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Shelter advice

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:39 am
by rmcelroy
As much trouble as I went to to keep weight down in my TD I have a hard time loading an Ez-up along with everything else to pull down the road.

Has anyone used their trailer to form at least some of the anchor points for a shade/rain shelter?

I was thinking an 8x12 or so tarp with six and eight foot Al tent poles configured in some sort of Rube Goldberg fashion would be interesting if not impossible to set up LOL. Was thinking eye bolts placed at certain points on the TD could be used to slip some of the poles into to anchor the tarp and begin the rest of the setup.

This problem has been bugging me for awhile now. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Mc

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:00 am
by EZ
Mc, I have been trying to design something like that for the past few weeks. I want some kind of awning that doesn't need any stakes and is supported on the side of the TD itself. Doesn't have to be that big, maybe 8 X 6. I have come up with a few ideas, such as an attchment for a vertical pole on each end of the TD and then some PVC pipe across the other end with a support from the side of the camper at whatever angle is necessary to the middle. Sounds confusing. There do not seem to be a lot of designs for something that uses the teardrop doer the anchor points.

Ed

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:14 am
by mfkaplan
I have somewhat the same problem. If I connect the canvas to the trailer, how do I support the oter end if I'm on a hard surface? I would like to use a EZ up but they need 2 people to put them up. I did buy a shelter that needs to be staked with rope guys which would work on dirt. Iv'e never put it up, it's still stored a tthefoot of my bed in its bag. The last event I went to, we were on asphalt. It would be great if there was a self supporting shelter that one person could put up because the best shelter would cover the triler and the galley area together.
Mary
Mom's nest

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:24 am
by madjack
...something recently learned that may be of some help...1/2"emt fits very snugly into 1/2"pvc pipe...this allows you to use 1/2" pvc fittings with a "bushing" made of a short piece of pipe and the emt which is much more ridgid than pvc pipe...my partner Jim, just built a very nice, full awning/tent for his "BedRoll" MC camper using this setup...one side connected to the camper and the other 3 freestanding...the next time it gets setup I will try and get some pics ofit
madjack 8)

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:17 pm
by Classic Finn
Summer time must be very close since everyone is planning awnings and sun shades and.... :thumbsup: :thumbsup: 8) 8) :relaxing: Im planning the same here in the Arctic... :lol:

Classic Finn ;)

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:18 pm
by Sonetpro
Caseydog had a Kelty at Beavers Bend. It looked like it worked well, and lightweight.

Image
Image

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:55 pm
by rmcelroy
That looks pretty good Sonetpro. I probably should stick to something that was designed by someone that knew what they were doing.

But.....

I have been drawing a rectangle (tarp) then another rectagle in the upper right quarter (TD) using 9 tent poles (3) 8 ft in the middle and (6) 6ft on the two ends (3 each) To get a pitched roof shelter, that looks like it will carry for miles if any wind at all comes up.

Now I need to consider utilizing the emt/plastic pipe idea into some type of frame (thanks Jack) Or something. I'm not even thinking about hard surface. My brain can't work that hard.

Sounds like we need a giant light weight umbrella right? Kinda like Caseydog.

Mc

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:09 pm
by Sonetpro
rmcelroy wrote: Sounds like we need a giant light weight umbrella right? Kinda like Caseydog.

Mc


We use one of those at the beach. A 9' market umbrella, We drive a 1 1/2" pcv pipe into the sand to stick the pole in and it doesn't go anywhere.

Image

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:24 pm
by rmcelroy
Cool camping right on the beach! That looks strange to me-everwhere I camp has trees. Where do they let you do that?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:32 pm
by Sonetpro
rmcelroy wrote:Cool camping right on the beach! That looks strange to me-everwhere I camp has trees. Where do they let you do that?


Texas open beaches act. You cannot privatize any beach in Texas. If you can get there you an use it.

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:45 pm
by Ira
Sonetpro wrote:
rmcelroy wrote: Sounds like we need a giant light weight umbrella right? Kinda like Caseydog.

Mc


We use one of those at the beach. A 9' market umbrella, We drive a 1 1/2" pcv pipe into the sand to stick the pole in and it doesn't go anywhere.

Image


I forgot you had that pop-up thingy room.

What's the deal with that again?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:14 pm
by Gage
You mean something like this. It's hard to see but there are 4 polls that slide through 'I' bolts which are attached to the tear and then two more poles that are free standing at ther rear.

Image

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:59 pm
by oklahomajewel
Gage , I like that one but Oklahoma is known for wind....

I too would like something I can put up by myself or with little help and lite weight is ideal!

Caseydog's Kelty at BB was terrific!!!! Like the poles of a dome tent, and flexible... he said like that in the pictures, he could have pulled the poles in some and made the height bigger. I saw him take it down on his own - heck , I could do that ! But about the same price as an EZ Up I think. Flexible in the wind and won't blow away. And very compact and light to carry in the tear or car!

NOTE: he had a couple of the poles secured with a rock, you could always take a couple of red bricks or such , just in case.

Edit: I wonder if I could modify a no longer needed dome tent or use those poles........ :roll:

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:37 pm
by mfkaplan
I really like the Kelty. The teardrop fits right under it. Can one person put it up ? Does it take a lot of muscle? Have to come up with anchors. Maybe some concrete blocks.
Mary
Mom' Nest

PostPosted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:02 pm
by clkelley564
mfkaplan wrote:I have somewhat the same problem. If I connect the canvas to the trailer, how do I support the oter end if I'm on a hard surface? I would like to use a EZ up but they need 2 people to put them up. I did buy a shelter that needs to be staked with rope guys which would work on dirt. Iv'e never put it up, it's still stored a tthefoot of my bed in its bag. The last event I went to, we were on asphalt. It would be great if there was a self supporting shelter that one person could put up because the best shelter would cover the triler and the galley area together.
Mary
Mom's nest


I've set up many an EZ-Up by myself. Yes it takes a bit longer, but I just start pulling and working my way around until it's expanded.