Work Camp-

The last two weeks have presented me with rain at my place of camping. The week before last I had cause to take a few days off, and missed the greater part of the rain. I did not camp that week. Last week I went early and used the warehouse at work to set up my tent. I then drove a few hundred yards and set up camp, nice and dry. I used a tarp over everything, and stayed very warm and dry that week.

In many parts of the country I could not easily camp at work. Indeed, if I weren't sleeping during the day I would not be able to camp where I do. Then again, I would not need to camp if I were working days. I do this to rest after working all night. We have very nice weather most of the year, and this parking lot camp is reasonably pleasant.

I have found ice on the tent a few mornings. I crawled inside and was quite warm in minutes. Most days I need to open my vents fully and get as much air as possible, even in the depths of winter.

Summer has not been bad. We are less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean and the Monterey Bay. We get a sea breeze most afternoons, keeping the area cool.

I have been camping in a truck bed tent for the better part of the last year. So far I have found it a manageable way of living, even something that could be done full-time by a person of suitable temperament. I know I could do it for a protracted time, if traveling alone. Provided the traveler avoids extremes of weather I think it is a fine way to live.

This particular style suites the vehicle I already have, and is very low cost. It is working well for the present in allowing me to get plenty of rest while working night shifts, and avoiding risky morning commutes after staying up all night.

I have considered many other systems that could be put together at relatively low cost. I would love to test some of these, but funds are not sufficient for the present. Who knows what the future holds? I may someday get to test other ways of camping.

That might make a nice "next career." Hmmmm.

Minimalist RV-

So, my Sporz II truck tent occupies the back of my truck. The air mattress/foam pad bed fills most of the interior space. I have begun to regularly put up the awning that is part of the tent, and apply three tarps to enclose the area covered by the awning.

This configuration has been adequate for my current camping needs. It has been the focus of my thoughts as I continue to explore the idea of the minimalist RV.

Minimalism in an RV is a matter of cost as well as size and complexity. My current system is cheap, but does require some set-up and break-down time. I would like to reduce that time, but not at a much greater cost.

The RoadTrek RV is pretty small and simple, self contained and on the whole a nice vehicle. Unfortunately, the RoadTrek is expensive. For those with the money, it is a great minimalist option. Set-up appears relatively quick. Practically none, if you are not connecting to sewer, water and power.

Cheaper are the Westfalia campers. These are quite adequate, especially for one or two people. Much cheaper than the RoadTrek, but still a bit of an investment at around $15,ooo for a good rebuilt unit. Again, for those keeping things simple they are a good choice, if the cost is not an issue.

More and more the stealth camper cargo van appeals to me. Especially after examining the options for tents that attach to the open rear of such a vehicle. In full stealth mode the unit needs to be modified to provide for sleeping and potty needs, and some resource regarding water and cooking. Probably the cooking should be done outdoors unless a suitable ventilation system is installed.

When a more luxurious camp can be established the tent can be erected and attached to the open rear of the van, providing some living space in which you can actually stand up! The tents add only a couple of hundred dollars to the cost of the modified van. The vans can be gotten at a relatively low cost, sometimes just a few thousand dollars.

This set up is superior to my own in that it can be stealth camped. I cannot do that.

For those who do not understand stealth camping it is setting up to sleep in areas generally not open to camping. A stealth camper will fit in around similar vehicles, and not draw attention as the owner sleeps within. A white cargo van fits the bill quite nicely. For those stops in between regular camp grounds it is a great set up.

Tioga George was skillful in stealth camping a class C motorhome. The cargo van can be even more easily stealthed. Just pull into an area late at night where cargo vans are common, and go to bed. No lights, no cooking. Just sleep. Leave before people are up the next day.

The intent of stealth camping is often to skirt the laws regarding overnight camping. A camper must assess their own relationship with such laws, and the idea of violating a law in general, before stealth camping. The low cost (free) might be sufficient to convert otherwise law-abiding citizens to stealth from time to time. Others will be compelled to seek out an "authorized" campground in order to feel comfortable with camping.

I recognize that some of these laws are intended to prevent people from living on the streets of a community without providing any contribution to the local community through taxes and such. Other such laws are simply a way of driving people into paid campgrounds in order for the campgrounds to make the money they would not get if campers could just camp on the streets.

If you are planning stealth camping as you pass through a community and are a responsible camper, I don't see a real issue with ignoring a petty law. keep it clean, keep it quiet, and stay only long enough to get rested.

On the occasions you use a regular camp ground the tent extension can really make a van a home. If my little tarp expansion on my Sportz II truck tent can make this bit of cloth seem like home, then I can easily believe that a tent added to a stealth camping van would seem a mansion.

