mhiscox
Expedition Leader
I added to the functionality of my conversion--at least I hope I did--by adding the Kelty Carport that had been sitting around for a while awaiting the perfect use.
There are reviews of the Carport all over the internets, including at least one by an ExPo member:
http://www.lastgreatroadtrip.com/of.../road-adventure-shelter-kelty-carport-review/
and a very detailed one here:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/rev...t Deluxe Shelter/Test Report by Pamela Wyant/,
which means I'm off the hook for writing one myself.
For present purposes, suffice to say it's a big thing, with many long poles and a good chance that, as my sainted Mother would say, "you're gonna poke your eye out." But it's all quality stuff and well -engineered. Once you get acquainted with the "need-'em-once, probably-not-again" directions, it's still about 15 minutes of work by one person. A second person would make life easier, probably cut the time by 40%, and is likely essesntial for getting it in place if there's much of a wind.
It'll work on the side or rear of most any vehicle with any racks or crossbars to attach it to. It'll likely be happiest, though, if attached reasonably close to the relevent edge, especially on a tall truck. It'll vary by vehicle, but you could end up with an angle where opening the doors or hatch could foul the canopy.
I put it on the back of the Lexus, mostly because the nifty tailgate makes the perfect eat/cook/Angry Birds/write Great American Novel surface. I'm sure it would also work on the side, and probably be more aesthetic . . . my hatchtop spoiler ruins the lines.
It's trivial to stick the two leftover poles in the back end and raise it should you want to see the world and just have shade rather than privacy and shade. You'd need to guy off the poles in much over a dead calm, but they give you the lines for that. (Along with enough stakes to keep the thing reasonably planted, though you'll need to add the guylines and tie them off in a serious wind. Or just drop it to the ground and put a big rock on it.)
FWIW, the reviews make it clear that you can put the poles at the end normally held up by the roof rack and have a freestanding shelter. This is fairly cool, since once you've built the thing, it wouldn't take a minute to take it off and move it.
A retractable awning would be a quicker way to get a little shade, but this thing is huge and gives a nice feeling of privacy. Not ideal if you're just parking and going to sleep, but it's a nice piece of kit if you need shade and/or privacy off the back of your truck. I expect to take it along on many trips and will be glad I have it.
There are reviews of the Carport all over the internets, including at least one by an ExPo member:
http://www.lastgreatroadtrip.com/of.../road-adventure-shelter-kelty-carport-review/
and a very detailed one here:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/rev...t Deluxe Shelter/Test Report by Pamela Wyant/,
which means I'm off the hook for writing one myself.
For present purposes, suffice to say it's a big thing, with many long poles and a good chance that, as my sainted Mother would say, "you're gonna poke your eye out." But it's all quality stuff and well -engineered. Once you get acquainted with the "need-'em-once, probably-not-again" directions, it's still about 15 minutes of work by one person. A second person would make life easier, probably cut the time by 40%, and is likely essesntial for getting it in place if there's much of a wind.
It'll work on the side or rear of most any vehicle with any racks or crossbars to attach it to. It'll likely be happiest, though, if attached reasonably close to the relevent edge, especially on a tall truck. It'll vary by vehicle, but you could end up with an angle where opening the doors or hatch could foul the canopy.
I put it on the back of the Lexus, mostly because the nifty tailgate makes the perfect eat/cook/Angry Birds/write Great American Novel surface. I'm sure it would also work on the side, and probably be more aesthetic . . . my hatchtop spoiler ruins the lines.
It's trivial to stick the two leftover poles in the back end and raise it should you want to see the world and just have shade rather than privacy and shade. You'd need to guy off the poles in much over a dead calm, but they give you the lines for that. (Along with enough stakes to keep the thing reasonably planted, though you'll need to add the guylines and tie them off in a serious wind. Or just drop it to the ground and put a big rock on it.)
FWIW, the reviews make it clear that you can put the poles at the end normally held up by the roof rack and have a freestanding shelter. This is fairly cool, since once you've built the thing, it wouldn't take a minute to take it off and move it.
A retractable awning would be a quicker way to get a little shade, but this thing is huge and gives a nice feeling of privacy. Not ideal if you're just parking and going to sleep, but it's a nice piece of kit if you need shade and/or privacy off the back of your truck. I expect to take it along on many trips and will be glad I have it.
