About a decade ago, a trip to Snowys saw us leave with an Oztent RV3 Touring Tent which, after many years of great trips, we think it’s the ‘ducks guts’ of tents. With the speediness of set up, sizes to suit most needs and a host of accessories to add further functionality, the Oztent RV Tents have it all. However, Oztent RVs can be a bit difficult to transport in a lot of vehicles, so in this post, I’ve outlined my three top tips to transporting your Oztent RV Tent by slinging it on the roof racks whilst still keeping it weather proof and secure without damaging your tent or car!!
Something I have learnt over the years is that if you want something that’s going to last and save you money in the long term, then you need to buy the best and the Oztent RV Tent really applies to this philosophy. While it doesn’t take us exactly 30 seconds to set up ( in reality it’s closer to five minutes), if you include taking the tent out of its bag, setting it up and pegging it down, five minutes before you’re ready to have that first drink in your hand is hard to beat.
Because I have spent a lot of money on my tent, I have tended to over-engineer in finding a solution to each of these issues.
Spread the Load of the Oztent RV
The Oztent RV tent is long and thin which raises a couple of transport issues. Most vehicles have 2 roof bars, meaning the whole weight of the tent is concentrated on a very small area and considerable flexing can happen, especially on rough outback tracks. This can cause wearing at these points and undue flexing can cause wearing or potential breaking of the frame joints.
Solution:
- I have constructed a timber plank the length (or almost) of the tent.
- Glue on some high-density foam (the blue stuff – see Fig. 1) to provide some cushioning.
- Attach the plank with the foam to the rack with some simple bolts and brackets (Fig. 2).
- If you have a basket attached to your rack, it is easy to bolt this plank onto the top of the rack or next to it if your rack is wide enough.
- Attach the tent to the plank and rack with some wide elastic straps stretched over a strip of the high-density foam.
- Your tent is now well supported along its length, cannot flex and the pressure of the holding straps is spread out (Fig. 3).
Secure the Oztent RV
With the tent on your roof, it does leave the tent exposed to theft risk. However, the solution outlined above on how to carry the Oztent RV on the roof can also provide a reasonable degree of security so that you can leave your tent safely on the vehicle when shopping, trying out another pie in another great country bakery or checking out the attractions in the local area.To increase the security:
- Add some locks to the plank mentioned above and secure the tent with some plastic tube covered chain. You will need:
- Four padlocks keyed alike. You can get packs of 4 keyed alike locks from hardware stores
- Some galvanised chain (2-3mm link diameter)
- Some plastic tube large enough to slip over the chain.
- Place the plank and tent on the roof rack.
- Loop the chain around the roof bar on the far side of the plank and attach with a padlock (Fig. 4).
- Pull the chain firmly, but not tightly, over the tent and loop around the bar on the near side of the tent, inside of the roof rack leg.
- Use another padlock to lock into place.
- Cut the chain to size, leaving a little bit of slack to allow for the plastic sleeve.
- Repeat for the other roof bar.
- Cut the plastic tube a little shorter than each chain so that at least one link is outside of the tube to allow the padlock to go through and slip the tube over the chain (Fig. 5).
- Cut a hole through the tube where the padlock needs to attach.
- Repeat the process for the other roof bar.
As most roof racks are attached to the vehicle with tamper proof bolts, the only way your Oztent can now be removed is by either cutting the chain or completely removing the roof rack. Both highly unlikely!
Weather Proof the Oztent RV
This material can be obtained from Clarks Rubber stores. All you need to do is make a bag made of waterproof ripstop nylon that slips over the existing tent bag.Despite the best-laid plans, wet weather is always a possibility. The Oztent RV comes in a durable bag, but I always want an extra level of protection.
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- Just take the dimensions of your packaged Oztent to the store and they will help work out how much material is required.
- You will also need a length of sewable Velcro.
- A sewing machine and the ability to use it are all that is required.
- Sew a tube a little larger than the diameter of the tent bag and about 50cm longer than the tent.
- Sew in a circular base to this tube to enclose one end.
- Make a cut along each side of the excess tube to make 2 flaps (Fig. 6).
- The top one of these is folded down and tucked in under the tent.
- The bottom flap has Velcro sewn along the edge so that it can be folded up and over the top of the bag.
- Mark where the other side of the Velcro needs to be and sew on (Fig. 7).
- When travelling, place the Oztent in this bag and carry with the opening facing forward so that the flap is not going to be forced open by the oncoming wind.
So there you have it, if you follow these tips you’ll have a secure, well-supported and weather protected Oztent RV tent!
Go out and enjoy your Oztent with peace of mind, or if you’ve been inspired to get an Oztent of your very own, then have a look at the range that Snowys has on offer for one that suits you and your gang!
After experiencing camping, and being a boy scout as a child, I developed a love of the outdoors and the outback. I’ve taken every opportunity to travel across the outback through South Australia, the Northern Territory, and down the Western Australian Coast. In more recent times, after becoming an empty nester, I have organised and led many outback trips for family members, friends and acquaintances, to explore some of the more remote places across the country.
Hey Barry,
Can you please show in some more pictures just how you have secured the plank to your roof racks please.
I need to build and secure one of these for our tent. Great idea.
Thanks
Sorry, Nick, it’s been some time since Barry has written for our blog and we’ve dropped out of contact with him. We aren’t going to be able to help you here sorry. ~ Ben
We have an as new Ozpod that we plan to sell – They are the best as you can store your tent in it when not in use away from dust and bugs.
Would the Rhino T-load work for lifting the tent.
Theoretically, I reckon it would, B. However, it’s probably best to confirm that with Rhino-Rack. Cheers mate
Thank you for this, it’s been helpful. We’ve been going over the same dilemma.
The oz pod is the ideal way to transport these tents no need to tie down or lock up and completely water tight and best of all the side and front panel’s fit in to
Unfortunately oztent no longer make them. I’m trying to find one
I did similar but had a basket made that was almost the length of the RV3 pack & attached that to my Roof rack bars with shaped ‘U’ bolts.
Then ‘coz I’m a little lazy had a Tent & Awning Manufacturer make a heavy duty Rip Stop bag with a three sided zipper & clips to fit the basket — Clip the bag to the basket with cable ties & slide the tent bag, fly & awning sides along with your Camp stretcher & floor mat into the Bag — then just zip it up & tie it down with Occy straps, rope or whatever’s legal to use in your patch.