side tent comparasions

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Anyone have a side tent? I'm considering getting one as I need the extra room to use for camping.

There is an OG tent pretty close to me for sale. I have not seen is but the seller says its in excellent condition (it better be because he wants top dollar)

Other options I was looking at were the "Koln" Tunnel

and the "hannover" frame

I like both of these with the exception of them not having a floor. Even though you can get a ground sheet I'm still not sure about that! Allthough having the option to open up the side for big open awnings is kinda handy as opposed to the westy tent.

The other problem is I have never seen any of the aftermarket units in action. The pics that I have found at all the places that sell these tents kinda leave something to be desired also. Anyone have either of these tents, or have a least seen them set up??? What did you think of it? also set up time and strength of tent. They both got alot of tie downs etc.. I'm not all into taking half the day setting the tent up either.

Are there any other tents available that would fit the bill. There are a few US tents that attach to mini vans an such off the back but I'm not sure if they would work on the side.

Thanks!
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Markus

[hambone]

Those things are too rich for my blood...I just tie a tarp from the gutter to a couple of trees, hey, it's camping! 500 bucks for a piece of canvas is ridiculous, especially if you want to use the damn thing. Show cars maybe..
What about one of those stand alone screened in tent thingys? They seem pretty cheap.

[crofty]

[TeamSpatula]

I had a Westy side tent for a while - it was out of a 73 I think. It was a great thing to have at weekend shows, or any place you were going to be set up for a while. However, it takes 20 minutes or so to set up, and you really want to have 2 people to set it up. Packed down, it takes up a LOT of room, and is heavy, so you can't really just leave it in the bus...
I ended up selling it because I never used it. They're really cool to have, but as you said, will run you a few bucks...
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<---Air Cooled Search & Rescue Team - STICKERS & T-shirts for sale!
I NEED A CAMPER!!!! (1971 is ideal but will consider other years)
http://www.TeamSpatula.com

[VDubTech]

I have a Westy side tent and I love it!! I paid $350 for it off of ebay, and it ran about $60 I think to ship it here from CA. It's in great shape, no tears, and it's been invaluable to me as far as opening up space in the Bus while I am camping. I travel around the northeast to shows and campouts all summer, and I stow it on the luggage rack while I am driving somewhere. I've gotten pretty good at puting it up quickly and by myself. I generally have someone with em to help though. The first time I set it up, I used a black sharpie and numbered all of the poles so it goes together the same way everytime, and very fast. I have seen one of the tents from The Bus Depot set up at a campout in Cinci, OH, and I have to say it looked pretty good, did the job, but like you said, no floor. I generally use my tent to house my coolers, clothes bags, beer, pretty much anything I wanna get out of the Bus while I'm set up. I go to a campout/show in August in Mt. Vernon, OH (the campout is the Dixie Bus Gathering, show is same weekend, COVVC Volksfest) and it's about a 10-11 hour ride from Syracuse fully loaded with the Bus. I set up my tent, and on Sat. morning I unhook the tent from the Bus for the drive to the show grounds, leaving all of my camping stuff in the zippered up tent. I couldn't be happier with my purchase!!

[VDubTech]

That's my set up at the Dixie Bus Gathering last year. We arrived fairly early Friday, and got the same spot I get every year. By the end of the night, the place was FULL of Buses, Vanagons, Splits....you name it!!

[mightyart]

Bus Depot had been selling a new 200.00 side tent set-up on Ebay for a while
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...ename=WDVW
But I can't find any active auctions so they may have run out. this is the best deal I've seen, but I haven't looked that much.
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[pawesty]

worth every penny especially if you have children, good way to store their toys and keep an eye on them. made a month on the road comfortable for 2 adults, a 2 year old and a german shepard!
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"Go smell the wind, go far. Hear the marvelous strange chime of midnight" Kerouac

79 westy
78 westy

purveyor of refurbed westies and parts!!! inquire within!

.

[jberger]

[BobDog]

Luckily it came with the Bus. I love it, plus the neighbors dont have to haer me slamming the slider closed all the time. It stands alone, has the waterproff floor and its square not a dome so the headroom is there in all of the tent. Withstands wind pretty well also.
[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/150069.jpg[img]
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70 Bug Vert
70 Baja
View BAJA BUGS at EL MIRAGE and Bus Ad and Film Work below

http://www.oldbug.com/hotwesty.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=H9utTT7BYbM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNIDTCV97eo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNIDTCV97eo

[pawesty]

[jberger]

It seams every time I go camping without fail it rains. I had been hesitant to acquire a westy tent for that reason. Guess I should start looking.

[Emily's Owner]

Mine is original to my bus but not the nice heavy duty canvas ones -
it was made for Riviera by Beckel Canvas Products in Portland, Oregon.....and its more similar to a ripstop nylon box.
It's rain repelling abilities are a wish at best,
and certainly will blow to the next county if in inclement weather -
I have to put an awning over the top of it for rain protection...(sigh).
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Xargaret

ITMC - OG Den Mother

What (and I cannot stress this enough) The Actual Fuck?!

1974 Transporter
2023 Subaru Outback

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thanks for the replies so far. I have a pretty cool awning attached to my bus and it only takes about a minute to set up:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/147781.jpg

I really like it, but if we go camping the dogs gotta go too. Shes old and large and does not navigate too well through a complete 71' westy. I haven''t even attempted to see if she can even fit in there with the bed pulled out. Thats where the tent would come in. plus of course the advantage of actually having some room to move around in for me too!

I'd hate to loose that awning for day trips though. allthough I also have a bagged canvas one that goes full length off the side to (but its a bitch to put up).

Vdubtech: did you happen to notice if that bus depot one you saw had the matching ground cover? Thats probably the biggest thing holding me back from trying one of theres. My dog is pretty laid back but a I still have visions of here sticking here head through in the middle of the night if she hears someting and causing a ruckus! That and of course rain/bugs

For all you guys with the westy tents, are the tents in your pics totally complete? I thought there is a rain flap(?) that goes over the top sometimes? If I go down to look at that OG one, I just wanna make sure its got everything.
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Markus

[TimGud]

We have had ours a couple of years and found it to keep the inside of the bus cooler when camping in 80-90 degree weather. It also helps to keep the dirt level down on the floor. When we camp it's two adults, three teenage boys (adult size now), and two or three dogs with no problem space wise in the Westy with the side tent. It is a bit heavy and bulky but not that much bulkier than a large camping tent. A printout of the tent set up instructions make it fairly simple to assemble for two people. Rain isn't much of an issue in Arizona so I don't know how well it repels water.

[pawesty]

[Beagledog1]

Here's a picture of my side tent that came with my '79 Westy when I bought it last spring.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=95444

I'm like to find out mor about this tent, but there are no markings it at all. It's probably an aftermarket brand like Sears or Montgomery Wards, but I'm not sure.

As for using it, I haven't actually used it when camping, even though I have camped a lot in the westy. It seems like it would be too much trouble to put up and take down and store in the bus unless you're staying in the same place for more than a day or so, which I don't usually do.

Also, mine doesn't have a bottom, but I thought that if I did ever wanted to seriously use it for camping, I would just get a big piece of green outdoor carpeting from Home Depot and use that as the floor.

[pawesty]

this may help you track the tents origin:
http://www.supernet.net/~jclark/vw/

dave
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"Go smell the wind, go far. Hear the marvelous strange chime of midnight" Kerouac

79 westy
78 westy

purveyor of refurbed westies and parts!!! inquire within!

.

[germansupplyscott]

[Emily's Owner]