Shade over van - creating the gap

[International Incident]

We will have two cargo vans and one camper van (cargo van size) in our camp. We have designed a simple shade structure to go over the vans (thanks Yggy and Figjam) but I'm still perplexed about how best to make the gap between the roof of said van and the tarp (the gap, of course being essential for air circulation.
Keeping in mind that we are all from overseas and want to keep the options cheap and easy, I have come up with the following two options:

1) Wrapping a couple of lengths of 2x4 in cardboard (we can always find cardboard boxes)

2) A few 2.5 gallon containers of water (thus far this seems the easiest)

I have walked away from old tires and pallets as they are too damn to find.

Any other suggestions?

[tatonka]

going to carry some stuff in a crate like below , then unload them and use them for my roof space.

[MikeGyver]

How about a T out of PVC that goes a few inches above the vans that you can attach to the side of the van to be held in place.

[International Incident]

How about a T out of PVC that goes a few inches above the vans that you can attach to the side of the van to be held in place.

How would you attach it? Other issue is the cutting and joining - probably too much faffing about for 2 of our attendees. Might work for me though.

[MikeGyver]

Duct tape, or if your worried about residue on the side of the rental van a ton of painters tape. The 2x4/crates idea would work the issue being getting them up there which is why I was thinking a T post that you could erect from the ground. Another option for holding it there is tie a loop at the top and wrap it around the van and tie to the bottom of the pole that would hold it against the van without leaving any marks.

[Drawingablank]

in the box truck thread last year we had discussed using concrete form tubes (big cardboard tubes) for this. I wonder if anyone tried it.

[TomServo]

Are the Cargo vans Rentals? Do the Cargo Vans have roof racks? Can they? That's what Ive used in the past, with excellent results.

[theCryptofishist]

International
Why don't you just do what you did last year and use the bodies of those annoying hippies who courted death by saying asinine things?

[BBadger]

The worst part about using the bodies of hippies is having to pack that garbage out and hosing off the vehicle.

I liked that idea with the concrete pouring tubes. You just need to fix them to some boards or something to prevent them from rolling. The crates look like a good idea too, as they wouldn't roll, but you'd still need them fixed to some sort of frame to keep them spaced out. Maybe just fixing the crates/tubes to some 2x4s with bungees would be sufficient.

[ygmir]

pool noodles

[SquirrelHead]

I would say to use darktards over hippies. Hippies tend to leave funky stains on the vehicle. If you have to use the hippies you may want to put some cardboard or something between them and the vehicle.

The concrete pouring tubes could be cut and sat on the flat side so they wouldn't roll off the roof.

[Drawingablank]

If I remember correctly the plan was to use the concrete tubes and run a rope through them and around the vehicle to keep them in place.

[lucky420]

it was junglesmacks who was doing the thing with the concrete forms for the top of his budget truck rental...

[International Incident]

Awesome guys - I reckon we have some good options here.
I will try to remember to post the pictures of what we end up using so others can critique for future use.

[International Incident]

Are the Cargo vans Rentals? Do the Cargo Vans have roof racks? Can they? That's what Ive used in the past, with excellent results.

The cargo vans, in this case, do not have roof racks. Just rentals... and beggars can't be choosers

[trilobyte]

Since it sounds like you're going to be camping in the van (versus just hauling gear in it and leaving it closed up for the week), you may want to check in with some of the Reno regional folks to find a place to get the vans cleaned and detailed post-burn. As a van camper myself, I can assure you they'll get more playafied than a regular car wash can clean.

[International Incident]

Since it sounds like you're going to be camping in the van (versus just hauling gear in it and leaving it closed up for the week), you may want to check in with some of the Reno regional folks to find a place to get the vans cleaned and detailed post-burn. As a van camper myself, I can assure you they'll get more playafied than a regular car wash can clean.

Thanks Trilo. I will do.

[usurpedus]

trash bin?

[International Incident]

trash bin?

kind of works - don't want sharp edges in case it rubs through the tarp. All ideas useful though!

