Voxson (Adelaide) replied:

Yep... Dome tent... Saw them them on sale last weekend at Pooraka camping for under 100 bucks..
And the road did used to be dirt to Darwin..
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Countin the days till July 4th. *Cape York Trip*
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Truckster (Vic) replied:

Whats your budget?? Makes a world of difference. www.aussiedisposals.com.au www.raysoutdoors.com.au for a few tents.

If you want fast to erect, look at Canvas center pole tents(1 Pole!).. but you pay for it. There is 2 forsale in the trader section on this site, the Bus Tent and the 10x10. and if its for the bike, then Bzzzzz.... not these.

Dome tents..
Quick to erect, not this century! I hate ours with a passion, those flexy poles as you try to feed them thru the slots specially when its raining..., or take them out, is even worse, specially when its raining... Never again.

We have had 4 dome tents over the years, and now going for a Southern Cross Canvas Tent. Sick of the crap with the Dome, cheap crap floors leaking, I do admit NOT all of them are like this, but ours was $440, so not a 'cheap' Dome, and the manufacturer doesnt want to know about it. Last time camping we came back from a day 4wding, the tent was 1inch deep in water INSIDE.... everslept in a drowned sleeping bag? Not pleasureable I will tell you.

GUPatrol replied:

I got a southern cross one for sale (new model) used once 10x10 model

If you are interested, it sells for $970 new open to offers.

I also have small and large canvas awnings.

Will

Member - Colin (ACT region) replied:

They don't make one anymore!
I agree with Truckster - dome tents are a pain in the a... .
Canvas center pole tents are about the only option. If you are already sleeping in seperate beds they are fine - although some of the bigger ones have extended sides.
I still use my 20 yo Coleman - light canvas with heavy plastic floor, it uses a aluminium pole and steel torsion bars for the roof and 2 external aluminium side poles. Light to carry compared with steel framed tents and very easy to erect - have put it up at night. All of Colemans tents are light weight 'plastic' dome things now.
At the Sydney Camp show there most of been hundreds of tents on display - only a few were practical for car camping (on the move !)
Senegal from South Africa had some good tents - but obviously they take along a few 'slaves' to help, as I could not even drag the bag along the ground, let alone lift it - they were very heavy - WHY - we don't have Lions in Aus.
I do have a small 2 man dome tent which I have used when traveling alone/light - but it takes similar amount of time to erect and is very fiddly.
Colin - Subaru Forester
- size isn't everything ! -

Member - Colin (ACT region) replied:

They don't make one anymore!
I agree with Truckster - dome tents are a pain in the a... .
Canvas center pole tents are about the only option. If you are already sleeping in seperate beds they are fine - although some of the bigger ones have extended sides.
I still use my 20 yo Coleman - light canvas with heavy plastic floor, it uses a aluminium pole and steel torsion bars for the roof and 2 external aluminium side poles. Light to carry compared with steel framed tents and very easy to erect - have put it up at night. All of Colemans tents are light weight 'plastic' dome things now.
At the Sydney Camp show there most of been hundreds of tents on display - only a few were practical for car camping (on the move !)
Senegal from South Africa had some good tents - but obviously they take along a few 'slaves' to help, as I could not even drag the bag along the ground, let alone lift it - they were very heavy - WHY - we don't have Lions in Aus.
I do have a small 2 man dome tent which I have used when traveling alone/light - but it takes similar amount of time to erect and is very fiddly.
Colin - Subaru Forester
- size isn't everything ! -

Member - Richard replied:

