Date:         Mon, 21 May 2012 13:51:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Rainfly
Comments: To: mcneely4@cox.net
In-Reply-To:  <20120521163943.I5AQ4.1003039.root@eastrmwml105>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I did not notice any condensation at all. But weather during most of night was breezy and dry. Only in the morning did the rain start and I didn't think to look over luggage rack to see what was what.

Those side hooks just don't give me much confidence. I really think they could be made better, and incorporate an elastic to take up any slack that develops in fly.

The front belt is, as people from Essex would say, pants. It is almost as if Go Westy ran out of steam at that point and said "lets just use the belt method and ship the bugger".

I did close top with fly attached this last weekend. No problems wit material bunching at front but you have to watch be careful not to trap the dammed hooks under pop top seal at the sides (I should have removed them).

alistair



On 2012-05-21, at 1:39 PM, mcneely4@cox.net wrote:

> thanks Alistair.  Did you get much condensation?  Enough to leak through?  given the configuration, I would not think condensate would leak into the camper, but it would definitely drip onto the luggage area if it formed there.  but then, the luggage area should not be as warm or as humid as the cabin, particularly if one closed the front zippers.  It blew a bit during the storms we had, but the side hooks did not come loose.  but one definitely has to fiddle with the thing to get it taught, and your idea of substituting a different way of fastening the sides is probably worth pursuing.  I thought the front belt was ok, though the buckle is not very heavy duty.  I might put a buckle from an old back pack on it.  I have more than one laying around.  the rear belt hookup was more problematic for me.  It is almost like there is extra fabric there that interferes with getting the belt to tighten the fabric properly.  But maybe practice will improve that, too.  So far as the snaps on the sides, I don't have extra struts, and the hinges weren't a problem.  However, getting my fingers to the snap is sort of tight, just because of the angle and how little space there is there. I am quite short, so a stool is essential, also.
> 
> You mentioned that you thought the top could be closed without removing the fly.  Have you tried that?  I haven't tried it, but it looks to me like it would not work -- too much fabric to bunch up, especially in front.  If it works for you, let me know.