Keeping Tents Cool

[SoutherlyBuster]

Any one who has camped in a tent will know once the sun rises they tend to heat up pretty quick. And when you're camped on the beach (ie Kingston) they end up like a sweat bath from about 10am onwards.

So here's a thought I had to reduce the heat, put up a second skin over the tent, a shade cloth (the green flyscreen like material they use for gardens). This should cut out a lot of the radiant heat and allows the wind to pass through it to convect any heat build up on the shade cloth and from the main part of the tent. Figure a separation distance of some thing like 30 cm or so should do the trick. Sure I know you can get reflective tarps or just ordinary tarps, but these would require much more rigging and anchors to ensure it does not blow away, especially when those 30 knot + winds pick up.

I figure all I need is some shade cloth and four stragically placed poles + some anchor loops attached to the shade cloth. The shade cloth would have to be specially cut, panelled and sewn together to fit the shape of the tent, that shouldn't be too hard to figure out, I already have software for that part.

So what do you reckon? Will it work? Has one else tried this?

Regards,

Norman.

[Bones]

You could just get a simple folding gazebo, like this, then erect your tent underneath it. The advantage of this is that you can move it and use it during the day as well. You may need to find something that will withstand the wind though.

[jhn.holgate]

It's a good theory Norm. BCF has shadecloth 'tarps' with eyelets already in. I have also found my nylon double skin tent is unbearable to be in once it's in the sun. The single skin canvas tourer tent is much, much more comfortable in the summer - especially with the windows open. Of course, if the windows are open and the sand is blowing across the beach.....

Considering how cheap some of those gazebo's are, you could put your tent in the shade under one and have somewhere to sit out of the sun too. I think the shadecloth would make a difference but I'm not convinced it would be enough.

edit: just seen Bones reply.... exactly what I was thinking.

[zahra]

Thats a good idea Bones... Norm, go for that. Your theory may work but it seems there's a lot of work involved in it.

[nigel]

What are you doing in your tent after 10am?

Should you not be out kiting, swimming, kite surfing, or getting supplies??

You cool your tent with an old plastic rubbish bin, a 12volt fan and a water pump from a car.

Saw this in an article in a camper trailor magazine a while back.

A smart chappy made an evaporative AC using the above materials, and some water.

Here's some off the net:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Portabl ... and-easy!/

http://www.fiscalgeek.com/2009/07/homem ... onditione/

http://www.ehow.com/how_5584931_make-ho ... ooler.html

http://www2.abc.net.au/science/k2/stn/j ... 87538.shtm

So I put it to you Norm, I'm sure we're going to see the mark 1 version tent AC appearing at Kingston.

And to power it, use solar.

When the suns out, you need the AC on.

I've even been thinking of making one myself.

[SoutherlyBuster]

Thanks Nigel.

Generally I don't stay in the tent during the day. If the wind is blowing on shore then we are out kiting -- true. When it's time to have lunch, this is when it gets horrible to set up in the tent, one only lasts in there for about 10 minutes.

Also when the wind is blowing strong and offshore or even worse strong and directly down along the beach with a bit of offshore, kiting is a no go, it's typically gusty then as well. The clay pan during the heat of the day on those days is horrible as well, you just bake out there.

So it's a case of waiting it out. You can only float out on the water so long and you get bored of it. So then you are looking for a spot that is out of the direct sun and protected from the sand blasting. Again making meals during this time in the tent is horrible. We just sponged off Joel's and Terry's marque setup to make our lunch there/sit it out there until the wind changed.

So just looking at the options.

Evaporative cooling, yes I had thought about that, more more primitive, a wet sheet over the whole tent, just spray it with salt water every once in a while. But I really don't want to be hauling buckets of salt water from the ocean every hour and trench the outer skin of the tent. Also did not want to spend $500 or so on a marque, so was thinking of the simpler shade cloth system.

The evaporative coolers you talk about, most used ice water, well again don't want to be driving into Kingston every 2 / 3 hours to get more ice.

I'm looking for super simple systems. Perhaps even good old heshan sheet might do the trick, which can be doused with water for extra cooling effect if you want, though the stuff does not smell the best. Reminds me of the make shift bush dunnies we used over Christmas Holidays on the Marrumbigee.

Some electrical fan running all day in the tent, don't really like the idea. To be honest, just can't see my self building it.

Now judging by the long post you've all guessed I'm waiting for the wind to turn more Southerly ....

[Nocando]

Have been a fly user for a number of years,

I have found that initial setup of fly over the tent is very crucial,

as the last thing you wish to happen is the fly flogging loose in a summer southerly.

There is no such thing as over kill on the coast.

