The Postman
Ranger
"2 million tourists" in Texas...wow!Yeah it's craziness all along the path it seems. You could be cleaning up if you were in the business of renting Port-O-Potty's...
Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather
- Thread starter Tour 931
- Start date
Sweeney
Administrator
The disaster declaration combined with the "black swan" event in Baltimore has one of my conspiracy minded friends beside himself. I'm one to not trust too much either, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar as Ziggy put it.
OK....dumb question fo the day, what the heck is re-crowning of the axles? I've never heard of this...is this just raising/lower/releveling the trailer if one of the side is a little "weak?" and not sitting level? I noticed Serenity is a little off...just enough to notice if I look for it....
Cary Winch
Camp-Inn Staff
Crowning the axle is a description of doing a camber adjustment on the axle to make sure the wheel camber is perfectly correct. As the camper gets miles the axle tends to wear in and the camber changes a bit. Older models left with not enough camber also so older models benefit the most. A newer one may need a slight adjustment to minimize tire wear. The heavier the camper the more the effect so a well optioned 560 usually benefits from having it checked more than a more basic 550 model perhaps.
Cary
Cary
Sweeney
Administrator
Thanks Cary -- there a procedure for this? I doubt I'm anywhere needing it --- but like to have this around. Especially as my 560 is "well equipped" as Chrysler use to say....
Cary Winch
Camp-Inn Staff
Adjusting the camber on a trailer axle requires a special fixture like we have here at the factory. Basically have to bend the axle a little bit with some hydraulics.
Cary
Cary
What exactly is the "alternative exit" btw- squeezing past the fender on one side? Does the G6 have two doors like the Clam? Thats a great pic btw... between your coyote brown G6 and DustinP? Camo Clam its a tossup for best CI as hunting/game watching blind ...or ice fishing house! Now to do something about the newly birthed shiny egg sticking out... How about a wrap in Mossy Oak? ;)[/QUOTE said:
The Postman
Ranger
Thanks, Dustin!
Advantage G6, then for the two doors,
but looks like they still need a camo option...
Good deal on them here:
Gazelle G6 Deluxe 6-Sided Portable Screen Tent
Advantage G6, then for the two doors,
but looks like they still need a camo option...
Good deal on them here:
Gazelle G6 Deluxe 6-Sided Portable Screen Tent
Sweeney
Administrator
Thats the model I was using. I couldn't put out the cooler stand (on the right) but the other side (I use for grill & cleanup) worked just fine. My only complaint is that its heavy and to put in the roof rack with 1 person is a 'grunt'
I noticed on the pic in your post that you had the Gazelle opening about even with the back of the wheel fender. We set our Clam up so that the top edge of the main opening is about right over where the hatch hinge is, which will bring the sides of the opening about half way forward of the rear of the fender. We drape the canopy/door of the Clam over the CI roof, and the interior screen door is opened with one side draped down each side on top of the fender. You can maybe see what I'm talking about in the attached pic. This gives just enough room for the side table with the Dometic on it.
The Postman
Ranger
Nice! That tucks in there perfectly! Like it was made for it.
Also note how its got room for The CI side tent...
Spa option?
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
Here in SC, in the last 2 weeks most of the school districts declared April 8 an eLearning Day. The kids don't have to come in, so it’s like an artificial snow day.
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
Two Tom’s just walked across the field in front of my house. I wanted to take a picture of them together but they were too far apart.
We had a head custodian who was from NYC and had not been in SC long when some turkeys ended up in the parking lot on some cars. The custodian said he was going to chase them away. We told him not to try. Luckily he didn’t get hurt, but it’s a shame cell phones with cameras weren’t around. It was comedy gold.
Sweeney
Administrator
Yah, I wasn't pulled back fully --- there was still a little room. I probably could have pushed the tent farther to the camper. Seeing yours confirms, it, but it look like it was iffy enough I didn't want to unsteak the tent and move again. BTW, I love the tent stakes that came with ours!
If I were going to use this a lot, I'd want (but never actually build) a drawstring-type sealed fabric to seal off the area around the camper a bit. The cold wind certainly did come in around it.
I was surprised that during the day I could get it from mid/low 30s to 65, even with 1 of the 1/4 screens open for light.
Yah, I wasn't pulled back fully --- there was still a little room. I probably could have pushed the tent farther to the camper. Seeing yours confirms, it, but it look like it was iffy enough I didn't want to unsteak the tent and move again. BTW, I love the tent stakes that came with ours!
If I were going to use this a lot, I'd want (but never actually build) a drawstring-type sealed fabric to seal off the area around the camper a bit. The cold wind certainly did come in around it.
