Which Touring Tent?

thanks Jack .. looks good. looked at their website & have just sent an email full of questions to them.

i notice they say the tent packed size is 28x28x80 plus a pole bag 10x10/150 .... can the tent be realistically packed smaller than this?

would i have any problems with an imported second (once waterproofed)?

Hi Drew

I had the "second" and they sent me a wax stick (like a candle) to waterproof the seams on the inside. I then hit it with some stuff I got from a local saddelry (horse shop). It did not leak in two pretty good rain periods I enountered. I had also done the "wet it and let the seams shrink" thing when I first got it. But - as they don't guarantee it as being waterproof I eventually decided that I'd prefer it to be so, and bought the Aussie made one. The imported ($800) ones are guaranteed waterproof though. Usual drill of wetting them when you get them to shrink the seams.

I don't think you will get a smaller package than what they indicate ... there is plenty of canvas there to roll up, covering the tent, the annexe and the floor.

The other option is not to roll it but fold and store it flat ... that may make packing a little easier, dpending on how you set up when you head off. I have done that on a couple of trips where the big "roll" did not suit whatever else I had there. Just gotta spend time "stomping" on it to get the air out. It was easier on my previous one which had lighter canvas. The current one takes a bit of "stomping" to remove the trapped air. On one occasion I just drove over it a couple of times. Probably not recommended though.

But. as I said earlier, I found this to be the best choice for me and what I wanted out of a tent. Putting it up is only slightly trickier than a straight pole tent in that you need to fit the arms inside once you peg it out. Not hard, but follow the instructions to the absolute letter, because the trick is placing the pins where they tell you. I did not read the instructions until my third go, with the wife standing there reading them aloud. It was a snack, but deprived my travelling mates of a few laughs once I had "mastered it".

Happy camping ..

Jack

I asked a shop seller on ebay if the 2004 model had been improved.
His reply:

Yes we believe they have.

They have improved the fabrics with better waterproofing of the canvas and a heavier 14 x 14 pE floor.

sorry - I was not very clear about which tent I mean to investigate.
Pesty refers to it in his post - Oztent

Another happy OZ tent user here used as above. Downside is you need a roof rack or a trailer to put it in (around 2.1m long packed) because if its length. Unfair to call it a tent really, more like a portable folding room.

Regds

Bill

Another Oztent devotee here.

any ideas on who is importing these sth african tents .. or even a brand name?

DrewT
I cant remember the brand name. Something typically SA like Serengeti I remember but can't be sure. There were several on display (canvas) at The Great Outdoors Centre (GOC) in Canberra last year. GOC are a franchise with stores around Australia. There may be one in your area.

If anything comes to mind I will post again with information.

Regards

We have a Lightening Extended Canvas touring tent from COI and love it.Plenty of room to sleep adults side by side without the centre pole getting in the way.Only takes about a minute to errect and about the same to pack up.Ours cost $750 two years ago.

Yep, just had my new rv3 oztent delivered, WOW great quality in the build and huge when you put up the side and front panels as well. I got the rv3 and front and both side panels for $1050 from the 4x4 show in Melb, and it really is that easy !! the front panels make a great 'screen room' as well. Downside - yeah the bag is big, but i can get the tent and the extra side panels into the main bag ok. Bang it on the roof rack no worries. I put the heavy bags etc in the corners inside and dont even peg it unless it is fairly windy, Oh and even the pegs it came with are huge and galvanised !!

OZTENT RV-3 for me also, a great design with plenty of zip on extras if required, the first few time you use it you'll really notice/appreciate the little things built in to the tent that make it a pleasure to use.

Browny

I also have the Southern Cross 9x9 . It is built like a brick outhouse and expect it will be in use long after I am in my grave . Only downside is weight and bulk , but I always put it on top of my table on my roof rack so I have no problem .
Cheers ,
Willie .

Can anyone comment on the coleman classic 4. It appears a good alternate to Oz tent in terms of easy set up but much more comapct and can fit inside back of 4X4

With the freedom minute tent is ther enough room for double air bed on one side of pole??

thanks rob i'll keep it in mind. still haven't decided exactly what i want yet!