 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Camping options for the slightly older and larger gentleman? |
 
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1845  
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So, a friend of mine (honestly!) and his partner are planning to join us on our Pyrenees trip this year.
We’re more or less sorted, but my friend has a 90 we’re working on now. He is a big fella, 6’2” and built to suit. A little older than me, so running up and down a ladder to a roof tent isn’t going to be an option. He’s looked, and quite liked the Oztents - which would presumably require a roof rack or basket with a 90. So my question is what they are really like to live with? How easy to pitch and get up on the rack? They’ll also be fitting an awning, so my second question was, looking at ARB awnings where you can buy a “room” - what’s the room like? Would it really serve as a tent? I’ve loads of camping experience but not with those specific things. I know that ‘holy grail’ combination of comfortable, quick to erect, stormproof, light is always going to mean compromises. So if there’s anything else on the market apart from the two I’ve mentioned, then happy to hear it. Thanks very much! Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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28th Jan 2023 6:24pm |
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| Whirly90 Member Since: 01 Sep 2016 Location: Ampshire Posts: 405  
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We had an RV3 for about 15 years and loved it for the reasons that Moo said. The main tent is very quick and easy to erect but it can take quite a bit longer if you fit the optional side and front panels. These create an extra room and double the living space but if you're using an awning you may not need these. We used a quality air bed and were as comfy as we are at home in our own bed.
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29th Jan 2023 9:14am |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2656 
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Madness I know and nowhere near as fashionable, but I have a tent that goes on the ground. Can put it up in a few minutes, no ladder to climb, and will take a double mattress comfortably. The only problem is no one will know you’re an overlander
 Click image to enlarge |
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29th Jan 2023 9:49am |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4216  
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I’ve spent weeks and weeks living in our Oztent, putting it up every night and away every morning. For that sort of camping I’ve not found another ground tent that comes close. It’s the not having to faff with poles that makes the difference, that becomes very tiring after a while with a normal tent. Yes they are big when folded, but you get in to a technique for hoiking it on the roof. Being 6ft 2 would make that easier. However, if you have back problems it could be an issue, 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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29th Jan 2023 10:30am |
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| stew 46 Member Since: 26 Jan 2012 Location: Wadebridge ,cornwall . Posts: 561 
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RV5 is really great
 , get the extra sides then your not sitting in your sleeping part
Click image to enlarge  |
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29th Jan 2023 10:44am |
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| LR Nuts Member Since: 10 Aug 2022 Location: UK Posts: 1143
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I saw this, ..... it's a roof sleeping tent, with an OZtent RV-1 (tag-along) attached.
On a Freelander 2, of all vehicles. Best of both worlds. |
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29th Jan 2023 12:13pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1845
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Thanks guys,
Lots of Oztent love - which is good;getting real world experience. Are you all storing it straight onto a roof rack, or into the specific basket? Anyone tried the ARB Awning room?? Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... Last edited by donmacn on 29th Jan 2023 5:38pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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29th Jan 2023 1:37pm |
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| strang Member Since: 16 May 2012 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 1381 
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I had a Howling Moon Whizz 24 which is like an Oztent, but on a trip to Morocco, where everyone else had rooftents, I found it took too long to put up and take down every day. On that trip I had also taken a small and cheap 'festival' tent from Go Outdoors, which ended up getting more use than the Whizz!
I still prefer ground tents though.
Click image to enlarge Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond..... |
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29th Jan 2023 2:12pm |
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| Moo Member Since: 01 Oct 2021 Location: UK Posts: 1399 
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Mine just goes on my rack held on by two straps.
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29th Jan 2023 2:21pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665 
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Borrowing a piccie off here from "Higgers". I think the TENTIPI is awesome!
Click image to enlarge Love that you can have a wood burner in there too! I know some of the guys used them for the Norway trips in the Defenders a few years back. There's a much cheaper copy by a UK company (altho sadly manufactured in china) called https://belltent.co.uk/products/4m-deluxe-bell-tent Personally I use a Force 10 Mk5, bombproof and super easy to erect (sadly shown with my Volvo and not my Defender) Click image to enlarge Tentipi vid: Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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30th Jan 2023 1:36am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I had an Oztent for years and whilst it was very good, it also had its limitations. Whilst the basic tent is quick to erect, if you want the extra room then it takes a lot longer and is something of a faff, particularly if you're on your own. It's also very dark without solid windows and is bloomin' heavy to lift on and off the roof. I eventually changed it for an air tent, which whilst quite bulky seemed to solve most of the Oztent shortcomings. I definitely wanted one that I could stand up in.
As it happens, I never actually used the air tent as we bought a camping trailer instead 
If your friend does go down the Oztent route then tell him that they can easily be carried on roof bars rather than needing a full roof rack. This was on our old D2 a few years ago on a trip down through Spain: Click image to enlarge Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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30th Jan 2023 9:59am |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410
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Well I am going to throw the OzTent RS-1 and stretcher in to the mix. Perfect for touring. OzTent quality. The added comfort and convenience of the stretcher makes camping incredibly comfortable, especially for the older bod as you are off the ground.
The tent itself is incredibly quick to erect and break down again. I cannot recommend the setup enough. You can see more in this thread - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic85105.html?highlight=rs1 |
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30th Jan 2023 12:12pm |
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| Lodelaner Member Since: 04 Feb 2010 Location: Lambourn Posts: 632 
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Sometimes I wish this forum had a +1 or like for posts! JB @Lodelaner Instagram Youtube greenlaning and other LR related content |
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30th Jan 2023 12:22pm |
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| steveww Member Since: 05 Jan 2022 Location: Uppingham Posts: 569 
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Have a look at these as an alternative to OZ Tent.
https://ridgemonkey.co.uk/product/escape-xf2-standard-2-man-bivvy |
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30th Jan 2023 12:43pm |
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