MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: RWS on March 29, 2010, 05:49:27 PM
-
I'm looking to upgrade my piece of shade cloth I use for flooring in the annex area...it's not the right size for my annex so I thought I'd shout myself a new bit for Easter...I've read a recent thread about the Oztrail Ultra Mesh which people seem to be ok with... fairly cheap, around the $60 mark for the size I am looking for (6 metres x 2.4 metres)...this is probably the one I will go with...but...I was at the recent 4x4 Show in Brisbane and spotted thesehttp://www.cgear.com/rec_product.html (http://www.cgear.com/rec_product.html)
Does anybody use this type of mat, if so what's their opinion of it...are they worth the money...I have priced the mat at a few places around Brissy, they range from between $250 to $280...a lot for something you are going to throw on the ground and walk all over.
Cheers
Rob.
-
I have had a cgear mat for 2 years and have found it to be brilliant. The dirt and sand just goes straight through and does not come back out. A little expensive, but i think well worth it.
GG
-
:cup: I just bought one a few months ago and have used it twice now , they are $$$ but if something happened to it i would buy another tomorrow . Nothing comes up through it , dirt and sand falls through it and doesnt come back and another great feature is leaves and stuff brushed off with one sweep of a soft brush .
Mine is slightly bigger than my awning and i have just bought (got them today) the annex walls for my offroad hawk from Sar Major , so it will be interesting how im going to peg them both out, will find out as im for the Otways over easter , 3 days to go ;D
-
Another tick :cup: We have the 2.4 x 6 for out front the camper or under the OzTent. It's been everywhere and used on everything from rock to mud to sand. It's one of the best things we own. After a year on the road the only damage to it is to holes cut buy the leg of an aluminium chair that had lost its plastic cap.
The only drawback if you can call it that is the two layers of cloth can slip across one another when you walk on it the wrong way giving you that 'oh Shit I'm falling' pucker moment. But that only happens once in a blue moon.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/Joff/Borroloola074.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/Joff/Borroloola072.jpg)
-
Thanks for the quick reply guy's...geez you are making my decision hard...I was all for the cheaper version...now I'm in two minds ???
-
Yep I have one of these also, I have used it in sandy conditions and just a light brush off and is as good as new!!
rich
-
One thing I found, but this is prolly true for any floor. Don't carry it inside a compartment, the moisture it holds corrodes everything else that's in there. Carry it out in the open. On the roof, off the side of the camper, swinging of the spare wheel etc.
Throwing it off the roof after 500km of dusty road does make for a red powder puff moment but a quick shake out and it's good to go. Much the lesser of two evils
The bag makes a great sand peg too.
-
The bag makes a great sand peg too.
Yeah I can see that Joff...it would take a serious gust of wind to pull that one out of the ground.
-
Yeah I can see that Joff...it would take a serious gust of wind to pull that one out of the ground.
actually that's a coles bag. They're good too but the CGear bag is twice that size and 3 times stronger :cheers:
-
Ah yes! One of the many uses of a Coles bag...should start another thread with that title.
-
We have one and it is really good, especially at the beach. My only complaint is that with the two layers it can sometimes be a bit slippery, depending on what surface you have it on. We found that it really reduces the amount of crap that you carry in to your camper on your feet ;D
-
I have this annex floor matting, had it for 4 years and no rips and does not pucker. Its made out of a rubber material.
If you spill a drink it goes right through and as it is rubber it does not stay wet.
Doug
http://www.campstore.com.au/?Nav=Pdt&product_id=154168&category_id=22&sub_category_id=34&PageID=8&wp=8
-
It certainly aint cheap but it is very good. If you get sick of the colour turn it upside down and hey presto, a new coloured floor. Supposedly very difficult to tear and able to be used under the wheels for traction if you are bogged. don't know if I want to risk tearing it though when I can hand the missus a shovel. >:D
-
Thanks guy's for all your reply's...I lashed out and bought the CGear Multi-mat on your recommendations...used it over the Easter break...great bit of gear, no curling edges as with the normal shade cloth, easy to peg out with the large D rings around the outside edge :cup:...very happy :cheers:
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/RW__S/DSCF5647.jpg?t=1270967812)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/RW__S/DSCF5672-1.jpg?t=1270967920)
-
I'll be interested in how you found it. We are considering the annex matting - as it's cheaper ($190 compared to $290) and has been recommended to us.
-
we Love ours,
it certainly does reduce the amount of dirt and sand that comes into the tent no matter what surface you are camped on (muddy clay excepted)!
