CVT/Cascadia Tents Group Buy Event -2014

Got my Rainier a few weeks ago, but it was the day before I went away on a non-camping vacation. So, I haven't had a chance to get it all mounted and setup till now. First, I have to say that while a little awkward, I was able to get the tent off the ground and mounted to the bed all by myself. Have to admit, that was satisfying in itself. ;-)

One thing that I did was to wrap the top of my freshly powdercoated bed rack with

$32 ISC Racers Tape HT2128 ISC Racerstape Surface Protection Tape / Helicopter Tape 2 " x 12', Transparent

helicopter tape. I haven't see anyone else try this, but decided to give it a whirl. It's virtually invisible and I do think it will help to prevent the bed rack from getting too dinged up with the RTT coming on and off.

Schedules wouldn't allow a camping trip this weekend, but got it all setup and checked things out. Will definitely be taking it out next weekend!

Mt Rainier mounted on a DCSB and custom bedrack. I wasn't sure how the ~12" overhang would look, but it doesn't bother met at all.


Deployed, didn't put up the windows, just got myself familiar with getting it open and closed. Also wet it down, per the FAQ.


One thing I'm noticing is that the ladder does not extend/retract very smoothly. In fact, it takes a little bit of force to get it to go in either direction around midway. I tried spraying with a little lubricant, but that didn't really seem to help. Any ideas?

Also, my tent didn't have any instructions, but I was able to figure most everything out. Not sure if installation instructions were supposed to be included? In any case, I did end up with some extra hardware.

Anyone know what the following are supposed to be for:

- I have 2 extra ladder brackets. I used two to attach the ladder to the bottom of the tent platform. What are the other two for?
- I have an extra bolt with a really big washer. Is the only bolt/washer of that size in the hardware.
- Also, anyone know what these 2 silver angled bars are for?

 

The two extra ladder brackets go on the tent where the ladder mounts but farther out. Then those angled brackets mount from it to the ladder. Notice the hole above the second rung down. That's where one side of the bracket mounts.

Check out gshadow325's pic showing the ladder http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/group-buys/315957-cvt-cascadia-tents-group-buy-event-2014-a-75.html#post8665345

 

Ahh!! I see! Thank you!

 

I guess I should put those on then..

 

denver mojo, look at the previous page, i had a ball bearing stuck in the rails on my ladder, made it a pain in the azz to to the ladder till i got it out

 

Ah, i missed that. thanks. I don't recall see any ball bearings in the ladder. I had the second half totally removed at one point trying to figure out how to make it slide better. I'll have to take another look....

thanks!

 

Geez, I didn't even know I had those. I'll look tonight.

 

Is that the piece that remains after the factory drills the holes in the ladder? I had something similar except that it was still attached to the holes with a hanging 'chad'.

 

I have four extra little screws and washers, any ideas?

Thanks!

 

They are used to secure the rails to the tent. I never used mine.

 

Thought that was what the nuts and little bolts were for like the nut that slides into the rails

 

The nuts and bolts were for mounting the rails in the center. The screws are for the very edge of the rail to tent aluminum frame around the outside, then you put in the black rail plugs in.

 

This.

Sorry, should have been more specific. It made sense in my mind! Lol

 

im gunna say maybe because there were metal shavings in and around the tent, but that little bearing is so round and small i dont see how it could have been drilled out, it was the wierdest thing, no idea where it came from

 

Am I supposed to be cutting the condensation mat to fit the Shasta? If I roll it out the length of the tent, it's like 13" too long and 6" too narrow. So I'd have 3" on either side not covered. If I cut it in half equally and put them side by side they will fit it perfect. Just wasn't sure if that would cause the matting to want to slide down when folding/unfolding.

 

^ yeah I did that but I notice that when I close the tent, the one side of the mat will just slip right out and fall on the ground. I'm going to use some adhesive velco tape I think to hold it in place.

 

Yeah I cut it and mine does the same. Im going to put a gromit through the velcro tabs that are connected to the floor and tie the mat to that. Should be fine.

 

I initially installed it in one piece, and the half on the articulating side of the tent fell out each time I opened it. Used double sticky Velcro. Still fell out.

I then cut it in half and used the double sticky Velcro to "hold it in place". It kept winding up on the ground every time I open the tent. Doubled up on the Velcro, still falls out.

I think that the only way to really hold it in place it to use mechanical fasteners. That's my next step. Pretty embarrassing to have that may fall out every time, and a major hassle to put it back in place again too.

 

I am glad to here that I am not the only one that is experiencing this, I cut mine in half, put it in, saw it fall out and then took it out, stuffed it in my garage and never mentioned it again.

 

We had the same problem. I ended up sewing the velcro to the mat, it just wouldn't stick otherwise. It SEEMS to be working for the moment, we'll see how well it holds up in the long term.