Easy Tents

I agree with the above. It was a tough decision between the two, but I went for the Black Wolf Turbo tent, primarily because I have kids and the extra USEABLE headroom in the tent is significant.

The difference in time to erect is negligible. I feel that many get too carried away with whether it takes 1 or 2 minutes to put up the tent. It's not the actual erection of the tent that takes the time, it is getting it out/off the car, getting out of the bag and unrolling it....and then the time to set up everything else...table, chairs, stove, clothes bags, etc.. I store the tent on the floor behind the two front seats as the kids feet don't yet touch the floor. When they do....it's time for a roofrack.

The other thing I liked about the Turbo tent was the fly. If you compare the time it takes to erect and include the fly, the Oztent will win hands down, but in a month trip to the Kimberley, I only put the fly on once and that was only to try it out. I would imagine it would help to keep the tent a little cooler in warm weather and warmer in really cold weather. It also provides a little 'awning' at the front of the tent. Don't even consider the optional larger awnings that are available for the Turbo. They are a complete disaster. It would be quicker to carry a tarp and a few poles and put that up!

Good luck with the decision.

Cheers,

Mark

Hi,

I'm another in favour of the Black Wolf Turbo... for MY needs. The CFO and me have an off-road van and only need the tent occasionally. I was convinced the Oztent was the way to go having seen them put up a few times on our travels. But when I found the packed length 2m or more for all the sizes bar the RV1 which is too short for my 1.88m frame, I realised I needed to look further. I don't have nor want a roof rack. They are a disaster on corrugations and desert trips (were I will use the tent) and I needed a tent I could stow inside the van between uses. Besides lifting 20-25kgs off the roof is not that convenient or easy for an old codger like me. The materials seem similar, both being superb. Both apparently have great serive backup if needed.

I can have the Turbo pitched including fly with 6 guy rope in about 4-5mins. The fly is preferred as it reduces condensation (a problem I read in quite a few posts with Oztent without a fly) and really takes only 2 mins to attach. By the time you add a fly and guy ropes to the Oztent, they take similar times to pitch. And I have seen many reports that say you need the guy ropes for both or risk bending or breaking the frames of either tent.

But the real clincher is the packed size at 143cm and the height and room when pitched over Oztent. My stretchers fit front to back leaving the centre free for changing. Comfort in use really is important. If there is a difference, the minute or so at most pales into insignificance to the time you spend inside your tent or regretting the wrong purchase. So, IF your needs are similar to mine then consider the Turbo. I'm thrilled with ours.

Cheers
John

>And I have seen many reports that say you need the guy ropes for both or risk bending or breaking the frames of either tent

That's interesting John, I did not know that was the case. I've been using the fly with the BW but usually without the guy ropes, perhaps I'll have to change my wicked ways.

Do others have experience with this?

Cheers

John

In all my years of camping, I've never had a tent with a fly.

Never experienced condensation, only a tent being bloody hot in the middle of the day. But there again I only require the inside of the tent for sleeping and some storage.

The biggest asset you can have with any tent is a practical sized awning. This is where you cook and sit while being protected from sun and rain. Another reason I chose the Oztent.

As I mentioned above, my use for the tent is on quick excursions where access with the Camper is impractical. Quck erection and disassembly was one criteria. Livable space between the tent and the vehicle was another. The option of "filling in the living space" with side walls (one or both) when windy conditions require it was the icing on the cake.

Each to their own, but the Oztent suited us and the fact that the peak side panels were offered free as a show special (normally $269 extra) swung it for us.

Re your query Johnnic,

I'd agree that for either tent, if there was no risk of a blow coming through, the guy ropes would be unnecessary.

Again, while researching, most comments from folks who've had broken joints or poles of either Oztent or BW, have contributed by not securing their tents. I'm not saying you have to place out the guys every time. Trouble with the outback is you can go to bed and it's dead still then find a wind blow up overnight. After getting blown flat by a 2am wind storm south of Oodnadatta a few years back, if there's some wind about or likely, then some insurance is warranted. There aren't too many spare parts available for these tents on the CSR or Anne Beadell!

Hi Sandman, that's why I emphasised what suited MY needs. I reckon if the Oztent had been smaller packed, I'd have bought one. I didn't mean to suggest that people should buy a BW over a Oztent. Your usage seems to be entirely different to mine.

As for the fly, most dome tents have a cover fly and which provide a good thermal insulator on these synthetic fabrics. I have to say that I have had condensation issues on single skin canvas tents I used in the old days (in Winter) and I read several posts from Oztent users saying they had some condensation and that was fixed by using a fly. I have no personal experience.

Incidentally, almost all my tenting now is during winter and in the remote outback and even that is very occasional as the van has taken us to some pretty remote locations but definately not suited to the CSR and similar routes. Summer is spent in the van at coastal locations. Too hot for the outback then... This is the reason condensation was a potential issue for me. Of course this would not be a problem to owners during warmer months. Again it's all personal. It's not a criticism of any one tent. As I said they are both first class, quick erect tents, that do things different ways and one or the other will suit most owners.

John

My thinking to Phil.

Packing up is always harder - often its cause holiday is over and theres not so much incentive. The tents often damp , and its always easier to unfold something thats packed rather figure out how to re-fold it so it fits back into its container which always seems to small.