eaglesfly
va
New Member
Joined: 07/29/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
http://www.funoutdoorsusa.com/NapierFullSizeSUVMinivanTent81000.html
with this type of tent, do you think there would be problems with setting them up at different sites?
i am not sure i am clear as to what i want to say. but the places i have gone to so far, the tent spot was further away then where we park.
i love the idea about this kind of tent. however i am worried that i might find problems about where it will set up as compared to where the van will be.
do most sites have it where the van can pull to where the tent would be set up?
they also have the tent that can hook to the side door of a van, but again, do you see problems finding sites that would aocomadate a van that close to the spot where you would pitch the tent?
i hope this made sense.
|
Horseplay
NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/03/2004
View Profile
|
All depends. My daughter has the one from Cabelas. It is very roomy in there.
They can be used alone also, so if you can't use it attached no big deal.
In bear country, you would need to close up the car anyhow or tie up your food.
|
Tiger4x4RV
San Diego County, California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/14/2007
View Profile
|
clickable link to tent info
You might need an RV-type site for this. Many state and forest service campgrounds have tent pads which are quite a way from the parking spot. I don't know about private campgrounds.
|
kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/27/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
You will limit your choices unless the tent can also be used as a stand-alone unit. However, there are also many state and national park CGs that have drive-up tent sites that will work.
Incidentally, we saw a unit similar to this on a recent campout at an Indiana state park. It looked quite spacious.
|
Kamper_Kelly
Texas
Full Member
Joined: 04/18/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Most of the places we've been have the tent pads away from the parking spot. However, most of the parking spots have been long enough that you could fit both the car and tent in the spot. Does the tent have to be staked down? If so, then you still might have a problem with asphalt. The parking spot may not be really level either. I guess the answer is yes you may be limited on where you can camp. These set-ups do look interesting though.
Where are you going to store your food? If you leave it in the car you run the real risk of having critters chew through the tent to get at it.
|
|
|
eaglesfly
va
New Member
Joined: 07/29/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
well my initial thought was to set it up to the van while we are in the site to eat, play some games, sort of just using it as the living room (so to speak). but actual sleeping would be done in the van closed.
food would be kept also in a cooler or tupperware plastic boxes in van.
hmmmm, so i guess i will have to rethink this out.
it does however say it can stand alone. so perhaps as long as it does stand alone it could still work.
i am still looking for the right set up for me. thanks for all the help and opinions.
have i ever mentioned before i love this site!
|
Hiker3
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 01/21/2007
View Profile
|
eaglesfly wrote:well my initial thought was to set it up to the van while we are in the site to eat, play some games, sort of just using it as the living room (so to speak)
A screen room might be cheaper? If you watch Target or Walmart, you can find them on sale periodically. I bought mine for $9.99. Keeps the bugs out!
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
|
huachuca
Tarboro, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 10/31/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
We camp 40-50 days per year, mostly on public lands and although this style of tent has been available for some time, I've yet to see one in the field. I won't speculate as to why as obviously there could be any number of reasons.
While most of our camping is now done in our 16' Scamp, we've car camped and backpacked in tents for over thirty years and still manage an overnighter in our Eureka from time to time. In our experience, its better to totally separate the sleeping and living/dining areas when camping. Food tends to attract bugs and constant traffic means dirt - neither of which is conducive to a good night's sleep. We've had tents of all sizes and, for us, the best setup is a relatively small tent (Eureka Pinnacle Pass 3XTA) for sleeping and a screen room (PahaQue 12x12) for cooking, dining and relaxing while in camp.
The tent is roughly 7'x6' which is large enough for the two of us to comfortably sleep/dress in and freestanding (doesn't have to be staked or guyed) so it can easily be set up or taken down in less than five minutes. The screen room can fit over a picnic table and still leave room for our chairs, coolers and cooking gear.
I'd think ventilation could be a problem in the van unless you can come up with some way of putting screens on the windows so they could be left open and I'm not sure how effective that would be given the pop-out window style common to most vans. Also, if your campsite will serve mostly as a base for other activities away from the immediate campground, even a minimal take down and set up process each time you need to use the van would be a negative for us.
If you don't have your gear yet and you're the only one in the family with camping experience, you might want to get started at one of the KOA Kamping Kabins (or something similar) before making the investment. I see you're from VA so the KOA on the NC Outer Banks at Rodanthe might be a good option for your first trip. Disclaimer - I'm not a KOA fan but unless you can borrow stuff from a relative or friend, this is about as cheap a way as any to figure out if this is an activity the whole family might enjoy.
Good luck and let us know how things work out - Al
|
eaglesfly
va
New Member
Joined: 07/29/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
we are going to the koa in williamsburg va for the labor day weekend. with all our normal gear. so while there i am going to see what i think i would like and then start shopping. i plan to make a list while there.
i do like the suggestion of having a seperate screen room over the picnic table area.
when just my son and i go, i know i will not feel comfortable sleeping in the tent, so i will be sleeping in the van with doors locked. i just have to figure out a way for ventilation.
what do you think of this: http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/100895484/Royal_Sovereign_Portable_Air_Conditioner_Heater.html
having the hose hang out the small pop out window in the back and keeping the other pop out window open also. i can rig something with screen to velcro or duct tape down to keep bugs out.
|
eaglesfly
va
New Member
Joined: 07/29/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
could one person adult plus one 10 yr old put that PahaQue 12x12 up?
|
|
|
