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I like the looks of maki2 tent. I saw a camper demo of one and it looked far easier for one person to handle. I'm on my second popup tent now. The first one collapsed in a storm and before I could save it many structural pieces were beyond saving. Now my second one is showing issues and it is hard for one person to put up or down. And I take it down at the first sign of stormy weather when that is really when it could be helpful. Well, it does still provide shade on sunny days. But I don't get many of those when I am right now.

RonDean said:

I like the looks of maki2 tent. I saw a camper demo of one and it looked far easier for one person to handle. I'm on my second popup tent now. The first one collapsed in a storm and before I could save it many structural pieces were beyond saving. Now my second one is showing issues and it is hard for one person to put up or down. And I take it down at the first sign of stormy weather when that is really when it could be helpful. Well, it does still provide shade on sunny days. But I don't get many of those when I am right now.

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I can vouch for this Coleman Instant Tent. It's goes up in under three minutes easily. Taking it down is another story. But I learned that it comes down much faster if you unzip all the windows first. It comes down fast, but folding it up to go back into the bag takes a bit of effort.

My first time sleeping in it a tornado was in the area. My daughter and her family were in their popup camper. I was in the tent yelling to them (and laughing) and kept thinking for sure the tent would collapse. The winds were incredible. It performed flawlessly.

https://a.co/d/ejpWjPe

Carla618 said:

I can vouch for this Coleman Instant Tent. It's goes up in under three minutes easily. Taking it down is another story. But I learned that it comes down much faster if you unzip all the windows first. It comes down fast, but folding it up to go back into the bag takes a bit of effort.

My first time sleeping in it a tornado was in the area. My daughter and her family were in their popup camper. I was in the tent yelling to them (and laughing) and kept thinking for sure the tent would collapse. The winds were incredible. It performed flawlessly.

https://a.co/d/ejpWjPe

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I looked at your link and it was different from maki2's. I think hers is referred to as a "clam shell?" I'm still trying to find it - for when my current popup fails. Probably very soon now.

So far the closest I have found on Amazon is this. https://www.amazon.com/Hike-Crew-Enclosed-Waterproof-Resistant/dp/B0C9R3NLNK/ref=sr_1_13_sspa?

Anyone have any info on it and how it stands up in a storm?

RonDean said:

I looked at your link and it was different from maki2's. I think hers is referred to as a "clam shell?" I'm still trying to find it - for when my current popup fails. Probably very soon now.

So far the closest I have found on Amazon is this. https://www.amazon.com/Hike-Crew-Enclosed-Waterproof-Resistant/dp/B0C9R3NLNK/ref=sr_1_13_sspa?

Anyone have any info on it and how it stands up in a storm?

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I have her screen room, too. It's not a tent. It is a screen room with added panels. It holds up very well in high winds.. Iirc, hers is a Gazelle. There is a name brand called Clam. Her Gazelle is a type of clam . Maybe hers is a Clam. She mentioned the name in another thread, but I forgot.

Edit: I checked your link. Wish I could remember which one Maki has. I'll find where she said what it is.

This is my Gazelle: https://a.co/d/0M8cJc7

This is the pack of panels I ordered separately: https://a.co/d/48tO4ma

This is a Clam screen room: https://a.co/d/0p6oFCZ

RonDean said:

Anyone have any info on it and how it stands up in a storm?

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Here is the thread about screen rooms/tents. Maki mentions her screen room and offers buying tips.

https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/ideas-for-outfitting-my-clam-screen-room.43828/post-600552

Carla618 said:

Here is the thread about screen rooms/tents. Maki mentions her screen room and offers buying tips.

https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/ideas-for-outfitting-my-clam-screen-room.43828/post-600552

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Carla, Thanks. So the one I found is cheaper and doesn't require any sewing skills. I'll have to go with that one I think.

RonDean said:

Carla, Thanks. So the one I found is cheaper and doesn't require any sewing skills. I'll have to go with that one I think.

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Dean, I wouldn't buy the one you linked. It is fairly new to Amazon. And it has 6 written reviews. The four 5 star reviews were from Amazon Vine reviews who got the item free. The two negative reviews were from verified buyers. There are no other reviews. This isn't the item you're looking for.

vanbrat said:

Happy happy joy joy we get to start planning the trip we had to cancel last year hubby is now in remission and looks like he is going to be around for awhile longer!!!

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Wonderful news. Iam so happy for you both!

RonDean said:

I looked at your link and it was different from maki2's. I think hers is referred to as a "clam shell?" I'm still trying to find it - for when my current popup fails. Probably very soon now.

So far the closest I have found on Amazon is this. https://www.amazon.com/Hike-Crew-Enclosed-Waterproof-Resistant/dp/B0C9R3NLNK/ref=sr_1_13_sspa?

Anyone have any info on it and how it stands up in a storm?

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I personally think that Hike Crew screen room you selected is a good value. It is slightly larger in width and several inches taller than the 4 sided Clams. The price includes wind panels with roll up openings as well as a zippered opening front wall that in the photos is shown suspended on poles for a shade awning. In addition you are getting a secondary protective rain/UV roof cover. That the roof cover is a fantastic value and rare to find feature. The side panels themselves are a $50.00 plus value, especially so as there is one for the entry side. I say go for it based on my personal experience with popup screen rooms.

Reviews on popup screen rooms are a real mixed bag of opinions. Most people struggle with putting them up solo for the first time. They do not know what to expect so have very little baseline experience to judge them by as they have never had one before.

Unfortunately the instructions on all of them do not include a few extra tips that make it a lot easier to put one up when working solo. So some people do find it a struggle to do by themselves. Being a professional assembler my nature is to always analyze and change or add steps and techniques that can make an assembly process go a lot faster.

