…camping in the Sylvan Sport ‘GO’. Is it a Tent?….is it a Camper?…..is it a Trailer? YES, to all of those. The GO is something that you won’t normally see going down the road or even at a campground. It will turn some heads and it will get noticed.
The GO …ready for camping
All the information about the GO can be found here (www.sylvansport.com). I watched several videos on how to set this thing up because let’s face it, it’s not your ordinary camper or tent for that matter. Here are some progress pictures of the GO being set up.
With the GO only weighing about 800 lbs. It is very easy to maneuver on a campsite. Once it is removed from the hitch, it is easy enough to move it around to place it in the spot that you want. You don’t have to be a master at backing it into the perfect spot. Once it’s set, release the four stabilizer bars and ratchet them snug to the ground. Two hook and loop fasteners are pulled to release the tail gate which doubles as a step into the tent and to release the rails.
Next, using the crank, raise the tent case up to a specified position. This is what you would do if you were going to haul other items in the storage space such as a 4 wheeler, motor bikes, bicycles or whatever is being taken on the trip. The rail walls are then unfolded and stainless steel brace bars are put into place. The rail walls are the side bed platforms for the sleeping pads. When the rails are to be used in the vertical position, they lock in place and the tent case is then lowered down to the rails into position.
The bottom of the case is then released for the tent to deploy. The bottom of the case is pushed back towards the rear in a vertical position to create the back wall. The case is then lowered just a bit so that it touches the deck and is held in place. The tent is pulled out and ready for poles.
Once the poles are in place there are a few loops that are connected to the frame to make the tent taught to the frame. And that’s it!…the GO is set up.
Inside, the pads are removed from the upper storage area. Open the valves of the pads and they self inflate to an extent and more air is needed if you want a firmer pad. Place them on the sides for almost a Twin size sleeping area on both sides. There are many ventilation options and plenty of windows to see out of. All of them have the clear plastic for weather protection and the no-see-um mesh for bug-free, cool nights. The back panel holds a hanging storage panel where lose things can be stored and out of the way. There are several pockets throughout the inside so there is no shortage of storage space.
Up front is a lockable storage container that holds 9 sq. ft. of whatever you can get in it. The crank for the tent case and the bar for the stabilizers are neatly stowed in the lid for easy retrieval. This area is also where the tent poles and awning are stored.
The overall experience was great with the GO. As we arrived at the camp site it was raining just a bit so in my mind I was hoping the set up would go rather quickly. In great surprise, I was able to completely set it up in under 10 minutes. This was also with me stepping in and out of the rain. On a beautiful day, the set up could easily be cut to 5 minutes. With all the rain we had that evening and through the night, I found no leaks in the tent.
There are numerous ventilation options for different weather conditions. I opened the bottom vents just under the bed panels and was able to keep a space heater going most of the night and stayed very warm.
Rear awning extension
Another great feature (which is sold separately) is the rear awning extension. It zips directly to the partial awning that is at the rear of the tent. A single pole is then inserted into the sleeve at the opposite end and staked out for extra coverage. This came in very handy while it was raining and I was trying to pack stuff in the tent. It kept our items from getting wet once I got them out of the car. Even though the rain stopped that night I kept it up all weekend and was able to cook under it and relax in the mornings under it while I watched the sunrise over the lake.
Taking it down was just as easy as putting it up, if not easier since it was nice and sunny. It definitely turned some heads in the campground and I had several people come up and ask what it was and so I spent some time giving them the guided tour. The design of the GO is unmatched and with some of the best manufactures coming together to create such a wonderful piece of versatile equipment, it is by far something worth looking at.