OzSTOC
Farkles, Gear & Accessories => Camping Gear and Touring => Topic started by: Streak on October 30, 2013, 11:54:03 PM
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I am pondering a purchase of an OZtrail Canvas Motor Bike Compact Swag
Does or has anyone owned one? And what are your thoughts and impressions? At a $140 it looks pretty sweet
http://www.campingcentral.com.au/products/OZtrail-Canvas-Motor-Bike-Biker-Compact-Swag.html (http://www.campingcentral.com.au/products/OZtrail-Canvas-Motor-Bike-Biker-Compact-Swag.html)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd499/ozstoc/700c9f9a605ef4a033c100fa200aa780_zpsc72932ff.jpg)
Reviews and looks compact and comfy
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I've got a swag that pitches up at the head and it rolls up huge and it's not as complex as that one Streak.
You'd need to se it? Maybe if you plan to tow a trailer it'd be good..
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A few years ago i used the standard swag on the ST but couldn't see anything behind me as the mirrors vision was blocked by the swag on the seat.
I picked up a Oztrail biker swag about 12 months ago for $100 and it is half as wide as the standard swag when rolled up allowing perfect rear vision through the mirrors. The sides fold into the centre before you roll the swag up.
When the swag is rolled out, the sides also flop out making the swag about 1 metre wide.
Unfortunately the matteress is only half that width of the swag and runs down the centre of the swag.
It dosn't effect my sleep too much as the bulk of your body is still on the mattress
I'm a bit over 6ft tall and weigh too much (about 20kg more than I should) and the only real problem I have is a knee of an elbow may rest on the bottom of the swag and that body part may get a bit cold.
I've put a sleeping bag inside the swag to help with this problem and it just rolls up inside the swag along with the self inflating pillow, when you are about to move on.
For trips of several days it is perfect and easy to care for.
It is waterproof and I don't normally use the frames like the one shown in your picture, I just tie a cord from the bike to the top of the swag to keep it off my face.
Regards HOFFY.
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Thanks for the reply guys, I have a few rides planned coming up soon, and i am just as happy to camp, but i dont want to do the whole big tent bag thing, i would be just as happy to sleep in something like this :thumb
I have seen some great reviews about it as well :hatwave
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I have always liked the idea of a swag and I keep checking out the different ones that come up in the hope that someone comes up with something clever for a motorbike.
The thing that I find is that I can get a 3 man tent for $50 or even less and they do the job well, I have room to sit up, and room to store plenty of stuff inside it. It's cheap, so if it's wet then it doesn't bother me folding it up wet ifI have to. I can even take a double air mattress if wanted and still store stuff beside it (hence the 3 man tent instead of the 2 man). Folded up it fits across the back of the seat and at $50 if it gets damaged or lost then it's not much money to replace it. The problem that others might find is whether they like air mattresses or not and there is the problem if it gets a leak. I find that a single air mattress can be put inside the lid of my top-box, or pannier, or molded around anything tied to the bike. I guess that there is no reason why you can't take self inflating mattress instead, but they tend to be expensive and there's a balance between cost and thickness and fold up size with them.
The possible advantage of the swag is the easy of setup and pull-down (which includes the mattress when doing it)!
I just thought that I better mention because they're the advantages and disadvantages that I have mulled over for a while.
But I do like the idea of throwin' a swag on the back of the ST and headin' off!
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I ended up buying one of these :
http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-store/products/Escape-Outdoors-Adapt-Hiking-Tent-1-Person.aspx?pid=291489&menuFrom=1021921#Cross (http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-store/products/Escape-Outdoors-Adapt-Hiking-Tent-1-Person.aspx?pid=291489&menuFrom=1021921#Cross)
(http://media.supercheapauto.com.au/shared/images/291489.jpg)
along with an air-matress thats quite compact. They fit in my top-box along with a compressor/tyre repair kit, matress inflator, sleeping bag, and more stuff :-)
Sets up in about 10 mins max..
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Definitely like the look of that one Me_3, it might just have to go on my Christmas list :thumb
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Since everyone is showing photos of the swags they use when travelling, I thought I'd throw up a few photos of the swag I use:
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/Stuff/cfe211ed2a8210d84d9311183f9b7397_zpscd646d03.jpg)
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/Stuff/f4cf30f83b94e80dc2dd72ff8e5ea628_zpse6cc6035.jpg)
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/Stuff/5ab9300327cf0370db10715917995e15_zps6166f4f0.jpg)
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/Stuff/018034582be5a610911c75774b923f79_zps8be89912.jpg)
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:thumbs :thumbs :thumbs
Looks good Sabie ! I'll go camping with anytime :grin
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I thoroughly agree with you Rodd
My 3 man tent (because a 2 man doesn't give you room to put your boots or gear inside) gives me room to sit up and room to change when there are 2 people to accomodate, and when you include a sleeping bag, take up less room than most swags.
