Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 23:34:41 -0400
Reply-To: José Rafael Moscoso <jmoscoso@caribe.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: José Rafael Moscoso <jmoscoso@caribe.net>
Subject: Report on Rear Hatch Tent from Campmore
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Fellows and Fellaws:
Last month I bought a Rear Hatch Tent from Campmor (www.campmor.com) item
number 20747
(http://www.campmor.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/CategoryDisplay?cgrfnbr=45763&cgm
enbr=226) for my Westfalia '84.
Campmor catalog describes this article as:
"Camper Top Vehicle Tents
A great way to convert your vehicle into a complete camping unit. Easy
setup! Just raise the rear window, lower tailgate and place tent over the
opening. Elastic shockcords hold the tent tight against the vehicle by
hooking onto the vehicle's underframe. Fits high-back and flat-back camper
tops. Fits over carrier rack or air foil on Blazers and Jimmys. Does not fit
vehicles with swing-out spare tires. Two-way zippers. Polyester insect
screen. Carry bag included. Flame retardant. Roof and walls are 5 oz.
polyester. Color: Tan roof, blue walls. Packed size 6 in. x 11 in. x 11 in.
Made in USA."
According to catalog, part is specifically available for different minivans
including the Eurovan, but I took the chance and ordered it. Total price
with shipping to Puerto Rico amounted to 117.49. It is very light in weight
and folds down to a mere 11x8x3. Color is blue with white ceiling (this
rests completely on the opened rear hatch.
My experience was incredible. First, I hook and trimmed the bungee cords to
the rear pop-top hinges (obviously the poptop was popped and the tent
ceiling was tucked under the top to allow water to roll out over the hatch).
Second I opened the rear hatch which raised the tent, and serve as a frame
for the tent. Third, the lower bungee cords were hooked on the rear bumper
and trimmed so as the tent would fit around the entrance lip of the rear
hatch (just as a shower bonnet. The tent was fitted inside the rear hatch
opening to assure perfect fit against persistent mosquitoes and other
un-invited guests. Just to be on the safe side the rear hatch screen was
left in position (puertorrican beach plagues can go thru the smallest screen
mesh and they can really bite and sore you). Taking it down is as simple as
unhooking the cords and letting it slide down the hatch.
What this tent does is give you more room inside the van since you are not
restricted by the rear hatch or in some cases the rear hatch screen. There
is no additional floor space since the tent is angled from the rear hatch
border to the license plate lights.
Possible things to do: attach a couple of snaps on the hatch lip to insure
that the tent doesn't slips out of place; cut a piece of plywood to the size
of the lower opening to increase at least one feet of floor space after the
cushion.
I have some photos I can scan if someone is interested.
Jose Rafael Moscoso, RT, BSc, MPH {jmoscoso@caribe.net}
work: Universidad Central del Caribe {jmoscoso@uccaribe.edu}
Call Box 60-327; Bayamón PR 00960-6032
Tel: (787) 798-3006; Fax (787) 785-3425;
{http://www.uccaribe.edu}
home: HC-01 Box 29030, PMB 374
Caguas PR 00725-8900
Tel: (787) 731-7394
Information on Puerto Rico: http://wepa.com/index-en.html
