For families that like to camp together, but who need that extra privacy and space the Black Wolf Turbo Lite Cabin 450 will have you covered. The Turbo range from Black Wolf is known for its durability, ease of set up, and lightweight construction so it’s the perfect range for a fuss free camping experience.
This newly updated range has tape sealed seams where the floor and tent wall meets, and the fly has wider corners to guard against water leakage. In windy conditions the extra reinforcing along the roof poles, and the stronger mesh on the windows and doors will add to the robustness of this tent.
The large awning can be turned into an extended living area with optional panels, or it can be sectioned off with an optional screen room for a fully enclosed space. The added PVC storm flaps at the bottom of the optional front and side panels will help keep your awning dry in wet weather, and the zips and Velcro on the panels attach to the fly to allow for tape sealing for added water protection.
The six way hub provides extra headroom and the two rooms sit side by side so they can be zipped up for privacy or left open to make one large room. For a weather proof and stress free larger cabin tent, you can’t go past the Turbo Lite Cabin 450 tent from Black Wolf.
One of my tent poles on this tent isn’t clicking into place like the others when I extend it. Is this a common problem? Any suggestions to fix it?
G'day Caitlin,
Its not necessarily a common problem with these tents, but is something that can happen to all tents if you get abit of dust/dirt/sand, etc in the pole knuckle, or it gets gunked up.
Give it as best a clean as you can, potentially with something like abit of wd40 or lubrication, and if that doesnt work you could potentially get either BlackWolf or our warranty team to take a look. If its outside of warranty, you can get replacement knuckles from Black Wolf from around $25-30.
What is the rough set up time for this tent? Thank you
G'day Josie,
You can check out our "How to Set Up & Pack Away" video for an idea of what's involved, but we'd say around 10-15min on average. The first few time may take a bit longer when you're getting to know your tent, but generally it's a fast set up.
After reading the reviews can you advise: Is it best to drop the awning in high winds? Or is there a way to secure it so the roof doesn't lift off and drop the poles or cause holes in the material?
G'day Rach,
Have a listen to our podcast on how to get the most out of your tent in windy weather, its packed with loads of info.
There are different ways to manage wind when camping, such as trace springs and tarp buddies, but ultimately whether or not you need to drop your awning will also come down to the conditions and some common sense.
Having awning walls can also make a difference in whether or not this is needed aswell.
Can this tent be used without the fly covering for a quick option?
G'day Kylie,
You absolutely can, but this would definitely be a fair-weather choice only.
The fly will give you that rain and weather protection, so I'd recommend keeping the fly with you just in case.
Bought the cabin 450 last month. Does it need to be seasoned like canvas tents or is it good to go?
G'day Kylie,
Black Wolf fully waterproof and seam seal their tents, so it's good to go!
Hope you have some awesome adventures.
I am trying trolley bought from bunnings. Is there any better simpler way.
G'day Ramesh,
There's no right or wrong way to carry your tent around, majority of people will just find something that works for them and stick to it.
It sounds like you're onto a good thing with a trolley there, there are some options I've seen in hardware stores that collapse and pack compact when not in use, which is handy if you need to pack it in the car with you.
Ultimately the number one rule would be to grab an extra pair of hands if you're finding it too heavy to lift by yourself.
Hi, Noticed a lot of comments in regards to the manufacturing and robustness of the build, has this improved?
G'day Bernard,
This is a tricky one, there are some mixed reports on this particular model, however, based on what we've seen on the demo model they are a great tent. Given their larger size, they will require a little more attention to detail with guy ropes and positioning in adverse weather conditions.
We are looking at the 450 with side and front panels. Can these be packed in the same bag as the tent? If not, how big are the panels when packed (boot space is a little tight) Also, will strapping it to the roof racks damage the poles, or cause problems with the warranty?
G'day Shannon,
You'll generally be able to fit a few side/front panels in your tent bag, however, this will depend on how precisely the tent is packed down. The panels come in their own small bag, which is about the size of an A4 sheet of paper and 5-10cm thick depending on which panel option you choose. The tent can be strapped to your roof racks, however, generally, we'd recommend using a roof basket or similar to help spread the load out.
Interested in purchasing this tent but concerned about bad reviews from 2017/18 regarding faults leaks etc has anything changed in the design since then for this model currently for sale? Who pays for postage when a warranty issue arises?
G'day Michael,
Overall we've been pretty impressed with Blackwolf Turbo tents for over a decade, and while there are occasional issues with these tents, all can be avoided with correct use. I think the mixed reviews tend to come from users who've been disgruntled following a denied warranty claim if their tent has been damaged by bad weather. The design has remained the same since 2017, and there haven't been any changes since this model was released. If there are any warranty issues we have an online warranty claim system, and often our team can get it solved without needing to have it sent back, but if we need to get anything back for assessment you won't have to foot the postage bill.
Will camp bunks fit sensibly in the tent and where would they fit? Or does the slope of the walls and the layout prevent them working?
