Tent vs Swag for a Suzuki Jimny
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- While choosing a new small tent I had had to decide between a swag and a tent. In this video I share some of the variables I had to weigh up before making a decision.
In addition to short discussion about my decision I've also done a short set up video.
The tent is the Hideaway from Torpedo 7. I could not find much info on the internet about this tent before I bought it so I decided to share a bit about it.
The campsite is the Parua Bay freedom camping site in Whangarei, New Zealand.
@ExploreJimny was kind enough to let me use some photos of her set up. Go check out her instagram page and TH-cam channel. She shares a lot of great information for Jimny owners.
Do you camp in a tent or a swag? Do you agree or disagree with my points? Share your thoughts...
TENT SETUP AT THE END OF THE VIDEO
Tent:
www.torpedo7.c...
Features:
1 main room + vestibule
1 entrance
SpeedHook clip
Twin stitched seams
Insect mesh
Seam sealed
Pin and ring pole attachment
StructureFLex fibreglass poles
Specifications:
Fly: 185T 68D Polyester / PU 2000mm Water Resistant/ Fire Resistant/ UPF50 w/Taped Seams
Inner Front: 68D 185T Polyester PA300mm Water Resistant- Gray
Inner Tent: 68D 180T Polyester B/R- White
Mesh: No See-Um Mesh (excellent for insect protection)
Floor: PE 10x10 120g/m2
Carry Bag: 185T 68D Polyester/ PU 450mm Water Resistant + 200D Polyester Oxford PU450mm Water Resistant
Peg Bag: PE 12x12 120g/m2
Pegs: Steel 5mm Thick x 17.5cm- 16 pieces
Ropes: PP Rope 4mm Thick- 4 Pieces.
Poles: Fibreglass 7.9mm Thick- 2 Pieces.
2 Doors
Inner Tent Size: 150 x 210 x 110cm
Fly: 160 x 300 x 115cm
Pack Size: 55cm x 12cm Diameter
Weight: 3.0kg
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Music track: Dreamy by Alex
Source: freetouse.com/...
No Copyright Music (Free Download)
I've done a lot of tent camping in my younger years, and it's miserable in bad weather. I tried a deluxe single swag last year but had breathing difficulties (allergies and asthma) on one trip so i found the swag quite claustrophobic on that trip and had to end it early.
My current solution is a teardrop camper. It wins in every respect except of course price. I can take it down the beach or any reasonable softroad track. It has a kitchen. Room for the dog. An awning which is about the same size as the one I put on the Jimny. I installed solar on the roof and it runs a small fridge plus lighting just fine so is good for extended trips. Super fast setup for long trips if I need to free camp/overnight on the way - I can just pull up and roll into the camper and go to sleep. Yes, 185cm is no problem for most teardrops - the bed is essentially a standard double mattress. My last trip was a three day music festival and the camper was an absolute joy.
I find it to be safer towing than it is to overload the Jimny's 20kg roof carrying capacity, but yes you need to be mindful of the limits either way. For example the tow ball weight comes off the vehicle's carrying capacity of 400kg (manual only) and is a maximum of 75kg. Most teardrops are well within the tow limits of the Jimny, but that doesn't mean you can load out the teardrop with all your gear. I limit the loadout to essential van stuff (chocks, lightweight stands etc) kitchen stuff including the fridge, and clothes and other light items. Batteries for the solar were a heavy addition.
For example, the Hayman Reese tow bar is 16kg, and the tow ball weight of the camper is 35 kg. GVM is 1435 and the kerb weight is 1035 (manual). 1435-1035-16-35 leaves 349 kg. Add me and the dog and that leaves 269 kg. Also remember that *any* extras you add come off the carrying capacity, so take off another 15 kg for the roof rack, awning and shovel and that brings my carrying capacity down to 254 kg. I'd really like to put a bar and winch on the front, and I think I have the free capacity, but I haven't been stuck yet. I'll probably opt for the long range fuel tank instead. My last trip with teardrop I did 7.9 liters per 100 km, so pretty reasonable towing performance, probably because the wind drag is quite reasonable. It seems to tow better with 91 RON than it does with 98, by at least 1.5 liters per hundred km. That's pretty significant. I'm thinking the 98 is just too slow burning for the Jimny's naturally aspirated high revving engine. That extra 1.5 liters is probably just burning up the catalytic converter.
Tent camping in really bad weather can be such a drag at times. I’m also a little claustrophobic in smaller spaces.
I think a teardrop would be ideal. Yours sounds like a great setup. But as you say, the price is definitely on the steep side. We are looking at a camping trailer which has a rooftop tent on top.
Our 5 door is an auto so I don’t want to tow more than 500kg on a regular basis. The trailer I’m looking at should be under that. That’s excluding the water tank, battery and gas cylinder.
Max braked capacity in New Zealand is 950kg and unbraked is 500kg. These are different to the Australian and South African figures of 1300kg braked. Towball is the same.
Good to know 👍 You need a strong, durable tent for those kiwi coastal escapes!
That is indeed true. Not sure how well this little orange tent will hold up. But I’ll let you know if I get stuck in some wild weather.
Tough balance. Im Australian so im pro swag but I have a mini tent for warmer weather as it’s easier to pack in the Jimny!
Also you 100% should do a 5 door car tour comparison to the 3 door as not many have had both!
Hey!! I think if I had a bigger car, lived in Aus and camped more on my own, I’d probably lean towards a stretcher swag. To keep me safe from the creepy crawlies.
I’m planning on doing a video on what I have been able to transfer across from the 3 door to the 5 door and also our first weekend away with a 7 week old baby (in an air bnb though, not a tent).
I ended up getting swag to see what it was like the only real advantage of a swag is it's dark inside helps you sleeping in, a proper 4 season hiking tent are pritty much storm proof plus you have the vestibules to store stuff out the way of your sleeping space, easy to dry tent at home overnight and clean I feel like a tent you don't need to have under an awning when raining I'd hate to deal with a swag in the open rain, Il keep the swag for summer camping and tent for winter weather if I had to get a double or if I had to choose I'd def just go with a tent more space takes up lil room more breathable in winter!
That’s great insight. Thanks for sharing your experience. Hopefully that helps someone.