It is much easier to put them up solo by staking down the two lower corners of the rear wall before you try to pull out any of the sides. Having that side staked down keeps the tent from becoming a tumbleweed. Plus it gives you some leverage. When you pull out a side place a foot on the bottom skirt of that side and that also gives you some extra leverage advantage. Then pull out the adjacent sides and square them up to the rear wall if you have a 4 sided room. Make sure the front zippered wall is not stressed by being stretched out so tight it puts strain on the zipper. When the front wall looks good then stake the adjacent to the front wall corners. Then open the zipper and pop up the roof. Finish by putting in the guy lines that attach to the center hubs in the sidewalls.

maki2 said:

I personally think that Hike Crew screen room you selected is a good value. It is slightly larger in width and several inches taller than the 4 sided Clams. The price includes wind panels with roll up openings as well as a zippered opening front wall that in the photos is shown suspended on poles for a shade awning. In addition you are getting a secondary protective rain/UV roof cover. That the roof cover is a fantastic value and rare to find feature. The side panels themselves are a $50.00 plus value, especially so as there is one for the entry side. I say go for it based on my personal experience with popup screen rooms.

Reviews on popup screen rooms are a real mixed bag of opinions. Most people struggle with putting them up solo for the first time. They do not know what to expect so have very little baseline experience to judge them by as they have never had one before.

Unfortunately the instructions on all of them do not include a few extra tips that make it a lot easier to put one up when working solo. So some people do find it a struggle to do by themselves. Being a professional assembler my nature is to always analyze and change or add steps and techniques that can make an assembly process go a lot faster.

It is much easier to put them up solo by staking down the two lower corners of the rear wall before you try to pull out any of the sides. Having that side staked down keeps the tent from becoming a tumbleweed. Plus it gives you some leverage. When you pull out a side place a foot on the bottom skirt of that side and that also gives you some extra leverage advantage. Then pull out the adjacent sides and square them up to the rear wall if you have a 4 sided room. Make sure the front zippered wall is not stressed by being stretched out so tight it puts strain on the zipper. When the front wall looks good then stake the adjacent to the front wall corners. Then open the zipper and pop up the roof. Finish by putting in the guy lines that attach to the center hubs in the sidewalls.

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Thanks to both of you for the info and the suggestions. I am looking for an easier up/down by a single person than what I now have. And I would really like something that can remain assembled next to my van in a storm. And I need something that has solid walls (as against just a screen) and requires ZERO sewing. The last time I used needle and thread was a disaster. Both for me and what I was trying to fix.

Maki2 - does yours fair well when assembled and staked down in a storm? Any issues with water pooling on the top?

I think Maki's enclosure will survive a reasonably small nuclear blast once she's done with it lol.

Happy Camper said:

I think Maki's enclosure will survive a reasonably small nuclear blast once she's done with it

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Mother Nature taught me what needs to be done for a hub style popup screen room tent to survive the desert dust devil tornadoes she sent my way in the winter of 2021 and 2022. She killed my first one but the final blow was UV damage to the roof. This one too will eventually fail but hopefully it will last longer than 18 months.

T minus 6 days and counting. My landlady will be glad to see me go, she's been wanting to Airbnb this place. I just finished the last paycheck job I have to do before I leave, so now the nerves can set in. Wouldn't you know it I had one gig in all of 4Q 2023 and have had six since Jan 1 (OK some of them pretty small). Feast or famine on steroids, but I can sure use the bucks. This is my third move since retirement, the first two were chasing volunteer gigs that didn't work out, this one is for me (got to!). I still want to volunteer but it has to go lower on the priority list and only if I find some place that isn't Dysfunction Junction. The gimp ankle is not perfect but it's much better, I can occasionally have a pretty decent short hike. This year felt like it would last forever but yikes here we are. Baby has all new tires, serpentine belt, and a solenoid thing, and I have a new tooth and no cataracts. Onwards and awkwards!

I'm looking forward to hearing about the new adventures of Morgana.

RonDean said:

Maki2 - does yours fair well when assembled and staked down in a storm? Any issues with water pooling on the top?

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No issues with water pooling on roofs when you have a sloped roof.

No popup screens rooms or popup canopies do well right out of the box when left up in storms with strong winds approaching 30+ mph and higher gusts.

Not sure I’m looking more hearing morgana’s onwards or the awkwards!

the awkwards can be doozies. I'll keep you posted!

Another day another small task attempted only to find the issue is not a quick and easy fix.

The weep holes in my trailer’s sliding windows are not letting water drain out at first thought was dirt in the weep holes No such luck for an easy fix. The problem is the fixed glass pane in the slider unit has slid down to the bottom of the frame groove and is blocking the weep holes.

So I think this chore will have to wait until I get to Lake Havasu City or Flagstaff where there are better resources.

My first attempt when I get there will be to soak all along the edges of the glass with repeated baths of hot soapy water. Then I will try shifting the pane upwards using those big suction cups used to install glass. I will have to get some as I do not own any. If I can shift it I will add some small plastic spacers under the glass at the wide weep holes and then do some perimeter clear caulk to keep it from shifting down again.

Plan B: If I can’t shift the pane with suction cups I will have to remove the windows. Drill some rivets out of a join plate on the frame and use spreader bar clamps to spread the frame open to relocate the glass higher. That is a whole lot more work and new putty tape will be required to reinstall the windows. If I break the pane at least in a big town I can get a new safety glass one cut or buy some polycarbonate to cut one myself.

Yep it is nice not to have to travel hours to get repair materials but not so easy to store surplus! Buy wisely!