Quality canvas cabin tents?

Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 22:55

ThreadID: 83416 Views:12061 Replies:8 FollowUps:6

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garbage

I did a search but could only find information mainly on touring tents. I've been using a 12oz canvas COI Leisure touring tent for the last few years and am considering up sizing to a cabin tent due to the fact I am staying put for a week at a time now and am running out of space with a 2 and 5 year old. Sleeping space is no issue, but the lack of an outdoor area (with fly screen) is becoming an issue. I do have an awning that attaches to the tent but rarely use it due to it being a pain to put up and offering no protection from mossies. As a result, we tend to retreat to bed as soon as the sun sets.

I did the rounds of Kangaroo Tent City, Anaconda and BCF today and was a bit disappointed to only see lightweight poly cotton canvas on all the tents I came across - DMH, Diamantina, Coleman, etc. Can anyone recommend some tent manufacturers ideally close-ish to Sydney? Not interested in Blackwolf, OzTent, etc. I found a mob called Australian Canvas Co in Bayswater Vic, but very little information available online and probably a bit too far away. I also see that all the cabin tents by Freedom are discontinued at the moment and only the smaller tents available at Southern Cross Canvas.

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Reply By: Ruffy-Dan - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 23:11

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 23:11

Have you looked into the Oztrail range? try their website. They have a few different sizes of cabin tent all in quality canvas.

Dan

AnswerID: 440627

Follow Up By: garbage - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 23:22

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 23:22

I did, but unfortunately, they are still very lightweight compared to my current tent. I'm looking for something similar to the Southern Cross / Freedom tents but in cabin tent form.

FollowupID: 712544

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 07:40

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 07:40

Hi
Not quite sure about now, but a few years ago there were a number of very good quality heavy canvas tents by the brand of "Sunshine Ellis" being imported from our 8th state...LOL New Zealand.

Looks like they are no longer available but perhaps someone from "over the ditch" may be able to help out.

Cheers

Stephen

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AnswerID: 440642

Reply By: PajDIDauto - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 09:39

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 09:39

Freedom Tents are still available. Ken from Freedom retired recently and now 4x4 Equip in Bayswater stock his tents for him.
http://www.4x4equip.com.au/listProduct/Camping+Accessories/Freedom+Touring+Tents

AnswerID: 440651

Reply By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 09:55

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 09:55

Maybe try a Army surplus store they usually use desent heavy canvas tents

AnswerID: 440653

Reply By: Cooper Creek King - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 10:41

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 10:41

We bought a chinese made canvas cabin tent 17 years ago and is still going strong. We recently upgraded another tent and while shopping I see they are still available. I didn't note the name but they are a green and red colour. You see alot around campsites.
The King

AnswerID: 440656

Reply By: Pushy - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 13:03

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 13:03

Stephen almost had it right look for "Sunshine Leisure ". Best canvas tents you can buy.

AnswerID: 440672

Follow Up By: garbage - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 17:20

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 17:20

Thanks, these look pretty good, but I wasn't able to find a local retailer. Do you happen to know if they are sold in Australia?

FollowupID: 712589

Reply By: wendys - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 18:21

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 18:21

We have had two tents made for us by Australian Canvas Co at Bayswater. The first - our "big" tent - is for times we are staying a few days in one place. Had it since 1994 - still going strong after lots of use, including in places like Cape York and the Kimberley. It has metal poles, is brilliantly easy to put up and down. The guy that makes these designed his tents to eliminate faults that he met as a repairer of other brand tents. It wasn't cheap, but we have had enough use out of it to feel it is great value. Better than buying new el cheapo asian tents every three years or so and putting up with them leaking, flapping around in the slightest breeze. etc. The second tent they made us is a dome tent - heavy duty canvas - that we use for overnighting only. It has fibre glass poles. Was made for us in 2001 and has also done good service.
Thoroughly recommend Aust Canvas Co. Am not connected with them in any way except as a two-time customer.

AnswerID: 440701

Follow Up By: garbage - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 20:58

Tuesday, Jan 04, 2011 at 20:58

Thanks for the recommendation. They sound like a very durable tent. How long does the big one take to set up and pack away? What are the good features it has that others do not?

FollowupID: 712615

Follow Up By: wendys - Wednesday, Jan 05, 2011 at 16:32

Wednesday, Jan 05, 2011 at 16:32

Big tent takes maybe 5-10 mins to set up. Most of that is putting in the pegs. Pack up of tent takes about the same - we like to sweep off the bottom of the floor before folding it up, even though we pitch it on shadecloth. Best features: Poles - simple. It has 3 cross member poles for the roof - all the same. There are 3 poles for each side - they are all the same. Two poles for the veranda. They are the only ones that need guy ropes, unless it is windy. (Our previous cheap tent had a million poles and they were all different - drove us crazy). Tropical weight canvas - has lasted so well. Heavy duty floor - also lasted well. Big windows for ventilation when needed. Heavy, straight zips - these do not fail like zips sewn in curved shapes tend to. There is nothing in the construction that will "wick" water in the rain; our previous tent had cotton tapes that fastened windows open and shut - might as well have had a drainpipe in the tent!
Ours is just a big rectangle, but he had other designs, and I suspect, might design to order. The roof at the sleeping end is lower than at the front. We had him put zips on each side of the veranda and make flaps that we can attach, to either be a windbreak or extend the outside living area.

FollowupID: 712679

Reply By: Sue@Cooma - Thursday, Jan 06, 2011 at 10:01

Thursday, Jan 06, 2011 at 10:01

Hi, I'm not sure if this is any help to you...BUT...we have a Sunshine Leisure 'Seabreeze" tent, 16 x 12, plus 8' awning. It's beaut family tent, with two internal rooms, and the front room can have the side unzipped and pegged out as well. You can divide the back room with a curtain to make it into two sleeping areas. It’s been a great family tent, but with our kids grown up & left the nest, we no longer have any use for it. It’s still in good nick, and has been well looked after. There was a zip-on room for the awning to make a 3rd room, which we never bothered with as we found it was plenty of room for us - 2 adults & 2 teenagers. We never cooked inside, always outside, so no interior damage. We are asking $400.00. Please email me at susan.scott@cooma.nsw.gov.au if interested.

AnswerID: 440850