30 x 26 shade house with vents

[RouseMouse]

we had success with a pair of structures we built this year ( 2003) one being a 20 x 16 peaked shelter we used for a sitting
room and one that was 30 x 26 used to shade our private tents and the kitchen, which had a warpable vented ridge which
could be set to catch the breeze.



the tents were made from white awning grade tarps, conduit, rope, Gromets, 2x2's, screws, and a few odd pieces of rod, wire, pipe, and strap, weilding
was involved.
we also included a set of 12 volt floresent lights run off one of our vehicle batteries for lighting the "house" which we charged a couple times during the week with a solar panel.
more pictures of the camp and tents are at http://www.tda3.com/pics/bman03/bman2003/bman03a.html
tent plans are at
http://www.tda3.com/pics/bman03/bman2003/tent.html
cost was about $500, weight about 250lbs, takes 3 bundles of space , 1 - 10 x about 2 square foot for poles
1 - 3 x 2 x 1 1/2 foot for tarps
and 1- 2 1/2 x 1 x 1 1/2 for stakes rope and parts
one drawback was we spent more time in camp this year.
Email me for further questions and instuctions
Rouse

[Bob]

Like the vent at the peak, and the cost seems reasonable for something made using new off-the-shelf materials...

Q. Have you used it during a rain storm, and does the peak baffling work for that without adding an extra strip?

[RouseMouse]

we did weld and bend parts for this tent.
The Tent was made for the desert sun and we wondered about what if it rained .
I plan on trimming the conduit poles again to fit the tarp better , but for weather tight I would add a ridge piece and lap the corners also , as well as using a heavier framework and tarps, since half of the tent
http://www.dorrelleanmotors.com/pics/bman03/tent22o.jpg
did go through a down pour and the tarp collected water and started to bend the conduit , which I bent back straight to fix , so as presented this is a sun shade structure and shouldn't be used for artic expeditions . But you could modify it.

[Bob]

Rain happens.

[RouseMouse]

One trick we came up with that helps with the dust and should help with the water is that we use a 2x2 that is staked down through holes in it with rebar stakes which has the tarp screwed to it, which should help dam the water from entering through the sides and rear of the tent. We haven't used them in the front opening in the past to prevent a tripping hazzard. We also added another set of removable posts to the frame work to help stiffen it for extreme winds or rain after it barely, (but did,
survived one of the worst down pours I've seen in our town. See the link above to the website for full directions. you do point out that a layer of plastic under the carpeting may be nice to prevent the carpet from becoming saturated with mud, if not water, and also help with those little fibers that seem to come off the carpet pieces over the week. ( even after taping the edges of the worst offenders

[oleg8888]

What kind of tarp did you use?

[RouseMouse]

not to promote a spicific web site,
it's a dot com site on "TARPS" and the page was white.htm for the white poly tarps $60 for the 20' x 30' .

we used the
"Heavy Duty 6 oz. White Canopy Grade Poly Tarps
6 oz. (11-12 mil) UV treated ****Rust-Free Grommets every 18 inches ****Reinforced Corners"

other tarps in silver etc. are availiable .

For the back and front walls we bought rectangular tarps then to fit the tent angles, folded the edge over a heavy string / cord gluing the hem with scotch 90 spray adhesive ( we used about a 3 inch hem but a 6 inch hem would be better and a more durable adhesive for the poly would be nice since some hems started to unpeel after flapping in the wind a week {doorways}), then we added 3/4 inch gromets every 18 inches or so to attach the tarps to the frames.

I should also mention we had a smaller 20' x 16' open ended tent we used with this tent made from a single 20' x 30' tarp if a smaller tent is needed.

[polzicons]

Rouse Mouse my dear friend and BMan Campmate! Felt I should add that I found 2 seperate vendors of tarps and display tents at my favorite local Flea Market. A 24' x 30' heavy-duty white tarp was only $30 and corner connectors just a couple bucks apiece. Just remind folks that unless they are particularly un-handy, the "kits" these vendors offer are a total rip off! Buying tarps and pre-welded angle connectors (available with nipples in every conceivable configuration) from a Swap Meet where you haggle the prices, pay no sales tax, and have no "shipping and handling" fees allows one some control over the end shape and maybe saves a couple bucks, for those willing to hunt a bit. Go to your local Flea Market and look for the people that sell the tents to other vendors. Pick and choose carefully! -Pol

[polzicons]

Oh yea, I forgot to mention that the "WHITE" tarp is difinately the way to go in BRC! We used other colors in the past but white is deal. Avoid at all costs the "silver" because up close it's really GREY, not the reflective space-aged reflective material one may imagine it to be... Blue is pretty bad too, remember 2002 Rouse Mouse? Tell the people how you came across the first white tarp that spawned the Big Top and ZT Tent (or see Dorrellean Motors link above a couple messages!) Here the Mouse has an increadably detailed step by step visual aid that has some GREAT pointers on how to erect a sizable shade structure on the BR Playa. -POL

[McSeed]

U guys r funny.! Can i bild one two? if I were not want to go too, Tell me how an i will do one. We wanyt to go bad but scared some two. How make it all? and when do youw we go? I like this one . Say more and then ill know!

[RouseMouse]

http://www.tda3.com/pics/bman03/bman2003/tent.html
Click this if you can weld, bend, and cut steel, resize and remake tarps, and are good with knots rope, and working with wood.
It will tell you how to build the tents.

Our camp mate Zappy found the white tarps, which are key for the shade factor, I might be temped to use a brown tarp under the white tarp for more darkness for daytime sleeping, but with a white tarp on the outside for sure. the blue tarp seemed to let the UV right through and made me feel sorta ill and toasted .
Rouse

[Icepack]

http://www.tda3.com/pics/bman03/bman2003/tent.html
Click this if you can weld, bend, and cut steel, resize and remake tarps, and are good with knots rope, and working with wood.
It will tell you how to build the tents.

Our camp mate Zappy found the white tarps, which are key for the shade factor, I might be temped to use a brown tarp under the white tarp for more darkness for daytime sleeping, but with a white tarp on the outside for sure. the blue tarp seemed to let the UV right through and made me feel sorta ill and toasted .
Rouse

Any hints on where to find an inexpensive welder? I can't see spending big bucks on something we would only use once a year. Everything I've seen so far (not much I admit) has been over $500.

[polzicons]

IcePack, best bet is to borrow one or better yet just buy pre-made connectors. See above on Flea Market finds. Also sold thru Rouse Mouse's fav tarp site. If nothing pans out, e-m me and I'll buy them myself from Broad Acres Swap Meet and send to you! But look for pre-made for sale locally first (may have extra nipple but who cares) then look at websites, then and only then try to make your own. Why re-invent the wheel? -Pol

[robotland]

Any hints on where to find an inexpensive welder? I can't see spending big bucks on something we would only use once a year. Everything I've seen so far (not much I admit) has been over $500.[/quote]

...You can get welders at Sears, WalMart, etc. for WAY under $500, but they're ARC welders and not GAS welders. (Okay for tackwelds and light-duty farm work, but you can't do a fusion weld.) You might consider looking up local fabricators or asking at muffler stores or U-Haul franchises, both places where lots of welding goes on- there's always somebody who'll zap some parts together for cheap.

[McSeed]

Hey Now, Dr Dan's center vent may be impractiacl in the rain (we were lucky last burn,) but it was very nice and cool inside! He definately "over-engineers" these things but hey, idle hands... The point is to create a huge shade structure. A cool shady camp is worth 1,000 warm beers at BMan! -Mc Seed