Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 14:22:08 PDT
Reply-To: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Report on Rear Hatch Tent from Campmore
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Would this fit onto a non westy? Does it help to ventilate the van? How
long, how many minutes, does it take to set it up? How much space does it
take while not in use?
>From: José Rafael Moscoso <jmoscoso@caribe.net>
>
>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
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
| 
