Scored at Walmart!
- Thread starter aslostasyou
- Start date
mountainpete
Spamicus Eliminatus
R_Lefebvre said:
Costco had some awesome tents a few years ago. The two person ones with the large vestibule were an almost perfect light use vehicle based tent. Too heavy to backpack with, but otherwise an excellent tent.
Pete
aslostasyou
Adventurer
So the Mrs. and I took a ride to visit Quest Outfitters in Sarasota Florida. www.[B]questoutfitters[/B].com Let me tell you I thought customer service was dead until I met these two wonderful ladies. Two sisters with a love for the outdoors and a knack for sewing...
They had an entire room full of rip stops and poly blends, webbing, clips galore! I was like a kid in a candy store! They run the business out of there home and were kind enough to let us come in on Saturday morning, pitch our tent and discuss our ideas with them. Wonderful people!
After setting up the tent they went over it with us quickly pointing out that the main tent material is not greatly water proof. A test with some h20 and pressure showed us that pretty easily. The interesting part though is that the manufacture despite using not very h20 proof material went through the trouble to double stitch and seal the seams...
We were not suaded though! This is a project and I was determined to see it though!
We took some measures and decided we could utilize the existing fly and build off it on all sides and corners and in the front. The actual fly material is quite waterproof and should stand up to some some decent rain. The reason I think others have had problems with this tent in the weather is because one, the windows are exposed and two, the material is low to the ground vs. the heavy tarp material coming up a good 6" or so.
We're confident that with the new rainfly we can build we can eliminate the problems. I plan on keeping it 1 to 1.5' out from the base to allow for ventilation and up to 2.5' in a couple stratergic spots. This should allow for good airflow.
It's all a project and I've only got about $90 in materials for the fly and a nice drive down to Sarasota so I think it's well worth the experiment. Too busy this week getting ready for The Nat'l Rally so we'll start on it next week when I get back. We also found a REALLY COOL outdoor store in Sarasota called Environeers. http://www.environeers.com/ They had all kinds of kit from the likes of Snowpeak all the way to MSR stoves you could test. A real cool outlet owned by a family. They were all there working. If your in the area stop by and buy something they could sure use the support!
Be on the look out for photos!
, J
They had an entire room full of rip stops and poly blends, webbing, clips galore! I was like a kid in a candy store! They run the business out of there home and were kind enough to let us come in on Saturday morning, pitch our tent and discuss our ideas with them. Wonderful people!
After setting up the tent they went over it with us quickly pointing out that the main tent material is not greatly water proof. A test with some h20 and pressure showed us that pretty easily. The interesting part though is that the manufacture despite using not very h20 proof material went through the trouble to double stitch and seal the seams...
We were not suaded though! This is a project and I was determined to see it though!
We took some measures and decided we could utilize the existing fly and build off it on all sides and corners and in the front. The actual fly material is quite waterproof and should stand up to some some decent rain. The reason I think others have had problems with this tent in the weather is because one, the windows are exposed and two, the material is low to the ground vs. the heavy tarp material coming up a good 6" or so.We're confident that with the new rainfly we can build we can eliminate the problems. I plan on keeping it 1 to 1.5' out from the base to allow for ventilation and up to 2.5' in a couple stratergic spots. This should allow for good airflow.
It's all a project and I've only got about $90 in materials for the fly and a nice drive down to Sarasota so I think it's well worth the experiment. Too busy this week getting ready for The Nat'l Rally so we'll start on it next week when I get back. We also found a REALLY COOL outdoor store in Sarasota called Environeers. http://www.environeers.com/ They had all kinds of kit from the likes of Snowpeak all the way to MSR stoves you could test. A real cool outlet owned by a family. They were all there working. If your in the area stop by and buy something they could sure use the support!
Be on the look out for photos!
, J
So the Mrs. and I took a ride to visit Quest Outfitters in Sarasota Florida. www.[B]questoutfitters[/B].com Let me tell you I thought customer service was dead until I met these two wonderful ladies. Two sisters with a love for the outdoors and a knack for sewing...
They had an entire room full of rip stops and poly blends, webbing, clips galore! I was like a kid in a candy store! They run the business out of there home and were kind enough to let us come in on Saturday morning, pitch our tent and discuss our ideas with them. Wonderful people!
After setting up the tent they went over it with us quickly pointing out that the main tent material is not greatly water proof. A test with some h20 and pressure showed us that pretty easily. The interesting part though is that the manufacture despite using not very h20 proof material went through the trouble to double stitch and seal the seams...
