Tent for Camping

[Fishin_Dan Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fishin_Dan]

I've got the Coleman Instant Up 6 - It's a good tent.

But I will be replacing it with a Kodiak canvas tent. I've looked around, done a lot of research, and gone over every inch of the tent for months... I won't buy anything else now! Camping Country on the Sunny Coast here does a customised tarp/awning attachment which gives you shade & a sheltered kitchen area.

[RippinRutman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RippinRutman]

Ive got the Oztrail Tourer 9 plus. Bought it years ago when my ex missus and i were going to have kids. Current wife wont come camping with me so im back to a swag

Overall its been a great tent. Has been up and down the east coast and its survived heaps of decent rain events. Cant fault it to be honest. Im thinking of buying the Tourer 9 for my trip through the Simmo next year - the swag and awning just dont cut it when it pours down and the dog keeps wanting in the swag when its cold (doesnt really work with a Bull Arab and a stretcher).

I looked at the Oztent before i did the Cape a couple of years ago but i couldnt justify the cost. I borrowed a 9 for that trip and I could set it up as quickly as someone with the Oztent - by the way - they take longer than 30 seconds to set up. Watch someone do it

[Cityslicker Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cityslicker]

We have a Blackwolf 240 - very pleased with it. We have the new version with the larger awning. The only downside is where to put it in the vehicle. Started off across the back seat - now have a roof basket. Oztent was too long.

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

We've got an Outdoor Connection Galaxy. It's a BIG tent, takes up a lot of space, and weighs a lot (not as much as canvas mind you). Generally it's pretty well put together, but there were a few toggles that were broken.



The tent is fairly solid when all the guy ropes are pegged out and it's all zipped down. We got through a wicked storm in Yamba a couple of years ago. There were plenty of tree's down and houses damaged. I attribute it to a solid fly, all the guys, and a semi-rigid frame.

It takes me about an hour to fully set up the tent doing most of the work myself. I need a helper to get all the poles up and pull the fly on. Take down is similar. I've got a few friends with the Galaxy and they all seem happy with it too.

I've been looking at getting an Oztent RV5 or Blackwolf Turbo 300 Plus for when it's just me or me and the kids. I was keen on the Jet Tent F30X but a couple of the sellers have said they've gotten a few back, and the problems seem to be with the wires in the frame. It's a real shame, because the design layout and features are exactly what i'm after.

Mike

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Kathmandu make some quality tents using quality materials. Their designs are very well thought out. Easy to set up and to pack. I've had one got over 10years now and still going.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Can anyone confirm if the optional front and side panels for the Blackwolf Turbo tents only come in the "lite" (non-canvas) material? It would certainly seem so from the Black Wolf website.

[thebigo Member Find all posts View Profile Close thebigo]

I run the Coleman chalet v9 good tent quickish to setup with two people and a fair bit of space, still fairly heavy tho


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Yep I have the same tent and it has been really good for me, wife and 3 kids. I am looking at moving on to something else because this one is just to big and heavy.

I am keen on the flexibility of options and ease of the Oztent RV5 but would love to hear what others think. They say it is 5 person but looking at the measurements I can't see how.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Yep I have the same tent and it has been really good for me, wife and 3 kids. I am looking at moving on to something else because this one is just to big and heavy.

I am keen on the flexibility of options and ease of the Oztent RV5 but would love to hear what others think. They say it is 5 person but looking at the measurements I can't see how.

I had the earlier model of this Coleman. I'd say the RV5 by itself would be smaller. I've now got the RV5 (and 3 kids) and a Tag-a-long. We can get a double blow up mattress and porta cot in no probs with space left over. 5 adults would be cosy. You'd need to be on mats and very comfortable with each other. You would probably be 3 one way and two top and tailing. I've had 3 adults in stretcher beds inside and there wasn't much room left.

If you're worried about weight be aware, the Oz tent is a heavy unit @15-20kg and packs down to about 2m long so it's going in a trailer on on your roof. I can get it on and off the roof bars fairly easily but with two it's easier. I'm also thinking of a tray just to spread the load. Though oz tent tell me it's fine on two bars.

It is very simple to put up and down. If it's raining you can get it up quickly (37.5 secs). Yes, to get it fully setup with pegs, awning etc takes about 5-10 mins. But it can be done very easily by one person. I found the Coleman a real hassle by myself. The kids can then get in and out of the way. Putting the Coleman up in the rain means the inner gets wet.

We use the rv 5 for quick trips, and both it and the tag a along for longer stays. To get the Tagalong up adds another 5-10 minutes. But it's a separate bag too. Again it goes in the roof.

We've also got the sides and peaked roof so space is actually really good when it's all set up. And even without the tag a long you've still got nice useable space. We've also got an awning on the car so shade is never an issue.

[Cityslicker Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cityslicker]

Can anyone confirm if the optional front and side panels for the Blackwolf Turbo tents only come in the "lite" (non-canvas) material? It would certainly seem so from the Black Wolf website.

We have the (heavy weight) turbo 240 with the new extended awning. I can also confirm that the side panel only comes in the light weight material. We only have one which we move to whichever side needs it - rain or wind etc. It performs well and I see no advantage in a heavier material for this piece. We peg it out further at the bottom to give more space. I can assume the front piece to fully enclose the awning would also be light weight.

