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Northern Breeze holds up

Steve & Ellen

Steve & Ellen

Novice
Last night Ellen and I evacuated to a safe spot while camping at LBL. Our site was on the lake. Weather Bug on the netbook and local channels on the satellite TV showed a very strong storm zeroing in on the campground. I got emails on my Blackberry warning me of the storm and then the tornado sirens went off in the campgrounds and surrounding areas. I told Ellen time to go. We already had or safe spot located. The campground restrooms are the designated safe spots. We left everything and got in the car and left. When we returned all was well. 68 mph winds recorded at the local airports. The Northern Breeze held up. I had guyed it down internally at each corner towards the center.
We had a good blow two days before and the side tent came down. I guyed from the end of the long poles to the ground. I pulled the guys parallel to the Camp-Inn. It withstood the 68mph winds as well. We are now waiting for two children and 8 grandchildren to join us for the weekend.
I know there has been alot of talk on this forum about the Northern Breeze. After last night, I endorse them with a new found perspective.
Steve
 
Steve,

Thanks for the information. I am glad that both of you are safe. Glad to hear the Northern Breeze weathered the storm in flying colors.
 
Glad you're safe and sound. It's been one hell of a weather year so far! Thanks for the info on the side tent guying - I'll have to be sure to keep them handy.
 
Steve, what is the matter with you? You know someone is trying to blow Tennessee off the map! Why would you camp in this stuff. Just kidding, my heart is at the camp grounds as well.
 
Well that is quiet the wind test on both the northern breeze and the side tent. Happy you are safe. When you say you guy wired internally - how did you do that?
 
Pat,
In the upper corners, inside, are some loops or D rings.
I ran my guys from these corners and staked them toward the center. The next night we had another good blow and I noticed the whole unit moved quiet a bit but never lifted off the ground.
Outside, I had staked each corner and the center of each side.
I think next time I might add guys from the corner rings parallel to the sides. This would be the typical configuration for any tent except internal where the D rings are.
I am sure there are other ways, maybe others could share.
Looks hot and clear for a few days.
Steve
 
Glad to hear all is well...thanks for sharing info on the Northern Breeze. It is one we keept going back to as a favorite on our "want" list. This just helps ensure that.
 
I guy my northern breeze from the metal hooks where bungee loops attach. It has survived some serious s***. if you park your trailer inside, you can also use the trailer as an anchor of sorts.
 
Thats a great tip at least you don't have to go out in the rain and you can also use the trailer as an Anchor.

We played around with locations on the last night of our trip home and we could snug the trailer up to one side of the tent which lets you fully close half of the front doors rather than draping the door and netting material over each side and not getting a tight fit. The hatch did hit the slopped roof when we did this so you would have to be carefully but its worth examining the site before set up to make sure you have flexibility to either move the trailer or the tent if the weather changes.
 
I was wondering if this would work. Since my Mom is handicapped, I thought the Northern Breeze on the side would give her more room to move around when doing the necessaries like getting dressed than the side tent.
 
I even fit my REI sofa next to trailer with plenty of room to open door. The 560 front windows are outside of tent, but everything else is inside. It's great. Helps prevent curious drunks from bothering you too much! Put the floor in then just back the trailer in, you can go to kitchen without putting your shoes on.
 
Barry and Annie,
we will have to try putting the tent as you did next time we are out. I have toyed in my brain with a way to alter the Northern Breeze by installing a zipper on the top half of each side of the one end. But I have not gotten brave enough to try it could be a pricy mistake.
 
That was a thought that I had which would allow great flexibility although you would also have to alter the mesh and fly sheet central zippers so that they come part at the top to allow the sides to zip back.

My other thought was to get some other material and make side curtains that could be hung on a rope strung from the two internal corner D rings inside the tent. Curtains could be mesh and fabric to provide bug and privacy protection and could easily be made to suit the shape of the tent and the CI. I have some old lightweight fly sheets and some bug netting from a gazebo that may work well.

I think you need flexibility as sometimes you are restricted by the campsite layout for placement especially in wooded sites were you try and get a level site but have to compromise on ease of access on one side or the other.
 
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