Habitat Owner's Thread

[brianjwilson]

The odd thing with the kijaro shade was that it didnt come loose or flap or anything before the rear poles broke. The wind wasn't that strong but it IS basically a huge sail!

I'm thinking something smaller. I considered a heavy mesh type cover but it rains so much, and rain protection is a big part of my goal. I may try to get matching material (same as the soft sides) and make a roll up cover (4x4') to cover the rear door, and arb for the side. Ooooor the foxwing awning which is really a big sail.

 

[TenaciousTJ]

Ursa Minor was displaying a J30 at OX '13 with awning brackets they said would be available for both the j30, and Habitat shell. Are these not for sale yet? Looks like you could use those to mount any awning you wanted, to the shell.


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[brianjwilson]

John hasn't announced anything about them yet..?

 

[Healeyjet]

I just want to let everyone know that I was able to purchase the rear wiper washer motor assembly / rear window defroster and wiring harness from Chrysler. I have now installed it and it works perfect. Not that I can see out the back window or anything but just wanted it to be complete. I believe that the wiring harness has not been available in the past but it is now.
Ward

 

[will]

I was starting to get some water drips coming down from the closed top through the hatch after rain. While normally driving, my daughter would get a sprinkle of water after every rain.

Spent some time this weekend removing all the hardware, cleaning the mating surfaces, and sealing everything up with silicone adhesive sealer. So far (crossing fingers) it has not leaked since. Also, I'm now in the salty New England area, I also took the time to add some anti-seize to each bolt before re-installing everything.

 

[kb7our]

I was starting to get some water drips coming down from the closed top through the hatch after rain. While normally driving, my daughter would get a sprinkle of water after every rain.

Spent some time this weekend removing all the hardware, cleaning the mating surfaces, and sealing everything up with silicone adhesive sealer. So far (crossing fingers) it has not leaked since. Also, I'm now in the salty New England area, I also took the time to add some anti-seize to each bolt before re-installing everything.

Good info. Do you suspect the water ingress was coming from the seal where the cap meets the lower shell? I keep both roof panels off and have been through some pretty major rain without issue. tent deployed is another story although I about have all tent seams taken care of where there were problems.

 

[TenaciousTJ]

I initially started stalking this thread to get me excited about the Habitat and to let it help talk me into a purchase. However, with all the issues I'm seeing, and being from the forever rainy northwest, I'm slowly being talked out of it after reading the various problems. I've personally been in a Habitat at a few Overland Expos and was pretty impressed, but after hearing some real world feedback of people who use them in inclimate weather, I'm not convinced this is the ideal solution. For the kind of money these things command, I'd expect to mount it up and hit the road, not have to take it all apart, seam seal it, adjust little bits and pieces, etc. Very cool concept, but needs some work from what I see. Not bashing AT, too much, as I have a majority of their other JK parts, like fridge/stove slide, cargo drawer, propane bracket, etc.


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[kb7our]

I initially started stalking this thread to get me excited about the Habitat and to let it help talk me into a purchase. However, with all the issues I'm seeing, and being from the forever rainy northwest, I'm slowly being talked out of it after reading the various problems. I've personally been in a Habitat at a few Overland Expos and was pretty impressed, but after hearing some real world feedback of people who use them in inclimate weather, I'm not convinced this is the ideal solution. For the kind of money these things command, I'd expect to mount it up and hit the road, not have to take it all apart, seam seal it, adjust little bits and pieces, etc. Very cool concept, but needs some work from what I see. Not bashing AT, too much, as I have a majority of their other JK parts, like fridge/stove slide, cargo drawer, propane bracket, etc.


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May I encourage you to stay excited about the Habitat? As you indicated, it is really a "very cool concept" that very likely will continue to get fine tuned. On the leaks, the areas where I have had problems are where the attic net loops are attached to the ceiling. These "weeping areas" are sealed now - not a big deal to do but an area to address if you expect some showers. We've already read about other adjustments being made based on feedback so you might want to contact AT directly to see if any of your remaining concerns are addressed. I still need to get back to the shop for some tweaks to #12 and am waiting for the word go from UMV and then AT. Nothing left to do on mine is an adventure inhibitor but rather an annoyance. She's pretty well dialed in otherwise.
.
Off to Mt Graham for several days next week!

 

[will]

The purpose of my posting on the leak issue is meant to be informational and hopefully helpful to other owners...not to bash on AT or UMV.

I was afraid of the leak coming from the rubber seal between the two halves of the habitat, but I wanted to rule out what (to me) was a more probable entry point; the fasteners in the roof. If that didn't work, I'd shift focus to the rubber seal.

