By: Stonemonkey69 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2001 Rating:
As per the other owner above, these are lovely tents and mine is in excellent condition too. Blue Canvas and Orange bag for tent, blue bag for extension. Really lovely feel to it inside and the extension is a very useful area indeed. Not sure if the year but if anyone knows, then please let me know whatever you can about this tent. Will post pictures. Thank you.
0 from 0 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: Caligula Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2001 Rating:
This is the 1970-80s Blacks 'Motorist Explorer' tent and extension, sometimes also referred to as the 'Kara'
It is a large 3-4 person ridge tent with an extension which doubles its size (see photos)
It is a cotton canvas tent and in no way designed for back packing, but does make a wonderful base or family tent in the idiom of the Good Companions Major.
Probably the only current tent to compare it with is the desirable BCT Task Force tent and extension?
The inner tent on this Blacks, however is not designed for weather on its own, this tent must have the flysheet. The inner is light cotton with ventilation mesh covered panels in the roof. Oddly, the upright poles go through the roof entirely, and the tent is suspended from two canvas loops on the spikes of both poles.
The groundsheet is a fabulous tough plasticized affair: nothing is coming through that!
The dimensions are in a picture from a catalogue above, but it is roughly 6 foot tall, 7 foot wide and ten foot long. The extension doubles this space, and very cleverly, being in two sections; the front bell end (?) is separate or removable, and also allows either main side to be opened with an overhead canopy, as per photos. You can always open the tent downwind.
The extension piece can be used for relaxing, socialising, cooking, storage, or even extra sleeping space.
The material for the flys is a good cotton canvas at around, and I'm guessing, 250g/cm.
This is a lovely 'touring' type tent as they used to be called, a bell tent for those who want a ridge tent.Or a ridge tent for those who might otherwise have bought a bell tent?
If you find one in good condition, I can only say, snap it up quick; the one I have just found is all but unused, looks just like new. 30 or 40 years on :-)
2 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
Add your review of the Blacks Motorist Explorer!
If you have used this product please leave a review, or your comments for other visitors, many thanks!
