Testing out the new Oztent RV-5 setup.
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TLC day. 
I've been using an Oztent RV3 for the last 6 years or so. It's big and heavy but the space is nice and its durable as heck. It's survived heavy winds and rainstorms without issue. One night it was so windy I was literally holding onto the aluminum extrusion so that it wouldn't fold in. I'm pretty sure a lesser tent would have broke. It's the longest I've ever kept and used a tent. The one thing that frustrates the hell out of me though is the bag. It's horrible. It's just slightly big enough so putting the tent back in is a PITA. Do yourself a favor and get the Drifta4WD bag from AUS. Well worth the price to ship it here for the convenience of the Difta bag. I wish I would have bought the bag from the beginning rather than suffering through using the original bag.
Indeed, looks great wherever that is.
g rant
SILVER Star
The bag seems to be a point of contention. From what I’ve gathered from reviews is that Oztent has improved the bag at least once or twice. I believe I even found a newer Drifta video where they suggest you don’t really need their bag if you have a newer Oztent. And I should add, I’ve packed the tent twice now and haven’t had issues with getting it in the bag.
This was my first time taking it out. I had to build a shelf for it in my shed and it is definitely a bit of a beast to get up on the roof. I bought the RV-5 second hand, so the main bag is already not in great shape. Ive been looking at other options (including the Drifta). Oztent now makes a heavy duty bag with wheels on one end for a bit over $200. I suspect that turns a heavy tent into a heavier tent. The way I’m leaning most heavily right now is a Yakima Skybox 12 carbonite. It’s as long as their biggest skybox but only half width, so should hold the RV-5. And when I’m not carrying the tent, could be used for other things.
I’ve already procured quite the set-up. Bought the tent with the ground tarp and fly. Then got lucky and someone who lives near my brother was selling the RV5 Tagalong (and a ground cover) for cheap, and I found the front room sidewalls “relatively” inexpensively on eBay. That guy also sold me a RV3/4 front panel that he mislabeled.
We stayed in a state park and had some more tent campers pretty close to us. I set up one of the side walls facing them and between that and the awning gave us a great vestibule for keeping stuff as well as plenty of space for shoes and flip flops. This allowed us to keep everything dirty outside the tent. Obviously, no one needs a oztent for a clean vestibule, but we had perfect weather this weekend, so I didnt really get to try out the “robustness” of the tent. My only issue is I wish it was a bit taller. The awning/front room goes a long way in resolving that, but at 6’1, you can only stand up mostly strait right at the front support beam. Of course that height would come at the expense of an even bigger packed footprint.
I think I have one of the newer rv4s with this updated bag you’re mentioning. it’s definitely beefier but it’s still too small imo. My first trip with this tent i had no issues putting it back in the bag. My most recent trip I couldn’t put it back in , maybe 3/4 of the tent and the rest was just unzipped. I was irritated. I have a drifta bag coming in this week, about 40 days from date of order.
I have a skybox 18 and the rv4 fits with a few inches to spare. I don’t keep the tent in there, it was just for test fitting to see if it would fit. I store it inside with the middle row center seat pass through down. I like this tent and the fact that I can stand up inside and set it up within minutes.
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My brother (in his 110) and I breaking trail on a fav route close to home. We dropped into a canyon knowing we'd likely be committed to a lot of recovery work to get back out the way we came or complete the loop. We were right. There was more snow than expected and we used every bit of our recovery gear. It took hours to get out to the main road but was a great time. There was a group of Rzrs on the other end stopped for lunch knowing they couldn't go further due to trail conditions. Was fun to see the shock on their faces when a couple of family wagons popped out of the trees bashing through the snow. Turned out to be some people we knew - they thought we were nuts.
His first real wheeling excursion in his new 110. It did great but doesn't quite have the clearance I have so the LC broke Trail.
His first real wheeling excursion in his new 110. It did great but doesn't quite have the clearance I have so the LC broke Trail.
Like the color on the stock wheels. Is this paint or powder coat and what color is this?
^ @residualboulders how fun! What a prime example of wheeling together, combining resources to ensure both of you make it out OK.
What’s that old saying… “you can see the world in a Land Rover but if you want to make it back home you should take a Land Cruiser.”
It boggles my mind how much snow yall still have.
ha ha, yeah I think that's how it goes. So far he's made it there and back everywhere I have gone. But he is pretty diligent with his maintenance.
Fun long weekend up at Mendocino National Forest on Hull Mountain. The goal was to make it over the mountain and explore the northern reaches of the forest, but the pass was covered in snow. Surprising how beautiful this area still is after the big fires a few years back.
g rant
SILVER Star
Powdercoat done by my local Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists. Color is Forged Charcoal Metallic
Looks great on the white truck.
I was there probably 2 days before you guys! I only made it to lower launch before I turned around from the snow.
Good to have you and that nice color LX on the forum.
I hate to be —that guy—, but driving into a stream off of an established trail does not fit the Tread Lightly model of responsible use. Home - Tread Lightly! - https://treadlightly.org/
These pics bring back great memories of hang gliding off of Hull back in the late 70s-early 80s when I was in school in Sacto.