I have an Oztent and find it is too small for even two people. Whilst it is easy to put up my head when lying down tends to touch one end whilst my feet are touching the other. Not good if its pouring with rain. I am in the market to buy a new tent and I have narrowed it down to the Southern Cross probably the Ultimate Trekker (www.southerncrosscanvas.com.au) if you have four people or the Tanami Tourer from Flo-met (www.campingdirect.com.au). Both of these are canvas and compared to "nylon" dome tends quite expensive and about 50% heavier. (In fact over twice the price). The best dome tent I have seen is by OzTrail (www.oztrail.com.au). They have a geodesic design that gives you plenty of space on the sides. I have come to the conclusion from talking to a lot of people into 4WD driving and camping that the centre pole canvas tent is the only way to go as far as speed of erection and dismantling. The Southern cross does have a side pole kit that eliminates the centre pole. I have seen one once and it works well. I have also seen a family of four using the Ultimate Trekker and they seemed to get on well with it. Southern cross tents seem to have bigger and better awnings than the Tanami but I suppose this is easy to overcome. Both southern Cross and Flomet are very helpful.
Regards and let us know if you have any other ideas.Richard and Leonie, The grey nomads.

Member - Richard replied:

I have an Oztent and find it is too small for even two people. Whilst it is easy to put up my head when lying down tends to touch one end whilst my feet are touching the other. Not good if its pouring with rain. I am in the market to buy a new tent and I have narrowed it down to the Southern Cross probably the Ultimate Trekker (www.southerncrosscanvas.com.au) if you have four people or the Tanami Tourer from Flo-met (www.campingdirect.com.au). Both of these are canvas and compared to "nylon" dome tends quite expensive and about 50% heavier. (In fact over twice the price). The best dome tent I have seen is by OzTrail (www.oztrail.com.au). They have a geodesic design that gives you plenty of space on the sides. I have come to the conclusion from talking to a lot of people into 4WD driving and camping that the centre pole canvas tent is the only way to go as far as speed of erection and dismantling. The Southern cross does have a side pole kit that eliminates the centre pole. I have seen one once and it works well. I have also seen a family of four using the Ultimate Trekker and they seemed to get on well with it. Southern cross tents seem to have bigger and better awnings than the Tanami but I suppose this is easy to overcome. Both southern Cross and Flomet are very helpful.
Regards and let us know if you have any other ideas.Richard and Leonie, The grey nomads.

Member - Richard replied:

I have an Oztent and find it is too small for even two people. Whilst it is easy to put up my head when lying down tends to touch one end whilst my feet are touching the other. Not good if its pouring with rain. I am in the market to buy a new tent and I have narrowed it down to the Southern Cross probably the Ultimate Trekker (www.southerncrosscanvas.com.au) if you have four people or the Tanami Tourer from Flo-met (www.campingdirect.com.au). Both of these are canvas and compared to "nylon" dome tends quite expensive and about 50% heavier. (In fact over twice the price). The best dome tent I have seen is by OzTrail (www.oztrail.com.au). They have a geodesic design that gives you plenty of space on the sides. I have come to the conclusion from talking to a lot of people into 4WD driving and camping that the centre pole canvas tent is the only way to go as far as speed of erection and dismantling. The Southern cross does have a side pole kit that eliminates the centre pole. I have seen one once and it works well. I have also seen a family of four using the Ultimate Trekker and they seemed to get on well with it. Southern cross tents seem to have bigger and better awnings than the Tanami but I suppose this is easy to overcome. Both southern Cross and Flomet are very helpful.
Regards and let us know if you have any other ideas.Richard and Leonie, The grey nomads.

crfan replied:

I have an OZ tent and think it is good mine is a 2.4m x 2.0m
30 sec to put up and find most of that time is taking it out of the bag the new ones have a longer zip.
only down side is they are 2.0 mtrs long packed up .
the have a web site you can have a look at they also have micro fast tents that spring open have not seen one though..

Member - Melissa replied:

I prefer the dome tents to canvas. Easy to erect although like anything I guess it depends on the brand. We used our 4 man dome tent all over Aust for 4 years. Still going strong just have a campertrailer these days. Lightweight and pack up into a compact duffel bag size. Always found ours extremely water proof even camping in the Top End during the wet season. Oh yeah, they dry out much quicker than canvas does and if you've ever packed up a wet canvas tent, you'll appreciate this. In fine weather, you don't need to worry about putting the fly on. Quality of fabric, zips and floor depend on what you pay. From memory ours was about $240 8 years ago.

