Erecting tent solo

Vegemite · Veteran Member

Erecting tent solo

Troopie49 · Member

Hi Bob,

Realise you have asked about the Oz Trail - can't help on that but...

I have an Oztent R2 and I absolutely love it. I can easily put it up and dismantle by myself even in windy conditions. I've used it for 3 or so months every year for the past 8 years on my regular north/west winter escape. Have had no issues with it except for condensation in cold weather but that was easily solved. Would thoroughly recommend it.

Troopie

Vegemite · Veteran Member

Thanks Troopie but looking for something a little larger.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Bob,

In a previous life I had a tent similar to the 10x8 you mention but longer, very difficult even with two and a lot lot younger.

I borrowed one similar and about the same size as the Tourer 9. If the one you are looking at has a centre pole which I'm sure it does, I found pegging around the base first then lift with the centre pole, rest is easy and all by one person. Practice makes perfect, especially if you practice in your back yard till perfected. No one watching during their happy hour.

Not sure if that helps but I hope so.

Cruising Cruze · Guru

Hi Robert

I would suggest the Oztent - RV2 they are so easy to set up

they ain't cheep but are an marvelous product

Cheers John

Vegemite · Veteran Member

Dougwe, it has two side rails. You raise one side at a time. No centre pole. I have found one video on YouTube of a couple erecting one in time lapse and I have a feeling it may be possible with practice.

John, as I said earlier, the RV2 is too small especially for the price.

I'm in northern NSW and heading down to Tasmania later in the year. I think I'll stop off at a few tent retailers along the way and check them out.

-- Edited by Vegemite on Sunday 5th of January 2014 05:47:20 PM

Vegemite · Veteran Member

Sorry for the formatting. On the mobile site.

Bryan · Guru

I used to have a tourer 9. Easy to erect but very heavy. If I ever got back into tenting I would go for a Black Wolf Turbo Lite. Its pretty easy to put up single handed and its lighter than the Tourer 9. More room inside too.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Vegemite wrote:
Dougwe, it has two side rails. You raise one side at a time. No centre pole. I have found one video on YouTube of a couple erecting one in time lapse and I have a feeling it may be possible with practice.

John, as I said earlier, the RV2 is too small especially for the price.
I'm in northern NSW and heading down to Tasmania later in the year. I think I'll stop off at a few tent retailers along the way and check them out.

-- Edited by Vegemite on Sunday 5th of January 2014 05:47:20 PM

The "Tourer 9" is the one I was referring too with the centre pole Bob. As Bryan said though, could be heavy as would any canvas tents.

Your idea of checking a few out is the best idea I reckon, heaps of big lite tents around these days. Me, well I'm over tents, that just me though.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Nylon tents are much, much lighter!!!

Vic41 · Guru

Vegemite wrote

John, as I said earlier, the RV2 is too small especially for the price.

There are larger models of the Oztent than the RV2, eg; RV4, RV5 etc, however the bigger the tent the more expensive they are.

Having said that if you google reviews for the tents you are interested in (include the Oztent) there are some interesting reviews, whether genuine or put there as a red herring by competitors is open to question.

DarylC · Veteran Member

I had 1 of these & had absolutely no problems at all putting it up on my own & have did so many times.

Put all the roof rails in the roof, including the middle. Lift 1 end of 1 side 1/2 way up, then the other end all the way up, then the first end the rest of the way....repeat with the other side. Then do the centre posts & rail ... easy.

Just be sure that where the side poles meet the ground that won't slide, most ge=round won't be a problem

I now have a tent similar to this, even easier to erect. It has the advantage of a pole in the middle to hang onto to get my jeans on ..... haha it's a bugger to get older.

Happy camping

dazren · Guru

smile Gidday Vegemite, -- I don't know much about tents, but I do like the Oz-Trail type set-up, But as far as advice goes ?? I would follow what Dougwe had to say ?? As I was talking to Wombat, and he said the Dougwe is very good at ''Solo Erections"" aww aww wink biggrin biggrin

Cruising Cruze · Guru

Poor Dougwe they having a dig at you mate

( Hahahahaha)

Dougwe · Chief one feather

No problem John, at least I answer PM's unlike dazzled people.

John, paybacks are double.

As for wombats, well they are just that, wombats.

Bunkerbob · Senior Member

The problem with the Oztent is you need to carry it on a roof rack as they are long. If I didn't have a roof rack I would go for a Southern Cross style. Folds to a neat package, about 1 meter square but when erecting, unfold, peg the corners and 1 centre pole, walk it in and it's up. Most would come with options for annexes etc. Look around. Some of the Bus Camping tour companies upgrade regularly and you can get the reasonably cheap.

Bob

Vegemite · Veteran Member

Daryl, I'll probably go your route and get an OZtrail Tourer 10 Plus and add a side pole kit. I don't like centre poles and if need be I'll sit down to pull on my jeans :)

As for Oztents, length wouldn't be a problem, I have an extra long van but they are just too expensive in the larger sizes.

I've also looked at the Blackwolf Turbo range and in canvas they are expensive. I like them a lot but if I did get one it would have to be polyester and from what I've
read cotton/canvas is a much better proposition.

Thanks for all the feedback.

-- Edited by Vegemite on Wednesday 8th of January 2014 08:29:19 AM

Vegemite · Veteran Member

Oh dear, now I've seen another tent to add to the mix. There are just too many to choose from.

Black Wolf Tuff Dome Plus. Video

Supposed to be excellent in wind and rain. It looks very streamlined and still high enough to stand up in.

Not canvas but still impressive.

Decisions, decisions ......

Gerty Dancer · Guru

That one only weighs 11.5kg, Vegemite, but will take a couple more minutes to erect on your own. Everything has its +'s and -'s!
We have a tent of this style but a different brand (Coleman) and find it suits us, yes excellent in wind and rain, but our needs are different to yours.
Decisions can get harder the more you think about it, Good luck!

Vegemite · Veteran Member

Thanks Gerty.
Weight isn't a problem (within reason) nor is time to put it up. My main issue is doing it by myself. But as you say, the more you think about it and look at the options the harder it gets.
Black Wolf do make it easy though. Everything is colour coded.
I'm going to keep an eye out for any camping shows coming up this year and make a decision then.

Allara · Senior Member

Don't underestimate the weight question. They get heavier as you get older and if you pay good money for a tent then you will have it for a while.
I have the extended southern X with the centre pole and outer frame on the extended back. Have had it for 12 - 15 yrs and still going strong it is canvas and I put it up myself.
I did look at the oz trail but it was too heavy to lift alone to get it onto the roof and too big to fit inside the vehicle. They make a 'black wolf' look alike which is cheaper and it looked really easy to put up. I also do camping in a swag, that is really easy to put up.

Cheers
Allara