A unique vehicle
tent - a "car annex" to exploit the space and convenience
of your personal transport, whether saloon, hatch, estate,
van, 4X4 or MPV. It fits easily and quickly and is
freestanding too. One model covers virtually all cars from
Fiat 500 to Mercedes estate, while a range of heavy duty
models fit compact and medium range vans and 4X4's,
including all Land Rovers, Range Rovers and Discoveries,
MPV's such as the Espace etc., and many more hi-top
campers.
Since first introduced in the 1970's, as a
functional, multi-purpose vehicle accessory, over 9000
have been sold worldwide. It is on The Design Centre
Index, a worthwhile indication of its workmanship, value
and usefulness. Take a look at our testimonials from
our Customers
and the Press.
Caranex
It's versatile as plain shelter from the
elements, back-up accommodation for a night away, or base
for more extensive travelling....and ready for use within
minutes, (the record is 4.5!). Easy to erect, even single
handed, and firmly attached over the back of the host
vehicle, it gives immediate through-access via rear hatch
or door, which can still be opened or closed, giving
secure and useable extra space under one roof.
A flexible skirt along the rear bumper and
a sewn-in groundsheet ensure a dry floor area seating
four, or room for twin camp beds with additional sleeping
space in many vehicles with fold-down seats. With 6'4"
(1.93m) headroom over the working area and ample space for
a full size trestle table, it's a decent sized workshop or
office. Somewhere to live, sleep or work, it makes life
easier "on the road".
Touring
at home or abroad
The economical way to stretch the range of
journeys further afield as, for example, travelling
through Europe where camp sites are well documented,
increasingly plentiful, and civilized alternatives to
indifferent or scarce accommodation.
Competing
at shows or events
As a changing and preparation room,
equipment workshop and store, a sales display area or an
official office for time keepers, marshals and organisers,
it gives privacy and convenience on site and alternatively
may be used freestanding.
Caravan
or Camper owner
An alternative to larger vehicles or
trailers on narrow roads or expensive ferries, and only
minutes to pack for a night away or a longer tour. Useful
too, as supplementary accommodation, particularly with a
full compliment of children.
Going
overland or off-road
Many hundreds of heavy duty models have
proved themselves on 4X4's under tough conditions - as
medical surgeries and workshops in undeveloped regions,
and bases for long distance off-road travelling on every
continent. Some see service in war zones and peace-keeping
missions. Apart from convenience and practicality, their
toughness, speed of assembly and trim size when packed are
key advantages appreciated by users with limited storage
space for bulky orthodox awnings, often slow to assemble
in difficult conditions.
In short, an inexpensive, practical option
for most outdoor activities that saves its cost - about
the same as nine nights B&B for two - in a matter of
days.
Easy
to put up
It takes about the same time as boiling a
kettle and is simple to erect solo. Only a few steps are
involved:
- The base is laid out and
roughly pegged behind the vehicle.
- Next the front sleeve is
spread over the rear of the roof and temporarily secured
by both ends of the front guy around suitable anchor
points such as the door jamb posts on either side.
- From inside the Caranex, one
cross-pole is clipped as a spacer between the twin
sewn-in roof poles; then twin vertical support poles are
attached to this roof frame.
- The front guys over the
vehicle roof are then adjusted and tensioned to seal the
front sleeve in place.
- Finally the rear guys are
spaced out and tensioned.
In short, before most orthodox tents of
equivalent size are unpacked and laid out, it's up and
ready for use.
Take a look at our detailed instructions on
the How to
Erect page.
And
pack up?
Essentially the reverse of erecting - and
in less time - into a compact bag 3'6" (1.07m) long by 1ft
(0.3m) across and only 11 lbs (5kg) - less than an
overnight bag.
Will it
stand on its own?
Yes, saving a pitch and the chore of
dismantling when transport is needed. A screen from the
transverse roof pole curtains off the interior and extra
guys tension either side. A simple free-standing pole kit
replaces the support provided by the vehicle. Optionally
an additional roof spacer and two vertical support poles
may be positioned to give a pole at each corner of the
roof, adding interior height and greater free-standing
stability. This extra pole set is recommended in windy
conditions or when free-standing frequently. (This
free standing kit and security screen are available to
purchase separately)
What
is it made of?
