|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
09. Oztent RV-4
[RV4] $995.00AUD
|
 |
|
 |
|
| by Wayne Kampe |
Date Added: Tuesday 29 December, 2009 |
|
|
 |
 |
Instant tent: just add ambience of bush or beach scenario: that's the award winning Oz-Tent.
1993 saw the Oz-Tent's design score a silver medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva. In the same year the Caravan and Camping Association of New South Wales awarded the tent their Most Innovative Camping Product award and then in 1998 the Oz-Tent came in as a finalist in 4 X 4 Australia Adventure magazine. As a multi award winner this is obviously a special sort of tent and is regarded by many as the best touring tent on the Australian market today.
The Oz-Tent's forte is the 30 second set up factor. The tent is simply taken out of its bag, the corners are pulled out to get it into a square shape on the ground and by taking hold of the door way area of the tent even a young child could pull the tent straight up into an erect shape. It's that easy.
All that's then needed to set it up for use is to whack a peg into each corner to keep it in shape– big strong lugs are provided – and a couple of stay ropes are set up on the sides. To deploy the front awning a couple more stay ropes are set up on the awning's easily extended poles which twist to lock into place and then the unit is fully set up for use.
Oz-Tent claim the tent can be set up by ONE person in 30 seconds and I don't dispute the claim. The secret of this ease of operation is the patented internal sliding aluminium frame which is connected to the canvas material which the tent is constructed from. The light weight but quite strong frame forms both the floor plus the upright sections each side and it allows the tent's main body to be pulled up (forwards) or slid back down (backwards) in seconds. There is no assembly required whatsoever as the internal frame remains connected at all times. It is an ingenious design, and certainly worthy of the awards gained.
As a free standing tent the Oz-Tent RV-4 presents as a box shape, highest in front, sloping back to the rear. It's not that dissimilar to some of the other tents we see today but of course without any external frame. The reviewed RV- 4 is designed to sleep four or five people, which to me means Mum and Dad and children.
Dimensions are 2.4 metres wide, 2.4 metres deep and 1.9 metres high at it’s peak. The front awning can be extended as high as 1.9 metres or lowered right down to keep out rain in bad weather. Packed for transport the tent weighs 19 kilos.
The Oz-Tent is constructed from waterproof rip-stop polycotton canvas with double stitched seams and I noted that all stitching was neat, well finished and of top quality. YKK zippers are used on doors. Side pockets hold guy ropes concealed when not required, but attachment lugs are obviously heavy duty to withstand strong winds.
There is a large window at the rear with an awning that can be extended and pegged out to provide shade plus there are paired side windows as well. All windows are set up, as is the large full width front door, with fine insect mesh to keep the little horrors outside where they belong. Similar to other tents the front door can be rolled back and kept open with the Velcro loops provided in fine conditions or zipped closed as required. The front fly screen works in the same manner so it's easy to open the canvas front and rear and allow the fly screening to provide plenty of air flow but keep the mossies out if the night is a warm one.
The Oz-Tent RV-4 comes with a couple of useful accessories that folk will find useful. There is a big fly for over the tent, to keep the tent cooler and free from bird droppings or sap from trees plus the handy peaked side panel will virtually set up another room in front as it zips onto the awning. The side panel also has a door and fly screens and is a very useful bit of kit coming in it's own carry bag as well, complete with pegs and poles. The design of the Oz-Tent is special, no doubt about it, and the way the awning is set up allows the tent to be easily erected against a caravan to provide an extra room or at the rear of the car which might be set up with fridge so that the tent is kept for sleeping purposes.
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