Brad
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Like Rodd and Bluehonda a 3 person tent for me as well. Dome tents don't take that long to set up on your own for a night and allows for longer stays as well.
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Oztrail swags and the Mitchell in particular have a good name in the budget minded buyer in the 4x4 community........what ever swag you purchase, give it the night at least fully submerged in the bath tub to allow the stitching to swell and fill the holes made buy the sewing machine needle. Not doing this is the main reason swags leak, leave a little opening somewhere when setup even in rain as condensation is as bad as moisture from rain.
I guess swag Vs tent depends on home you wish to travel, if your touring in gentlemen's hours and plan to be off the bike before dark cook dinner and sit around then tent makes sense.......if its LD riding with short 4hr power sleeps side of the road with minimal off the bike time then a swag would be the go.
:beer
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I bought an OZ Trail biker swag 3 years ago. I use it every year for my annual pilgrimage to the Snowys.
It's fine for the 6 odd days i'm away, maybe a little bit cramped, But rolls up to a nice managable size.
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Sabie. I met an older gentleman and his wife who were touring Australia on a 1979 Honda CX500 with trailer, spares, tools, and a few changes of clothes. They spent every night on their travels (apart from the nights when they were guests at other peoples places) in a motel. Considering that they left Holland and had their CX shipped from country to country and stayed in Motels they must have had some cash on hand! He had bought the CX brand new and they stopped with us for 2 weeks while he used my workshop to do some repairs on his engine.
For me, I like to stop somewhere cheap, or even somewhere where there's a camp kitchen where you can meet other travelers. When I stayed at Esk one time I met an American couple who were traveling around Australia (they had actually become nationalised Aussies and had lived here for a while). They were on pushbikes!! Last I heard that had taken their bikes to Asia and kept on went to Europe, etc. Not sure where they are now... They spent 2 nights with us on their way through town here.
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Well I made up my mind, I walked into Tentworld and I purchased a OZtrail Canvas Motorcycle Swag
http://www.tentworld.com.au/products/swags/item/oztrail-biker-swag.aspx (http://www.tentworld.com.au/products/swags/item/oztrail-biker-swag.aspx)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd499/ozstoc/700c9f9a605ef4a033c100fa200aa780_zpsc72932ff.jpg)
It will fits neatly on the bike, it comes with a 50mm high density mattress, which I am going to try, if a touch thin I can get a 75mm instead, now to plan a couple of rides to test it out :thumb
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It will fits neatly on the bike, it comes with a 50mm high density mattress, which I am going to try, if a touch thin I can get a 75mm instead, now to plan a couple of rides to test it out :thumb
Looks the goods... But where would I put it? My fridge goes on the back seat :P
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Or you could always be like my mate across the road and put your double swag across the back and take off. :grin We reckon he needs oversize signs for the back....and possibly an escort vehicle.. :rofl :rofl :rofl
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here is a video of how it looks, this is the mitchell oztrail swag but very similar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2lDUm9gL38 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2lDUm9gL38)
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Well the bike swag has arrived! And of course first thing you do is set it up in the lounge room and give it a test run !
It is actually pretty comfy, have been in it for about 30 minute or so now
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd499/ozstoc/9c317fb5d1697a8cb5a5959251ea5401_zpsfa65815d.jpg)
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But what will you do on a trip, no kitchen chairs to tie off to...
o:) o:) o:)
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But what will you do on a trip, no kitchen chairs to tie off to...
o:) o:) o:)
I know, I am pondering a solution..... :think1
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After the 3 kids have a play......pull your mattress and hoops out and submerge it in the bath tub for 24 hours, then dry it in the shade until perfectly dry. This allows the cotton stitching to swell and goes along way to sealing the holes left my the sewing machine. :like
If you are likely to use it inside someone's home......grab a piece of 2" male Velcro about a foot long for your ropes to the carpet or heavier but a couple of 1 kg sandbags. With ours I bought another alloy bow about 8' long from a tent (lays folded up under mattress until needed) put a spicket on each end that goes into the canvas eyelet at each end where your end ropes attach......this pushes the swag bows appart and you don't need any ropes at all. :like
:beer
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I've used the biker swag for 3 trips away, a week at a time. This year I used a tent and inflatable mattress.
Give me the swag any day when its cold and wet. I did'nt bother soaking the canvas on mine and had no problems with leaking seams.
The tent is better for leaving some gear in if going for day rides.