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vgeorge Samba Member
Joined: October 31, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Vancouver
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:32 pm Post subject: side tents |
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Hi Has anyone tried the new tents from BusDepot? They look huge! Also, the Oztent from Australia? I am looking for a side tent and have found one in Canada called the Sportz by Napier but it looks like just a rear connection. Thanks! Happy Halloween!! |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 1839 Location: Englewood, FL
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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the rear connection tents kinda suck with the vanagons large hatch. They can only be open about halfway or so and entry/exit between is not very easy. I had the "lodge" rear tent for awhile
The newest traditional side tent that bus depot has is pretty impressive, It truly is the best I have seen yet in design, size, quality, etc.. My buddy I camp with has one, Another one of our friends has the older version and its nice but not as good in wet conditions and does not have as large sock connection to the camper. _________________ Markus |
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vgeorge Samba Member
Joined: October 31, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Vancouver
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 2:23 pm Post subject: tent |
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Thanks very much. It is hard to know when you can't see the thing in person. I read earlier that the bus depot tent is heavy and takes up a lot of room to transport. It might not be an issue if it is such a great tent. Space can be made! |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 1839 Location: Englewood, FL
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: tent |
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vgeorge wrote: |
Thanks very much. It is hard to know when you can't see the thing in person. I read earlier that the bus depot tent is heavy and takes up a lot of room to transport. It might not be an issue if it is such a great tent. Space can be made! |
Thats true of all the better side tents unfortunatly _________________ Markus |
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vgeorge Samba Member
Joined: October 31, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Vancouver
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject: tents |
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Thanks Markus. They guy at Sportz says peple are putting their tents up through the sides on Euros, but I wonder... |
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speedygeorge Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2009 Posts: 235 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:42 am Post subject: Re: tents |
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vgeorge wrote: |
Thanks Markus. They guy at Sportz says peple are putting their tents up through the sides on Euros, but I wonder... |
I see a nearly new one for sale locally for $100, has anyone tried this with a vanagon, it appears to have 2 entrances as well as awing and over 7 feet tall.
http://www.sportzbynapier.com/product.html?product_num=61 |
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speedygeorge Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2009 Posts: 235 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:27 pm Post subject: Re: tents |
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Scored this tent with pass through for $60, it has 2 doors and windows on all sides, it is 7 feet tall with small awning. The pass through can be unziped and the tent can be used on its own. The opening lines up almost perfectly with sliding door, I have attached the top of the tent with 3 small clips, the bottom has a 1 foot high lip that lines up nicely with the floor and the sides are held by closing on the passenger door and tucked into the sliding door on the other side, no more moving bags around every day. |
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Flash Kaleo Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2012 Posts: 47 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:50 pm Post subject: Sportz SUV 6 Tent with Screen Room |
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Thought I would share some thoughts on a recent purchase soon to be returned tent.
I purchased the Sportz SUV 6 Tent from REI.
http://www.rei.com/product/851617/sportz-suv-6-tent-with-screen-room
Depending on what you are looking for this could be a good option for you. For me I am going to stay more compact.
This is a big tent with lots of room. I ordered the tent with the screen room option. You have the option of adding the screen room or unzipping it and leaving it off. The rain fly also gives you the option of setting up a side awning. All in all this tent has great features and space.
Here are a few pictures of my set up.
Great additional space!
I did not have the top poles going through the top sleeves, which is causing a bit of sag up top.
The sleeve that attaches the tent to the van does not allow the back gate to open all the way.
I thought this would be a great solution. It’s tall… I’m tall, it’s spacious… I like space, and it attaches to most SUV/ Minivans... I have a Vanagon. So why do I plan to return it…
I come from a backpacking background and try to use gear that can also be used while traveling on foot. The first concern I had with this tent was when the REI staff offered me a set of hand trucks to take it from the store to my car. My second concern was when I realized I needed them. Overall packed weight is 52 pounds.
In the storage bag it is 32x14x14inches.
For me space in the van is an issue. I travel with my wife and 2 year old… i.e. a car seat and other things that go along with a toddler. We need a space to leave all of the random stuff when we do our day trips out from the campsite. For what the tent cost it did not match the van the way I wanted.
