Now, travelling with a tent may still mean you’ll
need a garden-variety trailer to haul all the gear
(depending on how you pack). But there are rigs,
such as the Stockman Pod, specifically designed
for this purpose.
The biggest drawback of a conventional tent? The
time it takes to set-up camp and pack everything
away. Also, it’s highly unlikely any tent will be as
organised as even a basic camper trailer.
Water will also be a major drawback, especially if
you’re travelling with more than, say, two people.
Throw kids into the mix, and you’ll need to seriously
look into how you’ll transport enough water to
sustain you, depending on where you’re staying.
In terms of 12V power, a tent could never really
compete with a camper trailer equipped with an
onboard deep-cycle battery. A well set-up 4WD
with auxiliary battery, slide-out fridge, etc., would
come close, though.
GO THE SWAG
Four-wheel-drive adventurer Glenn Marshall
camps predominantly in his swag but is no
stranger to tents and there aren’t many corners
of this country he hasn’t hammered a peg into.
These are his five reasons why he goes the
swag over a camper trailer…
• Swags are simple to set-up and pack
down. The ease with which modern swags
and tents can be set up and packed up
have increased their popularity – even the
storage bags are bigger!
• They are easier to transport. Yes you may
need a roof rack, but that causes less
stress on your vehicle and doesn't impact
your fuel economy as much as towing a
camper trailer.
• Sleep cooler in summer and warmer in
winter: You can open up a swag or tent to
let the night breeze in or shut it up tight and
stay warm as toast as there is less space to
cool/warm.
• They weigh less. I know, thanks Captain
Obvious.
• Just chuck it in and off you go: Yep, the
good ol' fashioned way of camping using
the KISS method.
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