (or two adults with extra room for a kid or a well-behaved dog).

https://youtu.be/XtUJaXaNq1g

Sleeping Capacity: Fits 3 adults
Tent Dimensions (Open): L 220cm x W 157cm x H 115cm
Hardshell Dimensions (Closed): L 160cm x W 120cm x H 26cm
Weight: 61.7kg (or 51.3kg excluding the ladder and mattress)
Optional Upgrades: Roof Tent Awning and/or Annex available

Moby Mountain Peak XXL (4 Adults)

The Palatial Family Basecamp

For larger families or those who simply like to spread out, the Moby Peak XXL is a monster in the best possible way. Sleeping four adults with room to spare, this tent turns the roof of your vehicle into a genuine off-grid apartment.

Often, big family tents mean endless poles, guy lines, and a 45-minute argument in a muddy field. The Peak XXL completely eliminates that stress. It deploys quickly using semi-automatic hydraulic gas dampers, keeps your family high and dry off the damp ground, and leaves your boot space entirely open for storage boxes, cooking gear, and water supplies. If you take family overlanding seriously, this is about as good as it gets.

https://youtu.be/JhhVTmCj2_M

Sleeping Capacity: Fits 4 adults
Tent Dimensions (Open): L 220cm x W 197cm x H 115cm
Hardshell Dimensions (Closed): L 200cm x W 120cm x H 26cm
Weight: 74.8kg (or 63.2kg excluding the ladder and mattress)
Optional Upgrades: Roof Tent Awning and/or Annex available

Try Before You Buy: Roof Tent Hire in Cheshire

Not sure if roof top camping fits your style yet? Cheshire Leisure offers a fantastic Try Before You Buy roof tent hire service.

You can book a Moby Mountain roof tent for your next weekend trip, drive down to their Sandbach showroom, and their team will professionally fit the rig to your roof bars before you hit the road.

Here is the best part: if you fall in love with rooftop living and decide to buy a tent after your trip, Cheshire Leisure will deduct the cost of your hire directly from the purchase price! It is a zero-risk way to test the setup on your own vehicle.

Visiting the Showroom & Exclusive UKSN Member Discount!

Seeing these tents in person makes all the difference. Being able to climb the ladder, test the mattress density, and see how smooth the closing mechanism works gives you complete confidence before investing.

Showroom Address:

Cheshire Leisure Ltd

Unit 9, Abbeyfields, Lodge Road

Sandbach, CW11 3HD

You can also browse their full range of vehicle accessories online at cheshireleisure.co.uk.

UKSN Member Perk Alert!

Because we love bringing value back to our community, we have partnered with the team at Cheshire Leisure to get you an exclusive deal.

UKSN members get £100 OFF any Moby Mountain roof tent!

To claim your discount, head over to the UKSN Discount Hub in the member portal, grab your exclusive promo code, and apply it at checkout or mention it in the showroom.

Have you made the switch to a roof top tent yet, or are you strictly a ground-camper? Let us know your thoughts on the UKSN Social channels or WhatsApp Community.