From Rooftop Tent to Swag - Part 2: The good and bad and how to improve swag comfort

In our earlier video, we review our Roof Top Tent and explain why we decided to switch to a Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Swag instead. After testing it out, we can now tell you what we really think of the swag from 4wd Supacentre and if switching from the rooftop tent was the right move. We also give you our top tips and hacks for improving your swag set-up, including fixing the dreaded droop, making your swag mattress more comfortable, swag storage and more.
Here's some links to our favourite items in the vid:
Egg shell mattress
www.clarkrubber.com.au/collec...
SUV Doorstep
cardoorstep.com/
Tidy Turf Mats
www.tidyturfmats.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Previously....
00:23 Intro - switching from a rooftop tent to a swag
00:36 3 Reasons we changed from a rooftop tent to a swag
01:37 How to upgrade the comfort of your swag mattress
03:17 Bonuses of a swag vs rooftop tent
04:32 Midge / Sandfly resistant mesh
05:17 Some benefits of a roof rack
06:09 Tips and improvements to a big daddy deluxe double swag
08:12 Using an SUV doorstep to access your roof rack
08:53 Using the Safe-T-Step to access your roof rack
09:23 Use a Tidy Turf / Muk Mat to keep your swag clean inside
10:00 Hanging storage inside your swag
11:05 Quality waterproof swag bag
13:16 Tie down straps for swags
14:57 Our verdict

[@full_time_caravanningaustralia]

Great info on the swag. Love the ingenuity of making the pole to keep the inside of the swag space

[@NotGreyNomads]

Thanks guys, yeah it works a treat and packs down like the other poles. It's surprisingly comfie in there. 👍

[@stevecrowe176]

Also seen vids where swagers use 2 x aluminum adjustable poles with C (crab claw) clip ends as well. Did you have to trim the memory foam to fit? What it set you back $? Is there a link to the foam and bag? Cheers guys, thanks for the vid. Already subscribed.

[@NotGreyNomads]

Hi @@stevecrowe176 That eggshell foam mattress was the perfect size - queen size and we didn't have to do a thing! I've put a link in the description now. It's $209 bucks which seemed expensive at the time we were looking but after using it as much as we have (a lot!) it's been worth every cent. As for the bag Steve, replay that part of the vid (12min 55sec mark) as we did have some problems at first with a couple of seems leaking. We bought some proper seam sealer rubber glue and painted that on and it did the trick. I'll whack a link in this reply but we don't 100 percent endorse it and I'd hate to include a link without people knowing that. Anyhow, here's where we bought it. outfitters.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=91 Hope that helps - Happy campinig mate!

[@nointernetdinosoursgame2351]

@@stevecrowe176 I got my big daddy swag for $180 with a mesh so keep your eye out for a sale 👍

[@Luke-pn4ub]

Little tip to make em last (after seasoning). Grab a tube of parfix non acid cure silicone sealant and some turps from Bunnings. Mix the silicone and turps till it's watery. Paint all the stitching points and let them dry completely, then apply a second coat. UV resistant and fishes asshole water tight. Season the Kings bag exactly the same (dunno why people dont, seasons up the same). Paint the seams all over and hang it to dry, won't need an upmarket one.

[@user-sp4gy7ko5l]

I had one of these and loved it. Until i woke up swimming one night! :D

[@sunnypage343]

thanks guys. this was so helpful

[@josephcroguennec1587]

Love parts 1 and 2. Thanks for the vid- lots of great info that we will likely follow!

[@NotGreyNomads]

Awesome Joseph, thanks mate. There'll be more to come. Sorry for the late reply, we've been in and out of reception a fair bit over the past weeks

[@nointernetdinosoursgame2351]

Best review for this swag so far cheers

[@NotGreyNomads]

Awesome! Thanks so much!!

[@kren1260]

You guys are great value. A lot of insight, charm and good energy in this video. Thanks guys!

[@NotGreyNomads]

Haha, thanks! Just having a bit of fun with it. Glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@michaelmurphy4360]

Thank you plenty of great advice.

[@NotGreyNomads]

Glad it was helpful!

[@frederickwoodman660]

If you had got a darche swag dust to dawn 1400 ..everything is waterproof swag and the bag .the hole lot is great set up

[@mattsmith-ri3lp]

A 3m x 3m canvas tarpaulin as a ground sheet keeps moisture and sand out, as well as giving you a nice area for getting shoes off etc.

