Maggiolina Ideas?

[saburai]

Hi Gang!

Yesterday I called Mike and ordered a Maggiolina Extreme with the new style changing room and a winter hood:victory:

I'm looking for ideas and input on things to make it more efficient/comfy/fun.
I was thinking about wiring it w/ a few 12v outlets and lighting. Also thinking about an A/V system of some sort, more for watching movies than for music. How about a flip down 16" flat monitor and using a laptop as a video player? I'm thinking that head phones would be better - lack of noise pollution and a much lower profile...

What to do about heat? We are absolute wimps when it come to even a little cold!

12v bed topper w/ a down quilt sounds good, but it would be great to have some thing to take the chill out of the air.

What else?

So far I have a 12 volt fan:sombrero:...

 

[Corey]

I just use flannel sheets and a winter weight down comfortor from the Company Store in mine, and it is very warm, even on cold nights.
This is mine.
La Crosse® Down Comforter
CX25 twin, 72x92" 35oz

I did put up a shelf in mine, there are pics here somewhere of it.

You will like the tent, they are of the highest quality.

 

[southpier]

http://www.motel6.com/?WT.srch=1

 

[saburai]

Thanks All!

Frenchie, I've gotta say your continued endorsements is one of the top reasons a I bought mine.

As to the monitor - Our lap top is pretty small and it's always hard to find some place to put it where it's in the right position and won't get knocked over... Any suggestions on how to mount or rig it in a RTT?

Many Thanks!

<I'm looking for ideas and input on things to make it more efficient/comfy/fun.
I was thinking about wiring it w/ a few 12v outlets and lighting. Also thinking about an A/V system of some sort, more for watching movies than for music. How about a flip down 16" flat monitor and using a laptop as a video player? I'm thinking that head phones would be better - lack of noise pollution and a much lower profile...>

The wiring up other outlets is a nice idea and easy to do. I would also consider a second battery.

I would forget using the flat monitor and just use a laptop

<What to do about heat? We are absolute wimps when it come to even a little cold!>

<12v bed topper w/ a down quilt sounds good, but it would be great to have some thing to take the chill out of the air.>

It is amazing how comfortable the tent is and warm it is. Use the bed topper if you need it, but I would try it without it first. If that dose not get it for you try the Autohome "Hood".

<What else?>

I use additional light for reading at night (I am old and the eyes are not as good at night). This could be nothing more then a auto map reading light plugged into the 12 volt outlets you are adding.

So far I have a 12 volt fan...

Having one of the first Extreme's they brought over I have never been disappointed with it.

 

[saburai]

I just use flannel sheets and a winter weight down comfortor from the Company Store in mine, and it is very warm, even on cold nights.
This is mine.
La Crosse® Down Comforter
CX25 twin, 72x92" 35oz

I did put up a shelf in mine, there are pics here somewhere of it.

You will like the tent, they are of the highest quality.

Wow! The comforters are nice! Price is right too.

I'd be a happy camper if you could point me to the shelf pics...

 

[wardrow]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30269

 

[Corey]

Wow! The comforters are nice! Price is right too.

I'd be a happy camper if you could point me to the shelf pics...

I have the exact same comforter only in a queen on my bed at home, and same ultra warmth weight.

There is a pic of the shelf here from my last trip out.
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30867

Here is the installation of it.
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=424968&postcount=43

It worked out pretty good, but I carry the shelf in my rig sionce the down comforter is "fluffy", and having the shelf on the bed may poke a hole in the ceiling material when the tent is down.

I would like to come up with a different idea that is easier to setup.
Getting the support brackets into the shelf is kind of tricky.
This one was pioneered by a guy over on fjcruiserforums.com

 

[Corey]

I think you may be onto something.
A light weight wood shelf the full width of the top up there, and two straps per end piece that can hook up there where the extra storage pockets install and also where I have the end braces anchoring into.

Also this way you would not have to twist it into the X jack ends like I have the white shelf.

 

[The Swiss]

Rich,

Without wanting to spoil the fun, I would suggest that you go camping a couple nights before spending $$$ in cool add-ons. In my experience, the "real-world-needs" are always somewhat different than what I imagined beforehand.

 

[mountainpete]

Rich,

Without wanting to spoil the fun, I would suggest that you go camping a couple nights before spending $$$ in cool add-ons. In my experience, the "real-world-needs" are always somewhat different than what I imagined beforehand.

That's good advice. I had big plans for some mods to my Eezi-Awn but changed my mind after a few nights.

As for A/V equipment, I bring my Macbook Pro up to watch movies. Unfortunately it can't charge via 12 volt - needs 110

Pete

 

[Ford Prefect]

Thanks All!

Frenchie, I've gotta say your continued endorsements is one of the top reasons a I bought mine.

As to the monitor - Our lap top is pretty small and it's always hard to find some place to put it where it's in the right position and won't get knocked over... Any suggestions on how to mount or rig it in a RTT?

Many Thanks!

You know, I think I would build a shelf. If you drill into the TOP of the top, and then bolt in some i-bolts, (be sure to silicone them good to keep the water and weather out, also, obviously, be careful with the cloth roof liner if you have it. Just put in some washers on the i-bolt before you put it through the liner, and that will protect the thing too) then simply use rope to hang a shelf at whatever level you want. This way you can be sure that the thing will compress when the tent is down, and open up when it is raised. This is one of the benefits of the Mags over the folding style tents. Anyhow, it should be a real piece of cake to do something like that, and you can adjust the level, even have the shelf slope down towards you if you like. Just put it down there above your feet and you will never know it is there...

Also, you can buy a 12v to 110 converter for as little as 17 bucks at wal-mart. I use mine to run my lap top, or to run Christmas lights!

 

[Jim McCann]

Folks,

New to posting here. Thinking about an Extreme tent for the top of my 2006 2 door TJ Jeep Rubicon. Might also design some sort of rack to be built on the bed of my Dodge Mega Cab to mount the tent over my two bird dog kennels.

Questions: 1. I'm 6' 3" tall, weigh about 215 at present. Think I'll fit in a Extreme? 2. How do they fair in really bad weather, like heavy wind and driving rain, and maybe snow?

Thanks for your replys.

Jim

 

[Corey]

Jim, posts # 10 & 11 should answer your questions on how the Maggiolinas hold up in foul weather.
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32500

 

[Jim McCann]

Thanks, Corey! But what about the size of the Extreme for 6'3" guys like me? The nearest Autohome RTT is about 385 miles from my home so I'm not going to see one for a while yet.

Thanks!

Jim

 

[Mike S]

Jim,

You are the Jim McCann in Fairbanks, right?

How's the bird hunting?

Mike S