I haven't camped in the rain yet to test how waterproof the tent is but I'm glad someone posted about the problem and a solution in case that happens to me too.

Technically we are still early adopters. I have #15 and really am happy with the purchase even with the little quirks.

 

[Martyn]

May I encourage you to stay excited about the Habitat? As you indicated, it is really a "very cool concept" that very likely will continue to get fine tuned. On the leaks, the areas where I have had problems are where the attic net loops are attached to the ceiling. These "weeping areas" are sealed now - not a big deal to do but an area to address if you expect some showers. We've already read about other adjustments being made based on feedback so you might want to contact AT directly to see if any of your remaining concerns are addressed. I still need to get back to the shop for some tweaks to #12 and am waiting for the word go from UMV and then AT. Nothing left to do on mine is an adventure inhibitor but rather an annoyance. She's pretty well dialed in otherwise.
.
Off to Mt Graham for several days next week!

We have seen weeping where webbing has been sewn into the seam to anchor the net loops. The webbing has different characteristics from the tent material and water is finding it's way through the webbing fibers. Seal seal on the webbing takes care of this.

We are seeing some problems with water ingress into the Habitat when it is closed. We have been dealing with this on an individual basis with success. The biggest issue we solved was water entering through the hardware on the lid that is used to anchor the support rods. Water was entering via the bolts and working its way through the threads. Using silicon on the fittings solved that.

Other issues seem to be specific to individual shells. The shells are hand crafted and we see some variation from shell to shell. Nothing of any consequence, but it may explain why one shell is water tight over the drivers window and another one is not water tight, for example. We are still in low volumes of production and we are learning every time we install a Habitat and every time we consult with a customer on issues they have been having.

The solutions to the issues have been simple to fix and the majority of the Habitats are working as designed. We are improving the product as we move ahead, and we are providing our usually 100% customer support.

 

[MDM54]

Biothane

You might want to use Biothane webbing. It has a polymer coating that totaly encloses the webbing and would eliminate the weeping of water through the seam.

 

[MDM54]

Biothane Webbing

Forgot the link
http://www.bioplastics.us/

 

[Healeyjet]

TenaciousTJ, please continue to consider the Habitat. My wife and I just returned from an 11 day, 3000 mile trip in ours through the Pacific Northwest. We had very bad rain twice while the tent was up and multiple times while driving. We never had any water come in while driving. While parked with the tent up we had a few drops come down the attic straps (but I knew the reason and know the fix). We had a little water come in the very back but have a permanent fix in the works for that as well (we left a towel spread across the very back and it soaked up anything that came in for the mean time). Annie and I knew that as early adopters there may be some growing pains associated with what is essentially a handcrafted camper specifically made for our vehicle and are willing to work with it. We are having way more issues with our two Goal Zero Light-a-Life's not working than we ever have with the Habitat. The Habitat continues to be set up in less than 3-4 minutes. In the morning I make breakfast while Annie cleans up the bedding and pulls it back over the rear area. After breakfast it takes about 3-4 minutes to fold the top away. It is so easy. The space up there is huge. On one rainy evening we had lights on while Annie did needlepoint and I did some reading, all in the dry comfort of our Habitat. We had one night where it got down into the 40's and we were very snug. I set the heater controls on the Jeep that night before retiring upstairs as we call it. In the morning I pressed the command start and started the engine to take the chill off before climbing down. We continue to get better at setting everything up. The very first night we slept in the Habitat we locked the Jeep with the key fob. In the morning Annie opened the rear side door to climb out and the alarm went off. We wont make that mistake again! I have the Nemo insulated sleeping pads and space foam cover and it is very comfortable. We want to get a bunk heating pad yet and install the eye loops so we can leave all of our sleeping gear in the front half. One thing we do need to solve is the potential for mosquitoes to get in while the back hatch is open for cooking as well as an awning. We are waiting patiently for the Nemo awning so hopefully they are working on getting some for release soon.

Here is a photo all closed up in front of Mount Robson, Canada's highest peak.



At a campground in Washington State





Ward

 

[jrueppel]

We continue to get better at setting everything up.

We've definitely gotten quicker at putting it up and down - under 4 minutes to come down now. It's just a matter of practicing a little.

The very first night we slept in the Habitat we locked the Jeep with the key fob. In the morning Annie opened the rear side door to climb out and the alarm went off. We wont make that mistake again!

Did that once myself! Won't do it again. I reach up to the passenger door to lock things up at night and leave the Jeep keys in the rear pocket nearest the exit door so it's a no brainer in the morning to open up.

 

[jrueppel]

Spent a couple of cozy nights sleeping in the Jeep tree house in Yosemite last weekend.



Bonus points if you know where the only legal 4x4 accesible campsite in the entire park is.