Perhaps I will get the opportunity to set up a stealth camping rig and try it out. The whole minimalist RV thing is fun for me, and I would love to give this a try.

More about tent poles-

I assembled my tent with the repaired poles. It went together very nicely. I took a little more time, and did each step deliberately.

The two repaired poles worked fine. The one that folds a bit funny due to mixed lengths to the sections still flexed just fine. It is doing its job right now, and doing it well.

Though this was not particularly challenging I really enjoyed learning to rebuild the poles and put them to work. It was satisfying. It is kind of like learning the art of barbecue. I have been experiencing satisfaction there, as well.

One thing I did in assembling the tent that seemed to help was to keep everything slack until I had it all up. Last week I think I had things too tight, which caused me to have to apply too much energy in flexing the poles that broke. I only tightened the various straps that hold the tent in the truck bed enough to keep things in place as I inserted the poles. I think that this allowed the whole tent to flex as I worked and prevented thing from being so tight that I had to hyperextend the poles to get them in place.

Relax. Take time to do it right.

Making Tent Poles-

Many modern tents use shock cord poles. These are tubes that fit together with an intersecting connector, and the whole assembly is held together by an elastic cord that runs through the center of each tube. Here is an illustration of a tent supported by flexed shock cord poles.

The poles are flexed, creating stress that can be used to support the weight of the tent. Unfortunately, flexed poles sometimes bend. I had that happen, largely due to impatience in assembly. Sections hyper extended, and the fiberglass broke. I now had a repair job on my hands.

Some poles are aluminum, and can bend. I read of carbon fiber poles, which are light but also can splinter like the Fiberglas poles. My poles are Fiberglas. It is likely that a repair will be necessary if you use a tent often.

There are kits available. I thought the one I bought was reasonably priced, at less than ten dollars.

When I laid out the broken pole, and the kit, I could see I would have a challenge. First, I had to disassemble the original pole. I tried to be clever, and break it down only as far as necessary. I clamped the shock cord between two sections, so I could isolate the broken section and only remove the parts necessary to get the broken section out.

Once I had the broken section out, I used it to get a length for the new section. I cut one of the sections from the repair kit to that length, and tried to reassemble the pole. Unfortunately, there was just enough difference in diameter on the new piece and the old connector that the new piece wouldn't fit.

I laid it out again, and thought. Eventually I determined I would have to build a new pole with the kit parts, and salvage whatever else I needed from the old pole. I eventually got a new pole laid out, and the time to thread the cord was upon me.

The kit comes with a wire that will pass through the center of each pole section. The terse instructions said to tie the cord to the wire, and pull it through. Now the way you secure the cord at the end of the pole is to tie a knot. If I tied a knot onto the wire, it would not pass through the pole center hole. Hmmm.

I used thread. I tied thread to the wire, which I had nicked with a knife to provide a little holding barb to keep the thread from sliding off of the wire. I threaded the wire through the tube, and pulled the thread through. I tied the thread to the shock cord, and pulled the cord through.

This is good, up to a point. However, the cord stretches. That stretch loads the cord and that loading is what holds the poles together. So, now the cord must be stretched before threading the next pole. I used a clamp to hold the loaded cord and keep it from sliding back through the tubes.

The process was repeated until all of the pieces were threaded. Now I just had to tie that knot. Unfortunately, when I released the clamp I did not have the cord held tightly enough. It sucked back through the tubes, requiring me to do it again.

Once I got to the same point, it couldn't happen again. I was ready, and holding the cord tightly. I thought.

So, after threading again I used two clamps to secure the cord. This allowed me to keep the cord loaded, tie the knot, and be sure things were secure before removing the clamps. Success!

Last of all was replacing the rubber end covers. I now had a new tent pole, and some spare parts for future repairs. The new tent pole does not fold quite as neatly as the old one, because I ended up with various lengths to the sections due to simply not knowing what I was doing.

For the future I have a few ideas. First, get the measured length of the old pole, and disassemble the whole thing. Using old and new parts, lay out a new pole for that length. Make any cuts necessary in such a way that the folded pole will be easy to pack away. If possible, acquire enough new parts to completely rebuild the old pole, and keep the old parts as spares.

I plan to get two small clamps for the repair kit. I have a small saw that will serve for cutting down tube lengths. I want some stronger thread or fishing line to use for the pull line. I plan to look at upholstery needles as options to replace the pull wire, since they have eyes to which the thread might be tied. I also need to find a source of the end caps. They should be cheap, so I will get quite a few.

Now I have made a tent pole, and can build on the knowledge. Great idea for a YouTube video, isn't it?

