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I'm thinking of making some modifications, and I'm wondering if you guys can help me decide which way to go.
Here's a picture of our campsite last year (sorry it's not head-on).
First of all, the biggest modification we are making is purchasing a second ezup to put over the tent, with some tarps (I think 2 should do it) to block out the sun. This way we can sleep a little later/darker and also maybe take the rain fly off for extra airflow.
As for the main ezup: The shower curtain idea worked well for the most part. The curtains did not slide very much when pulling them back, due to the ziggy zaggy design of the ezup supports. It was also very windy during the rain, so for them to be effective they had to be held on the sides by our big clippies, and staked down (with the help of some duct tape before the holes were made to prevent ripping) at the center meeting points. This kept the rain out for the most part.
The first problem we encountered was rain sheeting off the ezup onto the car, and directly into camp. We solved this with a tarp going from the ezup to the car wheels. Nice and tight. It stayed that way the rest of the trip and gave us zero problems. We also encountered rain coming off the ezup onto the tent and splashing into camp. we never really solved this problem, but tried by hanging towels from the canopy on either side of the tent. Fail. This year we are thinking of adding an additional tarp to go between the canopies, to be brought down only in the event of rain, to prevent splashback. The tent-canopy doesn't need to be sealed from rain since the tent holds up well on its own. Also if it was sealed completely this would prevent the purpose of airflow while sleeping; bigger, but just as hot.
My main point of contention is the shower curtains. While they looked cute and were reasonably functional, I am wondering whether they shouldn't be replaced with tarps as well.
The shower curtains had to be held in place with clippies, which were effective albeit a little awkward. Tarps could be zip-tied into place for a more secure hold. They have grommets on all sides. These grommets would also be useful for staking it down along the bottom. No fear of rips. Also we only used three shower curtains, because on one side we had a bamboo curtain which was lowered to meet the table on that side which served as our washing and prep station. I don't know how important this is for 2010 since we will have another table for camp (to replace some rubbermaid tubs we won't be bringing). The bamboo curtain was nice and it worked, but depending on the tarp configuration, we may need to sub this out.
If the shower curtains are to be replaced, it could go two ways. Tarps of equivalent size could replace all the shower curtains, allowing for parting and tying back when not in use. This may cause some of the same billowing that happened with the shower curtains last year. but maybe not, because they can be staked down in multiple places.
Otherwise, the double-curtain sides could each be replaced with a single tarp. This tarp could be rolled up when not in use. My main concern with this method, is that when all sides are down during rain, I am in effect creating a giant parachute that is begging to be picked up and tossed across manchester. The split sides at least allow for some air release, cutting down on the internal wind pressure. Also, with full sides, it is difficult to seal up the camp area in anticipation of rain, and gain easy access when running back IN the rain. One side would have to be left un-zip tied. Whereas, the split sides are MUCH easier to get in and out of.
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idk, but I'd make the car horizontal, like long ways next to the easy up. We did that and then tarped over to the the whole thing and secured it to the driver's side. Trunk access was not something we thought about. But I could be crazy.
Post by ladyrach328 on Mar 7, 2010 22:22:53 GMT -5
If you want you could always get one big tarp (30ft or a little smaller) drape it over the EZ up and tie/stake it down the sides at an angle, it should cover your whole campsite or however much of your site you want covered. We do something like this at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Post by questionablesanity on Mar 8, 2010 8:41:59 GMT -5
ladyRach's set up looks awesome but may be unrealistic for Roo due to space constraints. I agree with Bunny about parking the car perpindicular to the long axis of your two ez ups. But it would solely depend on if you want trunk access. My friend, Wolfaroo, used a shower curtain and I think it worked well for him. In fact, I think I liked the idea when you mentioned it last year but I already had a ton of tarps.
You could always buy an extra large tarp and completely cover your car and attach it to the ez up. You could use a couple of those adjustable tent poles from walmart and tie guy lines to them at the front end of the car. They extend tall enough to still walk under and it would give you access to all doors and trunk. I notice that you have guy lines tied from your ezup. You could probably skip those completely as long as you have some extra long stakes out in at an angle. It just seems like an unnecessary hazard. Good luck on whatever you decide. I didn't spend enough time at camp last year to make it too elaborate.
A Thieve's Parade 2/24 Conspirator 2/26 Kevin Smith 3/11 Keller 3/17 Papadosio 3/18 JJ Grey 3/25 Bela Fleck/Edgar Meyer 3/26 Toubab Krewe 3/27 O'Death 4/11 Budos Band 4/22 EOTO 4/28 Summer Camp 5/6-29 All Good
I'm curious why you are dead set to hook your car into the setup? In looking at you picture from last year, your car was directing water right into your camp (look at the slope from the roof to your bumper). So rain fell onto the car that your car was trying to direct into your camp, and rain fell on the EZ-up the fell onto the car was trying to direct into your camp. You had to elaborately tighten the curtains to not make the car funnel the water into the camp. Suggestion #1 - move the car - decouple it from your camp. Now when the rain fall off the EZ-up it will fall outside your camp.
Following an identical thought pattern. Rain falls on your tent that your tent is directing into your camp. Rain falls on your EZup that directs to your tent which your tent is directing into your camp. So you have to add more tarps and tighten down to keep your tent from directing water into your camp. Suggestion #2 - move your tent - decouple it from the EZ up.
My suggestion - do less, not more.
