Will do a narrative later, this thing worked great and was storm-tested over two nights.

In route to Big Meadows CG in Shenandoah NP

Those are Gidget's scooters on the back of the E in the previous pic.

She pulls me. Lucky pup... :shock:

Wow that tent looks great!!

How much $$$ does it cost, brand, place where you bought?

That looks better than what honda offers since it covers the ground as well and is fully closed at the ends!!

A search reveals the following

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=130777&postcount=15
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3576

I bought it off Amazon and it is actually shipped by a place called camping gear-outlet. $208 was my cost. Because it does not have a full fly I was concerned that it would leak. Two thunderstorms this weekend and no leaks so that was a nice surprise.

The partial fly on the top covers ventilating screening. The tent is also quite tall. So tall that I couldn't attach the gear loft that comes with it. Already attached to the side of the tent near the tunnel is a mesh gear bag that would be great for a flashlight and a few other small items. Very well thought out tent, I think. There are two very large doors and an additional window which combined with lowering the E's windows (covered with the highly recommend $55 bug screens from www.skreenz.com (http://www.skreenz.com/)) made for an extremely well ventilated sleeping situation and keep cool the x-treme cooler which I store on the passenger seat.

This is the setup I'll be taking to Acadia N.P. in October.


Sportz SUV - Minivan Tent
Other products by Sportz (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search.html/103-8563124-4438208?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=3375301&brand=Sportz)


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td.productLabel { font-weight: bold; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; vertical-align: top; padding-right: 5px; } table.product { border: 0px; padding: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; }Price:$209.99 Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days. Ships from and sold by Camping Gear Outlet (http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/shipping.html/103-8563124-4438208?%5Fencoding=UTF8&seller=A2S38629P1WM54).

Contrast this setup with what we went across country with last year. Fun, but cramped.

Became very efficient packing for this trip.

Is there some extra mesh at the front edge of the tunnel? Something that you added to improve the bug proofness?

paulj

And how about Big Meadows? I've hiked every trail around there. Some of them are simply awesome! Some of the best campsites touch the AT. We actually had some hikers stop by our fire for a few minutes on a cold and spitting day last fall. They were quick to check out the E.

PaulJ - yes, I keep bug netting in the E (along with the skreenz) and decided to take the extra precaution of draping it over the tunnel. It's a 72" piece from www.campmor.com (http://www.campmor.com) that cost $5 and has no doubt saved a lot of blood.

Snarf -- Years before camping at Big Meadows I had done a lot of hiking near there. Most notably, the Cedar Run-Whiteoak Canyon loop. A friend of mine used that loop to prepare for three Nepal trips: the Annapurna trek, Everest base camp and a trek to the north side of Everest through Tibet. She says the "Sherpa steps" on Whiteoak are great prep. Not for summiting Everest, of course, but for the rest of it below the icefall.

A favorite little hike is the Rose River-Dark Hollow falls loop. And Camp Hoover is interesting. I caught evening sunsets at Blackrock adjacent to the Lodge. Am looking forward to going back toward the end of August. Thinking of working in WV's Blackwater Falls between now and then.

It's not the Cascades that I love, not by a long, tall, non-humid shot. But the Shenandoahs are lovely and rich with history. And they're 2 hours from DC so it's some solace.

I think bugs got in around sides of my campertop tent last month - part of the problem is the angle between the glass and metal below it, which leaves a triangular gap if the fabric is pull tight over the sides. I have experimented with using a magnet to snug the fabric up against the metal and glass in that corner.

Magnets, spring clamps, and reusable zip ties are my tools of choice for tweaking the fit of a tarp/tent/netting around the Element.

paulj

that looks awesome. do you ever drive off and leave the tent behind, all zipped up, and then "re-attach" later? i might have to get one of those.

I was fortunate enough to hike a lot of Shenandoah National Park when I played music for a living - hiked by day - played by night....*sigh* those were the days...back to the real world

I like the secluded hikes like Hazel River falls, Jones Mt. Cabin area, The Peak. and Oventop Mt.

Can't wait to take the 'E' up there...I prefer to backpack to my campspot, though...

personally i have never camped in the Shenedoah. I have hiked plenty of times there and have stayed at the motel at Big Meadows. Loved every minute of it. Now that i have seen the pics of this tent with the E i think i'm going to order it and head out on my next long weekend!!!!

Thanks for the pics Hiker Chic!!!!!!

Benny - this was my first time out with that tent and I have not yet driven off without it. Doesn't look too difficult. Would have to unhook four straps and in my case remove the bug netting I threw up there (that takes about 5 seconds). I had also tied some rope to keep the tunnel from flapping and because the forecast called for thunderstorms the first couple nights. I tend to be redundant on stake and guying out tents and my gazebo (the 12x12' Eureka "Breezeway" that I've owned for 10 years and also highly recommend -- I wouldn't camp without it).

The tent is designed to function as a stand-alone.

Those are Gidget's scooters on the back of the E in the previous pic.

She pulls me. Lucky pup... :shock:
Hiker Chick: I was reviewing your Ellie Camping set up when I saw your pooch "Gidget". I remenber seeing a dog that looked like her recently...so being a good neighbor over in Virginia, I went looking,,,and here it is. Here she looks like she pulled you a little too far ! :)

Hiker Chick: I was reviewing your Ellie Camping set up when I saw your pooch "Gidget". I remenber seeing a dog that looked like her recently...so being a good neighbor over in Virginia, I went looking,,,and here it is. Here she looks like she pulled you a little too far ! :)

:lol: :lol: :lol: That will be me and Gidget after we hike Cedar Run-Whiteoak Canyon this weekend! Going back up to Shenandoah NP with other hiker chicks. Will take more E and tent pics, of course. :grin:

Thanks for sharing that pic -- will be forwarding that to friends.

That's a great setup you have there. I've thought about getting one of those, but still don't see the advantage of it, unless it is so you can sleep in the E and leave your stuff in the tent itself. I prefer it the other way around. :)

When hiking this weekend, don't just snap pics of the E and your tent... snap a few of the other hiker chicks and of course you. :)

The other Hiker Chicks are married and would push me off the nearest cliff if I posted their pics. I'd have to blot out their faces like other posters do their license plate. :| Will have to settle for pics of the hiker pups.

I do prefer to sleep in the E -- with tailgate down -- because it is much safer in a thunderstorm and I feel more secure. My dog likes to look out the windows so it gets her vote, too. The gear goes in the tent (and front seats) and in the 12'x12' gazebo that's also a mainstay of the camp setup.

Is the 12x12 gazebo used as your dining tent? Just to keep the sun off?

Sun, rain, bugs. I adore that thing. It's dining tent, scooter storage, living room. Storm shelter. It is absolutely a necessity for me. It's kept us dry and warm through countless thunderstorms. Easy setup (even for one person) www.campmor.com (http://www.campmor.com) has had them on sale this summer. It's the Eureka Breezeway 12'x12'

Also have the translucent rain-wind screens that hang easily with clips. Lit up by a lantern at night it looks like a UFO. Some friends laughed all the way through the campground when they drove up one night. I no longer use a fuel-powered lantern so it's a bit less dramatic these days.

I won't leave home without it. :)