I previously mentioned that we had upgraded our base camp operations with a SylvanSport Go. While I had used it for one night during the transit home when I first purchased it, this recent hunting trip to Wyoming was the first big trip with it. The first time that Katie and I would use it for real off the grid camping.
The advertised ground clearance is 13”, but when I first got it home I took these pictures. It looked like around 11-12” to me, but still pretty good. Another cool features is the it tilts back to allow for loading of wheeled toys! I was hoping that I could tow the GS with it. However, I think my GS is just a bit too big. The gas strut system helps keep it tilted back, but is supposed to roll back forward. Most people who tow know that you need the majority of the weight towards the front of the trailer wheels otherwise it gets squirrelly. Given that the cylinder heads are barely over the wheels, there is no way most of the bike weight is forward of the wheels.
While I will alter my loading plan as mentioned in my previous article, the ability for the Go to carry a lot of gear significantly increases the load hauling capability of our Subaru. Most things I set up in plastic totes and it also let us bring the full size Solo Stove Bonfire, which is a pretty fantastic fire pit.
Once we were out in Wyoming and at our camping spot, we unloaded the Go and started getting it set up. It does set up rather quickly, but not quite as fast as the company videos make it seem. They completely skip over getting it into the best position and leveling it. Regardless, it doesn’t take very long. It was pretty windy so we put the hard surface side into the wind and did not try to set up the larger awning.
Inside has a few different type of set ups. It has full stand up room with the two side benches that double as bunks as well as a table configuration. The windows are pretty neat in that they have a clear part that can be left up if it is raining, but you still want to see out plus the opaque window if you want privacy. There are two big side windows and another one on the door. There are also big vents towards the bottom of the floor as well.
Overall it was more like camping in a tent then being in an RV, but it was definitely a very nice tent set up. The volume is amazing. Katie felt like the stepping up into something, having integrated places to sit inside and stand up room made it more enjoyable than our normal base camp tent camping.
We didn’t drag it down any of the more difficult roads we tried in the car, but we did pull it off the road to an elevated spot and it was no problem.