For compactness you cant beat a 2/3 man dome tent. We have 3 tents from a 2 man to a twin room 6 person dome and all are smaller than swag when packed.
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For compactness you cant beat a 2/3 man dome tent. We have 3 tents from a 2 man to a twin room 6 person dome and all are smaller than swag when packed.
Awning off the vehicle with walls and a floor mat, stretcher and swag for each person. Quick, easy, compact. Double swags are too bulky so we prefer singles. A stretcher makes a huge difference for comfort, particularly in wet muddy weather.
I have a Zempire inflatable tent. Quite bulky and heavy when packed but goes up incredibly quickly with the hand pump then just needs pegging out and packs away almost as easily.
The youngest heir to our debts and DIL have a Darche inflatable tent which is excellent for a family who are staying in one place, but would be too cumbersome for moving daily.
Simplicity is everything.
I've only ever needed a Freedom Family Tourer which I purchased in 1995 (23 years) and it's still going strong. Amazing quality.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/03/165.jpg
...however, as Weeds knows, I'm yearning for a Mulgo pop top... trying to save the cash.. planning a BIG trip in a couple of years. My only regret will be that the pop-top will be even simpler to set up than my beloved Freedom tent. It will be very hard to leave behind.
We take two swags, a gas stove, two camp chairs. Food in one milk crate. Cooking gear in one milk crate. Engel fridge with battery and solar panel. All packed in the shed or in the car. Ready to go at a moments notice. That's it.
The Defender makes everything even easier too. The gear doesn't even fill the rear space behind the back seats, including the swags.
The slab-sided packing space of Defenders is perfect. The 1m x 1m tent stands on a wheel arch against one side window. I would hate to have to pack a vehicle with curved sides, curved plastic lining, curved rear doors! Why are all new 4x4's being designed like they're sports cars?
And why are there so many curved synthetic tents on the market, which only last a couple of years of infrequent use? I've lived in my canvas Freedom tent for months on end.
The Defender goes anywhere with ease, city, bush, beach, whatever. No fuss. No hubs to lock. No fat panels to worry about scratching. It's just at home in the bush.
This kind of camping set up has stood the test of time...it's been refined through extensive experience yes, but it's all about being at home in the bush, rather than perching on the edge, with a set up that's more about not really wanting to leave the city. No caravan ever.
Cheers all
We have 2 tents. The first is a Blackwolf Turbo 240 with full awning, including 3 walls. We use this when we intend to stay in one spot for a week or so. Our granddaughter sleeps in the awning area on a camp stretcher. We also have the table and cooking gear in here My wife and I sleep in the tent on camp stretchers and self inflating mattresses. The Blackwolf, which has an external frame goes up quite quickly. The awning does n't but that might be due in part to the fact I'm not 6 foot tall. They are both a pain to take down - don't believe the advertising video. Our other tent is a Coleman "Instant Tent", also 2400 x 2400. We use this on trips when the maximum time in one spot is only a couple of nights and then move on. It also has an external frame, goes up really quickly and also comes down quickly. Our granddaughter does n't come on these trips, and we sleep on the self inflatable mattresses. We also carry an 8ft x 10 ft tarp to pitch the tent on. Saves having to clean off the bottom of the tent. All our cooking and washing up gear lives in a plastic tub so we just pick this up and slide into my home made drawer system which also has a 20 litre plastic jerry can attached to a caravan tap so we have water. One advantage of the Coleman over the Blackwolf is that it is a hell of a lot cheaper. Now to sing the praise of Paddy Palin climbers sleeping bags - I've had mine for 45 years and it is still excellent.
If you want an easy setup..... as suggested, think about a Kings Deluxe Big Daddy Swag under an Awning with 2 of their Awning Walls OR a Coleman Instant-Up Tent :)
Did all that rough camping stuff then found out about demountable campers.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4xsama
If you have a pick up, ute or tray back it is so quick to just back under and go.
No heaving stuff around and poking poles about to set up camp.
Just relax and do your camping in comfort.
Only downside storing when when off the truck. I park under mine, takes up little space then.
Can be picked up quite cheaply if they are old.
These look like the go. I'm guessing the awning walls are mainly for shelter from the weather.Quote:
Originally Posted by DNB
I want to spend as little as possible given it might be a solo trip (with Mr Jones the black Lab) to a river in the cooler months. A tarp for the swag to sit on and a chair should do (for now).
Cheers
The double swags can be very bulky to roll up. Single swags are rolled up by width, not length, so are much more compact.
Personally I think a stretcher is the single best thing I ever did to make swagging more comfortable. More important than the design of the swag.
Also important is the thickness of the mattress and the length - I need 210cm length to be comfortable as I'm tall.