Group Flip Pac Camper Rain Fly Buy

[billy bee]

Hi guys:

I and another ExPo'er are in need of rain flies for our FlipPac Campers. I have experience working at a canvas loft and can probably get a handful designed and built affordably and quickly.

Better still, I think we can improve upon the design. I would like to have vented areas and clear/tinted isenglass windows. There could also be some insulation built into the fly. I have some other ideas, and I am open to other design ideas.

The primary obstacle is the weight of the fabrics usually used for boat covers. They are waterproof and breathable but have a coarse finish and do not fold down very compactly. So they will take up a fair bit of storage room and could wear the FP tent fabric if deployed for long periods or in prolonged windy conditions.

So, I am looking for a handful of people interested in committing to building these for their un-fly'd FP. Let me know if you are intersted.

Bill B

 

[dcabcody]

Interested.

I've seen the 360 dollar one and it looks nice. I'd say keep it like this one except for the clear patches on a couple of the side windows. A couple good vents up top are fine with me (don't care if breathable fabric).

Heavy, coarse and not real packable would not be a good thing. But for a lot less than $360 I'm flexable on what you're making. :sombrero:

 

[thebrassnuckles]

SOOOO IN ON THIS!!!:wings:

 

[ETAV8R]

Count me in if it is less than the $360 price tag from FRP.
I don't have to have windows, vents are nice.

 

[Roaming Robertsons]

You already know I'm in.

 

[gwwing]

I would be interested. I kicked around the idea of a better fly ie. one that would have more venting, would be light weight and pack well and was cheaper then the current one for the FP. I worked out some ideas with different types of Tyvek. Also found some "seam seal" used in sails that could work for the soft Tyvek. Kind of fun building and stress testing (destroying!) the Tyvek samples. The amount of material I would have to buy for my small project was more then I needed and I ended up using a vinyl tarp and mini grabbits http://www.grabbittool.com/MG100/MG100Home.htm. Tarp worked ok but no ventilation.
Tim
Reno, NV

 

[billy bee]

We are underway. I have my FP off and it is sitting in the loft at SLO Sail and Canvas in San Luis Obispo, CA. We are going to make a prototype starting with a very basic design and using some leftover cloth.

Some details: The cloth is a 70 denier coated poly/nylon. It looks like most tent rain fly material. It is lightweight (~ 1.5 - 1.9 oz), will pack tight, and is waterproof. And we are going to keep the design simple. It will be symmetrical with a series of webbing loops around the perimeter. We can run bungee or rope through the loops to lash the fly or stake the edges out to the ground (or tie to trees) depending on conditions and required ventilation.

Once we are happy with the basic design we will go back and cut the end panels and side panels for vents and windows, respectively. The windows are very easy. We'll make semi-circular windows to fit the FP zippered windows.

The vent design will require some additional thought. We are thinking of using some batten stock in the vent flap to give the vents some shape. The battens won't store easily in the fly but could be easily removed. And we will be looking into adding hook-and-loop fastener to close the vents entirely if there is a real blow.

Well, that's all I have for now. We'll try to get some pricing together once we build the prototype. Stay tuned.

bb

 

[Dave Bennett]

:lurk:

 

[billy bee]

Here are the fabric samples I grabbed. The material for the prototype will be in a burgundy color, but we need to settle on one color to make this affordable. If we can all agree on one color, we can buy a roll and save on fabric costs. Here is the swatch sheet and some data on the fabric.

My vote would be for Forest Green.

bb

 

[Roaming Robertsons]

Green works for me too. One question I have though is rainfly material will sometimes allow water to weep through if it touches the tent. Will this be waterproof even on the areas where it will touch the Flippac tent? Also, what are we looking at as far as timing? FRP may have one available for me before these are ready and it may be difficult to pass on a proven design for an unproven one without a timeline.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Green is a bad choice IMO, you need a color that looks good with any color vehicle, especially if you want to sell these as a "better than OEM" solution. The OEM blue is hidious BTW and reminds me of those cheap blue tarps, green would be almost as bad, especially if you had a red truck...

Black is a better choice IMO, retains/attracts heat and in theory should shed snow easier/faster which is ideal for inclement winter weather.

YMMV

.02

 

[billy bee]

One question I have though is rainfly material will sometimes allow water to weep through if it touches the tent. Will this be waterproof even on the areas where it will touch the Flippac tent? Also, what are we looking at as far as timing? FRP may have one available for me before these are ready and it may be difficult to pass on a proven design for an unproven one without a timeline.

I am moving forward to get pricing for the 5 guys who raised their hands. So, there is no commitment. But I am doing this b/c the FRP design is a proven one...and it sucks. To quote another ExPo'er, "It is like wrapping your FP in a cocoon." No ventilation and no visibility. My goal (as I said up front) is to get a better, affordable product faster. SLO Sail should be able to pump them out in about two to three weeks. Prototype should be ready in a week. Pictures and prices to follow... That's when they will take orders.

This material is similar to other fly material. Any fly might do that. Having an air gap is best, of course.

bb

 

[billy bee]

Green is a bad choice IMO, you need a color that looks good with any color vehicle, especially if you want to sell these as a "better than OEM" solution. The OEM blue is hidious BTW and reminds me of those cheap blue tarps.

Black is a better choice IMO, retains/attracts heat and in theory should shed snow easier/faster which is ideal for inclement winter weather.

YMMV

.02

You have a good point. It will also dry more quickly in the sun. But any dark color will do that. In warmer climates white might be best...

I am not married to green. Hell, I'm colorblind. Just thought it is a nice camping color.

bb

 

[Harp]

I agree with Tacodoc, I would go with black or white. White reflecting and less retaining of heat. I am in the wings waiting to see the proto but would also be interested. Maybe both colors available.

 

[Dave Bennett]

In regards to white I would say that's probably not good either, it will get dirty and look nasty in no time (these things are huge inevitably drag the ground during folding). Also, it seems that the intended use of a rain cover is winter/rain/snow so heat reflection/loss is not ideal. An insulated cover might even be a nice option IMO. When I had mine up in the Olympics in WA, I went to bed in the driving rain and it was in the 20's when I woke to a quarter inch sheet of ICE encompassing the entire cover... It was not much fun stowing the cover that morning!