Swags?

[tracemul7]

Hey folks,

Anyone got any specific feedback on swags?
Looking to buy one each for hubby & me (seems more versatile than a double) and also my nephew (age 12) for a trip next year.
The trip is Adelaide - Oodnadatta Track - Lake Eyre - Oodnadatta - Alice Springs - East McDonnell Ranges - Ayers rock - Olgas - Palm Valley - Valley of the winds - Kings canyon - Cooper Pedy - Adelaide (order no confirmed).
Plan is to take about 3 weeks to do it, but mostly one night in each place, so swags just make more sense.

As we have a good size roof rack (2.4m x 1.8m), we'll prob get a bag for it, and pop the swags up in the bag. Although having said that, without the tent and 3 mattresses, we may have space in the back for it.

Anyways, less of my rambling! Any thoughts on specific brands/models of swags that are good, or those to avoid? Pretty limited budget, but wanna be comfy!

Trace

[macca86]

I have a swag bought it second hand off a mate for $100 it's a good quality heavy duty canvas. I like it for short trips slept in summer with just the fly up sept in pouring rain and winter with it all zipped up and was comfy enough.
They are quick to set up but I will say the take up a surprising amount of space and you may find a pop up tent will suit your needs more as it will take up less space than 3 swags and a decent swag in $200 each so cheaper too!

[MudRunnerTD]

That is an amazing trip! I did that about 5 years ago. Highlight was Palm Valley for sure.

3 swags takes up a bucket of room!! Lots!

I would be thinking an OzTent or some form of turbo tent for sure. Maybe an awning on the side of he car and a stretcher and the nephew can do the swag but 3swags takes a heap of room, you can travel much more compact than that.

You can also get a companion OzTent type that will add a second smaller tent to the awning if the OzTent. I say OzTent and have one but you can get cheaper Chinese copies these days if you need too. If you decide you want to stay a second day you can leave your tent up, I would not leave my Swag setup on a trip like that though.

Check the size of your rack too, it sounds a little big? I expect it is only 1200 wide not 1800?

Have a great trip though! Sounds great! I had a very memorable time.

[tracemul7]

Thanks MudRunner - we actually have a BlackWolf turbo tent at the moment. But that plus 3 mattresses and 3 sleeping bags also takes up a fair bit of space.
Thinking something easier to put up and take down ..... but sounds like we might not save on space.

Our BlackWolf has tons of room for the 3 of us and all our crap, but it still takes time to setup beds etc. We were thinking of rolling up the sleeping bags inside the swags and popping them on the roof.

And yep, maybe the rack is 1200 wide ... it's the biggest Rhino alloy tray .... I may have been guessing on the size :P
It was pretty much the full size of the roof on our GQ .... hasn't been on the GU yet!

[AB]

For a family of three doing that kind of trip have a look at the wildcountry tourier 320.

I recently got one and will be using it for our trip to the Simpson.

Perfect for your size family, packs up well and takes five minutes to set up.

You could run a double bed at the back, nephew one side and free space on the side of centre pole.

Or run singles each side of pole and nephew at rear with ample storage.

I've used it a few times now and it's a huge winner for ease of set up, price and packing.

http://m.raysoutdoors.com.au/Product/Wild-Country-320-Tourer-Tent-6-Person/252827

[MudRunnerTD]

I'd be sticking with the black wolf and learn to Pack Better ;) they are a great tent and serve you well. By the end of the first week you won't give it a second thought and be very pleased you stuck with it.

4 pegs, lift and click! Happy days. 3 single self inflating mattresses for the win and you will travel in comfort.

[MudRunnerTD]

Figure out which side your nephew will sit in the back and unbolt the other seat. Do to have a cargo barrier? The inflating beds in the back because should the worse happen they won't hurt you ;)

[tracemul7]

I'd be sticking with the black wolf and learn to Pack Better ;) they are a great tent and serve you well. By the end of the first week you won't give it a second thought and be very pleased you stuck with it.

4 pegs, lift and click! Happy days. 3 single self inflating mattresses for the win and you will travel in comfort.

Maybe i'm under a very false impression that swags would save us time/effort ..... hmmmm.
I haven't slept in one, nor have i seen anyone set one up .... so I might be being unrealistic.

We have the Black Wolf Turbo Lite 240 plus .... so 6 pegs ... but yeah, very quick to put up. And yep, got self inflating mattresses too ... wild country 4x4 ones - pretty thick, but then also take up a fair bit of room.

