General Boards > Off Topic

Best sleeping ideas for doing the cape??

(1/4) > >>

Richie rich:
Hi..doing Cape York trip next June and wanting some ideas on what's the best way to camp/sleep??
Thinking of a roof top tent? If so Which one ? Need something that is quick and easy to set up?
Any ideas would be great.

DmaxDave:
We normally tow our camper trailer everywhere but are planning a couple of remote trips where we will need to leave the CT behind.  Got me thinking about swags, tents, etc.  Pretty sure we will end up with two of these Jet Tent bunkers

http://youtu.be/bRg8uVcExJM

Dave

xsm:
We did the Cape trip in 2011. We fitted everything in/on our 1998 Pajero. There was me, my wife and our two boys who were 14 and 17 at the time. We travelled with friends who also had two teenage boys and they fitted everything in their Hilux.

We used 3 X two man dome tents 2.1 metres square, 1 with a vestibule.  We also used cheap blue tarps as ground sheets for them.  These tents are very compact and are quick to set up and pack up. Wouldn't take more than 5 or 10 minutes max.  For bedding we used our Roman self inflatable mattresses. These are large and thick so are really comfortable but they are bulky to carry and weigh 6 kg each. You do need to be comfortable though and that includes getting a good nights sleep. Our friends used one larger Black Wolf tent although one of their boys usually camped in with one of our boys to give them a bit more space in the Black Wolf.  Their setup and packup took about the same time as ours.

We had all our bedding and tents on the roof rack in our large Rhino 4wd roof rack bag. We also had a 2nd spare wheel on the roof which we didn't use.  My memory is fading now but I think the total weight on the roof was 120kg.

Inside the back of the car we had our 60 litre Evakool, all our clothing, food, fold up tables and utensils.

It was all a tight squeeze to get everything in but it really worked very well. Everything had its place and our setup and packup was 2nd nature after the first couple of days. It was great not towing a trailer, we were very comfortable and I would do it the exact same way again. The weather was good except for one night of rain at Chilli Beach but we had awnings made from tarps and tent poles attached to our vehicles.

My wife and I will do the trip again one day without the boys and I am hoping to fit all our gear in the car without roof racks. I will just wait until the MU-X has "aged" a bit first.

Cheers
Martin

TCMTB:
We use a Colman instant up 6 man tent- cheapest 'quick' tent and really impressed with it. We usually have a camper trailer so didn't want to spend too much on the tent. Will need a tarp or fold out awning on the side of the car for shelter though as pretty small undercover area.
2 adults and 2 kids under 5. Kids on blow up mattresses and we're on self inflating mattresses. On the pioneer rhino roof rack we have the tent, rhino roof bag with all clothing/ sleeping and dry food, 20l water Jerry can and gas bottle. In the back I've got a 60l Engle, table, recovery gear, gas stove, fold up solar panel and a few other bits and pieces.
This is all in the MU-x, will have no problems fitting this and more in a d-max.
I find having enough water is the biggest constraint, not as much of an issue up in the cape, but can be for other remote camping places.

macka17:
For "sleeping".
if anything like 30 odd yrs ago.

Anything OFF the ground if near water of any kind.
You in the food chain up there.

We always took the pig dogs and chained 'em to truck.
they woke you when croc's came near,
or anything that moved.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page