The material is hard wearing and
waterproof, a woven nylon canvas to resist fraying and
tearing in hard usage, internally sealed with a breathable
coat of polyurethane to minimize condensation. Seams are
double stitched and individually proofed against leakage.
Weight for weight, the design gives outstanding long-term
protection from wind, rain and low temperature - a high
insulation value keeps the interior noticeably warm in
cool weather. It is tested to British Standards and
Ministry of Defence specifications and is fire resistant.
It incorporates:
- An integral sewn-in floor to
keep the interior dry and draughtfree. An elasticated
skirt, adjustable for height on the H4T models, faces
the rear bumper sealing the gap under the vehicle.
- An optional separate heavy
duty groundsheet of tough plastic weave covers the whole
sewn-in floor. It is impervious to water, wipes clean,
and reduces abrasion from studded shoes, dogs' claws
etc. Alternatively, used under the tent on muddy or
rocky ground, it reduces the risk of puncturing the
floor and keeps the underside clean for storage.
- A zipped side door, with twin
sliders from both ends, is operable from inside or out
and can be locked shut with a light padlock from either
side. All zip components are rust free.
- A side window/ventilator in
the opposite wall has a mosquito netting cover and a
roll-down external blind
- Only three two-piece aluminium
poles, light and rust free, are needed to assemble the
Caranex for everyday use. As mentioned above, additional
poles may be fitted to add height and rigidity. Some
larger vans have hatch doors that support the Caranex
roof without the need for vertical poles, while some
unusually high opening rear hatches can be limited from
fully extending upwards with a suitable length of cord.
- Guy ropes are woven nylon
cord, rotproof and virtually unbreakable. One, threaded
through the front hem of the front sleeve, secures it on
either side of the host vehicle. Both ends are passed
around any suitable fixture - door lock post, seatbelt
anchorage, etc., thence back to the "D" rings on the
sleeve. Extra rings are provided along the top of the
roof for optional side-guys while a further two tension
the rear.
Finally,
what
will it fit?
A range of sleeve heights cater for most
vehicles. The H1 models fits 99% of all cars, saloon,
hatch, estate, from Mini to Volvo with roof heights up to
170cm (4'11"),( whether 2, 3 or 5 door. The H3 up to 170cm
(5'7") is
specified for light car-based vans and vehicles with
slightly higher rooflines than the normal car. The H4TL
caters for middle-weight vans, MPV's and 4x4's. Take a
look at our detailed list of models Caranex is compatible
with on our Model
Range page.
Left - Skirt along rear
bumper accommodates tow bar if fitted.
Left and Right - Hatches open fully into roof space.
Who makes
it?
A small, family-run business, with a
limited annual output, have produced Caranex since the
late 1970s. Each is hand finished before individual
inspection. Stocks are sufficient to give "off-the-shelf"
despatch and the service you would expect from an
established firm run by its owners. Sales are
exclusively from our our website integrated with
paypal, one of the most secure and trusted method of
payment wordwide.
Caranex
Materials
- Technical Specification
- Materials: - 100% woven nylon
fabric internally coated with hydrolysis resistant
polyurethane. Silicon proofed outer surface and
twin-Sewn seams throughout. Material weight of base
fabric 3.4oz/sq yd.
- Coating 0.6 oz/sq yd
- Total 4.08 oz/sq yd
- Tear strength (N) Warp 87 Weft
82(LBF) Warp 19.5
- Cold crack - 40�C
- Water resistance, penetration
as received,150 cms/min.
- Tested to British Standard
3424/1973 and Ministry of Defence specification UKSC
3418F. Material manufactured in UK specifically for
outdoor weather protection against high wind, rain and
low temperature.
- Zip rustless OPTI with twin
sliders controlling aperture.
All of our Caranex tents and accessories are
carefully and manually checked prior to shipping to
prevent damaged or defected items being sent to our
customers.
Caranex tents and
accessories carry a consumer protection. Items that
arrived damaged or with a defect must be returned in
an unused condition within 10 days and will be
replaced or payment refunded. If your shipment arrives
damaged, please do not open the box or remove the
packaging. Contact us.
CARANEX is a registered trade mark, and is
proudly 100% made in the U.K of British material
throughout. Selected by The Design Centre, London for
inclusion in The Design Index. Available exclusively from
the sole supplier.
