kb7our
Explorer
Hey kb7our,
I'd love to hear any more of your thoughts/opinions on the habitiat when you've given it a complete go-through.
Thanks!
-Dan
Dan, it's already being shaken down and mods and suggestions have already begun. My preferences and wishes may be different than others and mods are at one's own risk but here are a few initial updates after some use in cold (30's) conditions...
Insulated mattress or something similar is a necessity in cold as the shell overhanging the hood acts as a conductor and gets really cold. I love the Nemo Cosmo "Insulated" stuffed into the pillow top then I have a 12V trucker's mattress cover you lay on tucked inside which makes for a terrific setup. No cold passes through.
Lots of tent material closed up in a small space so mattress needs to be deflated - easy enough. Working on a solution to strap it in so it always stays in place as it will fit without over compressing top if deflated. The challenge is adhesion of some kind of mounts to the gelcoat but I have some ideas and will get to a solution hopefully before heavier summer camping. Would like to avoid drilling in some footman's loops if possible.
If you are super picky like me, make sure all the latches and front bumper catches are installed straight and/or symetrically. Cosmetic only but to me it's the fine touches that count.
To close by myself, I've rigged a self locking pull strap with a small carabiner on one end that fits right over one of the latch points on the rear upper cap, then hooks under the actual latch bracket attached to the lower shell. This enabes me to pull the top closed within a foot or less so I can walk around to tuck in the sides, pull off the strap, then pull the top down to complete the latching process. Works very well.
I keep the two ceiling panels off which saves maybe 25 lbs?? and having to remove them when camping. I run a wide flat bungee strap attached to each side passenger roll bar to help hold the tent material up and just store the two hood supports above that front to back in the middle of the opening. Works bueno.
Would be ideal but more costly to have the tent 3 poles be slightly adjustable a notch or two for fine adjustment of tent variations in mounting, etc. I may take it upon myself to shave a tiny bit off the bottom of each of the 3 U shaped poles as my fabric is very taught. Let it wear and streatch a little to see what happens first. Yea, I'm that picky.
Added a billet grab handle above the tailgate glass which I really like and also a Smittybuilt "beaver step" to the receiver which provides a secure step near the bumper when working the top. Also added the AT flip up water fill/mixer connect for the water bladder and heater - mounted on the right side near the back and I put a 12V outlet up top in the area of the front passenger side roll bar bolt that holds the top down and will add another on the opposite side for other accessories.
Looking forward to getting the zip on awning when AT has them ready hopefully soon.
Mattress security straps/bungee system are the next priority. Need to be careful that nothing interferes with the poles when closing. The square zip tie fastener points might be the solution with small key chain ring material slipped through the slots for a bungee mount location and possibly putting them on the floor instead of the sides might keep them out of the way. I want to be able to park, pop the top, inflate mattress, toss a sheet and down comforter on the bed and that's it. Reverse to be simple as well.
More fun stuff later.