I have to update a lot of my camping gear since we did the high country 6 years ago. I am starting now ready for the GTG which looks like it will be April next year so I need to start now have a lot to do yet to prado as well. I have a 4x4 mat like this [IMG][/IMG] but the wife finds it really uncomfortable and I find it a pain in the arse to roll up every morning (takes 2) its queen size and takes up a lot of room so I went looking today at airbeds with their own pump (12V) to pump them up and for sucking airback out. How do people find them and any issues that are common. I was looking at one of these today in BCF [IMG][/IMG] I don't mind spending good $$ on a comfortable bed, getting a good nights sleep is important especially with a 5 year old lol but I don't want crap quality. Does this seem ok or would you be staying clear and getting another brand ?? Also what rating sleeping bags would we need ?? I was looking again today I think it was wolf or some thing like that, pretty much $100 upwards and ranged from -10 upwards, what rating do you think would be required for the month of april ?? Last time we went was in summer so just used our current one which is a good brand rated -2 but used as a blanket, but I also need to get one for our 5 year old, and Im thinking two king size ones for me and the wife instead of the one queen size ones (if their available) unless its two joined together ?? Im really looking at saving as much space as possible in the 120 prado, I was thinking camp stretcher for the 5 year old but a blow up single takes up a lot less room and lighter as well......Cheers Steve
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Airbeds whats the best quality also sleeping bags
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Recently bought stretchers and put self inflating mattresses on top. Best sleep I've ever had camping. Stretcher also works well as base for swag if I'm out by myself.
High country in April can get down to 0C overnight so good quality sleeping bags are worth the $$. I work on the basis that you can open the bag if warmer but it's a pain sleeping fully clothed if you're too cold. Aussie brands Roman and Caribee are both very good.[B]Ian[/B]
[COLOR=#888888]2011 150 GX D4D Glacier White[/COLOR]
[URL="http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?22518-Ursos-150-GX"]My Rig Build Up[/URL] | [URL="http://www.pradopoint.com/blog.php?18145"]My Blog: Trip Reports[/URL]
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Air beds are ok for when you have people crash at your house, for the High Country forget it. They do not insulate, they deflate and every time you move the other person gets the bow wave. Leave them at home.
A good stretcher, self inflatable mat and sleeping bag is the go. You can leave the stretcher behind if you're tight on room. I recently purchased an Oztent King Goanna stretcher and Rivergum sleeping bag for my father. I added a Thermarest mattress in between and he slept like a baby in 0 degrees. The decision will be how much room you have, you can buy '4wd' size gear which you will pay medium $ for but it you want stuff you can take hiking you will double the price.
http://www.oztent.com.au/oztent-furn...r#.UbuJ1HJ--70
http://www.oztent.com.au/oztent-furn...s#.UbuJ2HJ--70[url=http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=12264]My Prado[/url]
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I'm with these guys. When we first started camping we had a big mattress like that and I don't think I ever got a decent sleep. Bloody thing would go down at night and certainly lost pressure as it cooled. So I would hit the ground. Mind you this kept the wife up in the air so she couldn't see any problem. I gave up on being on the ground when a sand centipede climbed up and in my sleeping bag. Not pleasant. So now we have good stretchers and self inflating mats. Very good.My 150 build - http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?27423-A-Random-approach-to-a-Bluestorm-150-GXL-D4D-automatic
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I used to use a blowup mattress but also found that the darn thing would deflate overnight and the cold still seemed to get through . I then went to a stretcher but found it very hard to sleep on and the cold would come in from underneath so I've bought a self inflating mattress to go on top of the stretcher . Going out soon to the mountains where it'll be below zero so that will be a good test .
I find sleeping bag ratings are rubbish , their idea of a zero degree rating must be different from mine . When it's really cold I actually put one bag inside the other and feel comfortable then .
Cheers Ross
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Hi there D4D I did see those stretchers there (didn't check the price) but I didn't see those sleeping bags. They look nice and cosy in your picture that's for sure... Might go and have a another look around today, maybe Rays outdoors sell them..........Cheers SteveFace lift 150 Prado V6 auto. No mods yet
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Maybe I should get rid of the queen size mat I have and get three 4x4 single mats/stretchers/ and good quality sleeping bags, should cover it then for all 3 of us and not get cold ?? I suppose these things aren't that heavy and could go on roof rack ?? as long as there obviously covered in case it rains.........Definitely sounds like the airbed is a no go. to be honest I thought that may have been the case because every time we have had one before it was crap and we did use an airbed before for the high country (we left mat at home due to size) and it did exactly what people have said but I thought maybe it was because it may have been a cheap brand (cant remember).....Cheers SteveFace lift 150 Prado V6 auto. No mods yet
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I bought mine direct from Oztent as not many places carry stock of the sleeping bag. I was looking for a big sleeping bag I can use in the swag or on it's own. The fleece liner is great as you can zip it out and wash it rather than having to wash the whole bag. As it is cotton canvas it doesn't rustle at night like nylon bags. I wasn't concerned with size as I have a down hiking bag if I need something small. I highly recommend the sleeping bag just don't try and get it back in the bag it came in.
3 x mats, bags and stretchers will cost approx. $1500 but it is the right way to go. You can zip 2 of the bags together or use them separately. If you buy right you will have them for ever.[url=http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=12264]My Prado[/url]
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Have a look at the Exped Megamat, rolls up to a similar size as most self inflaters but inflates to 10cm deep and is rated to take the cold (R value 9.5 - whatever that means). I've had a few self inflating matresses over the years and always hated rolling them up as my thumbs would end up killing me (old footy injuries), but the Megamat is a lot easier in that department and is very comfy to sleep on.
Be warned though, they are expensive, but they are good to sleep on. I'm hopefully heading up to the Pilbara in three weeks and plan to give mine a good workout.
Here is a link which includes video.
http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped...4?opendocument
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If I didn't already have the thermarest mats, I'd buy something like this
http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/C...ega-Deluxe-Mat[url=http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=12264]My Prado[/url]
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Best mattress we have had and still use is a black wolf mega deluxe
https://www.snowys.com.au/mega-deluxe-double-camp-mat
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Wife and I use a wild country self inflating mattress, was around the $100 mark, but have had it for years. It is a little bulky, but so comfy and warm, have forgotten to put the plugs in numerous times, and only realised when packing up in the morning. Ripped a hole in it, but still comfy.. spent six weeks camping with it, last trip, moving every day, others with us, went through 3 normal air beds, which I find to bouncy and uncomfortable.. will find the repair kit, and patch our hole one day.. cheers Odog
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