REI HalfDome+2 Help!

“If you don't have this tent, this probably won't make any sense. Even if you do have it, it might not make sense.

OK, this is probably operator error, but I set up my new REI Half Dome +2 tent this morning, and I'm having a problem. After setting it up and staking everything down, the rainfly/vestibule is not taut around the whole perimeter. If I unzip the vestibule, stake it so that the staked vestibule flap is taut, the other flap, when zipped to the staked flap is all flappy. (Is this making any sense?) Also, the rain fly at the same end of the tent where the non-staked flaps of the vestibule are is also loose and flappy. ("Flappy," huh, I kinda like that new word...) Any ideas? (MrHyde was no help....)”

“This photo may help in understanding the problem.”

“I would reccomend keeping the fly zipped when you are initially staking it out. Position your stakes in such a manner that you have equal tension on both fly sections. Have you tried that?

Secondly, there is a fly tension adjustment, the ladderloc tab on the fly grommet. You may need to ease that all the way out prior to staking your fly, this will give you two advantages. Firstly, a longer run to the stake so you have more positioning options: second, the ability ro retension the fly after it has set (or "gotten flappy").

If these don't help I'd get in touch with the REi that you purchased it from (which one BTW?), they cam probabaly assesss wether or not you have a faulty fly (stitched incorrectly). If that is the case they will replace it without questions for a member.

Let me know how it goes.”

“Thanks, BWD! I will try those suggestions!! (already did the first one, but not the others) Bought at REI Berkeley - don't like driving up there if I don't have to. I will report on my progress....”

“The vestibule-on-the-side arrangement is similar to the one on my prehistoric SD Lookout... and right where you indicate the 'flappy' bits are on the REI, there are guy points on the Sierra Designs model.

hmmm...

I know that wasn't nearly snide enough, but it'll have to do for now, <grin>.”

“Was the snide part "prehistoric" or "flappy bits"?”

“

CURSES! Foiled again!”

“Why is Snidely Whiplash picking his nose?”

“sounds like your one pole short of a tent....”

“Jeez, Dave, can't a guy twist his moustache a little without being labelled a nosepicker??

LOL



Hmmmm... that Lookout did have a third pole across the middle...”

“what area are you in? I go to Berkeley REI now and then...matter of fact, I'm going to get some bindings mounted on some new telmark skiis I bought. I live in the Modesto area.”

“I have one and I will set it up topday report latter.”

“Mtn Mo - I'm in Alameda, about 10 miles south of Berkeley. Not far to go, just that the traffic between home and REI usually sucks. Ah, yes, Modesto - location for filming of American Graffiti, yes?

jerbear - THANK YOU!! Any advice will be much appreciated....”

“I'm 30 miles south of you in Atwater. Isn't the Sacramento REI Store closer?”

“will try today!hopefully?”

“jerbear is too busy at work.

(????!??!!?!?!!)

LOL”

“Ha!”

“Thanks, jerbear, whenever you get a chance....”

“OK, the main thing I did was to make sure all of the adjustment straps on the fly were at their loosest tension before setting it up. Then, after everything was connected, I worked my way around the whole tent until it was nice and taut. Here are some pics:

Pic 1 - logo and window end


Pic 2 - opposite end


Pic 3 - side with one flap rolled up


This does look right, doesn't it??

A couple of further comments. The instructions say to match the "corner logo" on the fly to the "corner logo" on the tent. Well, a minor point, perhaps, but you can see that the fly's logo is not on a corner, but on an end. Another is that the instructions refer to a hook (I think - at work now, so can't quote verbatim) on the end of the zip parts of the fly that help to relieve stress on the zipper - no such hooks on this fly. Finally, the instructions tell you to use the hook-and-loops to secure the fly to the poles, but those are needed if you roll up one or more flaps. Instead, there are velcro thingees to secure the fly to the poles.

Weather permitting, I'll be road testing this baby on 11/10 in Big Basin - wish me luck!!”

“Good luck!”

“Let me know how this one works for you... I nearly bought it myself, but because the REI OUTLET had a nice sale, I got the Alps Mystque 1.5 instead. It's a good one too, but I like the idea of a freestanding tent.

I'll be looking for your post on this.... and GOOD LUCK!”

“Marty. The "Hook ans Loop" they are refering to are the "velcro thingies". Hook and Loop is a generic term for that type of fasterner. "Velcro" is a registered trademark of the Velcro Corp. REI is using a "Non Velcro Corporation" produced hook and loop fastener, thus the confusion.”

“Looks good though. Good luck on your trip!”

“Thanks, BWD. I was sneezing into my Kleen--- er, my facial tissue when typing that, so missed the "hook and loop" connection....

One other thing: It was a 15-minute set-up, including all of the extra time to figure out the tension, etc., and a 9-minute take down. I expect to narrow those to about 7 and 4 minutes with experience. But who's counting....”

“Hey! I know a few other TTers have this tent. Anybody test it out under windy conditions? I mean really windy? If you read my trip report from Yosemite, you know that it withstood a foot of snow OK (I just had to get out and shovel a couple times). But I've never really tested it in high winds. Wind is a condition I might encounter in the Yukon, and if the thing rips itself apart when it's windy, I may have to go with the other guy's much heavier (and potentially claustrophobic) 4-season tent.”

“I had mine out in 30 it was tied out, and it didn;t move at all so it should be fine”

“Remember to put rocks on the stakes.”

“Not that tent..but on camping in high wind...

Make sure it is easy to pitch in wind. I had a tent that survived high wind just fine but one trip I was faced with gale force winds for the first 2 days. The first night I couldnt pitch it at all anyway because I was forced to camp on a narrow ledge to escape the rising tide. The second night I camped out on sand and had a helluva time pitching it and since it was on sand, the stakes wouldnt hold and even the rocks wouldnt hols them in place for more then 15 minutes. I spent the entire night trying not to blow away...”

“Good point, spirit. I'll be sharing it with another guy, so one of us can hold it down while the other buries the deadmen in the snow.”

“normally I wouldnt of even bothered pitching a tent in that wind on a clear warm night but I was on sand being pelted constantly with 45 mph sand and small pebbles...I need shelter that night. the tent was not harmed.

Deadmen...Who you planning on axe murdering?
last edited: 1/24/06 5:34:51 PM”

“My tentmate, if he snores.



So far, 30mph is the highest wind anyone's tested this thing in? Hmmmm. Well, we'll likely be building snow walls on the windward side, so even a stronger wind wouldn't hit it directly, so it'll probably be OK. Now I just have to convince my pal it'll work....”

“You're going to the Yukon? Cooool. And by the way, where is that? LOL.

And who's that martyb dude who started this thread? Sounds like a dork sandwich!”

“Yes, martyb was a dork. BowlderMan is cool. So cool, he could be on The O.C.!”

“I thought a "dork sandwich" was a three-way at a Star Trek convention...”

“Yeah I bet he'd give Seth a run for his money!”

“OH now that was a stomach-turner, bit...LOL.”

“Here's to a barfolicious morning!”