The Costco SUV Tent

[JMK]

So as usual, Costco just got this year's batch of cheap SUV tents. By cheap I mean both in price ($199.00) and materials. However, as they are easy to return, I thought I would get one and set it up, which I just did in my driveway. It is a bit of a hassle to set it up and the docking sleeve on it actually does fit the Delica more or less, but it seems obvious that there is no way you'll ever make it 'bug proof'. Especially at the bottom, it seems the bugs will just stream in under the bumper. Even if you zip the tent's screen up to your door, then you can almost make the tent bug proof, but the Delica will still get invaded. So, other than to keep you out of the rain if you are cooking under the back door, and for a few weeks in spring and fall when there are no bugs, I'm not sure that these things may be worth the hassle of setting up in the first place. If you have to zip it up and then also close the door on the Deli, then you might as well use a decent quality tent from MEC or equivalent.

Anyway, I'm sure that others have had previous experience with these things and as camping season is now upon us, at least it was for me all last week at Greenpoint, then I'd like to hear some feedback on your feelings about these things, the good and the bad.

[piyeguyo]

Didn't you take any pictures? It souds interesting...

[Jester]

Any pictures?
could you please show how it looks? i'm curious.

[JMK]

Sorry, I tried, but it was jammed in my driveway between the house and the retaining wall and all I could get was just the tent from behind so I gave up. Then I tried to find some on the internet and had no luck. In the end I managed to get it snugged up to the Deli relatively close but I'm thinking that nothing could fit tight enough to keep the bugs out. If I set it up again I'll grab some, but I'm already thinking about taking it back.

[Profister]

JMK, I think you are talking about Sportz Dome-To-Go which is Model#86000 with 18ft circumference. This is NOT an SUV tent.
All the vehicles it is designed for and listed on the product page are passenger cars.
You should get Sportz SUV 81000 Tent which will fit better. The pictures are attached.

[JMK]

Indeed. It looks like you took the pic's from the Costco.ca website. The reason I didn't is because that is not the same tent that they are selling 'in store'.

However the one they are selling is pretty much the same tent, and I can definetly confirm that it is the 'SUV' tent and not the tent for cars. They now call it the 'Dome SUV Tent'. In fact they did not have the car style in the Calgary NW store where I got this one.

Another point of interest, on the manufacturer's website they are selling off all the returned tents they have got back from Costco last year at a reduced price. Seeems to indicate that they have got a lot of them back.

[arjetz]

yes im actaually using now a Dome SUV Tent best quality


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Event tents

[delicat]

Hey, you only live once... Why not indulge yourself in something really cool!

http://www.autohomeus.com/products/index.php

[Spearo]

Why buy cheap junk in the first place? That tent is not a good tent, whether it keeps bugs out or not!
You get what you pay for, and better off to spend some real money on a real tent methinks. That thing will leak like a sieve: no proper fly and nearly zero water-resistance. Fiberglass poles= crap. Self-healing zippers... nope.

I like roughing it, but car-camping (or motorbike or backpack camping) should still mean staying dry and having a reliable place to sleep. I've had enough times ruined by cheaping out on any kind of gear- bikes, motorbikes, spearfishing, diving, running, hiking etc etc.

I like rooftop tents too but they're huge money and they do create limitations. Spend 5 or 600$ on a really good product and enjoy your holidays and weekends.
My 2 cents based on my own experiences! Not meant to piss anyone off :)

[Montgomery2]

yes im actaually using now a Dome SUV Tent best quality


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Event tents

Yeah, I too using the same tents dude. These are really a best quality tents as for I saw.....