Tent Cot

[4RunAmok]

There is a tent that is a lot like the tent cot, but it's made for putting on top the vehicle.

Quite a bit more expensive though, available for sale here: http://www.racktents.com/OasisII.html

The bottom of the tent cot is a harder surface, masonite like surface? The bottom of the Oasis is hammock-like surface that has adjustable tension. I'm 6'1 @ 250, and I've slept comfortably in this tent.

 

[Super Doody]

Only if we could get the European version of Oasis 6.2 for the same price as the tent cot.

 

[1leg]

Jerry I look forward to yours after your trip with it out to Joshua Tree.
What I like:
It's light
Easy load/unload
I can store the thermasrests and sleeping bags inside (one less thing to carry in the car!)
Comfortable sleep
Quick tear-down
Opens on all 4 sides
Enough room inside to sit up and change clothes
Pockets on the inside at each end for your small gear storage

What I don't like:
Still hate the dome roof poles
Had problems with two of the plastic feet stoppers falling off
No place to put your shoes!
Too large and awkward for a single person to set up
Clipping mechanism to hold down sides could be improved somehow
Hate the end that locks into 2 positions for chair option...who wants to use this as a chair?
The bar in the middle sucks!

I pretty much have the same report after this weekend trip to Joshua Tree. The single is very easy to set-up.
1. Does need more padding then i hoped to use. I brought a extra big heavy sleeping bag and used it as a sleeping pad. Worked good for me.
2. The strapes used to hold the ends down to the middle legs, Make a Humming sound when the wind kicks up. Very weird sound to get woke-up to in the middle of the night.
3. Other then the Humming the tent did very well in the wind. I was getting gust up to 30mph(GUESSING HERE) and had no problem. Even folding it up and loading into the Jeep. Only took about 30 seconds maybe. I didn't bother trying to place it in the bag. If i tried that, it would have been about a hour. Have you seen a 1legged guy running after a tent cot bag, LOL.

After my first trip, I think I love it.
I got a lot of people stopping by camp asking about it and where to buy 1.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

I pretty much have the same report after this weekend trip to Joshua Tree. The single is very easy to set-up.
1. Does need more padding then i hoped to use. I brought a extra big heavy sleeping bag and used it as a sleeping pad. Worked good for me.
2. The strapes used to hold the ends down to the middle legs, Make a Humming sound when the wind kicks up. Very weird sound to get woke-up to in the middle of the night.
3. Other then the Humming the tent did very well in the wind. I was getting gust up to 30mph(GUESSING HERE) and had no problem. Even folding it up and loading into the Jeep. Only took about 30 seconds maybe. I didn't bother trying to place it in the bag. If i tried that, it would have been about a hour. Have you seen a 1legged guy running after a tent cot bag, LOL.

After my first trip, I think I love it.
I got a lot of people stopping by camp asking about it and where to buy 1.

Yes, I'm interested to see how this holds up in windy conditions....maybe I'll have to make another journey out to Anza Borrego!

The padding ours came with is pretty much worthless...not sure what they were thinking there. It was fine with the Thermarests though. I'm still looking for an alternative I can leave in there, either a thick foam pad cut to size or an air mattress.

 

[Bergger]

Yes, I'm interested to see how this holds up in windy conditions....maybe I'll have to make another journey out to Anza Borrego!

The padding ours came with is pretty much worthless...not sure what they were thinking there. It was fine with the Thermarests though. I'm still looking for an alternative I can leave in there, either a thick foam pad cut to size or an air mattress.

I've had a double model for a few years now and I really like it. Have not used it much but probably spend 12 or so nights in it. I put in two 4" self inflating pads and it is very comfortable. Good luck finding something that you can keep in there and still be able to close it up. Also it does very well in high winds. As far as shoe storage just place them underneath on a flat rock or board. They'll keep dry that way. I really don't find it very hard to set up. Way easier and quicker than a traditional tent. I have an AT Chaser now but if I go solo or the wife and I don't want to pull the trailer we us the Tent Cot. I think it's a great addition and option to our camping gear.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Well Sedonafest is over so here are my final thoughts on our Tent Cot experience:

It was much much easier to set up/take down with two people. We still had it up and down in about 5 mins, and one clear advantage we had over both a traditional tent and an RTT was that we were able to set up anywhere we wanted. We slept right next to Oak Creek, on the rocks and were lulled asleep by the water every night. Those with traditional tents had to find one of the sandbars to set up, and those with RTT's or in cab sleepers had to stay in the parking lot away from the water.

I think both Josh and I found it comfortable to sleep in with our bags and thermarest, there was lots of room, but the bar down the middle really sucks and keeps you from spreading out. I searched and searched for an air mattress to use, but the inside measurements of the tent cot were always just a few inches too small.

We were able to keep both of our thermarests and bags inside when we folded it up, but just barely and not without some effort. It was a bit of a struggle to get it back into the bag, and after only two trips the bag is starting to show wear and some rips, so I don't think it will last too much longer.

We didn't have Caesar on this trip, but there is probably no way he would be able to sleep in there with us. I'm not sure we could get him up into an RTT, but at least we know he would fit once inside.

I guess my conclusion is if you are a single person who doesn't want to build a sleeping platform in the back of your truck, and wants something easier than a traditional tent a single version of the Tent Cot is the way to go for the price. As for us, we have fallen victim to the shear coolness and convenience of the RTT, so I will be returning the tent cot this weekend.

 

[Corey]

Great review on the cot.
I was about to buy one before I got hooked on the RTT.
http://www.pnw4runners.com/fj/rtt/13.jpg
http://www.pnw4runners.com/fj/rtt/9.jpg
http://www.pnw4runners.com/yotatech/6year/corey5a.jpg