Thread: Centre pole tent-Dome tent

i have had both, if space is a problem than go the dome, most are pretty easy to put up

in saying that i have two touring tents, dead easy to put up four pegs and a pole, one has the no centre pole attachment but have never used as the fammily uses single swags, the no centre pole attachment is good for double air mattress's

if i was to buy again i would go the extended version of the touring tent, more room to put bags and your not standing on the bedding getting dressed etc

We have an old Freedom tent. Its big, its bulky, its heavy with the canvas in one bag and the poles in another (too big for a small car)
BUT...it did us for 20 odd years. Recently a heavy wind caused some damage to the tunnel section that goes over the vehicle, it was repaired. The tent leaked after so long and was recently waterproofed...then Numpty took it to Bathurst and some idiot fired a rocket thru the front of it and ripped a big hole in it. Now wondering which way to go next as its probably not woth the money to fix it.




We took a cheap dome tent on recent trip, not expecting to get rain in particular and just to use in heavily populated areas (like Boulia & Louth Races), when we wouldn't be using just the swag. Not very good quality...zips already failing!!

OK, thank you all for your replies.

It looks like the centre pole tent will suit us perfectly for what we will use it for, setting it up in a minimum of time at the end of a days driving, and being able to pack up again in next to no time before kicking off again the next day. 2 nights in one location is the longest we are likely to stay put, but over nighters are the norm.

We don`t normally spend very long in one location, so it does`nt need to be the Taj Mahal of tents.

The only thing that concerns me is the size of em when packed up, so I suppose all I can do is wait till I hit the sunny shores of OZ and go and suss that out for myself. If they are a bit to big and bulky, I`m going to do my home work a bit better and buy another dome tent that might`nt be the greatest tent, but is easy and quick to set up after a long days driving.

I have a small family size dome tent that I used before getting a roof top tent.

I find it a pain to erect/take down on my own, because the poles feed through sleeves that bunch-up and resist feeding the poles through.

Because of their shape, they are doubly worse to fold-up into a neat small package - I can't get mine back into the bag with the fly.

Glad to see I`m not the only one to get frustrated with dome tents.

The roof tent is pure luxury, but it does come at a cost to weight, high C of G and initial outlay, etc, but it certainly is the best nights sleep you can have whislt camping.

Originally Posted by Bush65

I have a small family size dome tent that I used before getting a roof top tent.

I find it a pain to erect/take down on my own, because the poles feed through sleeves that bunch-up and resist feeding the poles through.

Because of their shape, they are doubly worse to fold-up into a neat small package - I can't get mine back into the bag with the fly.

Sleeves are the problem, Bush65. Clips are the go - on mine (about 7ft in centre and 3m square) I unfold about 1/4 of the pole, place on the corner attachment and then clip 1/2 way up, walk around tent unfolding pole and then attach diagonal corner, clip 1/2 way up. Repeat with second pole - if there's an assistant they hold the first pole, if not you either hold it yourself or peg out first, which holds it up. By the time you have the second pole 1/2 clipped the tent holds itself up, you then clip the centre ones. Piece of cake. Mine then has another 2 poles for the main tent but same principle, then fly over and pole for the awning (these have sleeves on mine but some do clips for this as well). I can do the whole thing myself in around 15 minutes.

I recently bought a Taj Mahal to suit 1-2 weeks with 2 adults and 4 kids - it has sleeves and with 2 people is still a real pain and takes forever. Only about 50% larger than the one with clips and the same number of poles, but 300% the trouble.

But I haven't got a solution for how to compact the fly back down. If anyone does, let me know

Steve

PS Maybe a camp-setup race some time? There'd need to be some sort of points system though, cos the fastest setup would be a bivvy bag but who would camp in one for a week?

We have used both a dome tent and the centre pole type and definitely prefer the centre pole touring tent for stress free camping.

Touring tents - for quick set up just bang in four pegs, in with the centre pole and you're done. 5 min max. If it's raining it goes up without the inside getting wet ( not that we get much rain these days !)

Most esseintial thing with centre poles - get one that has good quality canvas - Freedom Camping or Southern Cross are probably the most favoured. They both use either Aussie or NZ made canvas - no Chinese stuff. Personally I like the Freedom.

We only have a small one and it fits quite easily in the back of the Disco.

Originally Posted by waynep

We have used both a dome tent and the centre pole type and definitely prefer the centre pole touring tent for stress free camping.

Touring tents - for quick set up just bang in four pegs, in with the centre pole and you're done. 5 min max. If it's raining it goes up without the inside getting wet ( not that we get much rain these days !)

Most esseintial thing with centre poles - get one that has good quality canvas - Freedom Camping or Southern Cross are probably the most favoured. They both use either Aussie or NZ made canvas - no Chinese stuff. Personally I like the Freedom.

We only have a small one and it fits quite easily in the back of the Disco.

Thanks mate, will check em out.