Ok, so now i'm reviewing my thoughts :P Thanks! :)

[tracemul7]

Figure out which side your nephew will sit in the back and unbolt the other seat. Do to have a cargo barrier? The inflating beds in the back because should the worse happen they won't hurt you ;)

Yep, we have a cargo barrier, and usually remove the other seat to give extra room in the back :)
Usually we put the mats and our clothes bags and pillows etc next to him too.

Most trips we're usually carrying extra crap, but we're travelling with friends, so going to be really specific about who is bringing what, in the hope that we minimise wasted space.

We also have a fridge installed on a slide, but no cage around it, so currently can't open it when we're packed up. That will change before this trip, so that will also simplify things :)

Maybe we just go with packing smart with our current kit.

[MudRunnerTD]

So thik about what you will pack on top of the fridge. Something light but big and can be removed in a single lift out.a clothes bag or mattress is the go because its not a chore to take out to get to your fridge.

Alternatively, remove one seat and re-mount the fridge without the slide on the floor in lieu of the seat in the back.a couple of tie down points using the seat bolt locations and your set. It does not need to side because you have direct access to the fridge. Works a treat. Then tubs in the back are your friend.

[BigRAWesty]

Swags by all means have there uses. But a 3 week trip... Yea no thanks.

You have no dress room, so if it's raining you gotta get dressed laying down..

You'll dressing from the back of the car, another pita..

Definitely take the tent.
The 10-15 mins put uo and tear down is nothing, you just have to pack smart.
A small bag of clothes each and a 4th for dirty clothes. So when you come past a laundry it's ready to go.

Not sure of your setup, we live from the back of our car, we have a small table for gas cooker to sit on, fridge in the back and pantry is in the draw system.

So once our tent is up, clothes into the tent and once beds are uo were enjoying a coldie..

Imo, tent

[tracemul7]

So thik about what you will pack on top of the fridge. Something light but big and can be removed in a single lift out.a clothes bag or mattress is the go because its not a chore to take out to get to your fridge.

Alternatively, remove one seat and re-mount the fridge without the slide on the floor in lieu of the seat in the back.a couple of tie down points using the seat bolt locations and your set. It does not need to side because you have direct access to the fridge. Works a treat. Then tubs in the back are your friend.

Good suggestion ..... will have to measure up the space for the fridge in the back seat ...... i'm pretty sure the fridge would be too big.
We have the IronMan 65L Dual Zone (http://www.ironman4x4.com/pdfs/accessories_fitting_instructions/fridges/icecube_im_65l_74l.pdf).
But if it would fit, that would be a perfect spot!

Usually the bulky stuff (stove, boxes etc) go next to the fridge and then gazebo and tent go across the top of it all. Gazebo won't be going with us, as we're looking at a roof bar mounted awning. Think i might start playing around with where it all goes between now and then :) Lucky we have until March next year to play around with it all.

[MudRunnerTD]

I always pack a spare pillow case with my clothes. Makes a Great dirty clothes bag back into the bag.

[the evil twin]

What Westy said x 2

Getting undressed laying down can be done in seconds between consenting adults... getting dressed is doable but a PIA and also attracts a crowd because of the curious shapes the swag gets into.

I'm getting old and soft so when I am swagging it I also take a fold up camp stretcher and the swag goes on that.
Very comfy and the stretcher doesn't take up any room really but the swag does, thats for sure.
My limit is 3 or at most 4 nights

[Matty852]

I use an ultima swag, I have travels around the country a few times with it for work and never had a drama

[Drewboyaus]

Simply, that Black Wolf tent you have is specifically made for trips like the one you have planned.
After a week on the road, you will be wondering what you were thinking wanting to take swags.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[tracemul7]

Soooo, we decided to keep with the tent, and replace our camping mats with some that roll up smaller :)

As we're going with friends, we told them, and they have also come to the same conclusion after realising how chunky the swags are when packed up!

Now we start planning our trip in more detail and getting excited :D

[Stropp]

Good to hear you have made the decision, still plenty to sort before you go tho.

[clawrence]

Hi, I have had my swag for 20 years and even took it on a similar trip to yours when I did some work out at Dalhousie Springs. A few things I have learnt over the years.