The sleeve just seemed glitchy and I could see space between the van and the tent. Raccoons would surely be coming in for an evening visit. I did not use it in the rain but feel confident it would leak in this area because of how it sits on the van hatch.
Unpacking the tent and setting it up was not an issue. Compared to many tents this has an easy assembly. I did have my wife help me the first time, but with practice I think it could be a one man job.
The quality seemed ok, however there were two poles that did not have the same internal bungee/chain connecting system as the others. I think they were left off in the factory…?
Overall probably not a bad tent, just not for me. My solution will be to set up my backpacking tent next to the van. After weighing all of my options it really is not so important to have the additional space attached to the side or back of the van.
This is just more our style…
Take it for what it is worth!
Flash _________________ 1986 Wolfsburg Weekender |
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Busdepot Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004 Posts: 1314
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:15 am Post subject: |
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[email protected] wrote: |
The newest traditional side tent that bus depot has is pretty impressive, It truly is the best I have seen yet in design, size, quality, etc.. My buddy I camp with has one, |
Thanks for the positive feedback! Yes, the Add-A-Room is bulky, but the high build quality and flexibility (every side extends to an awning, etc.) necessitate that. It's truly a buy-it-once-and-have-it-forever product.
For those who want a lighter duty option, you can use our Ezy-Awning with the optional walls, and/or our Rear Hatch Tent (which is designed specifically for a VW van so it's a good fit), both of which are very inexpensive and pack tiny because they're nylon.
Links:
Add-A-Room: http://www.busdepot.com/details/addaroom/
Ezy-Awning: http://www.busdepot.com/details/awning/
Rear Hatch Tent shown at the bottom of both pages _________________ - Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com |
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BillWYellowstone Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2011 Posts: 767 Location: Yellowstone NP
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:27 am Post subject: |
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I just bought the rear tent for our Westy, have used it once so far, pretty easy to set up, only issue is we were on pretty hard pack and could not use the stakes. I'll make up some weights to use in this situation for future.
Camping here is out for now, still snow around, and if we did go, the rear tent wouldn't be used in the temps. (18 this morning).
BTW, it got real windy overnight and while flapping was loud, everything held nicely. _________________ Live Fulltime in motorhome
Have 86 Westy Camper 2.1 rebuilt
Work in Yellowstone NP year round. |
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4x4BNB Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2012 Posts: 274 Location: PNW
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:09 am Post subject: |
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We got the Archaus from Gowesty. It was a little expensive but vey light and easy to set up. It does not have a floor . We used it for additional storage at Syncrofest but, it attaches to the side or rear. Our eventual plan is to use at a bathroom/shower |
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debbiej Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008 Posts: 1556 Location: las cruces, nm
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:20 am Post subject: |
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We have decided that the type of trip determines the need. For camping in one spot trip, tent is worth taking. And for those kinds of trips, I don't want the tent attached, it is good to leave it in place if you want to take the vehicle to explore or for supplies. I do want it to be easy though. So love our coleman instant tent. It can double as screen house, rain shelter. Also have a little pop up for shower or potty. Haven't really used it though.
For overnight, stops on road trip, no tent. BD's rear hatch shelter is good for that. Quick, easy little extra room, if needed and takes up no space at all.
Just my opinion, of course. |
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tam_shops Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012 Posts: 1530 Location: Vancouver BC
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CoastieLFS Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2011 Posts: 76
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 1:55 pm Post subject: ArcHaus - It Does Have a Floor |
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4x4BNB, the ArcHaus has a floor, but it comes with the bug screen kit (as a friend of mine is modeling...)
_________________ '95 Eurovan Camper (2.5L)
'01 Weekender
Portland, OR |
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CoastieLFS Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2011 Posts: 76
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:41 pm Post subject: Bus Depot's Side Room (The New One) |
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Various pictures of the new side room/awning from Bus Depot. First time set up at home.
This next picture shows the awning only, but where I shorten the legs to create similar effect as my Kelty Deluxe Car Port.
Below is the rear hatch room. The milk carton filled with water was an experiment on weighing down the ends on pavement.
