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My St Helens experience

Discussion in 'Cascadia Tents' started by Wyckedan, Apr 2, 2021.

  1. Apr 2, 2021 at 6:28 PM
    #1
    Wyckedan

    Wyckedan [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2017
    Member:
    #233922
    Messages:
    4,960
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Woodinville WA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Stormtrooper AC 2009 Ducati Hypermotard 1100s.
    1 fully operational Death Star
    I bought my CVT Mt St Helens last year during a closeout sale on old stock, a white electric ABS, steep discount, no warranty. I picked it up maybe a month before Covid hit, and only got to use it one time last year, turkey season.

    So it sat on my truck, figured it was fine. Opened it up last weekend to discover the entire inside was soaking wet and smelled like a hobos dick. Fuuuuuu.

    So off it came, box fans to the rescue.20210328_162857.jpg
    Got it dried out, mattress dried, and used some of this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079VDPKTC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_3SKY0SP7X9MECW0S2CM9?_encoding=UTF8

    Smell gone, time to investigate the problem. Pulled the top rails off, now these rails I was told not to use because they would leak if you did, which already told me they were a problem. 20210402_173453.jpg
    There was the smallest amount of sealant around the holes but nothing in them.

    Cleaned them up, removed the old hard whatever it was they used, and ran a strip of UV stable 4000 and filled the holes, put bolts in, pulled em out and filled again. Not going to leak anymore.
    20210402_173836.jpg

    The latches were my other concern. 8 latches, 24 holes. Whomever did this was an idiot. The holes are 1/4" and 10-32 screws, way too big hole and zero sealant, plus they used regular steel nuts which rusted. Not much room back there but I managed to replace them all (minus one that stripped, the last one :-/) with SS nyloc nuts with a healthy smattering of 4000.
    20210402_171338.jpg

    20210402_180329.jpg

    If I were to buy another RTT from any company I think the first thing I would do it pull some fasteners and see if they're up to the task. I've been a marine fabricator for almost 15 years, and know a thing or two about keeping water out. Can't say I'd recommend any of the construction methods of this tent. I know it's an old model, and won't apply to a whole ton of folks, but maybe somebody someday will need this info. Of course, CVT didn't reply to my email when I voiced my concerns about how wet it was inside.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2021

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