G'day Tracey,
We stock 2 options for camp bunks, both by OZtrail and either choice will fit inside the Turbo Lite Cabin 450. The Double Bunk measures 185cm long x 70cm wide and the Deluxe Double Bunk measures 180cm long x 72cm wide. With each sleeping area in the 450 being 225cm x 300cm, you have plenty of room and flexibility to orientate either bunk across or lengthways. Height-wise you've got a max of 107cm which includes the guard rail on the Deluxe (without the rail it's 90cm and 89cm on the straight-up Double). The external peak height on the 450 is 230cm so even with the slight angle of the walls, I think you'd be fine to fit comfortably a bunk bed. However, when it comes to other brands of bunks, without being familiar with what they are or their size, I can't guarantee they will fit. Hope that helps! Cheers :)
can someone pls confirm if this tent can fit in a sedan's boot like Toyota Aurion? thanks
G'day Atif,
I've just double checked and no one here has an Aurion to double check for you. I can confirm that the packed dimensions are 130 x 50 x 40cm though so it might be worth arming yourself with a tape measure and doubling checking whether it will fit your boot size.
What size campsite will I need for this tent?
G'day Aaron,
You'll need at least 480cm in both directions to set this tent up, plus a little room for guy ropes. This tent will fit on most campsites but it's always good to check the site size with the park you're staying in.
I'm very interested in this tent for the 2 room format and large awning but for the price i want quality. The reviews are concerning. Bent poles, holes, leaking, poor Blackwolf warranty customer service etc. Is it really that bad? Any other tents you would recommend with similar format that has better track record?
G'day Tash,
Having not used one of these myself I've really only got the reviews to go by as well sorry, but in general, I'd say Black Wolf tents are as good quality as any other major touring tent brand. I'm not sure if you read our responses to some of the negative reviews but if you have any problems with any gear you buy from us, not just Black Wolf, we'd like you to contact us about it rather than the brand directly. We have a dedicated warranties team here to help you out with any issues arising from your purchase. Often manufacturers customer service departments just aren't geared towards dealing with the huge volume of enquiries they get from the public and so the service can seem lacking, unfortunately.
Yes and NO. I have this tent and it is really good however, there are some flaws that need to be addressed in a new model. i have had this tent 3 years now and my last trip, the fly is now leaking, where all the clips that the hub attaches to the frame and at the centre hub (they rub on the fly) the water now drips down onto the main tent and leaks inside, i am not sure where from yet, but it looks like it comes from where the zipper at the roof vents. please see my May 2018 review.
Check out my reviews from May 2018 and the one i posted today.
Thanks for your feedback here, Tugun, Black Wilf did release some updates in 2017 to alleviate rub spots ion the flysheet, if your tent is 3 years old then it is likely it is pre these updates (I haven't read your review). If your tent is an older one then I'd recommend using some canvas glue and a patch of canvas to reinforce the spots where the poles rub against the flysheet. Hopefully, this will extend the life of your fly.
We have found that when it rains the water pools on the front fly. Apart from lowering the side poles to a very low level is there a tip to stop this happening?
G'day Helen,
Well, you stole my first idea of lowering the awning poles a bit but I think another approach that might be effective is one of the Supa Peg Tarp Savers. You might find you need two, one on each side of the awning. If you've got a spare upright pole to try it out it'd be a relatively inexpensive solution. If you give it a go I'd love to hear if it works.
Hi. Surprised to see it no longer available. Has it been discontinued or is an updated model soon to be stocked?
G'day Jules,
It's a bit of a long story but the latest batch of Black Wolf Turbo Lite Cabin 450s came with the zips on the wrong way. So whilst Black Wolf are getting new flies made up for them, we've had to pull them from the website as we're not 100% sure when the new ones are due in. As soon as we get them back in stock, we'll get them up online.
Is this the latest 2017 model?
G'day Justin,
This is the current season 16/17 Black Wolf Turbo Lite Cabin 450 tent.
AS ABOVE
G'day David,
We don't currently have a 450 on display, but we may be able to make it happen. If you're super keen on getting us to set one up for you then give us a call on 1300 914 007 and we'll see what we can do.
I can't seem to find anywhere in Melbourne that has one of these models erected for inspection ?
Hi Mark,
We are actually based in Adelaide so I am unsure where you might see one of these erected in your state. It may be a good idea to ring around of some of the larger camping stores in your area, or look up who stocks Black Wolf Turbos in your area online.Â
What material is the central hub connecting the poles made from ?
Howdy Mark,
The centre hub on the Turbo Lite Cabin 450 tent is made from a durable and strong plastic.
The design looks great but are the larger and higher wall areas as stable in strong winds than the smaller Turbo models ?
Howdy Mark,
This is a fantastic tent, with plenty of space and very well made. It is a good stable tent as long as it is erected as per the instructions.
When you peg a tent out it is best to ensure that the floor is good and tight and well pegged out, and make sure before erecting the frame and guy ropes that all doors and windows are zipped up. This will make sure that the erected tent is taught and sturdy.
Also, you do need to use tent pegs that are suitable for the ground. So if you are intending to use in sandy or coastal areas you may need to invest in some sand pegs to make sure the tent can resist wind and rain. Other than that it is a great tent, very sturdy, well made and great quality.
As above
G'day Billy,
The dimensions of the Black Wolf Turbo Lite Cabin 450 tent when it's packed in its bag are 130L x 50W x 40H cm.Â