Here's the set up on location at a camp site at Long Beach, WA
Added 8/05/13 - below you can see the Bus Depot Awning used as a wind block or sun shade when the sun is low on the horizon.
_________________ '95 Eurovan Camper (2.5L)
'01 Weekender
Portland, OR
Last edited by CoastieLFS on Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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imagesinthewind Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2013 Posts: 155 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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The FedEx man brought me mine today, beige, and we'll be setting it up tomorrow at home and then using it this weekend camping.
I'll get photos also. We got the EZ Awning Plus with front and two sides and the jack mounts. Yours looks awesome, like a great party could be had in there.
Ginny in Denver |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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I have to say that I just don't understand the side-tent thing. I used to back pack a lot and am no stranger to tents, but once I got my current Westy, the thing I liked more than almost anything was the ability to set up and to bug out QUICKLY! I still like that when I see people setting up tents or wrestling with their jacks under their monster RV's, doing the slide-outs, etc, etc. We always bring a tent in case we need to "reserve" a camp spot, but it's just plain painful wasting the time to set up when we are carrying on our adventure the next morning.
Also, when we got our Westy, my wife swore she would never sleep in a tent again - - too many near-misses with bears here in BC. When they make a bear-proof Kevlar tent, maybe she'll reconsider.
Anyway, despite the fact I won't use one, the various side-tent configurations in this thread show how creative and practical our Westy community is. Kudos! _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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vanagonjr Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010 Posts: 3431 Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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Howesight wrote: |
We always bring a tent in case we need to "reserve" a camp spot, but it's just plain painful wasting the time to set up when we are carrying on our adventure the next morning.! |
I think most, certainly I, do not set up our side tents when we are staying 1 or 2 nights. When set up for a week in one spot, the tent is great. I' have only set mine up 2 or 3 times in 5 years. We just usually are not in one spot for a week; I should probably sell it.
I do like using my Kelty car port with adjustable poles. I set it up like an awning, of lay it down like it was designed to do and it forms a bit of a mini-tent. _________________ John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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CoastieLFS Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2011 Posts: 76
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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Howesight wrote: |
I have to say that I just don't understand the side-tent thing. I used to back pack a lot and am no stranger to tents, but once I got my current Westy, the thing I liked more than almost anything was the ability to set up and to bug out QUICKLY! I still like that when I see people setting up tents or wrestling with their jacks under their monster RV's, doing the slide-outs, etc, etc. We always bring a tent in case we need to "reserve" a camp spot, but it's just plain painful wasting the time to set up when we are carrying on our adventure the next morning.
Also, when we got our Westy, my wife swore she would never sleep in a tent again - - too many near-misses with bears here in BC. When they make a bear-proof Kevlar tent, maybe she'll reconsider.
Anyway, despite the fact I won't use one, the various side-tent configurations in this thread show how creative and practical our Westy community is. Kudos! |
I understand your feelings. I didn't really start out looking for a side room. I was just looking for a portable awning that I could use with my van and other toys to block the sun and rain. The fact that this particular awning also had optional side walls that I could attach as needed or could be configured as a standalone shelter was more icing on the cake. I like having options and this product gives me the ability to expand if needed/wanted.
Setup takes a little time, but with practice I hope to reduce the time in half. I'm also trying an idea where I don't fully break it down, but instead only break down the setup just enough so that I can roll it up long wise and then quickly roll it back out and quickly insert the remaining pieces. _________________ '95 Eurovan Camper (2.5L)
'01 Weekender
Portland, OR |
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CoastieLFS Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2011 Posts: 76
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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imagesinthewind wrote: |
The FedEx man brought me mine today, beige, and we'll be setting it up tomorrow at home and then using it this weekend camping.
I'll get photos also. We got the EZ Awning Plus with front and two sides and the jack mounts. Yours looks awesome, like a great party could be had in there.
Ginny in Denver |
Thanks. On this trip there was non-stop misty rain. Even though I was only here for two days, it was well worth spending the short time to set up as it allowed me to set up a small table with a BBQ, a lounge camp chair to relax, etc. in a dry environment outside the van. _________________ '95 Eurovan Camper (2.5L)
'01 Weekender
Portland, OR |
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