[nigel]

You can get shade for well under $500 Norm.

http://www.oztrail.com.au/WebPage.gtl?P ... oup=SCREEN

Just needs some poles and guy ropes, all up under $150.

http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/prod ... escription

$179 plus walls if you want them.

http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/prod ... escription

Expensive at $299 with walls available. But it is 4.26m squared!!

http://www.oztrail.com.au/WebPage.gtl?P ... group=MESH

These come in many sizes and for the price can't be beat. Come with eyelets and reinforced edges.

Under $100 for the biggest, or buy two and go huge.

But shade cloth is not full shade, so I'd be looking at getting some full on/solid shade and adding to it if needed.

You also havn't told us what sort of tent your using?

A small nylon tent will have no room and heat up quicker, the bigger tents tend to stay cooler, and often have better options for cooling like windows/mesh screens.

So it might be easier to upgrade the tent?

[sluggo]

If you're in soft sand Norm i would recommend

http://www.bluescrew.com.au/

they are unbelievably strong and no hammer needed , just screw them in .

Use a small tarp 12 x12 with the leading edge facing the wind slightly lower to let the wind go over the tarp rather than under it , making it one big kite .

[SoutherlyBuster]

Thanks guys:

http://www.oztrail.com.au/WebPage.gtl?P ... oup=SCREEN

Just needs some poles and guy ropes, all up under $150.>

That is more or less what I had in mind, but it would draped right down to ground level.

<http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/prod ... escription

Expensive at $299 with walls available. But it is 4.26m squared!!>

This more to the mark, but getting pricy.

You also havn't told us what sort of tent your using?

A small nylon tent will have no room and heat up quicker, the bigger tents tend to stay cooler, and often have better options for cooling like windows/mesh screens.

So it might be easier to upgrade the tent?>

As Nocadno said, with such a large sail the last thing I want is for it to be an airfoil, ie one of the reasons why I'm gunning for shade cloth which is porous, hence hopeless as an airfoil.

Reading up on shade cloth one can get it up to 90% block out, so they claim.

The size of my tent, it's a big one, some thing like 3m by 6m. I'll see if I can dig up a picture of the tent tonight.

My tent does have windows, but we keep them closed otherwise we end up with a sand over the whole tent a foot deep rather than just a 1cm deep. Seriously that sand gets everywhere. Small children have been known to disspear in it over night.

New tent, hmm, come on it's like new kites same deal. Sorry that is not an option.

But before I start building anything, I will give RaysOutdoors a visit to see what they have available and at what cost.

PS. Nigel the last link: price is right, will look more closely at this one.

[sluggo]

Norm , the big difference between shade cloth and a tarp is that a tarp will reflect most of the heat , which is what you want . Leave enough of a gap between tarp and tent to allow the breeze to come through . Try and avoid the cheap tarps as you get what you pay for . Look for the ones that are double stithed around the eyelets .

You just have to figure out a way of securing it down safely , and without the flap flap flap that will wake you at night .

Spreader bars between poles are a good way to make it sturdy . Throw some rachet staps over the tarp and secure with those bluescrews and it should hold . Go to BCF or Rays outdoors ( same company ) for some advice , they usually have a tarpologist on staff ,or do what i do , walk around a camp ground and get some good ideas from people that have been doing it for a while .

[SoutherlyBuster]

Thanks Sluggo,

That's the sort of practical advice/comment I was after. Put simply is using shade cloth backing a dead horse. Yes the flapping of the tarp during the night is some thing I did not consider but an equally important point.

Here's a funny thought, taking some LEI bladders and wrap the tarp around them. . I will leave that thought right there, not really intending on following it up.

Eyelet reinforcement, yes will have to pay attension there. Actaully I was thinking of sewing on loops instead to distribute the load better. I've seen eyelets fail plenty of times on armour gear for landboarding.

[Tiger37]

Lots of good ideas but having camped out a fair bit in hot conditions, in my view the best option is to get a canvas tent with canvas fly sheet. Man made materials just don't breathe.

[Goz]

It's not camping unless there's a tarp flapping.

[sluggo]

And it's not camping unless there's sand everywhere , which is where the shade cloth comes in handy.

Before you set up your tent Norm ,lay the shade cloth on the ground and stake it out .

Then you put the tent on top of the shade cloth , the area around your tent is now sand free as most of the sand falls through the mesh and doesn't end up in your tent and sleeping bag . You can put tent pegs through it as well. Hope this helps .

[SoutherlyBuster]

And it's not camping unless there's sand everywhere , which is where the shade cloth comes in handy.

Before you set up your tent Norm ,lay the shade cloth on the ground and stake it out .

Then you put the tent on top of the shade cloth , the area around your tent is now sand free as most of the sand falls through the mesh and doesn't end up in your tent and sleeping bag . You can put tent pegs through it as well. Hope this helps .

Suspect this will not help much as most of the sand that gets into the tent gets there by the wind driving it in. Unless you are thinking of the shade cloth as big nappy that goes under the tent then over it. At Kingston you will be amazed at how sand can get through a tiny hole.