I learned these things the hard way. Its like putting a groundcover under your tent. Lots of people put this giant groundcovers that spread out 1 foot from the tent in all directions trying to keep water out. What happens? The rain falls on your tent, flows onto the groundcover and makes a lake. If the groundcover is 1/4 inch smaller than your tent, then the rain flows off and soaks into the ground, yet the groundcover is adding an extra barrier between your tent and the ground.
thanks everyone for the great ideas! i'm a bit of an overplanner, so i know the post was long.
trunk access was an essential part of camp, as we used the trunk closed as a surface and we kept everything important (food, things that needed to stay dry etc) in there. it makes sense now looking at it, that the car tarp was directing water toward camp. maybe moving the tarp to the top of the car (connecting through the doors perhaps) might redirect the flow back down the front of the car. or maybe tarping over the whole car like was mentioned. i'll have to take some measurements and see what that would take.
i wish we could do the crazy tarp universe like ladyrach but i'm not sure it's practical for space, or for setup time.
camp setup overlaps the way it does so that it fits into the minimum estimated landgrab area just in case we are packed in tight. it would make sense to detach the tent and not do another ezup but it was SO bright we are thinking that another one + tarps will help us get some more sleep.
the thing i will really miss is what you can't see in that pic: since we were able to park along the fence, we had bungee cords running from the ezup to the fence making "laundry lines" and also we used the fence to dry towels and to hang the sun shower. fingers crossed we end up at a fence again next year but i doubt we will be that lucky twice in a row!
the good news is i found a great source for quality cheap tarps in all sizes and i have some time to play around. the shower curtains were a great theory, and i think i will continue to use the rings for the top grommets of the tarps, but the curtains themselves really weren't practical in the wind.
i'll do some thinking about the car tarp and let you guys know if i come up with anything cool. thanks... lots of food for thought.!
If you took one big magnet and stuck the edge of the tarp on the roof of your car it seems like it would make a peak so any rain would sheet down to the corners of the tarp by the tires.
If you look at the diagram you drew, and imagine a magnet about where the 'R' is in CAR, if the tarp was attached right there it looks like it would make a 'ridge' that would run from the edge of the ez-up to the middle of the car. once that ridge was in place, it would direct any water down the sides of the tarp, not back under the ez-up. Other than a magnet you could use a line attiaced to your front bumper and the middle of the tarp. You might need a bigger tarp to make it work the way I imagine it.
the good news is i found a great source for quality cheap tarps in all sizes and i have some time to play around.
Can you let us in on your tarp source madam? Im thinking of getting a couple new ones. My dad lent me a giant GIANT tarp 2 roo's ago, and it was so big that we were able to tarp over the 1989 Suburban that I (also borrowed from Dad) brought in. It was a hassle at first, but then it proved to be an asset when it rained while we were in Centeroo and unable to "batton down the hatches"... I dont even know how big it was, but I know for sure I'd like to have one on hand, and not drop a billjion dollars on it. Thanks!
As for what we did to keep the water out last year - we have the basic sheets/tapestries that we hang from each side of the ez-up. when we want them down, we stake them to the ground about 3-4 feet out from the edge of the ez-up, and when we want them up, we roll them up and tuck them into the zig-zag frame. Of course, they get wet when it rains, but the rain isnt hitting us, so we dont care. In fact, I have one actual tapestry type sheet with a pretty sun on it or whatever, and then i bought 2 cheap queen size sheets from target for the other sides. I took the time last year (based on experience from '08) and spent a saturday afternoon being crafty - I laid the sheet out and cut the "slats" in it for air flow, then reinforced the slats with some spare fabric I had. So when we zip tie the sheets to the zig-zag frame, they dont rip in high winds. Here's a kinda crappy pic: But you can see the sheets and the tapestry a little.
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you can get tapetries for about a buck at the thrift stores. i think people get them and then dont know what to do with them but they have a million uses at and away from roo. they are easy to pack so id suggest that you get a couple. if you buy them at roo they will set you back some money.
What did you use to keep your tarps from sinking in the middle? I wanted to tie one end of our tarp to my trailblazer but we're not sure what to do with the opposite end to keep it up. We were thinking of tying it to our shade canopy but not sure if the weight would collapse the canopy, any tips would be extremely helpful
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Post by alphalykos on May 26, 2010 16:40:59 GMT -5
I found this on an adventiure camping message board. Apparentlky the guys that go for days and weeks at a time in the SW Desert in there Jeeps, Cherokees and FJ Cruisers use these to keep the heat down in their vehicles.
Post by astrostrat89 on May 26, 2010 17:49:25 GMT -5
I am trying a simple lean-to this year. Just enough to keep the sun off the tent in the early morning. Hoping to just grab that extra 1/2 hour of sleep before roasting.
Post by astrostrat89 on May 26, 2010 19:21:41 GMT -5
yep, my plan is to keep my eye on the weather, if it looks bad I was going to either pull down the front over the tent and stake it down, or just fold it back and hope my cheap tent with tons of seam sealer stays dry.
Also using bungie cords, so moderate winds should be absorbed somewhat.
Post by astrostrat89 on May 31, 2010 12:02:31 GMT -5
well at least yesterday there was a threat of rain for 3 days so reconfigured my tarp for better rain protection. This is much sturdier but not quite as good for keeping cool. My tent fits quite nicely under this and it stood up to a decent thunder shower last night.
