Adding a vestibule/fly extension to an existing tent

[Hank]

Hello,

Recently (kids) we've put the backpacking on hold and been doing more
car/family camping. We've got a cheapo "Quest" tent that's big enough
for the family (2 adults, 1 kid, one infant in a porta-crib). The fly
comes down on the sides pretty well, but doesn't come down over the
front or back of the tent. The older kid is in cub scouts, and this
tent actually works better than our (much smaller) backpacking tents
for camping with the scouts also. OTOH, it's a tall tent, and I
suspect it wouldn't do well in high winds or wind-driven rain. I've
used in in tree-sheltered areas during soaking rains, but not in high
winds. I'm surprised at how well it actually works, but there's room
for improvement.

I'd like to add a fly-extension/vestibule that comes down over the
(front) door and perhaps another for the large window at the back.
I've never used a vestibule on any of my other tents, and I've no idea
how they normally attach. Specifically, how would I work the
fly/vestibule seam so that rain didn't run into the gap. I don't mind
sewing stuff onto the fly (it's heavy enough to be pretty much a "car
camping" tent anyway), but I obviously want to lift the extension up
(or remove it) in hot weather to get some air in the tent.

I've considered sewing material directly to the fly, bringing it down
to a point (which could be staked out) and adding a zipper to where the
two parts would join. I've also considered trying to clip the
vestibule back to the tent poles, and trying to underlap the fly enough
so that water wouldn't come into the seam. I'm not sure if I'll need a
hoop pole to hold it out, or if I'll want to bring it down to the
ground to shed wind yet, we're obviously still at the planning stage.

How is it normally done? We're in the middle of nowhere, and can't
really look at a bunch of tents. I doubt that there's a vestibule made
for this tent. Are there such a thing as a universal or generic
vestible (one size kinda fits many?).

Thanks,

Hank

[Kernix]

What exactly do you want? Protection from rain or sun from coming in
the windows? A place to sit and put on/take off boots? Both? I've never
heard of anything like that, but I recently "built" a sun shelter using
a tarp, rope, stakes and tall/thick branches. I'd say rig something
with a few tarps.

[Hank]

It bothers me that the fly doesn't come down lower on the front and
rear. It comes to about eye level, the same height as the top of the
door. The door closes and seals up fine, it doesn't seem to leak in
long rains. We'll probably be camping in less sheltered, windy areas
(wyoming, badlands, rushmore, yellowstone) at some point. Coupled w/
the height of the tent ( 5'6" wife can stand up in it) I'm picturing
the wind getting under that high-fly and sailing the tent or at least
driving lots of rain up under the fly onto some of the mesh walls. On
my backpaking tents, the fly comes right down to the ground and they
shed the wind. (They're also much lower).

My idea was mainly to extend the fly for wind-driven rain, include a
small area to keep muddy boots (not real important, leaving them in a
bag outside is fine), and maybe a small area to crouch out of the rain
while removing boots/fiddling with tent zippers. Since this is a car
camping tent, any bulky gear can stay in the truck, so storage space
isn't an issue.

The previous tent (canvas and huge) ended up surrounded by rain
fly/tarp extensions to the point that the tent really just kept the
bugs out, and never even got wet. It also took half an hour to get it
all set up, and several duffel bags of tarps, poles, and ropes. I'd
rather not go that route.

Thanks,

Hank

Post by Kernix
What exactly do you want? Protection from rain or sun from coming in
the windows? A place to sit and put on/take off boots? Both? I've never
heard of anything like that, but I recently "built" a sun shelter using
a tarp, rope, stakes and tall/thick branches. I'd say rig something
with a few tarps.

[Kernix]

Post by Hank
My idea was mainly to extend the fly for wind-driven rain, include a
small area to keep muddy boots (not real important, leaving them in a
bag outside is fine), and maybe a small area to crouch out of the rain
while removing boots/fiddling with tent zippers.

Keep it simple then - get some decent size tarps - one under the tent
and extending out in front of the door - place to sit down - and at
least one more for over the front of the tent - could do two for over
the tent though and make an a-frame - or just run run under the tarp to
create the A-frame - hopefully there are trees around to tie off to -
otherwise poles and stakes - and lots of rope!

[Daniel-San]

"Hank" wrote ...

Post by Hank
Hello,

<<snip vestibule question>>

Many tents have the vestibule sewn on at the factory. In fact for some
tents, the vesty is an integral part, providing additional staking points
and symmetry to the tent's design. Adding one afterwards could affect the
way the tent handles in difficult weather.

But...

If you want to add a simple vestibule, you can get some nylon fabric at
Wally-World, and attach it to the tent with these: http://tinyurl.com/hqlsl
(Link to Campmor). These do not provide a permanent solution, but they do
provide a fairly good anchoring, provided the material is thin enough, and
the clip is properly used.

If you want a permanent, professionally done addition, check these folks
out: http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ . I have no connection other than
having friends who have had work done.

Good luck,
Dan

[small change]

Post by Daniel-San
"Hank" wrote ...

Post by Hank
Hello,

<<snip vestibule question>>
Many tents have the vestibule sewn on at the factory. In fact for some
tents, the vesty is an integral part, providing additional staking points
and symmetry to the tent's design. Adding one afterwards could affect the
way the tent handles in difficult weather.
But...
If you want to add a simple vestibule, you can get some nylon fabric at
http://tinyurl.com/hqlsl (Link to Campmor). These do not provide a
permanent solution, but they do provide a fairly good anchoring, provided
the material is thin enough, and the clip is properly used.
If you want a permanent, professionally done addition, check these folks
out: http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ . I have no connection other than
having friends who have had work done.
Good luck,
Dan

Unless you wish to do it yourself, a professionally done vestibule addition
will cost more than the tent did originally. Why not purchase a real tent
that suits all your needs instead? Or, do the tarp thing.

Penny S

[John Ramsay]

Post by Hank
Hello,
Recently (kids) we've put the backpacking on hold and been doing more
car/family camping. We've got a cheapo "Quest" tent that's big enough
for the family (2 adults, 1 kid, one infant in a porta-crib). The fly
comes down on the sides pretty well, but doesn't come down over the
front or back of the tent. The older kid is in cub scouts, and this
tent actually works better than our (much smaller) backpacking tents
for camping with the scouts also. OTOH, it's a tall tent, and I
suspect it wouldn't do well in high winds or wind-driven rain. I've
used in in tree-sheltered areas during soaking rains, but not in high
winds. I'm surprised at how well it actually works, but there's room
for improvement.
I'd like to add a fly-extension/vestibule that comes down over the
(front) door and perhaps another for the large window at the back.
I've never used a vestibule on any of my other tents, and I've no idea
how they normally attach. Specifically, how would I work the
fly/vestibule seam so that rain didn't run into the gap. I don't mind
sewing stuff onto the fly (it's heavy enough to be pretty much a "car
camping" tent anyway), but I obviously want to lift the extension up
(or remove it) in hot weather to get some air in the tent.

[SNIP]

On my last campout I saw an arrangement that might suit you.

A small tent butted up against a screen house which had full zippers
down the middle,
front and back.

The front of the small tent was inside the back of the screen house with
the screen house
zipped down to the top of the smaller tent.

In effect the screen house was the living room and the smaller tent the
bedroom.