1) Yes, swags take up space, but remember they replace your tent, sleeping bag, pillow and camp stretcher/mattress, so end up being roughly the same size and weight as using a tent. Plus they are simple to set up at the end of a long day (often in the dark) and I can go to sleep looking up at the stars.
2) Have a look around at different swags, then go to a good canvas place and have one made up to your specifications (width/length) from quality canvas, mosquito mesh and zippers.
3) When you get it home, set your swag up under the sprinkler, let it dry, then repeat a couple of times.
4) Then go to Clark rubber and buy a good foam mattress at the density you prefer plus a comfort overlay (egg carton like foam stuff).
5) My only other word of advice on swags is regarding the poles you see these days. While I got my swag made before these were commonplace, I had two tabs attached to the head of the swag. At the end of the day I just clip these onto my roobar or a tree and I sit back laughing at the young blokes trying to work out where they left their swag poles or trying to fix a broken one in the bush.
The only downside for me is when I get home it takes me a couple of nights to get used to sleeping in a bed again and rolling my swag out on the floor of the bedroom is not good for a marriage lol.

[Family4x4]

3 compact stretcher beds and self inflating mattress are reasonably compact and comfortable.

In answer to the original question "Darche Swags" are a good quality swag.

[@GUte]

Have you considered a double swag for you and the Hubby? Not much larger than a single rolled up but huge area when opened. Run self inflating mattresses and pillows. Leave all your bedding in the swag. All equals quick.

The cheaper swags aren't 100% canvas. I hear leaking issues.

We use two Jim Allen swags, a single and a double. Aus made and the canvas.

[threedogs]

If I do swag it I have a few swags, one is a King single and about 1100 mm wide, down side it wont fit in the Patrol if it did that would be that
I also have a darche swag and had it for years easy to set up, I have a desert style swag I brought in Alice many moons ago as is basically a canvas tarp
I flop over myself and if raining tuck my noggin in. Third swag is more a tent but both sides are zipped , A mob in Shepparton made them so I hade a mate replicate it.
a very toasty sleeping arrangement that one. But these days if given the chance I'd go 4pegs one pole pyramid tent and a decent sleeping bag ,easy to put up will pack flat on your roof.
And you can get changed standing up a real pet hate of mine.

[nissannewby]

It would seem there are a few people here afraid to get changed out in the open......

[taslucas]

It would seem there are a few people here afraid to get changed out in the open......

Change comes from within matt

[tracemul7]

The swag posts are interesting!
The original reason we considered a swag was to save space .... but having realised that wouldn't be the case, it just made sense to stick with the awesome Black Wolf turbo tent, and replace our mats (which we had already planned to do).

I still like the idea of a swag, but think we'd avoid a double as it's less flexible. I like the idea of a custom made one .... will investigate this :)

Thanks all!

[catchinjack]

Kulkyne Dome Swags, got two of them. Heard mixed reviews about roo systems dome swags and nothing but negative about arb sky dome.

[pickers]

Swag it swags are good they are made by travelander campers , I sleep in mine high country in the snow with no problem you need a good sleeping bag though

[Hodge]

Speaking of swags I finally got the bunker XL. Yet to test it though. Scored it with a matress + -10C sleeping bag + kokoda chair, for an absolute steal of a bargain at the show today. Going camping to the high country next month so will give this a test run there.
46044

[pickers]

Hodge
A few hot coals from the fire will keep you warm under that thing in the high country winter mate.
Looks very nice

[Hodge]

Hodge
A few hot coals from the fire will keep you warm under that thing in the high country winter mate.
Looks very nice

Definitely mate. We'll see how this sleeping bag performs up there, otherwise I'll need the coals IN the swag not just under it lol.

[Irish]

I can heartily recommend the Oztrail Mitchell swag, have used one for about four years now and it is great.

Roomy enough for me( 6'3 and 100kg) and if you put it on top of a camp bed it is the comfiest nights sleep you'll have.

[Winnie]

I have a Freetime swag of some sort, do not recommend. I got it half price for $200, can't believe the thing is worth $400. Unless you are on a stretcher it is so uncomfortable, the mattress is thin and crap! And what's worse is the swag is like a sieve, so much water leaks through.
I sleep on a camp stretcher under my awning so I am comfy and dry and it keeps me warm but without the stretcher or awning the swag is almost useless.

[Dales300exc]

Ive been running a burke and wills waratah double for a couple of years or so. Brilliant bit of kit. One pole for rapid setup (if I bother to use it) and in downpours you just have to tie the foot end to a tree or bullbar otherwise the water pools on it. But ive never been wet. Never been so warm in my camping life. Even me lil mate approves.