Tents 101-

Well, I am learning a bit about managing a tent. So far my experience with my Sportz II Truck Tent has been quite positive. As far as tents go, it has been comfortable and convenient. For the most part, the assembly and breakdown of the tent has been rather easy, as long as I take my time.

The only real problem I have had is with the shock cord poles for the tent opening and inside riser. The main poles (3 of them) have assembled well with minimal fuss. I have had to struggle with the pole that arches the rounded area that serves as the door.

Two of those poles have splits in sections of their fiberglass tubes. I am using the tent currently without the inside riser pole, which stretched the roof of the tent on the inside. It is not essential. That pole is serving as the arch support.

I assume that breaking these poles is rather common. So, assuming that, I also concluded that replacement parts must be available. A quick search, and I learn that they are, indeed, available. So, I must limp along with taped-up poles, until I can get to the appropriate sporting goods store.

I am not sure that the arch pole was the right length. I may experiment with some of the materials once I get some spare parts, and see if a different length would serve better. At present I will probably build another pole to serve as the arch, and use the slightly damage pole as the roof riser. I do not think the minor split on that pole will matter much.

Electrical tape does not suffice to make the split sections rigid enough to accept the stresses applied when used as arched supports for the tent. The split section still folds and the arch loses integrity. I wonder if this problem with the model II tent led to some changes in the model III? Until I get to see one, I won't know.

I do know that I have learned a bit about tents, and expect to learn more over time.

It's kind of fun.

My Cloth Castle II-

Well, I am not quite sure what happened there, but my picture did not show up. Oh, there it is. I may yet get the hang of this. It is a picture of my Cloth Castle, mounted on the back of my 1997 Ford Ranger pick up truck.

We had some rain the other night. It was the first test of my tent in such weather. No water inside. I took extra time to set it up this time, being sure the tent wrapped around the bed of the pick up and left no room for water to enter.

Yesterday I slept great. I had to replace my original sleeping bag, as my first selection did not hold up. That one was a cheap semi-mummy bag, and it was too small. It was starting to pull apart, so I exchanged it for a large format rectangular bag. I got one cheap, since it is an ugly orange color. The upside to the color is that it would serve very nicely as a distress beacon.

I am finding the tent quite comfortable. I really would like to take it out on the road. The basic sleeping space is sufficient already, but otherwise I need some more gear. I need cooking gear, and I need a cooler. I also need some storage options for the bed of the truck that will keep my stuff safe. Just chucking tents and such in the back of the truck begs for theft.

A bit at a time I am getting things together. I have been getting things done on the truck to keep it road-worthy. Oil change, new filters. I will need to do brakes in a few months. I just got new tires all around.

It is a hearty little beast, and I will probably be driving it for a long time.

Click the link below for a little clearer picture.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mlockridge01/MikeSPictures/photo#5226760996490756194

Minimalist RV-

My tent arrived Thursday. I assembled it in the bed of my Ford Ranger truck. This tent is the Sportz II, and is really rather nice. It took me about a half-hour to get it assembled for the first time. I believe future assemblies will not take quite as long.

Once inside I was surprised by all of the space. It really will be quite adequate for my sleeping quarters. The plan is to use the tent whenever I am too tired to drive home following a night of work. I have found the commute growing more dangerous as I age, and I don't want to hurt or kill myself or anyone else.

An additional benefit will be the savings on gas. My wife, Linda, recommended I check the local camp grounds near my place of employment. The gas savings could pay for a change of location from time to time. However, the camping during the day is not the usual camping adventure, and the campgrounds may not be able to accommodate me in this.

We shall see.

This set-up can serve as a minimalist approach to recreational travel. A minimalist RV. The truck can actually carry a lot of stuff, and it is quite possible to be very comfortable through much of the year. I am exploring available options for storage and transport of gear.

A larger tent can be carried, to be set up at a camp site that will be home for a few days. There are many options. I don't know that this would be a good full-time life-style, but it could be rather pleasant for part-timing.

Again, we shall see.

Living through the night-

I have begun my shift to the nocturnal realm. I worked my first week on night shift, something I haven't done for quite some time. Much of my working life, perhaps as much or half (or more) has been spent on night shifts. The last few years I have indulged myself and remained on day shift.

I like the night. However, I am growing older, and am concerned about my ability to drive safely on the day following a night shift. It can get scary. I have more than once come awake while driving home, and been in the wrong lane. So far nothing more than fright. However, getting dead is not conducive to earning a living. Killing someone else just because I am tired is criminal.

Fortunately, I have slept well the past few days. I also have a plan in mind.

I ordered a tent that assembles in the back of my truck. I plan to use that on those mornings I know I am dangerous. I may do so rather frequently. It will be an interesting experience for me. I will try to record something on the matter from time to time.