We were not suaded though! This is a project and I was determined to see it though!
We're confident that with the new rainfly we can build we can eliminate the problems. I plan on keeping it 1 to 1.5' out from the base to allow for ventilation and up to 2.5' in a couple stratergic spots. This should allow for good airflow.
It's all a project and I've only got about $90 in materials for the fly and a nice drive down to Sarasota so I think it's well worth the experiment. Too busy this week getting ready for The Nat'l Rally so we'll start on it next week when I get back. We also found a REALLY COOL outdoor store in Sarasota called Environeers. http://www.environeers.com/ They had all kinds of kit from the likes of Snowpeak all the way to MSR stoves you could test. A real cool outlet owned by a family. They were all there working. If your in the area stop by and buy something they could sure use the support!
Be on the look out for photos!
, J
how did it come out? i have used some ozark trail products in the past and had good luck with them, stick with the plan and post some pics i would like to see the results, off topic this started to have the flavor of if its not 50k diesel it not "expo" its not like your going to the tropics with 100 days of rain and 50mph winds, sorry for the rant but sometimes you get tired of it , thats not what expos about
oh yeah we had an older three room tent ( off brand) and the local hardware guy was big in scouting and we were talking about waterproofing and he used dap brand water seal ( like thompsons)( i know its for wood) i took his word for it sit up the tent (he even lent me the sprayer-garden type) used whole gallon 3or 4 times soaking it down good..... worked great .no staining of fabric we used that tent for four more years and never had a leak ..not saying that anyone should try this but it worked for us
Last edited:
biglos454
Adventurer
i have a friend who does the 2 cycle thing in his gasoline engine and it does wonders for his engine. idk how it works for diesel applications but he knows someone who has done ALOT of research on the affect of 2 cycle oil in gasoline. i can link you to another forum where there's a lengthy discussion on the subject. its about gasoline but might give some insight to the diesel applications
Colorado David
Explorer
Please send me a link to this discussion. Thanks.
Way back when I was in scouting I had a cheap two-man tent from the sporting goods store (couldn't afford the Eureka! like all the rich kids!), and I used Thompsons on the floor and walls. It worked, but made the material a little darker, and always felt a little oily. Wouldn't recommend it.
In the OP you mentioned saving up for a REI or Marmot. Just wanted to mention that you might want to look at Kelty tents. We have a huge one that we are really happy with, and it was considerably cheaper than the 'big boys.' Heavy, but fine for car camping.
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
I'm sorry to be the party pooper...
But You get what you pay for... Cheap means cheap. If you buy a tent for $60, then take 50% margin off for the retailer, you end up with $30 in manufacturing cost... What can you produce for $30--nothing! Crap, that's it.
Another thing that really gets me going:
Why do you think we are loosing more and more manufacturing jobs in North America? Because people like to buy cheap at big box stores. Local manufacturers can't compete and therefore have to out source or close down.
Please stop glorifying Walmart and shop local!
Enough said.
But You get what you pay for... Cheap means cheap. If you buy a tent for $60, then take 50% margin off for the retailer, you end up with $30 in manufacturing cost... What can you produce for $30--nothing! Crap, that's it.
Another thing that really gets me going:
Why do you think we are loosing more and more manufacturing jobs in North America? Because people like to buy cheap at big box stores. Local manufacturers can't compete and therefore have to out source or close down.
Please stop glorifying Walmart and shop local!
Enough said.
rynosurf
Adventurer
Was your Eurovan made in North America?
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Good point! No, it wasn't. But I'm more then willing to buy quality that will last longer. Especially when it comes to trades vans here in North America. I drove new of the line Chevy and Ford vans. I'm sorry but the price they are asking for those vans is just a rip off. The millage was pathetic, they didn't drive straight brand new and the quality ... well, let's not talk about it...
By chance I came across my current van and even with over 200.000km on the clock, that van still drives like brand new with a fuel economy of a normal car!
Trust me, if there would be a high quality north american van , I would buy it.
Anyhow, that brings us back to the main issue! Manufacturers have to build cheap to stay in business here in NA. Unions demanded too much in the past and we are now paying for it in crappy quality. On the other hand consumers demanded more for less at the same time...
Done.
Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
BigAl
Expedition Leader
Go back to walmart and look for the wall kits that you can buy for the easy-up dining flys. they are 7'x40' for ~$30