The "heavy canvas" Turbo 240 is still light enough and short enough that I can get it into a roof basket on my own. Very quick to put up. The awning really needs 2 people to put up efficiently. I like features like the cord entry and light hanger inside.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

We have the (heavy weight) turbo 240 with the new extended awning. I can also confirm that the side panel only comes in the light weight material.

OK, thanks for confirming that. I have the canvas Turbo 300 Plus and would have preferred a matching material. I agree though that the lighter stuff will probably do the job of keeping the rain out. We used poly tarps and cable ties on the GTG to make sides as it was pretty wet for the first few days. I was thinking of getting the 2 sides and the front so we can fully enclose the awning if needed. The front piece has a door sewn into it so you can still get in and out of the tent easily. Our tent traveled to and from the GTG across the back seats as we only had roof bars at the time. We now have the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform so might try it on the roof next time, you can get a roller attachment for the platform that might make the loading job easier.

[thebigo Member Find all posts View Profile Close thebigo]

I had the earlier model of this Coleman. I'd say the RV5 by itself would be smaller. I've now got the RV5 (and 3 kids) and a Tag-a-long. We can get a double blow up mattress and porta cot in no probs with space left over. 5 adults would be cosy. You'd need to be on mats and very comfortable with each other. You would probably be 3 one way and two top and tailing. I've had 3 adults in stretcher beds inside and there wasn't much room left.

If you're worried about weight be aware, the Oz tent is a heavy unit @15-20kg and packs down to about 2m long so it's going in a trailer on on your roof. I can get it on and off the roof bars fairly easily but with two it's easier. I'm also thinking of a tray just to spread the load. Though oz tent tell me it's fine on two bars.

It is very simple to put up and down. If it's raining you can get it up quickly (37.5 secs). Yes, to get it fully setup with pegs, awning etc takes about 5-10 mins. But it can be done very easily by one person. I found the Coleman a real hassle by myself. The kids can then get in and out of the way. Putting the Coleman up in the rain means the inner gets wet.

We use the rv 5 for quick trips, and both it and the tag a along for longer stays. To get the Tagalong up adds another 5-10 minutes. But it's a separate bag too. Again it goes in the roof.

We've also got the sides and peaked roof so space is actually really good when it's all set up. And even without the tag a long you've still got nice useable space. We've also got an awning on the car so shade is never an issue.

Hey thanks for the response and info. Yeah the Coleman has been a good tent but it weighs a ton and is to bulky. By myself is hard work to get up and takes way to much time to fully peg and be done.
I am not to fussed about the RV5 going on the roof and I had thought about that tag along as well. Recently I watched another campsite put up 2 x RV3 tents side by side and gazebo and done. I was still putting the poles in mine and they were already sitting down and I thought nope this has to change. I noticed on their site they talk about the Jet tent but not sure if they are better other than they pack down smaller.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I noticed on their site they talk about the Jet tent but not sure if they are better other than they pack down smaller.

I wouldn't get the Jet Tent. The poles are sprung in such a way that if the "hinge" (a big spring) breaks you are stuffed. I much prefer the locking "knuckles" on the Turbo.

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

Can anyone tell me if two Oztents can be joined side by side? I thought i saw a picture of this, but i can't find it again. I know they can be joined end on end.

Also, has anyone actually had a bad experience with the Jet Tents? I know there's been plenty of people commenting about what they think are the potential weaknesses, but i'm yet to see anyone post anything with first-hand experience saying they've had problems.

Mike

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Hey thanks for the response and info. Yeah the Coleman has been a good tent but it weighs a ton and is to bulky. By myself is hard work to get up and takes way to much time to fully peg and be done.
I am not to fussed about the RV5 going on the roof and I had thought about that tag along as well. Recently I watched another campsite put up 2 x RV3 tents side by side and gazebo and done. I was still putting the poles in mine and they were already sitting down and I thought nope this has to change. I noticed on their site they talk about the Jet tent but not sure if they are better other than they pack down smaller.

NP. We thought about 2xRV3 but it is an expensive way of doing it. Plus we got a great deal at the Sydney Caravan and Camping show a couple of years ago. (RV5, Deluxe peaked panels and the tagalong, and floorsaver)

Our set up is quite versatile as we can use just the RV5 (our kids are all under 7), both tent and tag-along, or conceiveably just the tag-along for me and wifey. The tag-along is not free-standing, it has to have to something to hold it up. But you can get connector and mount it to anything with a sail track roof. It mounts directly to the foxwing awning. The tagalong is a smidge bigger than an RV3.

Its also saved many arguements during set up... and no faffing around under the fly trying to do up velcro etc.

[thebigo Member Find all posts View Profile Close thebigo]

We run the Coleman Montana which is same as above but as of an hour ago it is going up for sale. Had enough of the size and weight. To be honest the middle room just ends up a bomb zone of clothes and shoes etc. Good tent for longer trips but not for weekenders.

BCF are running 25% off this weekend and Oztents are included in that so I went out at lunch and grabbed an RV5 and accessories. They showed it all to me there and it was awesome. With the sides,floor and front wall on it was perfect for longer stays. For short stays it is up in under a minute ready to be pegged and wife and 3 kids fit in it easily and I am going to run a swag at the front door under the awning. For weekenders you can't get simpler.