We have found that you get quite a few pukker moments when it isnt pegged out, but if you peg it out then those moments are significantly reduced!
Rossow.
-
There a company EMP Industrial which has a range of annexe matting (same photo as Caravan place).
The advantage with them is you can purchase the length you require as not everyone needs 6.00 metres.
It comes in a range of colours as well, they are at empind.com.au
-
I'll be interested in how you found it. We are considering the annex matting - as it's cheaper ($190 compared to $290) and has been recommended to us.
I've used a normal piece of shade cloth for ground cover for quiet a few years now, alway's had trouble with curling edges, could never get it straight, theres no eyelets or d rings to peg it out so I had to drive the pegs through it...shade cloth is a good cheap option, but it won't last long putting holes in it. CGear mat is certainly expensive but I think it will last for years, it Has own carry bag and is easily stored away.
On the subject of that annex matting your referring to, theres someone selling a 6mx2.4m piece in the General Classified section of Myswagg for $120...that stuff looks the goods also.
:cheers:
There a company EMP Industrial which has a range of annexe matting (same photo as Caravan place).
The advantage with them is you can purchase the length you require as not everyone needs 6.00 metres.
It comes in a range of colours as well, they are at empind.com.au
CGear have a range of different sizes...unfortunately only two colours, green and grey...green on one side grey on the other...http://www.cgear.com/rec_product.html (http://www.cgear.com/rec_product.html)
:cheers:
-
I understand this is for the floor of hte annexe, but could you use this sort of matting for under a soft floor camper tent for extra protection? Or is there a better alternative?
-
I understand this is for the floor of hte annexe, but could you use this sort of matting for under a soft floor camper tent for extra protection? Or is there a better alternative?
It is what I use under my softfloor. It is also useful to get one that is a little bigger than the floor so mud etc doesn't splash up on the canvas should it rain (and just peg through it).
-
its pretty pricey for something that goes under your soft floor. we just use a blue tarp for that.
Doesnt realy offer much by way of protection from sharp stones, but more for keeping it a bit cleaner so when we pack up its not caked in dirt / mud...
Rossow.
-
its pretty pricey for something that goes under your soft floor. we just use a blue tarp for that.
Doesnt realy offer much by way of protection from sharp stones, but more for keeping it a bit cleaner so when we pack up its not caked in dirt / mud...
Rossow.
Actually we use a cheaper Oztrail mesh (shoulda mentioned that) as many places don't like you putting a tarp down.
-
I understand this is for the floor of hte annexe, but could you use this sort of matting for under a soft floor camper tent for extra protection? Or is there a better alternative?
I use a couple of sheets of roofing insulation which is just heavy duty bubblewrap. It stores flat under the soft cover and is light. It has a cushioning effect under foot, protects the tent base from sharp things and also insulates the floor. I am sure it is called air cell, will have to check the pare roll i have at home if needed.
GG
-
I was using an old piece of shade cloth under the soft floor there for awhile, but found everytime i packed up, under the floor was wet, meaning it needed drying before folding it away...i'd say moisture was making it's way up through the shade cloth, dampering under the floor...even when it hadn't been raining...this has mostly happened when camping on grass...not sure about sand or dirt haven't tried on those surfaces yet...grass has a fair bit of moisture content in it so i think that's where the problem lies...anyway i now use a cheap blue tarp, similar to what Rossow is using, this seems to be working fine...no moisture.
I like the sound of that air cell you mentioned GG...pretty sure that stuff is used for packaging also.
:cheers:
-
Just a thought ;D If the CGear is essentially 2 layers of shade cloth (correct me if I am wrong), then why not just buy a large piece of shade cloth and double it over or 2 pieces and place one on top of the other. This would work out at less than half the price according to my calculations.
-
I don't know if it's your garden variety shade cloth to be honest or if it some stronger breed given what it was designed for but the convenience of it as an item all sewn together and edged with D eyelets etc plus complete with it's own bag make it very useable.
I would imagine two layers would be similar but it would still have the problem of the edges curling and the issue of the two layers slipping across each other would be far more noticable.
At the end of the day it's like buying a Honda geni, or a Ctek charger, or any other quality item. You can do it cheaper but convinience and quality have a value too. If you're going to use it twice a year it's prolly not worth it, but when using it almost every day for months at a time it certainly is.
-
I'll second Joff's comments, but add............. >:D
I have used various types of tarps shadecloth etc over the years. Most of the time they work in one way or another.