[Turtleburp]

I like the water suitcases you mentioned - they will mop up a lot of energy warming up and get rid of it at night!
Just make sure to put blankets below them and if possible (hahahahahah) wipe the dust off before you put them down

[TomServo]

Pool Noodles!

[Turtleburp]

Super wacky no less.

I would worry about them sticking to the paint.
Air is a better insulator than water though and of the silver tarp reflects well this could be better than water

[mulch]

we are using a tarp over our 21' RV and want a gap as you describe.

I bought a 6 pack of these "winter water tubes for pools" for $30, they look like they will work out well. They are heavier duty than inflatable pool toys and are the right length, they are usually filled with water and hold down pool covers during the winter, but of course we will inflate them with air.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180539639736

[illy dilly]

we are using a tarp over our 21' RV and want a gap as you describe.

I bought a 6 pack of these "winter water tubes for pools" for $30, they look like they will work out well. They are heavier duty than inflatable pool toys and are the right length, they are usually filled with water and hold down pool covers during the winter, but of course we will inflate them with air.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180539639736

Good idea! Packs down small! Though, the gap will only be like 3 or 4 inches, they might inflate to a more round shape when filled with air. Though, when filled with water they're only about two or 3 inches thick. My dad uses them to hold his pool cover down during the winter.

If I remember correctly the plan was to use the concrete tubes and run a rope through them and around the vehicle to keep them in place.

it was junglesmacks who was doing the thing with the concrete forms for the top of his budget truck rental...

Running the rope between them would have helped a lot. But we didn't, and they kept wanting to slide to the center of the box truck.
What would have worked great, and we should have done (especially since I had a sawzall), is taken the 48" tube and cut it into quarters then lay them flat on a flat side. One tube would then work for a truck. On JS's 16' box, it would have been best to have 3 support points on each side.

What Junglesmacks finally found out worked really well was the boxes that the water jugs he bought came in. I believe it was 2 of the 5 gallon jugs in a box, and they didn't bother to unpack them at the store he bought them from. They were the sort of boxes/cases that are open on two sides.
Another idea, is ask the liquor store you stop at for a few extra booze boxes.
Use them to transport stuff there, empty them, put them between the tarp and truck.
Then use them to transport stuff home or if you don't need them just burn'em.

Something to consider is that there was sufficient tension between the giant silver tarp and the truck to hold the boxes in place and not blow away in a good gust of wind.

[International Incident]

What Junglesmacks finally found out worked really well was the boxes that the water jugs he bought came in. I believe it was 2 of the 5 gallon jugs in a box, and they didn't bother to unpack them at the store he bought them from. They were the sort of boxes/cases that are open on two sides.
Another idea, is ask the liquor store you stop at for a few extra booze boxes.
Use them to transport stuff there, empty them, put them between the tarp and truck.
Then use them to transport stuff home or if you don't need them just burn'em.

Something to consider is that there was sufficient tension between the giant silver tarp and the truck to hold the boxes in place and not blow away in a good gust of wind.

Thanks illy. This is what (basically) I've decided to do. put a water jug in a cardboard box, put a part of a sheet under the box (so I can avoid damage to to top of the van) and then have the giant silver tarp tied down real tight. I will take photos then post them up here for future reference.

[illy dilly]

Thanks illy. This is what (basically) I've decided to do. put a water jug in a cardboard box, put a part of a sheet under the box (so I can avoid damage to to top of the van) and then have the giant silver tarp tied down real tight. I will take photos then post them up here for future reference.

YES! Do That!
I really meant to take a pic of our super simple-super effective evap pond. (It was not effective enough to evaporate tortellini).
I always mean to, then never get around to remembering to making sure I remember to do that the next time my camera is out.

[ygmir]

or shovel some playa in the boxes, and spread it back out when done.

[theCryptofishist]

Schroedinger's evap pond could evaporate tortellini.


Well, half the time.

[International Incident]

or shovel some playa in the boxes, and spread it back out when done.

Well - we have to put the play we dig up for our posts somewhere...

[ygmir]

Schroedinger's evap pond could evaporate tortellini.


Well, half the time.

how would you know half the time? wouldn't it take an infinite number of tries?