Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 12:12:24 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Pop-up room, attaches to van rear hatch
In-Reply-To: <CAFdLW6ki6CcR5so6cOWNX-=NPaN9fAR6FyGt43Xq+M76f=p5qg@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi folks,
I’ve had this tent for about 6 years and use it several times each summer.
It has held up well. It does surprisingly well keeping out bugs considering the bottom is open. It does not come with a floor. You could tarp off the bottom from inside but for whatever reason the bugs tend not to come up from there. In a bad situation I would simply use the screen for the hatch and the pop up together.
The door is screened allowing for ventilation and bug prevention.
I try to be nice to my equipment but being blind I sometimes do evil things with closing things in doors or catching zippers or messing up strings.
This tent has held up very well.
I’m not sure I set it up completely correctly.
I usually get to hear the directions once and sometimes later find my helper left off things they felt were not needed. Or, years later I forget a direction or two.
But despite that it has held up well in sun, wind, and rain.
I get a bit of water in heavy rains by the foot of the bed. I keep a small raincoat/tarp that covers that spot and I’m good to go without closing the hatch.
I do use the corner ropes and the tent stakes.
This is mainly a shower area and adds some extra shade. Sometimes I’ll put items in there to keep the area neat.
For the price it is certainly a good accessory and doesn’t take up much space. And, leave it behind if not needed.
I do tend to use the handy shower head flap and I just place a solar shower on the hatch.
I fabric glued the two velcro strips at the top. I think these are used with a bus application. For me they kept opening so I sealed them shut.
My only suggestion toBus Depot on this is stronger ties as mine are a bit worn and will be the first to go.
Also, the directions I think were good but as with most directions they could be improved.
Mine fits both Bus and Vanagon and that confuses me a bit. I usually feel it is a bit tight and would be better for the bus. I suspect this is operator error on my part.
It would probably seal better by the top of the bus if I was doing it exactly as designed. Not sure I’m doing that yet.
I would recommend this if you think the rear privacy tent would be helpful.
Eric Caron
Getting to know tents much better these days.
> On Jul 14, 2020, at 11:16 AM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> hi Jack,
>
> 1. Does it adequately keep bugs out?
>
> - yes it does if you are vigilant to keep the door closed all the time.
>
> 2. How small does it pack up?
>
> - pack up it's about the size of a small sleeping bag - it came with
> carrying pouch and in a shipping box 10"x17"
>
> 3. How long does it take to set up and tear down?
>
> - about 2 minutes - you open the rear hatch, unfold the tent, wrap the roof
> around the top of the rear hatch at the space between the the van roof and
> the rear hatch, tie some strings that's it - I use a few tent stakes to
> secure the bottom - no poles needed because the size of the tent is the
> size of the rear hatch but you can get cheap adjustable extension poles if
> you want, I saw a guy using the poles, may be he wanted to keep the tent
> from flapping around in the wind... but if you tie the bottom real good
> with tent stakes you won't have that problem.
>
> https://www.grainger.com/product/40NE81?gclid=CjwKCAjwr7X4BRA4EiwAUXjbt6vL7yyTXwdxXEIFmdo-IiVxWxYxMKwBBnyUZAbSiejnmM7239XvfRoCfOYQAvD_BwE&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=CjwKCAjwr7X4BRA4EiwAUXjbt6vL7yyTXwdxXEIFmdo-IiVxWxYxMKwBBnyUZAbSiejnmM7239XvfRoCfOYQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!281698275747!!!g!525259996287!
>
> 4. Is there a floor?
>
> - no floor but I use a small 4'x8' tarp and secure it around the bottom
> with spring clamps
>
> https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Clamps-15-pack/dp/B00CE7HYK6/ref=sr_1_2?c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Spring+Clamps&qid=1594739241&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A5943387011&sr=8-2&ts_id=553166
>
> On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 6:31 AM Jack R <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi Dan,
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks for sharing the Bus Depot option… I had totally missed that one!
>>
>>
>>
>> I think at that price and the fact that it doesn’t have poles, it would be
>> a great addition, as I too would only use it a few times a year. The Beige
>> one would match my 84 Wolfie too!
>>
>>
>>
>> A few questions.
>>
>> 1. Does it adequately keep bugs out?
>>
>> 2. How small does it pack up?
>>
>> 3. How long does it take to set up and tear down?
>>
>> 4. It there a floor?
>>
>>
>>
>> Hard to tell from the photo, but it appears to have a floor, and a bug
>> barrio under the bumper.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jack R.
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Dan N [mailto:dn92610@gmail.com]
>> *Sent:* Monday, July 13, 2020 7:33 PM
>> *To:* Jack R
>> *Cc:* Vanagon Mailing List
>> *Subject:* Re: Pop-up room, attaches to van rear hatch
>>
>>
>>
>> not me but I have this...
>>
>> https://www.busdepot.com/ahg
>>
>>
>>
>> it's looking nice compared to the one I have.. but at about x3 price...
>> but I use mine once or twice a year only....
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 13, 2020 at 4:17 PM Jack R <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Has anyone tried to attach this to a Vanagon?
>>
>> Pop-up room, attaches to van rear hatch
>>
>> https://tinyurl.com/y9znpqbx
>>
>> or
>>
>>
>> https://shop.mashable.com/sales/carsule-pop-up-cabin-for-your-car-3?utm_sour
>> ce=google
>> <
>> https://shop.mashable.com/sales/carsule-pop-up-cabin-for-your-car-3?utm_sou
>>
>> rce=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=8690049330&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobCh
>> MIt_3Jz4zK6gIVEtbACh2MTwVBEAYYBiABEgLKP_D_BwE>
>>
>> &utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=8690049330&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt_3Jz4zK
>> 6gIVEtbACh2MTwVBEAYYBiABEgLKP_D_BwE
>>
>> Looks like a great idea!
>>
>>
>>
>> Jack R.
>>
>>