Then life went pear shaped!!! :-[
Along came little tin lids and threw a spanner into the works.
No matter how hard you try they trash everything they come into contact with.
Cleaning pureed pear etc out of camping gear fouled with regurgitated milk is ever so pleasant.
In a fit of crazed raged (It does happen if you spend enough time with the inlaws!) I decided that I should give the C-gear a go.
Wife commented on how expensive a piece of shade cloth it was. "yes I realise it's double sided- but it would still be cheaper to buy 2 and join together"
Yeah yeah, with what? when? etc etc.
its just easier with kids to go out and buy the product.
I'll tinker when I retire!!!! >:(
Much to my dismay, the bloomin stuff works.
I have no idea how or why, it just does.
Of course as with anything that works fine, I decided to try and improve it.
As soon as I find somewhere on the matt I can put a screwdriver or saw, i'll get cracking, But for now it works so the boss, the kids and I are happy.
:D
-
I'm convinced ;D I notice they are currently reasonably priced on Ebay
-
Put my money where my mouth is :P Bought a CGear today from the Super Show, good price too I might add O0
-
I have a 8ft x 20ft cgear mat for th annexxe. Its great. Stops you tracking a heap of sand through the tent and give the kids some were to play. One of the best things I've bought for my camper. A worthwhile investment for sure.
Cheers
Craig
-
You can do it cheaper but convinience and quality have a value too. If you're going to use it twice a year it's prolly not worth it, but when using it almost every day for months at a time it certainly is.
I wish that I WAS using it for months at a time - everyday!
We are going to try for one long weekend a month and one fourteen day trip a year. However, The Man doesn't get paid when he doesn't work, so that means he'll be in charge of whether this panes out that way. Might see if we can borrow one for the longer trip to see if the investment is worth it for us. Would hate to spend the money and then find it's in the 'useless for us' category.
-
Bought mine last week through Ebay, thanks for all the comments as I have been considering these for quite some time and the discussion on this link made up my mind.
Will test it out in a few weeks with a 14 day 'culinary' tour through western Victoria.
-
RWS-did you put annexe walls up and not damage the c mat?
-
Hi Chrisroche, I haven't tried the annex walls with the mat as of yet, but the size coincides with the annex size, except on one end...this will be a problem when pegging out that one wall. I happen to have an old spreader pole left over from my tent and tarp days and plan to feed it through the bottom tabs of the annex wall, then peg each end just past the mat, keeping the mat hole free...the last thing I want is holes in my expensive mat...if I had my time over again I probably would buy the next size down...4.5m x2.4m...I'm going away this weekend so I'll give the spreader idea a go then and take some pic's to post up.
:cheers:
Rob.
-
We use the soft spoungy mat it works a treat but the down side is it collects a lot of burs & spiky seeds . Bag it up to travel home then hit it with the hi preasure water cleaner , good to go !
The floor gives us an anex that stays a cleaner & better to use . cost wise if you like it you forget , if you dont you remember all to well .
:cheers:
-
RWS-did you put annexe walls up and not damage the c mat?
Just getting back to you on your question Chrisroche...I'm out in the field trying out the spreader pole idea and have taken some pic's as promised...pretty happy...seems to work ok. :cup:
:cheers:
Rob
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/RW__S/DSCF5730.jpg?t=1272609202)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/RW__S/DSCF5731.jpg?t=1272609915)
(http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/RW__S/DSCF5732.jpg?t=1272609974)
-
My opinion is the the C-Gear mat is worth every cent and more. I have got one for the annex area and will be getting a second one to replace the standard annex matting that goes under the kids room.
This is the best thing we have ever bought for camping - apart from the camper itself!!!!!
-
We have been using our new mat for 2 weeks now in both wet and dry camping and confirm all the positive comments todate.
Well worht the expense, a great bit of kit.
-
Based on the comments I bought one today also. Got it from Kulkyne Kampers, as we were passing by, cheaper than eBay too :)
-
We've got three C-gear mats. Excellent.
-
Done some research on the CGear Multimat and it is really good. It was developed as portable helicopter landing pads for the military. Properly secured to the ground the Tactical Helimat allows military helicopters to land in dusty, sandy locations without creating dangerous clouds of dust. It is also used in the snow. Its handled all conditions in Australia, middle east and other locations around the world.
It is made from dual layers of synthetic mesh, it traps the dirt and sand underneath the mat. Its is non-absorbent, doesn't kill the grass, doubles as a 90% UV shade cloth for protection and comes with drawstring bag.