Had a 4 man pyramid style canvas tent before that. Didn't have the pole in the middle though, rather the poles were on the outside and met at the top centre (similar to a dome tent). Good tent but heavy and bulky. Don't like the centre pole type pyramid tents. Never enough room on either side of the pole for 2 adults to sleep together comfortably. Of course, if you don't like your partner that much maybe thats not a bad thing, LOL.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

Surf replied:

We've got a Microfast by Oztent. Cost $600 dollars and is 3 metres by 3 metres with vestible at either end. You need a ground sheet as the floor probably wouldnt take too many rocks and sticks underneath it.

The best part about it is the time it takes to erect and dismantle. It litterally springs out like a coil and its up in a matter of seconds. Of course you then have to peg it down and place the fly over it etc.

No annoying poles to insert as they are part of the the tent and are folded up with it when you pack it away. Dont stand too close if your not involved with the packing, the tension on the poles if they come loose will knock you over.

Once packed up it is inserted into a bag about the size of a hoola hoop and about 15 cm thick. This fits nicely on our roof rack.

Not sure how long it will last with all that tension on the folded up poles, and as its made in Asia somewhere the quality of materials used could be dubious long term.

But so far its been good and we have used it quite a bit. Mind you, we are still experimenting and have recently bought a $30 two man dome tent for our next trip up north.

Rick replied:

I'm only adding to the volume of center poles, but here goes:

had domes. Big & small.
had 2 x smallish domes, lotsa fun with small kids, as the kids can be occupied in there for hours.
But they die - zips/poles etc. So repalce them.
Then they die again..even at $ 250 for a 3 person.

Eventually do what I shoulda done initially

Buy a canvass good quaility (note no one mentions C.O.I. brand)centre pole tent.
easy up, easy down.
Ours is Freedom, second hand = half price Vs Rec Retail, but in very good nic.
Can stand up.
13 x 10 = room to get cuddly side x side, can sleep 5 at a pinch.
heavy duty floor, h/duty everthing else.
Add a annexe that can assume about 5 diffrent configurations, so a weather proof verandah exists.

But who uses tents?

gimme a swag & a windbreak any day - or night.
Work on the Kiss principle (Keep It Simple Stupid)

Dozer replied:

There is a store in Wollongong called the great outdoors selling a beauty of a replica Southern cross. 12x10 for 329 new and quality is excellent. 5 minutes and a ctr pole and its up.
Andrew

Tony replied:

We have a Freedom Family Tourer and its one of the quickest tents I have ever put up. It will sleep a family of four and still have room for all the baggage.

Heaps of windows all full length and the outside flap can be rolled up or pegged out, at most we only use 4 pegs to secure the tent and a centre pole pluss two to hold the back part up. All takes less than 2 minuets from the time I get it out of the bag. And not much longer to pack up.

Size 6' x 9' with standing room.

Ian replied:

For a start dont buy any old 'dome tent' make sure it is a geodesic design the cheap ones have just the two flex cross poles. These will not stand any wind, the best ones have bracing poles crossing over the main poles making the tent stronger in wind and in any reasonable weather you dont really need the guy ropes. My wife and I did a big trip twelve months around Oz with an Oz tent great value. It was mozzie proof at Yellow Waters when the mozzies covered our gas light bottle (two kilo)After some practice we had camp set up in 5 minutes (Our bench mark time 5 up 5 down)
Remember a 4 man tent sleeps 2 in comfort and a six does 3 and an 8 does 4.
We have just made a new find I brought a second hand vehicle fitted with a fold out top tent we were going to sell it until we decided to try it. Great! The bed is always made and the frame comes out into a annex that sleeps 2 plus the normal stuff and it's up in 2 minutes and away in 2 minutes