Something we tried at the last CICO was laying down about a 8x10 tarp a few feet behind where we wanted the TD to end up sitting, then back that last few feet so that the TD wheels were on top of the tarp. We then pulled up some of tarp into the fender wells behind the tires creating a barrier to critters/bugs coming under the TD into the gazebo, then put down our jack blocks, and leveling jacks on top of the tarp, and pulled the excess tarp up around the bumper. That created a pretty effective seal for underneath. I've been working on a couple light wt. PVC pipes with suction cups attached to hold the screen door flaps more securely to the sides of the TD when insects are more of an issue.
The Postman
Ranger
Thats a great idea! Saves having to buy a footprint and in case of the Northern Breeze 12x12, figure out how to mod/custom sew something to fit the zippered footprint (which I bought but still not used...
Also the PVC w/suction cup idea, easier than custom sewing a hole in the NB zippered door (also pending...while I decide on which side is best to slide out...
If I put the NB far enough forward, I have privacy to slip out in my pj's...do my bidness. No side tent setup needed.
But then the room to sit out in back is only enough for two camp chairs side by side, table.
Using the NB like Dustin has done with Clam, and Sweeney you have done with G6, if I slide the NB back from rear as much as possible but still use side table, there is room for four chairs...
But then I need the side tent for my bath-spa option...
So, lots of good choices for a tent as screened spare room for the- Luxury glamping extended for longer stays, inc cold shoulder seasons with the side gas port figured out now to connect Big Buddy as toe and space warmer.
The one disadvantage to the NB is the side window covers/awnings dont cover and seal as well as the Clam or G6 with the panels, so with a good breeze there is leakage thru the NB screens...so another project is add some ties or velcro...
Or just go to a G6, the heavy duty or the lighter with roof vent.
One other comment for anyone thinking about adding a big tent- I chose the NB based on recommendations of several here in past, pre Clam and G6 options.
The Northern Breeze is very well made, holds up to wind well, has a built in roof vent, adjustable etc
but being a traditional square external frame, while sturdy, is lots more work to setup, take down and stake in guy lines... once practiced 30 min solo up or down, but generally more of a PITA for me to use unless 3 day stay or longer.
And it needs a sturdy rainfly in someplace with snow...which I have a Kelty tarp to try on, tossed over the top and staked in for next trip.
Even if its a bust ... I'm thinking the Kelty would work as a standalone shade tent for dispersed camping in desert where you definitely need some shade on the spam can, when it gets over 90 in the sun.
Anyway, sorry to blabber on but thanks again to all for sharing, as its just another benefit to getting a CampInn- all the wise ones here who pass on good tips to noobs like me just getting started; 20 years of good stuff archived here.
I'm reminded of Cosmo Weems (god rest his kind soul) you-tubes about sweeping snow off his Clam in the storm in Maine Woods boondock...Neither CI nor a Vistabule can be true 4season without a lot more effort, or toughness of the user.
See Bear's story about camping on the Yellowstone in minus 40 degree...the HughGlass of CampInns!
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Van_and_Terri
Ranger
I viewed Cosmo’s snow video too. He had to be pulled out with a wrecker and if I remember correctly, he had some damage to the car. The snow was that deep. I always enjoyed his videos. He sold a lot of Vistabules.
Sweeney
Administrator
Great idea....Simple and not a bunch of parts. I actually don't mind the parts , what I hate is wet parts. Using the Gazelle, clam, king-camp canopy, the coleman canopy --- whatever. If its dry -- easy. But wet you've got to contend with musty smells and mold. Yuck! My garage is too small to hang them up to dry....
This is my only problem with teardopping!!
Weems was full of great ideas....I didn't discover him until just before he passed away
Where's that 'bear' story -- posted here on is it documented in video...-40 yikes! 20 is about my limit, after that the fun-o-meter drops to numbers low enough I'll stay home or pack up and leave....
Great idea....Simple and not a bunch of parts. I actually don't mind the parts , what I hate is wet parts. Using the Gazelle, clam, king-camp canopy, the coleman canopy --- whatever. If its dry -- easy. But wet you've got to contend with musty smells and mold. Yuck! My garage is too small to hang them up to dry....
This is my only problem with teardopping!!
Weems was full of great ideas....I didn't discover him until just before he passed away
Where's that 'bear' story -- posted here on is it documented in video...-40 yikes! 20 is about my limit, after that the fun-o-meter drops to numbers low enough I'll stay home or pack up and leave....
Yeah, packing up wet is no fun, and we do our best to avoid it, to the extent of packing up the night before if rain is predicted overnight or the morning we are leaving, but it's remarkable how quickly at least the Clam fabric, (and I'm assuming the Gazelle is similar) dries out with a little break in the rain. I usually can shake the majority of the droplets off, and what little remains usually dries out pretty quick, or a towel on a broom is pretty effective at hurrying it along.