Perceived Weakness in OZTents

Hi Robin,
I have a RV 4, I use a 2.4 x 4.8 shadecloth ground sheet under mine and this helps keep the bottom of the tent clean. When packing the tent away you roll it up so it fits into the bag, the bottom of the tent ends up on the outside of the roll. As i do this i have a rag handy to wipe the bottom of the tent clean if it needs it. Hope this makes sence.
Ron.

Hi Robin,

We have an Oztent RV4 and when we purchased ours we also got the Oztent ground sheet to suit. I think they call it the floor saver from memory.

When we pack up we put the tent away by folding it up on the ground sheet so excessive dirt etc is never an issue. If there is any moisture it is always on the underside of the ground sheet so we just turn it upsidedwown for 10 minutes to dry off before rolling it up.

Cheers

Hi Robin,
We had a similar problem on our trip in 2010, I had a Blackwolf Turbo tent & my cousin had an Oztent, with the Blackwolf I set it up on a tarp and found when packing it up on the tarp I would just wipe it dry if any moisture had got between the tarp and the tent floor, then I would fold the tarp in half and brush the top side clean, (I would do this for each fold I did of the tarp, much easier to brush clean the tarp than the bottom of the tent).

My cousin didn't use a tarp to set his Oztent up on, so when packing up there was usually some dirt/grass etc on the underside of the tent floor. When we had got the tent folded up to the point of having it ready to roll up we would use a brush to clean off any dirt, as we rolled the tent over a bit more we would brush the dirt off until we got to the point of carrying the tent to the tailgate of the car to place it in the carry bag, there was always that last little bit of dirt that had to be brushed off before we placed it in the bag which we did on the edge of the tailgate.

We did that every time we packed up the Oztent for our 7 week trip, he did say that next time he was going to get a tarp to set the tent up on as he realised it was much easier to clean the underside of a tarp than the underside of his Oztent.

Regards, John

We swear by our Oztent!! We are travelling around Oz in it and wouldn't have it any other way! We put a tarp underneath our Oztent always!

Mr Miller

I am gobsmacked that a 'missin-nissan true believer' like yourself would in the first instance ask such a question, and then answer it in the last sentence of the subject thread. Which I might add has been fully corroborated by all those that have replied.

What intrigues me more though, is how much does this RV3 sucker weigh, and how have you accommodated the extra weight in your setup, knowing full well your eccentricities on the subject of weight.

You haven't ditched SWMBO to accommodate this new sleeping partner , have you. (LOL)

Also, please elucidate how you intend to fit the 'now required ground sheet', into the vehicle which from memory didn't have room to fit a fly in last time I looked.

DD

Hi Robin,

I use a tarp underneath mine always to save the floor and keep it clean. It extends out the front of the tent so it can stop dirt from being tracked in and when I'm packing up, I can push the tent over (on its front) to clean the floor.

Cheers Wilko

Hi Robin

I have just lived in my Oz Tent for 18 mths while travelling around Oz.

The answer is simple. I use a ground sheert to help protect it but the way to clean and dry underneath is once its empty and you have removed all the pegs from the corners you just grab the strap centre top of door(the one you use to erect it) and pull it forward which tips the whole tent over till the door is on the ground and the floor is now like a wall.

When I set it up I try and have the back of the tent facing east so in the morning the sun dry's the back and roof and then when its tipped forward the sun is on the bottom of the floor. Did it that way everytime I packed up and never had a problem. Also makes it easy to clean inside as all the dirt or sand falls to the front and when you put it back down its easy to sweep it out

Another good trick is if your not using the awning out the front use it as a fly to stop the condensation inside on cold nights,just throw the awning over the back and put 2 poles at the rear corners.

Regards Peter

as everyone has said a ground sheet works fine but befor you part with your $1000
hard earned have a look at this http://www.pinnaclewholesalers.com.au/product/566/30_SECOND_TENT
at $300 each you could buy two & still have some change

Robin,

If you check out the Oztent web site, you will notice two options for a floor saver (ground sheet).

The standard floor saver for each size is a non-porous ground sheet. We have one of these for our RV3 but found after a heavy bout of rain during one camping excursion, pools of water congregate on the floor and it is easy to track both water and mud into the tent itself.

We have since invested in the mesh floor saver and this is a much more practical product for water and dirt/sand with all simply passing though the mesh, rather than pool on the surface.

An excellent accessory for the Oztent, as is the Peak side panels we have.

One other bit of advice mate.
If you can find the extra $100 or so, my recommendation would be to buy the RV4 which will give you that extra bit of width inside the tent.
With the Bride and I in our swags, there is only a narrow gap of about 600mm to 750mm and once you place your bags, etc. inside, things are kind of "cozy".

We find it adequate and love the RV3 when we use it, but the RV4 would be more practical even for two people with the extra width over the RV3.

Oztent Accessories

A great choice in a tent anyway Robin.

Hi Robin

You will always get into debates with tents, just like vehicles and fridges.


Having said that, we have the RV 4 and it is by far the best ever tent that we have ever owned, including, Australian and New Zealand made quality tents.

Regardless of what tent, a ground sheet like all have said will keep the tent clean, not always dry. Drying the underside of the tent is dead easy when putting it away.

After letting the tent down, you then have to bring the B & A sides up, one at a time of course. With the first one folded, use an old towel or the like and wipe and dry the first side, then repeat the same when the second side is folded back into place. This then gives you the envelope look and when rolling the tent up over the 2 folded side, continue to wipe the rest of the damp floor. With the securing middle strap in place, the tent can then be rolled over for a final wipe if necessary.

To help fit the tent back into the waterproof carry bag, we have found the most easiest way is not to move the tent, but in fact place the carry bag over the tent. When the cover is in place, roll the tent/bag over and zip the bag up and how easy is that.

Gone are the days of trying to squeeze the tent back into a bag, and our way wins easy every time, even with the fly still attached.

Pay the extra $100 for the bigger tent, it is still the same length in its bag, but with extra room inside.

Either way you go Robin, you will be getting the best tent around by far.

Are they waterproof, you bet 100%. Over on KI last March, we coped 110mm of rain in one night, it just would not stop raining. We were the only tent, including camper trailers, and pop top caravans that had not one drop of water inside our set up. Their tub floors are true to fame, as we had a 30mm water,grass mark up the side of the tub floor, which in simple terms meant that we were in an mini lake in the caravan park.

As you know, I am in no way affiliated with Oztent, just one very happy owner that is prepared to debate the issue any time it is asked.




Cheers


Stephen

Hi Robin
I've got an OZ tent also and as Bravo man & Rob D have said, with the tent unpegged roll it onto its front exposing the floor and wipe clean. I have not yet had to set it up in mud so a ground sheet would be good. Money well spent even at $1000.

Murray

Robin,
Just use a piece of visqueen cut to size as a ground sheet. Cheap as chips, light weight and can be thrown away after each trip.

RA.

Tip it on its side and hit it with a hose if you don't want to buy something to put under it. I do that occasionally, despite the fact that I have it on annexe matting when it is in use. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.
Can't get anything simpler.
Jack