Oztent RV-3 Plus Review
Is It Still One of the Best Quick-Pitch Tents Around?
There are two types of campers in this world. Those who seem to enjoy spending half an hour wrestling poles, arguing over which sleeve they go through, and inventing new swear words. Then there are those who'd rather have the kettle on before their neighbour has even found the instructions.
The Oztent RV-3 Plus is firmly aimed at the latter.
I've been using the RV-3 Plus primarily for overnight stops rather than week-long camping holidays, and that's where it really comes into its own. When you're arriving late after a day behind the wheel, or simply can't be bothered turning a campsite into a military field headquarters, this tent makes an awful lot of sense.
The Famous Fast Pitch
Oztent has built its reputation on one thing above everything else – speed.
They claim around 30 seconds, and whilst I've never stood there with a stopwatch looking like an Olympic official, I can honestly say it's ridiculously quick. Undo the straps, unfold two stand it upright, pull it open and lock everything into place. Job done.
Even if you've never used one before, it's about as straightforward as tent pitching gets, and that ease of use changes the way you camp.
Rather than dreading setting up for a single night, you actually don't mind stopping somewhere. In fact, there were several occasions where I'd pulled into a campsite knowing I'd be gone again the following morning, and the RV-3 Plus made the whole thing feel almost effortless.
Less Really Can Be More
The RV-3 Plus comes with plenty of extras.
There's the front awning, side panels, rear vent cover, and various optional accessories that allow you to build something approaching a small village if that's your thing.
For me?
Most of the time they stayed in the vehicle.
That isn't a criticism of the tent. Quite the opposite.
Because I was generally using it for overnight stays, I rarely bothered fitting the rear vent extension, awning or side walls. The main tent provided everything I needed, and leaving those extras packed away made setup even quicker.
It highlights one of the RV-3 Plus's biggest strengths.
You can keep things beautifully simple or expand the tent into a much larger living space when you're staying somewhere for several days. It adapts to how you camp rather than forcing you into one style.
Built Like It Means Business
The RV-3 Plus feels reassuringly substantial.
Nothing about it gives the impression it's been built down to a price. Made from high quality, waterproof, 8oz Ripstop polycotton canvas and a heavy-duty, heat-sealed PVC floor. The strong frame and quality fittings all suggest this is a tent intended to survive years of adventures rather than just a handful of weekends.
Canvas obviously comes with both advantages and disadvantages. It breathes exceptionally well, helping reduce condensation compared with many polyester tents, and it simply feels more robust.
Living with it
The RV-3 Plus offers plenty of usable space without feeling unnecessarily huge. Measuring 240cm long, 200cm wide and around 190cm high, there's ample room for one or two campers along with their kit, while the generous headroom means most people can stand upright without adopting the usual camping hunchback posture.
Those near-vertical walls make the interior feel noticeably larger than many dome-style tents, giving you more practical living space right to the edges. Whether you're getting changed, sorting camera gear or simply waiting for the rain to pass with a brew in hand, it never feels cramped.
When packed away, the tent measures approximately 200cm x 30cm x 30cm and weighs around 23kg. That's worth bearing in mind before buying. It isn't something you'll sling over your shoulder for a hike across the Yorkshire Dales, but for vehicle-based camping, overlanding and 4x4 adventures it's exactly what it's designed for.
Large mesh windows provide excellent ventilation, helping to keep the interior cool while keeping midges and other flying freeloaders where they belong. Storage pockets are thoughtfully positioned and, like the rest of the tent, everything feels designed by people who actually spend time camping.
Packing Away
As impressive as the setup is, packing away deserves just as much praise.
Once you've done it a couple of times, folding the tent becomes second nature. It certainly takes a little longer than opening it, but compared with many traditional tents it's still refreshingly painless.
Any Downsides?
Weight, and length.
This isn't the tent you'd want to carry across the Lake District strapped to your back. At around 23kg, it's definitely aimed at vehicle-based camping. In truth, 23kg doesn’t sound that heavy, but, at just over 2-metres long, it can feel quite ungainly, especially when you heaving it on and off a roof rack on your own.
Also, the RV-3 Plus isn't cheap, £1,500 for this model, especially when compared with many budget family tents available online. However, comparing it with those isn't really comparing like for like.
You're paying for convenience, quality and longevity rather than simply somewhere to sleep.
I mentioned its length, and this is worth mentioning again. There were a few weeks when I had smaller 4x4s and SUVs like the Kia Stonic, and Jeep Compass, and it simply wouldn’t fit inside. I wouldn’t fit the bed of a Ford Ranger Raptor either, it protruded a couple of feet!
You really need a roof-rack, and I believe they sell and basket - but readers have mentioned resting it on roof bars, others don’t recommend that!
That's something worth checking before buying, particularly if you drive a smaller SUV rather than a full-size 4x4.
The Verdict
The Oztent RV-3 Plus suits exactly the type of camping many of us actually do.
A weekend away green laning.
An overnight stop.
Or simply somewhere comfortable to sleep before heading off again the next morning.
It removes much of the faff that often comes with camping, allowing you to spend more time enjoying where you've travelled to instead of wrestling with tent poles.
Would I use every accessory every time?
Not really.
Most of my nights were so straightforward that the main tent was all I needed. The awning, rear vent extension and side walls stayed packed away more often than not, and I never felt I was missing out.
That, oddly enough, became one of the RV-3 Plus's greatest compliments.
It doesn't demand your time.
It quietly gets on with the job, leaving you free to put the kettle on, admire the view and wonder why the chap three pitches down is still trying to work out which pole goes where.
For anyone wanting a premium quick-pitch canvas tent that's built to last and genuinely lives up to its reputation for speed, the Oztent RV-3 Plus remains one of the very best options available. In my opinion, of course.
Website - OZTENT UK
