BlackWolf or Freedom

[Captain_Rightfoot]

All,

It's boiling down to two choices a BlackWolf (http://blackwolf.com.au/turbo/turbo-240/), or a Freedom NT (http://www.freedomcamping.com.au/nt.html).

I was keen on the BW, but I spoke to someone today who suggested that even their canvas wasn't all that high quality, and if one of the arms breaks you're stuffed... can't get the tent up or down.

They suggested the Freedom as it's really well made basically. It's also longer than it is wide, which is a good idea with a centrepole tent as it lets you get a queen bed in. :)

Any thoughts on this?

[weeds]

go the freedom NT, i have two somilar brands, nothing to go wrong

four pegs, one pole and your up away

it also been tested on the canning stock route (theres a pic on there website) so its perfect for the trip you are going on:D

how many days to go

[Captain_Rightfoot]

go the freedom NT, i have two somilar brands, nothing to go wrong

four pegs, one pole and your up away

it also been tested on the canning stock route (theres a pic on there website) so its perfect for the trip you are going on:D

how many days to go

oh dear... 7 months and counting :o :o

[TuffRR]

Of those 2 options, definately the Freedom.

However, given the choice between Freedom and Southern Cross I chose Southern Cross. Have you had a look at the SC tents?

[cartm58]

have had a freedom 1 minute tent since 1984, minimal time to erect only need four corner pegs in ground and central pole.

disadvantage of central pole is you cant put a queen size mattress so sleep 2 singles either side of pole.

get the heavy duty canvas and floor option, heavier canvas keeps out more light, espcially when camping in carvan parks with roadside lighting.

takes longer to fold and pack away as you have to sweep crap off bottom of floor of tent unless you have slipped a blue plastic tarp underneath for it to sit on

[Captain_Rightfoot]

have had a freedom 1 minute tent since 1984, minimal time to erect only need four corner pegs in ground and central pole.

disadvantage of central pole is you cant put a queen size mattress so sleep 2 singles either side of pole.

get the heavy duty canvas and floor option, heavier canvas keeps out more light, espcially when camping in carvan parks with roadside lighting.

takes longer to fold and pack away as you have to sweep crap off bottom of floor of tent unless you have slipped a blue plastic tarp underneath for it to sit on
I had considered the southern cross. The trouble seems to be finding one to look at :(

The freedom seems just as good and I can look at one of those so I thought that was a good starting point.

The good thing about the freedom NT is that it's longer than wide so you can fit a queen in with the just the centrepole.. no need for sidepole kits. I think SC has a same size tent. :)

[TuffRR]

My experience from when i was shopping around between the Freedom and SC tents was that both have the same sizes available across the range. I ended up getting the SC ultimate trekker which was about $250 cheaper than the comparable Freedom tent.

[stusgonesailing]

I looked at both but in the end settled on the black wolf. I've had it for about 18 months now and i still love it. easy to put up and down (less than a minute). The original knuckes in the frame were plastic and a bit of a concern but they brought them out in metal (mines the later metal)the thing is a strong as an ox.

We had it up in high winds without the extra ropes on and it shook like buggery but never looked like breaking or falling down.

If you do have a problem all of the leg components can be changed and all are available through black wolf

Stu

[martin r]

before you buy don't discount the Southern Cross tent. We own an Ultimate 11 which is 3.2 x 2.65 and chose it because you can fit a double bed between the pole and wall. Having had many tents in our life this is by far the best made and most practical when it comes to a touring tent.

[seqfisho]

Capt,

Had a Freedom Family Tourer for about 9 years now, its been through everything and still like new.

Should have said something yesterday, I could have waffled on about it for hours:D

When do you need it by, as when we get our CT it will be up for sale;)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/12/162.jpg

[weeds]

The other day at caravan park there were two black wolf tents setup. They look the goods but looked as thought they take longer to put than the touring tent, if there was no due around I guess you wouldn't need to put the fly on. As your trip will be setting up and packing up everyday than the tourer would be the go after having a closer look at the black wolf.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

The other day at caravan park there were two black wolf tents setup. They look the goods but looked as thought they take longer to put than the touring tent, if there was no due around I guess you wouldn't need to put the fly on. As your trip will be setting up and packing up everyday than the tourer would be the go after having a closer look at the black wolf.

Hey Kelvin... thanks for keeping an eye out for me :)

I'm definitely thinking the tourer at this point, because I think they're quick, and I think there is nothing to go wrong with them.

I had a look at one of those square tents yesterday (you know... the ones that go into the big looong bag). Very simple to put up and down, but at the same time very flimsy. Lots of thin aluminium extrusions and overcentre locks etc.

[Buncha]

I'll back up all the comments above about the Freedom Camper tents. I bought one 2nd hand about 20 years ago and it is still going strong. It has been all over the country in all conditions.

Recently in a caravan park in Longreach I set up my tent in a minute or so. The guy camped next door came over to ask about it. He said it was amazed at how quickly I got it up, and said it was a "marriage saver", as his dome style tent had been slow and tricky to erect and had caused a bit of friction with "the boss".

[Mudnut]

I went with a Freedom tent that I got at the Melbourne 4x4 show. Was cheaper than the Southern Cross one, and I didn't like the long poles of the Black Wolf. The canvas of the Freedom one is thicker, and seemed to be better quality in my opinion. The other thing I like about it, is the colour. Southern Cross was a dark green, and the Freedom is a tan, and brown. With the windows open, seemed much cooler, as it does not absorb the heat as much.
As a side topic, I use a scrap of shade cloth that came from the Bunnings offcut box under the tent. This allows for some ventilation under the tent, but keeps the dirt, and moisture off the bottom of the tent when I'm folding it up. Also have a small piece for a door mat to keep the dirt out of the tent.

Some shots from Cape York
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2035/dsc0561ye9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/5752/dsc0286in6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Cheers,

Ken