Who manufacturers Tailgate tents??

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 14:54

ThreadID: 134490 Views:10010 Replies:8 FollowUps:8

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True Blue

Hi everyone. Many years since I have been active on this forum. Last holiday was in 2012 which was a very sad affair due to it being a 'bucket list' trip for a member of our travel group who was suffering a terminal illness.
That aside, my wife and I are getting back into camping and have sold the big rig and van/camper trailers and are traveling as light as possible these days.
We have a small SUV these days, which we can sleep in, and are looking to purchase a tailgate tent that has a sleeve which fits over the tailgate in the down position and snuggly fits over the rear portion of the vehicle.
I have searched the main suppliers, Anaconda, Rays, BCF, Freedom camping etc etc and none have anything suitable.
We have found a S.A. importer/distributor of such a tent, brand name NAPIER SUV camping tents. There are several sizes in the range and there is one which suits our vehicle but the importer basically just orders them as per customer requirements, which of course we can do ourselves directly, basically for the same price.
Our question is to you, is anyone aware of an Australian manufacturer that produces something similar? We would prefer to buy local rather than import but may have no choice if there not a similar local product.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
We need the sleeve which attaches to the rear of the vehicle to be snug enough for all weathers and keeping insects/pests out.

cheers, and happy travels
True Blue

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Reply By: Notso - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 17:20

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 17:20

Have you had a look at OzTent.

I'm sure they once made something like that.

AnswerID: 609525

Reply By: True Blue - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 18:53

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 18:53

Format of this forum is not user friendly IMO. I am clicking on replies to my post and they only appear for a few seconds then disappear and I have to bring up my post again. The forum never used to be broken. Why did they change it?

AnswerID: 609528

Reply By: Member - Andrew & Jen - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:00

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:00

Oops
Gave you a contact but then realised it was for a Tailgate Camper
Cheers
Andrew

AnswerID: 609529

Follow Up By: True Blue - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:13

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:13

No worries. Thanks Andrew.

FollowupID: 879378

Reply By: Michael H9 - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:01

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:01

I bought a tail gate type shelter / tent a few years ago from Anaconda. It only cost around $100 and I don't like it at all. You can have it if you live in or near Sydney. Personally, I think something like an Oztent RV3 or bigger is a better choice. Anything you have to pack up to move your car is a pain. Well, that's my experience anyway.

AnswerID: 609530

Follow Up By: True Blue - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:13

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:13

Thanks Michael. Can you tell me what brand and model it is so I can research it to see if it will fit my car and suit my purposes or perhaps a photo.
There is sufficient room in my car to keep my bedding in place and I am hoping to sleep in the car and not have to keep setting it up in a tent and then repack into car to move. From what I can see with the Oztent RV3, you have to sleep in the tent which has an awning to cover the back of the car.

FollowupID: 879377

Reply By: exmouth1 - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:50

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 19:50

G, day, true blue, Dune make a tailgate shelter. I have a couple of them in 2 different designs. They work ok but need modification where they attach to the vehicle. I have threaded a rope through the seam and it is lot better. They were available from anacondda
Cheers john

AnswerID: 609532

Follow Up By: True Blue - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 20:17

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 20:17

Thanks for that John. I will check those out. Much appreciated.
Wayne

FollowupID: 879379

Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 20:35

Sunday, Mar 19, 2017 at 20:35

Mine is a Dune too. You can peg it to the ground but there isn't much protection from bugs as there isn't a ground sheet or a skirt for under the car. Perhaps it isn't suitable for your purpose?

FollowupID: 879380

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 14:54

Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 14:54

I wanted to satisfy that same need many years back...had a 4 door ute with canopy...After seeing nothing retail, I went to a RV / camping canvas fabricator with a design...cost a bit+ * but worked well overall. Our tent mated to the opened rear of the car...with a zip up tent door on the side...worked well...to take the car and leave the tent, we drove off several meters and zipped up the opening. That opening had a string pull flange all round that closed up the insect access.
*When I sold the tent it went quickly for a good price...no regrets on the extra outlay.

AnswerID: 609550

Follow Up By: True Blue - Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 17:55

Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 17:55

Thanks Darian. That sounds like a nice set up and I can't believe that more people aren't asking the same question that I have. Anyway, I ordered a Napier Sports SUV tent (model 82000) from the US this morning on ebay. I will be here in 10 days. I have a big trip coming up so wanted to get the tent thing out of the way quickly. I am certain that what we have ordered will be fine.
Thanks again for your response and happy travels to you.
Wayne

FollowupID: 879394

Reply By: Hoyks - Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 17:16

Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 17:16

I haven't seen one in a long time, I think the last one was a Genuine Holden Accessory to fit the Torana and Sandman line.

They were called a 'tail tent', googling that gave a few more designs.

Oztent have a range you could probably do something with. If you got the tent and the side panel accessories, it would be a good basis to get tweeked to fit your vehicle, it is 90% there. Not cheap though, you could go through a few imported tents for the $$
http://www.oztent.com.au/

AnswerID: 609553

Follow Up By: True Blue - Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 17:59

Monday, Mar 20, 2017 at 17:59

Thanks for response Hoyks. I have decided to get one from the states and they have told me it will be here by the end of next week. The one that I have bought (Napier Sports SUV tent #82000) is the factory option in the US and Australia for Jeep. I vaguely remember the old one's for the Torana and Sandman. Crikey, you are going back a few years there! Thanks again and happy travels. Wayne

FollowupID: 879395