Tent or Car Port

[theCryptofishist]

Okay, I have a car port--2008 vintage. It's huge. When I was driving home last year some of the poles managed to knock the switch that opens the van door. I've never quite trusted them since. Part of me thinks that I just want change the strategy and go with something else, maybe one of the canvas tents. But then I'd need shade. And whatever I get, I'll have to have someone else help me, or set it up for me. (I hate that fucking dependence...)
Any thoughts? I'm sort of in squirrel cage mode of not sure what to do, and sort of not coping with it...

[Captain Goddammit]

If it's one of those Costco 10x20 carports - it's really hard to beat them on the playa. Those damn things are the standard building block of Black Rock City.

[junglesmacks]

6 man dome tent inside/underneath carport with an old area rug in front. Awesome setup..

[shykat]

I say carport/shade trumps a tent. It can double as a tent, where a tent alone Can Not provide much shade.

The people with the stand alone tent, IMO seem to suffer w/o the shade, last year a couple moved the tent to butt up against the back wall of our shade structure in hopes of some shade (and last year wasn't that hot)

[theCryptofishist]

But I still have a transportation problem... I don't have much room in the van, and I'm not sure how to pack the poles so that they don't shift and open the van door.

[Bob]

Seems like a packing problem.

[Jackass]

Bundle the poles and strap them to the roof?

[theCryptofishist]

No. Nothing on the roof. I don't have a rack, and couldn't reach it if I did.
Yes, a packing problem. The problem being that 3 totes, a second chair, a cot, and a cooler are already using up most of my space, even without the carport (poles, roof, and sides). I pretty much have the back bench seat, shotgun and the floor in front and the part of the back that's not filled with the massive motor of the side door. I suppose I should get a couple of the canvas duffells for the poles...

[StevenGoodman]

Crypto,

A duffel for the poles is a good idea. Or wrap them up in a tarp, and then wrap a couple of bungies around the whole thing. An extra tarp and bungies are always useful on the playa.

A problem you will have with many of the canvas tents is the door. Normally they don't go all the way to the ground; there is a 2-3" lip, to keep water from running inside.

If you like your carport, stick with that.

Martini Steve

[theCryptofishist]

Ta. Last year, in regard to a different issue, someone recommended one of those things that attachs to the tow ball---you know, just writing that...I don't know that I was something six inches off the freeway like that.


grrrr.

Weird lack of options always crops up.

[Savannah]

Duffles. Tarp and bungees would require even more vigilance.

[StevenGoodman]

Ta. Last year, in regard to a different issue, someone recommended one of those things that attachs to the tow ball---you know, just writing that...I don't know that I was something six inches off the freeway like that.

There is a platform like attachment that attaches via a tow ball, but I have never used one. Not sure it would give you much more load capacity.

But it seems your previous setup on the playa work OK, so I would stick with that. Just seems to be a packing/loading issue!

Martini Steve

[Mojojita]

We bundle the poles and have discovered a pretty easy way of doing it. The bundles are still heavy and I have to get help lifting them once they are bundled together but one person can get the bundles together. We put poles up on two chairs so the ends on each side extend past the chair by about two feet. Then wrap each end of the bundle with plastic wrap, then over the plastic wrap bind together with a couple wraps of duct tape. That way removal of the tape is easy and quick. Connectors go in a plastic tote, roof and sides in a canvas bag.

[FIGJAM]

They will give you extra cargo space and are easy to remove when not in use.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=tow+hitch+platforms&hl=en&rls=HPIC,HPIC:2011-50,HPIC:en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1360&bih=589&wrapid=tlif133892230676610&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13688809660619278863&sa=X&ei=8lTOT56YLqOA2wW6iazDDA&ved=0CH0Q8wIwAA

[theCryptofishist]

What I'm worried about, Figjam, is how high my van is off the road. Not very.

Steve, Piney and TITWI were taking the thing on and off the playa for me every year. Last year was the first time I drove up in the van, and I was overloaded, I think. Sadly, I have to leave half the space empty, and even with the front seat out, it was not an very happy thing. And I drove up without the carport, and drove back down with only the skeleton. Attaching something to the roof would mean that I have no control over adjustments on the road...

urrrrgggg...g.

[trilobyte]

Perhaps with the right cargo trailer you can distribute the load so that the van's not quite so loaded down?

[theCryptofishist]

I hate to keep saying "no" to all suggestions, but I'm not towing. Driving is stressful enough.
Thank you, though.

[FIGJAM]

The platform hitch inserts can be had that add 4 to 6"s so that you don't drag the ground.

They say 500 pounds capacity, but I would just strap lite stuff on it, so the vehicle will handle properly.

Plus it's the perfect hieght for you to access it.

[kiss-o-matic]

About what size are the poles on the these suckers? I'm seeing some for $118 on Ebay. I asume the poles would fit in any SUV/Van w/o stabbing the driver in the ass?

[AntiM]

About what size are the poles on the these suckers? I'm seeing some for $118 on Ebay. I asume the poles would fit in any SUV/Van w/o stabbing the driver in the ass?

Special circumstances, the van has a chair lift which can't be blocked.

[Bob]

Thule or similar racks on the roof are the easiest things to add, but if that's entirely out of the question, look at internal racks or brackets attached to the ribs of the van to hold stuff securely. Would give you more floor space. Picture something like the luggage rack on a passenger plane, big enough to hold a carport package, along with rings to accept ropes or ratchet straps.

[theCryptofishist]

..but if that's entirely out of the question...

I think it is. If the load shifts at all I have no way of tightening it up. The internal ribs sound interesting, but again that interferes with my entry and exit.
Thank you, however. It's nice to have people take my questions seriously...

[adamrice]

Can you take out the back seat in your van to liberate some space?

Can you lash the poles to some fixed point in your van to keep them from sliding around? Once they're bundled together and lashed down, they shouldn't go anywhere.

Can you put something between the poles and the switch?

[catinthefunnyhat]

Can you get the poles cut and get some custom joints made to put them back together securely when the structure is built?

[theCryptofishist]

CitFH--Poles are already cut in half. I don't see how cutting further will be a good thing. More crap to carry... becomes a different headache...
adamrice--The seat seems to be on some sort of "block" and pretty solidly there. I can't think of a good space to latch.

(It's becoming frustrating that I don't know how to reduce size on image files... I should see if I can do something with my photobucket, I suppose.)

[catinthefunnyhat]

(It's becoming frustrating that I don't know how to reduce size on image files... I should see if I can do something with my photobucket, I suppose.)

I just use MS paint. Just use the "resize" tool (in the toolbar, next to the selection tool, if you're using Windows 7). You can keep the aspect ratio the same -- type in a percentage to change each dimension, or a number of pixels to reduce one dimension to. Save, and you're done.

[theCryptofishist]

I don't think have macpaint...

[catinthefunnyhat]

I don't think have macpaint...

Oh... you're one of those.

There must be some simple image-editing software that comes standard with macs... no?

[BBadger]

I used both a carport and a tent!

I've never been able to find duffle bags that are large enough to hold the poles, so I use the method Mojojita suggested: take garbage bags and wrap them each around the ends. Then bind them with duct tape. The garbage bags will hold the end-pipes together, and also prevents the duct tape from leaving residue on the pipes. It's really easy to bind up when you leave too. If you bind only pipes that are the same length (and you should), each bundle should be liftable.

For the joints, just toss them in a box.

For resizing stuff, can't the export feature on iPhoto do it? I just use Irfanview on Windows, but that's on Windows.

IMG_2005_small.jpg

[theCryptofishist]

Export feature...
Hm.

But what do I save it as?