Its won me, now to save!!
-
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
Cheers
Damo
-
We love our Cgear camping mat, fantastic on the sand and great in the bush too, we bought ours online http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CGear-Mat-Caravan-Camping-Mat-1-8m-x-2-4m-Free-Post-/110693139868?pt=AU_Tents&hash=item19c5d3459c great way to shop.
-
Wow! Carrma you must of gone back along way to find this thread...I thought it was dead and buried somewhere in the achives ;D...still love my CGear, so much so I now have 2 mat's.
Edit: by the way, welcome to the forum.
-
I'll be interested in how you found it. We are considering the annex matting - as it's cheaper ($190 compared to $290) and has been recommended to us.
We have had the annexe matting since long b4 CGear existed, like it, no need to peg down, not slippery, grass can still breathe. We did go to look at the Cgear matting a few years back with the idea of saving weight - but it was heavier ???
-
I have got both the c gear mat and my own creation of doubling over a large piece of shadcloth. They both work as good as each other on a sanding spot. We usually camp for 4 weeks ar christmas at the beach at inskip. I researched the patent on the cgear after I bought it. It is only 2 layers of 70% uv shadcloth. So we bought 17m doubled it over and ran the sewing machine around the edges. (a cheap sewing machine). Half the price and exactly the size you want and it works well in sand and wet weather.
-
Another use for c-gear.....
I use the bag to put the wet dishes in when washing up and then hang it from a tree to drip dry. Not the sharp knives though - I love my c-gear bag to much for that!
-
I have got both the c gear mat and my own creation of doubling over a large piece of shadcloth. They both work as good as each other on a sanding spot. We usually camp for 4 weeks ar christmas at the beach at inskip. I researched the patent on the cgear after I bought it. It is only 2 layers of 70% uv shadcloth. So we bought 17m doubled it over and ran the sewing machine around the edges. (a cheap sewing machine). Half the price and exactly the size you want and it works well in sand and wet weather.
Yeah, have heard exactally that, will give it a go.
-
I find doubled over shade cloth is slippery whereas the CGear is not
-
I find doubled over shade cloth is slippery whereas the CGear is not
Hi,
That was the reason I also went for CGear Multimat for my Cub Escape Annex, I have now put around 25 grommets in the mat to line up with the Cub Annex peg holes.
For us older ones slippery surfaces can lead to bad falls and broken bones!!. The multimat was much cheaper the the doctors bills.
Ray
-
Hi,
That was the reason I also went for CGear Multimat for my Cub Escape Annex, I have now put around 25 grommets in the mat to line up with the Cub Annex peg holes.
Hi Ray,
This sounds like a great idea. How do I go about putting the grommets into my CGear.?
What type of grommet do you use?
:cheers:
Glenn
-
We got one a few weeks back and found that the dimensions were slightly smaller than what it should have been, we sent it back (at great cost) to the supplier and have a new one the right size. For the weekend we used it, compared to the rubberised mat we've had for ages, we've given it a big thumbs up.
The biggest problem we've found with the rubberised mat is that it's got a high static charge, so dirt and dust seems to cling to it, whereas the C Gear doesn't have that. It also stayed wet for longer and encouraged condensation underneath; the C-Gear doesn't.
C-Gear all the way 8)
-
I had Cgear for my Oz tent and it was great so now have bought a bigger piece for my camper... Exxxpensive, but very good!
-
Hi,
That was the reason I also went for CGear Multimat for my Cub Escape Annex, I have now put around 25 grommets in the mat to line up with the Cub Annex peg holes.
For us older ones slippery surfaces can lead to bad falls and broken bones!!. The multimat was much cheaper the the doctors bills.
Ray
both are slippery I've got both
-
I found the C=Gear slippery on occasion until i pegged it down properly, then it seemed to be not slippery - not sure why....
-
I understand this is for the floor of hte annexe, but could you use this sort of matting for under a soft floor camper tent for extra protection? Or is there a better alternative?
When I bought my Trackie 2nd hand a large piece of marine carpet came with it that was exactly the same size as the bottom of the soft floor. Took me until 2nd setup to realise what it was for (doh) as I used a tarp the first time. The marine carpet works a treat for under the vinyl, protects it and softer underfoot when on stony ground. Just folds up & goes on top of the tent when travelling with all the rest of the canvas. Just a thought for those who may be on the lookout for an alternative to a tarp.
:cup: