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Test Camping

Posted:
Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:59 am
by WildTexan
This weekend I took a little one night test camping trip. The campsite was only about 5 blocks from my house. I got there just as the sun was setting. Setup was a lot quicker than I thought it would be. I'm used to 20-30 minute setup with my big travel trailer or with my tent setup. I was finished in about 2 minutes. Just lift the galley lid and...viola. The wife came out for about an hour and delivered my pizza for dinner. I know, I know...pizza? I was gonna cook, but I already know how to do that. The point was to test the T.E.A.R. After eating my wife left me to myself. I thought I was pretty lucky and got a sit back in the trees. Not the case. There was ZERO wind. I should've gotten a site on the lake side of the road where there was a breeze. I climbed in and tried to go to sleep. I checked the temp. at midnight. It was still 91 degrees. What was I thinking coming out here in this heat? I thought hard about going home, but I couldn't let my wife tell me "told ya so", so I sweated it out the rest of the night. At 7:30 the next morning I was already packed and headed home. I need a re-do test trip.

Posted:
Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:06 pm
by honeask
OK, I'm guessing....no AC? We don't have our tear as yet but I think as hard as it would be I would wait at least until late September to try it out but then again I might not be able to wait. Bravo to you for toughing it out. I can't wait for the LCG event on Halloween weekend, it's gotta be cooler by then.....right?

Posted:
Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:22 pm
by WildTexan
Gosh, I hope its cooler by then. I'm only testing it out cause we are leaving for Colorado in 2 weeks. I rather something fall apart close to home.

Posted:
Mon Aug 22, 2011 3:21 pm
by honeask
I totally understand. Otherwise, was it what you thought it would be?

Posted:
Mon Aug 22, 2011 3:28 pm
by parnold
Air movement!!!
Either a vent fan, or a battery operated Coleman fan would have helped!
Hope you have better luck on your 2nd outing!

Posted:
Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:09 pm
by Woodbutcher
Geez man.....good thing you did not go home. Women have total recall. She would have been telling that story at your 50th Wedding Anniversary party.
Good luck on your next test...(don't forget a fan)

Posted:
Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:18 pm
by madjack
...glad you survived...you can get battery powered fans by O2Cool from Walmart for under 20bux...they are lifesavers!!!!!!!!!!
madjack


Posted:
Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:34 am
by GuitarPhotog
My "test camping" trip was in a pouring rainstorm in February. I learned a lot of lessons.
<Chas>

Posted:
Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:49 am
by WildTexan
The tear has a fantastic fan, but it just wasn't doing the trick. There was way more air flow when I exhausted it rather than having it blow in. There has got to be a better way. Gonna try again this weekend.

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:16 am
by Kathy53
Some thing like this might work at night.
http://www.dreamproductscatalog.com/hou ... ifier.html
http://www.priceforsure.com/products.ph ... tId=442245
I once use this (I had also froze the water bottle used in it.) in a tent that was set up under a shady tree. It was around 97 to 99 degrees outside. (Dry heat) Took a nap and woke up chilly.
Not sure how well it would work in the teardrop.

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:32 am
by Shadow Catcher
Ya gotta have some place for the air to go, i.e. an open window/door with screens. The Fantastic fan should be enough to blow the doors off. Our two computer case fans (about 100 CFM on low) is sufficient for a large volume tear with both windows open a bit.

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:34 am
by CliffinGA
Got two things for you:
1. open windows and exhaust setting pulls lots more air in than the fan setting for pulling air in from the top. The literature thatvcame with mine even says it lol.
2. Your in Texas in August! Hook up a small a/c even if you have to do what I did on my first outing and cut plywood piece to fit the door opening andu mounted the act to it. Froze me out but slept fine.
Enjoy your trip and its even hot in Colorado right now.

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:58 am
by jerry101jlh
Look up the Climate Right units. May be somewhat spendy for some, but an easy way to go with little modification. We have a window shaker unit installed and works great, even in Texas, but takes up valuable interior space that having a Climate Right unit would solve.
http://www.climaterightair.com/

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:22 am
by Kathy53
This one is larger than the Kool-Down Air Cooler. Maybe it would work with out having to spend alot of money.
http://www.amazon.com/Unistar-DF158-Mul ... 23&sr=8-19
There is also the Swampy More expensive.
http://www.swampy.net/hprices.html
These ideas will only work if Texas has a dry heat. If Texas is humid it will not work.

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:48 am
by bobhenry
5000 btu window shakers will be clearanced out in about 3 weeks or so for $65 +/- in our area. I am wanting a reversable dual blade window fan for my 4x7 they are almost $60.00 now so I will wait the 3 - 4 weeks and they will go on clearance also for about 1/2 off.
