Glad to hear you have a shelter, so yes you can get a hot drink and meal when unhooking is not possible. Like all campers a problem is the opportunity to exceed expectations. and you have.
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Well camping this weekend and it rained most of the night and the Thule Outset tent fabric performed well, however it's design didn't! For some reason they used different fabrics in some areas (especially across the end where the tow bar is) and this all got condensation on it. I can't fathom why they didn't extend the fly sheet over the towbar area further as rain just poured into the gap between the tent and the vertical back board (adjacent towbar) and so that end was well damp internally due to condensation (I now see why they have included a strap to put under the tent and lift it to dry, as when the rain is blown towards the Outset it gets under the tent and form small pools).
Finally, the site I'm on has a slight slope, I arrived slightly before it was dark, hoping that the Outset would assemble easily, well it didn't!, as unless it is really well levelled then the end board at back of tent will not clip down properly to the support structure and keeps popping up As a result I spent ages trying to level the Outset (packing it up again and visually leaving supports and rolling out again), but although it helped only one clip seemed properly secure, so I played around adjusting legs, but seemed to make it worse, and reverted back to when one side was OK (as it was going to rain heavily in the night and didn't want the board the clips secure down sticking up and acting as a slope to channel water under tent). Next morning in the light I could fully check the pitch and see the slight variation in level between the van and tent and got under the tent and lifted it with my back and set the adjustable legs to where the clips both clicked in, problem solved, but surely an a £3000 tent Thule could have designed something, that actually works easily on a normal type campsite.
One last comment I'm sat in my Berghaus Air Shelter and can't fault it, not a drop of rain got in it, it was quick to build, I had no problem with the slightly uneven ground and cost �300 (only �2300 less than the half decent Thule Outset).
A month ago, I said that I couldn’t see the point of this towbar tent. It’s been an interesting read, but it hasn’t changed my mind. Especially seeing the photo of the shelter tent beside the towbar tent: 2 lots of effort in the rain when one would do.
Hi, I have to agree that the Thule Outset is a disappointment, however, if it actually performed as it suggested it would then it would be a great piece of solo kit, as it was really quick to wheel out of my garage and load (unlike my roof top tent, which was a real pain), if it was better thought out all round (I can't believe that Thule actually tested this outdoors, using non Thule personnel, who would have felt obliged to say how good it was and it was ready for release). It sat really well on the towbar for the journey and released a loaf of space in the van, it's just when it gets to the campsite that it fails miserably, as pitching in the dark needs to be straight forward, even if the ground is uneven, and especially with midges biting me to pieces and imminent rain and I worked all day too!, but it wasn't easy (several of the campers there came up and said it looked an interesting bit of kit, but they noticed the fact that it I had to mess around with it quite a bit to get it to install sufficiently to use and would stick to their tents!). One thing I shall credit the outset with is that setting up the bed as a double with with proper pillows and a double sleeping bag was perfect and very, very comfortable and the back end(by towbar) is great as the board acts as a back rest and is great for reading or watching a film (except when covered in condensation). You still hear the sound of the rain loudly, even though the fly sheet is well away from the inner. The inside is also very dark, when flaps closed, darker than a normal nightfall sleeping area, so dark I didn't even know it was light outside, and so for me this was perfect too! What really annoyed me about the whole thing was it's a new concept and bound to have issues when it's first released, but when I flagged my issues up to Thule Customer Disservice I got the stock response that they would pass my comments on to the design department (well that doesn't help me!) and when pressing them further was told that I couldn't expect them to do anything as the it was now released (so basically it didn't matter what issues I flagged up they were not going to do anything about them in this instance - I get their point, but as a guinea pig for their product I had hoped for a more positive response.
Just an update, having used this for awhile I will be generous and say the materials used and production of the Thule Outset is good, however practicality and design are not e.g. in mildly windy conditions it is so noisy (it makes a sound like crackling rain) I have to wear noise cancelling headphones to get to sleep, in winds 20- 30mph, it rocks, creeks, bangs and crackles! One thing I like is the bed is very comfy. But there are too many things that I dislike to list, so I'll end by stating that I'm really disappointed with this Thule item, the sum of its disadvantages means I can't use it as my go to camping solution and at £3k it's not what I was hoping. I would never recommend anyone to buy this. Oops forgot, all the doors let air in at the bottom and the back has an air vent too, and none can be closed off, so cold air surges in and the thing is like sleeping in a fridge!
Not sure if it was one and the same, however, when I first saw a video of a tow bar tent, my immediate thought was 'what is the point?'
To read this particular model is supposed to be a 3-berth and I thought no way!
The concept is good in that no actual towing is involved; however, a tow bar is still required.
The model I saw in the video was not particularly easy to pitch, hence my 'what's the point?' reaction.
Each to their own, and I would like to believe Thule had done their market research to come up with this tent to be worth their while!
DK
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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 08/9/2024
A month ago, I said that I couldn’t see the point of this towbar tent. It’s been an interesting read, but it hasn’t changed my mind. Especially seeing the photo of the shelter tent beside the towbar tent: 2 lots of effort in the rain when one would do.
I’m even less convinced now! But thanks again for your updates: very informative & thorough.
I’ve noticed people seem to leave their tent boxes on the car or transit van roof permanently. You said at the start that you had one, but that might not be an option for you.
As well is two words!
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Topic: Towbar Tents
and you have.
via mobile 08/9/2024 at 8:40am
