best side tent (modern)?

[dogcoves]

[NOVA Bus]

Not yet, in the process of contacting the vendor, their website say's "instock". So we'll see what happens next....

this is nice as well!

_________________
********************************
1977 Transporter / Weekender
- GE engine, L-Jetronic w/ hyd. lifters
- Brown Beige plaid P27 Interior (ED)
http:/[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-29638.png]Click to view image
Camper Interior donor:
[/URL]/www.vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=721 (M-Code for interior).

[manikmike]

Hey All,

Just put in for the Bus Depot Spacemaker- happy to post first assembly pics etc if anyone is interested... to any current owners of side / drive-away tents:

What "attachment" to the bus are you using? The standard appears to block the rain gutter, the Side Tent Mounting Channel looks like it might chip away at paint (ordered them before that occurred to me)... the suction cups seem the obvious choice, look cool, but are mildly pricey if not ordered with the tent ... anyone else have experience hooking this rig to their bus?
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Mike
Boston, MA

[hiwaycallin]

[PicklePickle]

[cdennisg]

Are any of these tents freestanding? I like the idea of adding extra room but all those strings everywhere and then having to take the thing down to go exploring seems like a real pain. The Spacemaker looks nice but is way too big for my needs.
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nothing

[manikmike]

[1FUNBUG]

I’m very happy with my spacemaker tent. I was a little skeptical about the separate floor covering at first but I’m getting used to it. It is a well constructed, heavy duty unit. I’ve only set it up twice but I know that the more I use it the easier it will be to put up and take down. It has removable privacy curtains that cover the windows and a separate “room” with built in floor that clips in place. My 9 year old daughter helped set it up. It came in handy with the rain shower that came through at our Cincinnati Buses n Boats campout. I also have a small clamshell trailer so packing it isn’t a problem for me. Good luck with your decision.
_________________
1FUNBUG

71 Beetle, 1776, dual Kadrons
77 Westy, Camper Special 2.0 F.I.

[Busdepot]

We have a new version of the Spacemaker coming at the end of the month. This one has an actual sewn-in floor, and packs smaller. Normally this version is $100 more than the other one, but the supplier gave us a deal because they couldn't deliver the other one on time. So, for now, it is the same price ($399). Link:

http://busdepot.com/details/spacemaker.jsp
_________________
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com

[woodyvw9]

Pickle Pickle,
Thanks for the kind words about my bus. It was painted white over the sage when I got it and I went into the paint shop with cyber green metallic as my color. The paint guy agreed.

Currently being loaded onto a truck to move to California.

Woody
1978 Westy
2002 Passat GLX wagon

[Tooster]

I bought the old model Spacemaker last year. I like it, but can't figure out the correct way to stake the flaps and the floor (no instructions).

I looked at the picture of what you did above and it looks like you staked the outside flap layer on the outside which is obvious, but what did you do on the inside - namely, how did you handle the floor. Did you stake the inside flaps to the floor or is the floor not connected to the inside flaps - and thus there is exposed ground on the inside? It seems like my floor sheet isn't big enough.

[Olde Volks Place]

Okay I have a very strange question. Has anyone ever seen -known of - a tent that you could utilize with two buses. We just bought a second camper, and I would love to find something that would have two bus terminals, and a opening to enter in the front. That way the tent could serve as somewhat of a vestibule to the two buses. Of course since both of ours are American in nature we will have to face the buses in opposite directions. ???????????


April

[grandfatherjim]

Here's a view with the Spacemaker setup showing how it kind of feels like a livingroom.
At first I really didn't like the separate floor idea, but after this trip to BusFusion (4 day weekend), we really like having no floor. You get in and out of the bus so often, and every time you go through the Spacemaker you would be crunching across the floor. It was nice having it acting primarily as shade.
However, we had great weather. We would have wanted the floor if the ground was soaked.

http://picasaweb.google.com/grandfatherjim/Busfusion2008/photo#5215796794984763506

[hiwaycallin]

[zunic]

Maybe my question will sound stupid but it seems important for me!

Is there any material between the bottom of the slidding door and the ground? In other words, I would like to sleep in the tent while my baby is inside the van... and I would like to let the slidding door open. Will mosquitos be able to reach us!?

Thank you!

Pascal

[grandfatherjim]

There is nothing there; mosquitos will definitely reach you.
We have been thinking about some way to block it off but haven't done anything yet. We may make some kind of storage box that will come out and be used as a step up into the bus, so that would have to somehow interface with whatever is used to block mosquitoes.
Jim

[grandfatherjim]

We received our new version of Spacemaker right before taking off on vacation for two weeks, where we experienced it through good weather and bad. Here it is set up at the pommerie where we camped first. The next place we went, a music festival, it was just too big. The third place, near Moravia NY, we set it up again, and it rained intensely for days. It stood up very well in the rain and wind.

Pros:
1. When packed, it fits in the spaces in our Adventurewagen, whereas the previous Spacemaker didn't quite. Probably a non-issue for most people.
b) the poles are shorter when packed.
2. Lighter weight - also nice if you're hoisting it into overhead storage places.
3. Big. Really big. Great if you need lots of space.
4. Faster setup, although not by too much.
5. All four sides open up, compared to three sides on the earlier one.
6. Floor connected to rest of tent - maybe a pro. Not sure yet. Seems OK.
7. Great big awning over main entrance keeps rain out of tent very well.
8. Not as many pegs as the earlier one, with all its extra pegs for the separate floor. Still lots, but maybe less than a hundred...

Cons:
1. Opening on van side does not cover entire sliding door when in open position. Very susceptible to being torn when the door is slid open not too carefully. I just know it will happen eventually. Strange because the earlier one did cover the opening and the sliding door entirely.
2. Big. Really big. Too big for some campsites.
3. If ground isn't level, you end up with excessive tension where the floor meets the bottom of the poles. It has started to rip a bit already in one place. Very disappointed in this.
4. Non-detachable floor - maybe a con for some people.

Now that we have both (hmmm, gotta unload one somehow...), to me, the ideal version would be about the size of the earlier one, or even a tad smaller, with the ease of setup and and packed size of the newer one, or smaller. There are usually just the two of us camping so this is real overkill.

I know I'm forgetting something. I'll post later if I remember.
Jim

[hiwaycallin]

[Westy Driver]

Not saying it's the best but it works nicely while camping, as a vendor at festivals or in the backyard...a few different ways to use it, with solid panels attached, with bug screens attached, sans screens or any combination. Straight legs so you can nudge it up next to the bus, then drive away...

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/deta...amp;r=view

_________________
Gandalf - '76 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobile

[manikmike]

Hi All,

Some more pics of the latest Spacemaker. It is indeed a monster- not appropriate for on-the-daily-go roadtrips, but for 4 adults heading to the beach for a few days (and hopefully some music festivals in the Spring), we think it will be awesome.

Overall it feels quite stable. The "spare room" is a nice way to add some mild privacy for folks not sleeping in the Bus, and deconstructs quickly to open the area up, say for folks to hang in during rain. Being able to roll up and open all 3 sides of the main structure is great.

The only disappointment is the fitting to the bus- as mentioned, it's open to the ground, and fits poorly around the slider opening... altho, having only set it up 2x, I might figure out a better way next time. Going to play with clothespins and small tarps for the space between the ground and bus/ tent, then sew something...

_________________
Mike
Boston, MA