SUV Tent

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:32 pm

Hi, can anyone reccomend a good one for the playa? We have an Element that we want to attach one to.

Thanks ya'll !!

Pink Daddy · Post by **Pink Daddy** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:57 am

I wouldn't recommend it, to be honest. After taking a tent twice to the Burn, I can't camp that way anymore. Twice I had to spend my morning sweeping out the playa dust from my tent. It was at least an inch or two deep. Your car is going to get playa dust inside of it regardless of what you do, but to double it as a tent just seems to double your troubles.

But, if that's what you seek, here's a link:

http://www.handa-accessories.com/elementext.html

The first tent shown doesn't seem very sturdy. A rough sandstorm will probably destroy that tent. The cabana provides no shelter from dust.

It's up to you, but there aren't many tents designed specifically for your Honda Element. Of those tents, the few don't seem very reliable at BRC. BTW, I've never seen one out there.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 8:59 am

thanks for the input. I saw the Honda ones online & they didn't seem real sturdy to me either. We plan on keeping the Element closed up during the day & dust storms & only open in the tent to sleep. I "get" the dust thing.

It's all about good tying down & a vaccume cleaner.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:38 am

More about tent quality.

Cabelas has some truck tents, some on closeout.
Don't know how good.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:25 am

Boijoy wrote:Hi, can anyone reccomend a good one for the playa? We have an Element that we want to attach one to.

Thanks ya'll !!

A friend of mine had one for her Toyota p/u that fit over the bed, then extended into a bigger tent off of that. I think it survived maybe 3 trips to Pyramid Lake before we were duct taping a lot of the broken poles together. (I'm thinking the tent was bought directly from Toyota) I don't know that being attached to the back of an SUV would make one any sturdier, it was expensive and a piece of crap. Needless to say, it was retired after one summer. Now that I'm a virgin no more. I've learned Black Rock wind is Pyramid wind on long lasting steriods!

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:31 am

This looks kind of cool, heck, you might even be "above" the sand storms!

I wonder how it would hold up in the wind??

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:44 am

that would be kewell in a flood!!

I was considering this one... has some good reviews.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:16 pm

Boijoy wrote:that would be kewell in a flood!!

I was considering this one... has some good reviews.

That one's cool, looks like a lot of screenage though. I would just think with the hatchback open into the tent, your going to playafy your car really bad??

Artemis · Post by **Artemis** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:36 pm

I saw some folks way out on the last road - L was it, around 8 or 8:30 that had really cool tents (2-3) on top of the beds of their trucks that then extended outwards on the side into a bigger tent. They looked like they were army surplus and looked incredibly sturdy. Did anyone else see that or does it ring a bell?

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:19 pm

yeah Lost. It is our plan to keep the back of the Element closed except for sleeping & use a covered cot in the tent part for the additional sleep space we need. I WILL have to do something about that mesh on the top though. It's HARD to find one of these without it.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:26 pm

If a tent has mesh that won't close, it's NOT A TENT!

Let the manufacturers know you're not stupid.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:00 pm

they prolly think the rain fly serves to close the mesh.. but we burners know.. it does not.

NOTHING keeps out the dust.. NOTHING !!!
arrrrrggggg !!!!!

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:00 pm

Boijoy wrote:they prolly think the rain fly serves to close the mesh.. but we burners know.. it does not. NOTHING keeps out the dust.. NOTHING !!!
arrrrrggggg !!!!!

We had a tent set up as our "pantry" We kept all of the dry goods in it. We kept it closed the whole time unless we needed something. Almost no netting on tent except for the front door which had a regular nylon cover over that. Unfortunately the zipper wouldn't work that last two inches down at the bottom. By the time Sunday night rolled around, I bet there was easily an inch of dust inside all over everything.
My Xterra was closed almost the entire time of the event, we stayed out Monday to Monday. My boss is still laughing at the "glaze" on my truck, it's been washed 4 times! It makes me happy every morning when I get in it. I should probably wash the rest of it off this weekend.
::I'm having a hard time letting goooo of the playa

::

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:00 pm

Boijoy wrote:they prolly think the rain fly serves to close the mesh.. but we burners know.. it does not. NOTHING keeps out the dust.. NOTHING !!!
arrrrrggggg !!!!!

I honestly do not have a dust problem in my mesh-based tent. However, I do add a couple of bedsheets over the mesh before I put the rainfly on. Not once in 2009 did I have to sweep out or cover my shit.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:41 am

We clip comforters, whatever, over the top and skip the rainfly entirely. No dust.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:57 am

I am opting for something more A/C friendly in 2010 though. I am done with tenting it on the playa. I need more than 2 hours of sleep a day and I can't get that in my tent. Next year it's hexayurt+AC or Travel Trailer+AC.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:16 am

yeah.. I hear ya there. I'm one of those annoying morning people. I get to bed around 12 or 1 am & I'm up just after it gets light. We have power from the element & use a small fan with a mister for the heat of the day though.

good idea about the sheets and comforters for the mesh. I believe I can use some fabrick & binder clips for the uncovered top part.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:23 pm

there is a pricey hard top conversion for the Element, like the vanagon pop top camper. It looks convenient, and closeable during your non-sleeping times, and a full size (would it be full size? not certain?) mattress is nice.

http://jalopnik.com/photogallery/ursami ... 1000178251

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:35 am

Thats fucking awesome, actually. I didn't know they had a pop-top for the Element. Shit, now I want to trade in my car for an Element.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:06 am

Hi Ellorrum. We have checked those out.. VERY kewell.. 4.5K though & you have to have the element with the sun roof.

We actually have an 84 Westy now that we are trying to sell.. Just because I want to drive a newer vehicle for BM & camping trips. LOVE LOVE the pop up though.

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