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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sawed-Off on August 24, 2014, 11:39:53 AM

Title: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: Sawed-Off on August 24, 2014, 11:39:53 AM
For those trips where we cant take the CT, wife and I want to get a swag. We've looked at some others, but like the look of the ARB double swags. Just wondering if anyone else has them and what their thoughts are after living with them for a while. I know there's some good swags around, but is there anything particularly wrong with these ones?
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: shrek4 on August 24, 2014, 12:56:30 PM
We have two. One for our 3 and 7 year old.

They are fantastic. Very warm (possibly too warm for summer). Easy to set up / take down.

Would happily recommend.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: Nay-DMAX on August 24, 2014, 02:49:06 PM
Haven't got the ARB one sorry but for the same reason we recently got the kulkyne (drifters creek brand) double swag and it seems to be a good set up I like that even though you have to put the poles on the ends set up is still super quick and you don't sleep with canvas on your face.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: rags on August 24, 2014, 09:32:01 PM
Daughter's B/F has an ARB swag and he initially had problems with the poles snapping up to his 3rd  set now which  are now ok ,his other issue was that he purchased thru an ARB agent in Sydney and now resides in Qld and the agent up there was not really interested until he contacted head office. Sorted now until next time maybe.
For me it is Southern Cross all the way, tent 20plus years old swag approx 10years old and never an issue.
The Travelander look ok along with the previously mentioned Kulkyne.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: Kangaron on August 24, 2014, 09:38:57 PM
We have a couple of Jet tent Bunkers by Oztent for that very reason and they have had a good workout in
all sorts of weather and have come up trumps. There are cheaper versions out there but quality is not there.

Title: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: fridayman on August 25, 2014, 08:54:31 PM
My brothers ARB has had the poles snap twice now. Otherwise it's quite a nice swag.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: Sawed-Off on August 26, 2014, 05:55:34 PM
Yeah, the poles are my main concern. If I get the swag, I'm hoping I'd be able to find fiberglass replacements. It seems odd that they've put effort into the rest of it then use cheapo aluminium poles. I'd be interested in the other high end swags, but I don't think anyone sells them here and buggered if I'll spend 6-700 on one sight unseen.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: Nay-DMAX on August 26, 2014, 06:00:05 PM
Yeah, the poles are my main concern. If I get the swag, I'm hoping I'd be able to find fiberglass replacements. It seems odd that they've put effort into the rest of it then use cheapo aluminium poles. I'd be interested in the other high end swags, but I don't think anyone sells them here and buggered if I'll spend 6-700 on one sight unseen.

On the website it says Savannah campers in Cairns are a stockist for the drifters creek range if that is any more help.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: Roo on August 26, 2014, 07:49:54 PM
We've been living/touring fulltime in a Kulkyne queen superdome swag for 14 months. Bought it for a Cape York trip in 2012 and it was great to be able to have the canvas sides up on hot nights and not be consumed by mozzies.

Sent from my HUAWEI Y300-0151 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: knoath on August 27, 2014, 12:43:06 PM
Anyone using a Darche air swag?
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: evanw on September 19, 2014, 12:55:58 PM
I also like the look of these:

http://www.kulkyne.com/au/Homestead-Swag-Twin.html (http://www.kulkyne.com/au/Homestead-Swag-Twin.html)

Thinking it will suit our needs when I return back to Oz next year. Anyone got one?
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: GGV8Cruza on February 27, 2016, 04:58:19 PM
Picked up a couple of bags for my swags today, not cheap but a great bit of gear.

(http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh502/GGPatrol/20160227_132713_zpsyirmmee1.jpg) (http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/GGPatrol/media/20160227_132713_zpsyirmmee1.jpg.html)

GG
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: StrvnMrvn on February 27, 2016, 05:08:31 PM
We have a couple of Jet tent Bunkers by Oztent for that very reason and they have had a good workout in
all sorts of weather and have come up trumps. There are cheaper versions out there but quality is not there.

Im With Kangaron!

I have one and use it as I am in the Army when we go field. Been in some pretty crap weather and it has handled it all.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: cruiser 91 on February 28, 2016, 06:48:37 AM
We've had our ARB double for 2 years. Spent a week in the Flinders in mid winter, warm as toast. I do put a hot water bottle in 1 hr b4 going to bed for the missus. There should be a hanger to permanently attach a tiny led torch above ya head.
We still use a cheap 6 x 4 blue tarp underneath the swag. 

Dont forget to season the swags prior to using them.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: gphcald on February 28, 2016, 11:27:16 AM
A mate has a couple, he finds them hot during summer, my oztrail lachlan that opens all the way but still has the midge proof mesh is way cooler. He also is on his third set of poles. I would look around and see what else is out there

Rgds

Gerry
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: frenchac on February 28, 2016, 11:37:54 AM
My son has the Travelander Swagit swag, fantastic swag but after breaking 4 sets of end hoops for no apparent reason I ended up buying 12 mm tube from Bunnings, filling with sand, bending to shape around the spare wheel..... no more broken hoops.
The sand stops the tube from creasing when bending.

Friends have the ARB swag, same issues.  Great swag, hoops break.

We bought a different brand swag for my daughter, similar concept, same broken hoops.  The hoop material used is simply not up to the task.

The 12 mm tube from Bunnings was a cheap fix that has worked really well.
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: madmax on February 28, 2016, 08:27:40 PM
My son has the Travelander Swagit swag, fantastic swag but after breaking 4 sets of end hoops for no apparent reason I ended up buying 12 mm tube from Bunnings, filling with sand, bending to shape around the spare wheel..... no more broken hoops.
The sand stops the tube from creasing when bending...

The 12 mm tube from Bunnings was a cheap fix that has worked really well.

Great idea.  I have a Travelander Swagit, yet to break a hoop but seen other do so (all brands).

Is the 12mm tube steel or?

Thanks
Title: Re: ARB Skydome swags?
Post by: Jason B on February 29, 2016, 07:07:52 AM
I am a fisheries officer mate and we travel inland NSW in both winter and summer spending between 70 and 100 nights a year in swags. We have tried them all over the years. The best by far from a design and quality point of view are the Southern Cross Canvas double domes. They do a double. I have a single which fits perfectly on a camp stretcher so no camping on the ground, and I also have a double.

The ARB ones provide nowhere near the air flow of the Southern Cross and for summer patrols out west we hated them. Both sides and the ends open in the Sothern Cross so you end up with a heap of air flow and ventilation.

The Kalkine is a cheap Chinese copy of the Southern Cross design. They are good value but are not on the same level for quality, in very heavy rain without a tarp we have found they leak and the PVC they use on the tub floor is easily damaged and rubs through.

We have found we replace the Kalkine about 3:1 to a Southern Cross. This works similar in cost as a Southern Cross in a bag is about $700 and a Kalkine is about $300.

We always try new designs or new products as they are released but always end up back with the Southern Cross.,

They are expensive, but they are made by a great company from Australian Canvas in Australia also.

http://www.southerncrosscanvas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/dome-swag-king.jpg (http://www.southerncrosscanvas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/dome-swag-king.jpg)


Regards


Jas