Oztent RV Sleeping Setup/Options For Families!

[@mifki]

There are some double self-inflating mats that are 127-128cm wide instead of 130+cm like most of them are. Two of such mats fit perfectly, creating huge soft floor/playing/sleeping surface. Inflatable (hiking type but some are thick and comfy) mats are also normally 64cm wide for single and 128cm for double and will fit the same way. There are also 120cm wide self-inflating mats made for rooftop tents, with those you'll get a little gap between them.

[@OTWD]

Thanks for sharing this info! This will help guide people.😬

[@cloudten8489]

As a couple we take collapsible stretcher beds and line them either side of entrance. If u get the height right you can store gear underneath. Its quicker than airbeds and warmer off the ground. You csn buy stackable plastic drawers from big w that fit underneath plus between bunks 2 high, makes perfect bedside table. All our clothes and gear travel in them stacked in the ute. So easy to transfer. We use the same for cooking gear. Slide perfectly under tables.

[@OTWD]

Great ideas and advice. Thanks for sharing. I did not mention the benefits of stretchers such as the space underneath - so glad you have brought it up - it is significant. Cheers.

[@benlux2625]

I have a similar set up, those 100mm mats are so comfy. Great video and happy new year 👌

[@OTWD]

Thanks Ben. Happy New Year Mate - appreciate you watching. Once you get the air just right the self inflating mats are gold. Cheers😁

[@cathbp4089]

Thanks Dan, we have the RV5 plus with two stretchers in it, overlay-ed by two Sea to Summit self inflating mattresses. We have mostly been focusing on one and/or two night camps which makes the use of the stretchers (setup and pack down a bit annoying). Am sure it would be ok for longer stays. We are looking into better and thicker sleeping mats so we don't have to bring the stretchers.

[@OTWD]

@cathbp4089 Hi Cath, Sorry for delay in replying. Hopefully 2024 off to a good start for you 😀 Something I neglected to mention was that stretchers give you the benefit of storing cargo underneath - so I guess that's one plus for you right now. How thick are your sea to summit mattresses? As shown the 100mm thick Monstamat's do well, and I know many people who have found success with the Exped. Once you have a thicker Mat, I would definitely recommend trying without the stretchers. I agree that will be heaps less hassle on 1-2 night trips! Cheers👍

[@RobertSeeley-e2f]

Your reviews are great, Thx

[@OTWD]

Thanks for watching them. And thanks for the encouraging comment!

[@michaeldallimore8590]

Hi Dan. Happy New year. I have the RV4 and I am a stretcher person. It happens when you get older! The only one time my wife came camping we had two stretchers with a usable gap down the middle which was enough for a small table at one end but like you say the stretchers take up a lot of space. The only advantage is that you gain the area underneath the stretchers for storage. More recently when traveling alone without my trailer I am using a swagger tent and an air mattress. Works Ok for one night stops.

[@OTWD]

Hi Michael! Happy New Year. Great point about the stretchers giving you space underneath - its an important thing I missed in the video. Do you mean the Coleman Instant Swagger Tent? I reckon a self inflating mat would be more comfortable than an air mattress? Enjoy your coming trip! Cheers

[@michaeldallimore8590]

@@OTWD I looked at the Coleman one but pretty sure I got the Oztrail version which was a little lighter but very similar. I agree about the self inflating mattress but they take up more space.

[@cathbp4089]

We too have stretchers and love that you can store a lot underneath.

[@Fivegeeee]

Mat for me, done lots of hiking, used exped and they are great

[@OTWD]

Hi Mate appreciate you watching the last few videos🙏, Sorry it's taken a few days to reply! Mats are the way I reckon! I hear consistent good things about the exped. When I was in the army reserves I remember the 15mm thick EVA foam hiking mats that were issued. My mates even cut them down just below the knee height - to 'save space and weight'...!!!! Those days are over.. with a comfy 4WD for carrying stuff I'll have the 100mm self inflating 😬

[@terrystewart2326]

Happy New Year Dan and family. Hope you are well. How are you enjoying the drifter tarp? Does it take you long to put up? I think that they are great but the impression is they take up a large footprint. What are your thoughts. Hope the Iron Emu is flying for you.

[@OTWD]

@terrystewart2326 Hi Terry, I hope you've had a good start to the year? Mason family all well here. Sorry for delay in replying. We love the hexa tarp. It's quite versatile so you can setup depending on the wind, rain, sun direction, etc. We have the medium one, which is big enough for what we need - I think the large one may not fit in an average national park camp site along with vehicle and tent. And the medium is a bit more manageable to setup with one person. Two people makes it much easier. The fabric itself isn't a huge footprint, but the guy ropes make it larger (an extra~2M space around the fabric footprint to peg it down). It packs down to nothing, weights nothing....that's the real benefit of them. I also have the 'half medium hexa' for my quieter 4WD trips, as an alternate to 4WD awning to put the swag under. A few practice runs and the hexatarp is not to bad to setup, say 10 mins? I am planning a video to show setting it up, and I'll include timing myself⏱. Cheers. PS. Vehicle running very well~! What have you been up to?

[@terrystewart2326]

Hello, Hope you are well. Sorry I didn’t reply earlier but haven’t seen any uploads recently and missing seeing your adventures. I am sure with all the good weather you have been out and about camping with the family. Look forward to seeing the next video. Kind regards Terry

[@pharmajoe990]

Great insight, thanks mate. We have a camper trailer and thinking of moving to the oztent, we have a few kids a bit older that would probably go onto bunks. What are the length of trips you are doing in your tent?

[@OTWD]

G'Day mate, please accept my apology for lateness I needed to take a break! Great news that you are considering simplifying. What makes you want to move away from the trailer? We usually do up to one week in the tent together at a time. Works for us. With the kids this age we prefer setting up a base camp, setting up daily really isn't feasible. Big limitation with tents is the time it takes to cart your bedding in and out. But if all hands are on deck it can be done quickly. Let me know how you go :) 🍻😬

[@oldbloke204]

They're a good looking tent and well made. I use a self inflating mat and have just got a stretcher to put it on. It just fits and the comfort level is amazing for camping. Might keep me at it for a bit longer as a week sleeping on the ground on just the mat was getting harder as I got older. Do you manage to get all the stuff you use in the Prado or do you take a trailer? i go on my own in a vehicle of similar size without a fridge, just an esky, and I still struggle to fit all my stuff in. I think I need to pack a bit lighter..................

[@OTWD]

Hey mate!! I have heard that from people people who like tent camping ...then hit mid life and decide the stretcher is a more sustainable solution! It all fits in the prado....like a game of tetris. And we need to take it very slow and steady on the road. If we didn't have to replace the vehicle in 2023 we would have bought a trailer. It's on the cards still. I don't think our setup as pictured will change much. It will just be more convenient and safer with a trailer. We need to pack lighter too. It's an eternal mission. You always think of something you can change. Thanks for watching, Happy New Year! Dan.😬

[@oldbloke204]

@@OTWD Whichever way we do it memories with the kids are priceless. I have been eyeing off the POD off road trailers but they cost a bit if you start speccing them up. Even having the same wheels as the tow vehicle for carrying spares looks like a great idea imo. I tried to convince myself that going back to work to buy one might be an option but that thought lasted about 10 seconds. I'm going to try and do a trip for a week or so on my own this year as my gear and vehicle are well and truly underutilized. Looking forward to seeing what you do this year and hope that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable year. Cheers.

[@cathbp4089]

We went with a pod type trailer and haven't looked back @@oldbloke204

[@OTWD]

Stretcher or Mat ?