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Anybody sewn one? (Moderated by Deepika)
Posted on: 8/30/05 1:56 PM ET
I wondered if anybody here had sewn a watertight dome cover or other tent cover? DH build us a dome and now it needs a cover. I 've never sewn anything this size or shape. All tips welcome.
here you can see what it's all aboutwww.desertdomes.com
here you can see what it's all aboutwww.desertdomes.com
Posted on: 8/30/05 2:16 PM ET
We have a purchased tent that is a dome. The cover, though, is not that same shape. It is more square. I think the reason why it is a different shape is to funnel the rain (if it should rain) away from the tent. If it were a dome, the rain (if if should rain...never when you are camping , of course) would just be close to the tent and trickle down near the edge and run under.
The cover has its own set of "blind-man" sticks...those are the kind with an elastic rope all the way through some hollowed out fiber glass tubes. The whole unit is very flexible and bends into a huge rainbow shape. The cover has casings on the seams...four seams running corner to center ...the two blindman sticks slip through these casings and cross at the center.
The cover has its own set of "blind-man" sticks...those are the kind with an elastic rope all the way through some hollowed out fiber glass tubes. The whole unit is very flexible and bends into a huge rainbow shape. The cover has casings on the seams...four seams running corner to center ...the two blindman sticks slip through these casings and cross at the center.
Posted on: 8/30/05 3:53 PM ET
In reply to linda_maries
Hi Linda,
is there a website where I could see a tent like yours?
Thanks
Maia
is there a website where I could see a tent like yours?
Thanks
Maia
Posted on: 8/30/05 5:56 PM ET
The nearest I could find is this one... you are going to have to cut and paste into your address field.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1960867&cp=713392.1805398&parentPage=family
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1960867&cp=713392.1805398&parentPage=family
Posted on: 8/30/05 11:45 PM ET
In reply to mamamaia
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?storeId=8000&query=tents&cat=4500029&link=1&noalias=1&originalTextQuery=tent&vcat=REI_SEARCH
Try this site: there are a lot of tents shown with rainflys. The trick of using a rain fly is to have a large enough one so that wind driven rain is not forced under (some 'flys are a stupid pointless little cap- totally useless). You also need to stake it tautly enough so that it is kept away from the tent itself: you need the protection of an air layer to stay dry. Ironically, you also need plenty of air circulation or you will have condensation dripping on you inside. Hint: put a sheet of plastic under the tent to protect the tent floor from rocks. It should be a little smaller than the footprint of the tent to allow the water shed to drain away. Also put one inside the tent to keep sleeping bags dry -water often comes up through the tent floor. It should be large enough to form a 4-6" rim around the inside perimeter of the tent. Don't allow your sleeping bags to touch the tent sides- water will seep in and wet your bags. Set up your tent on a very mild slope or better find a very mild hump. Water will drain away from your tent and keep you dryer. It is not recommended to trench around a tent any longer. It is destructive and if it rains really hard, it may inundate your site. Never set up your tent under a tree with large dead limbs. This is probably way more info than you wanted- sorry.
Try this site: there are a lot of tents shown with rainflys. The trick of using a rain fly is to have a large enough one so that wind driven rain is not forced under (some 'flys are a stupid pointless little cap- totally useless). You also need to stake it tautly enough so that it is kept away from the tent itself: you need the protection of an air layer to stay dry. Ironically, you also need plenty of air circulation or you will have condensation dripping on you inside. Hint: put a sheet of plastic under the tent to protect the tent floor from rocks. It should be a little smaller than the footprint of the tent to allow the water shed to drain away. Also put one inside the tent to keep sleeping bags dry -water often comes up through the tent floor. It should be large enough to form a 4-6" rim around the inside perimeter of the tent. Don't allow your sleeping bags to touch the tent sides- water will seep in and wet your bags. Set up your tent on a very mild slope or better find a very mild hump. Water will drain away from your tent and keep you dryer. It is not recommended to trench around a tent any longer. It is destructive and if it rains really hard, it may inundate your site. Never set up your tent under a tree with large dead limbs. This is probably way more info than you wanted- sorry.
Posted on: 8/31/05 8:16 AM ET
We never trust the extra roof that the tent manufacturer provided. We bought ourselves a huge blue tarp with grommets in the corners and sides. When we camp we put it up in the trees with ropes over the tent area and table. We put it at a slant so the water runs off. We are always dry when it rains and never have to sleep in the car.
Have fun camping!!! It is a great time.
Have fun camping!!! It is a great time.
Posted on: 8/31/05 12:25 PM ET
Kathi, thanks for all the tips!
Linda, the extra roof in the trees is a good idea.
My only other concern is that this dome is circular and about 13 feet 'wide'. I've never handled so much fabric for 1 project.
Linda, the extra roof in the trees is a good idea.
My only other concern is that this dome is circular and about 13 feet 'wide'. I've never handled so much fabric for 1 project.
Posted on: 8/31/05 11:48 PM ET
In reply to mamamaia
Tarping your tent might make good sense. I used to go on a lot of Boy Scout campouts and saw lots of innovative ways of dealing with the weather (one of the best was when one group of clever kids set up their leaky tent inside another larger one!). My 2 person backpack tent has a 'fly that is engineered for it. It has a little vestibule that protects the "door" and provides cover for my boots and backpack. I can't imagine trying to design it myself. Good luck- let us know how it comes out! Have fun, I love to camp. I used to joke that the only woman in CA who liked to backpack married the only guy in CA who didn't.
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