[@NotGreyNomads]

Good tip! We actually do the same now, very handy and makes for a clean roll up to pack away too!

[@Murtagh653]

living the dream

[@NotGreyNomads]

ha ha, we get that a bit ay!😀

[@BradGryphonn]

I love the polypipe idea. I kinda wish I'd watched your rooftop to swag swap, and this video before a friend got me a new rooftop tent for under half price, as well as a 6-person annex for it for a third of new price. I have a Kwiki swag that was going to be my bed with my build (I'm a single bloke with a couple of dogs), but the deal was too good to pass up. I'll keep my Kwiki because it doesn't take up any real space, to use when I don't want to set up the rooftop (and annex). In hindsight, I think the 6-person annex is overkill, other than if I decide to stop for a week in one spot. Ahh well, I tend to do things in overkill mode anyway, hence my 12/240-volt solar power system. Anyway, I'm rambling and will finish watching this and then go back outside and work on my home on wheels.

[@michaelharker5351]

Hey folks, thanks for the helpful swag info. Just wondering if you could share your tips for canvas mold iradication. Also, your link to the step seems broken.

[@user-yu7qp6qo2h]

Instead of those blue straps, you can get straps with protective covers over the buckles. Rhino make some but there are others, and seam seal all the sewing joins, gotta do that maybe once a year

[@bobq100]

Great videos, I too have a Kings Big Daddy swag, comfortable, warm, easy to put up. But, please, stop saying they're easy to roll up! My technique must be wrong, because it's like wrestling a croc! :) Great tip about getting different straps for it.

[@NotGreyNomads]

Haha, yeah, its definitely easier as a two person job!

[@paul-57]

We bought a gazebo so we can leave everything at base camp if we want to set up for a few days. Still haven't got the rooftop as we are still considering which is the best type for us. Tried the Big Daddy swag with wanderer self inflating mattress under the original but it didn't really work for us. We are planning to use an exped megamat in the rooftop so we can deflate it and leave all the bedding in place when folded. Two king singles which makes them 150cm wide like a queen. Climbing up and down in the night, maybe a jet pack, No? Maybe we will just have to put up with that. Slippers by the door so not in bare feet.

[@NotGreyNomads]

Yeah, there's a solution out there for everyone! Jet pack, Now you're talking!

[@gracehc9356]

Hey guys thanks for the review and update. I am new to camping and noticed you just had a swag up on a beach. Are you allowed to set camp anywhere ? Sorry if this is a silly question. This is all new to me and am trying to get as much info as I can before I set out to try something new. Thank you!!!

[@NotGreyNomads]

Hey, thanks for the comment, stoked! Never a silly question, we welcome all questions :-) We were staying in our caravan on the West Australian coast at the time we made this vid. There are various places around Australia where you can free camp on the beach, but mostly the places to camp such as we did/do are places that are managed by parks and wildlife and you have to book a site ahead of time. You can't set up camp on any beach, make sure when you are on the coast you check with the local people. There is a fantastic phone app called 'wikicamps' for apple and android - check that out and it shows lot's of information and where all the camp spots are around Australia. hope that helps! If you need more info just get in contact, we'd be happy to help.

[@kman6482]

The Kings swag is bad for sag. I changed to a crash pad swag and no issues.

[@Brotherswalkingforveterans]

random question, if you were to scotch guard the swag bag would that waterproof it?

[@NotGreyNomads]

Not in this case. We used a waterproofing spray on the canvas bag and it was no good. We bought the poly style bag instead, but turned out the seams weren't heat sealed, just stitched. We ended buying some seam sealer, which was like a rubber glue to seal along the stiching. Finally fixed it.

[@pro-duct911]

Do you season the swag? And does water leak inside of the swag?

[@NotGreyNomads]

Yep, we seasoned the swag. There are quite a few products out there to make sure it's rain proof. We only had a few days of rain when we were south but nothing serious. However, we did have a couple of nights of mad rain on the west coast and it was real heavy. Some water did soak into one of the seams in the top of the swag and leaked down through it, drop by annoying drop - so I'm told, our friend was in it at the time!

[@hecticgerva1192]

nice vid, Also the roof top tent will also cause some drag on ya.

[@stumpgrinder13]

Informative, you seem like nice people, but it seems like everything you didn't like about the roof top tent was your fault, just saying