Do all RTT's lack no-see-um mesh?

[overlander]

Seems all the South African RTT's from what I can tell did not use no-see-um mesh in their doors and windows. I think it's odd that they would choose to not include that, given that no-see-um/sand fleas are found in wetlands worldwide.

I'm going to be buying an eezi-awn soon, and have to face getting no-see-um mesh that I will need to add to the windows when needed.

Does anyone have insight why this seems to be the case?

 

[Corey]

My Maggiolina Airlander has the no seeum for its windows.
I thought most roof top tents all had that.

 

[Dave Bennett]

I noticed the same thing when I had my Eezi-Awn.

Seems the bugs are bigger in SA... :Wow1:

 

[Sgt Grunt]

My old Bedouin RTT (original Hannibal) from SA had very fine mesh. That's one more reason I keep trying to get a Hannibal...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

My Maggiolina Airlander has the no seeum for its windows.
I thought most roof top tents all had that.

Yeah, I dunno about that Corey. My Maggiolina has screens on the doors/windows, but it's fairly coarse. Not what I would consider no-see-um.

I have yet to test it against Canadian blackflies, but I hope it works out.

 

[UK4X4]

even my old venezuelan mare one also has a course mesh we had to move into the car one night due to the mini plague that turned up one night, you could see them crawling through the mesh !

 

[Corey]

Yeah, I dunno about that Corey. My Maggiolina has screens on the doors/windows, but it's fairly coarse. Not what I would consider no-see-um.

I have yet to test it against Canadian blackflies, but I hope it works out.

I will have to snap a photo of my new window when it arrives.
I have one on order from Mike, as the drivers side has a nice 4" slice in it.
May have happened with the ladder, I do not know.

It may not be as fine mesh as my old backpacking tents were, but it is still not bad I thought.
At least it kept out the small biting black flies from my summer vacation that ate me alive during the daytime.

 

[Lemsteraak]

The screen on the AutoHome tents is quite fine but not no-see-um netting.

Two problems with no-see-um netting, first, the good stuff is very fine, almost like a loose weave fabric, and can restrict air passing through, exactly when you need air the most. Second, it is really fragile and wouldn't hold up well.

So, here is what you do. Get some Avon "Skin so Soft" or a non toxic bug repellant. Spray your screens, doesn't need much. The No-see-ums can't fly through the fine mesh on the AutoHome tents so they have to land. They will not land because of the repellant so they will not bother you. Yes, it has been tested, I'm here in Florida in the Mangrove swamps and no problems here.

You will want a fan for circulation if you are in no-see-um territory. Makes life a little more bearable.

Rich

 

[Corey]

Rich, I read that before from you here about putting the Avon on the screens.
Pretty good trick.

I guess I never really paid attention that much to the screen if it was fine mesh or not.
I just assumed it was.

 

[Lemsteraak]

Corey,

You don't see No-see-um netting on the West Coast. I didn't really know what the stuff was until I spent some time in Florida. The mesh is about the same size as the netting on the Maggiolina but the stuff I have seen has a cross hatch thread making an "X" in each hole. Personally, I don't really like it, expensive, and very thin and fragile.

The only times you really need it is when you are in a place like a Mangrove swamp. There has to be literally no wind, otherwise the little vampires can't fly. My friend said under a microscope, all you see is fang. They are so small, but they pack such a powerful bite. Spent one night 20 years ago with them, it remains one of those nights to remember. You need whatever air there is moving because of the heat and humidity.

Rich

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I'll report back on Canadian black flies next spring. Luckily their life cycle doesn't take them too far into summer heat, so I can probably close the doors if I have to. I'm a little skeptical of the SSS treatment, but will try it. SSS doesn't really work on skin, that's why I'm skeptical. It's a slight help, but not much. It's what nervous nellies use on their kids because they are afraid of DEET. But I know I can't use DEET on the netting because it's a plasticizer.

 

[Corey]

The small biting black flies I encountered on my vacation in August were terrible.
I wish I had taken DEET along, but I used the same stuff I had the year before for 'skeeters.
Works great 'skeeters, but useless on the flies.

My brother got bit pretty good, and as you can see here, I was breakfast, lunch, and dinner for them.
Those took about two weeks to fully disappear.