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Mon Oct 15, 2012 3:53 pm

Backn86 wrote: notchboy wrote: There is no comparison to the new tents. You roll with an old tent just because you like old tents. Plain and simple :lol:

The new ones pop themselves up! Weigh like....nothing. Im a glutton for punishment for sure. I roll with the old stuff. But I did just buy a Westfalia trailer to help carry the old bag. :wink:

I agree, I have two westy tents (one for each side of the Double door ;) ) but hauling them around can be a pain. I'm looking into a trailer for my westy so I can have one with me for the next camping trip :)

Well like I said, Im getting two - yes two Westfalia trailers from the fatherland to help haul my swag 8) I may keep the two, I may not so keep in touch Andy if you want a real Westfalia trailer. :wink:

Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:52 pm

Drive away "kombi tents" were very popular in South Africa in the 1970s, and there were many locally made designs available. I've managed to collect a few of them:

This is our latest acquisition and my favourite. It's the smallest of them so lighter and more compact:

I like this one a lot, but it's not good for pop-top buses:

This one was sold through VW dealers:

They're all quite heavy and bulky because of being old and made of canvas with steel poles, but all can be set up in less than 10 minutes. Nothing beats a vintage tent with a vintage camper, though I only use any of these when we're camping in one spot for at least two nights.

Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:31 am

^^^

You've got some sweet buses AND tents!

Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:45 am

I realy like the first and last tents. Very cool collection there.

When I bought my first Westfalia side tent, I was so excited - and the fact that it was hot outside, I put it up in the Kitchen :shock:

Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:39 am

Nice tents! Had never seen them before.

BTW Jason, digging the trailer pics. That is very cool.

Here are the pics of the 60's utility trailer I picked up and painted. Weighs about 300lbs, and set up so I can tow behind any of the buses.

Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:03 am

I've been using Bus Depot's EZ-Awning for years. Not so "EZ" getting the damn thing up or down but it's really handy at shows, retracts heat awesome and has never leaked. Plus I'm 6'-4" and it has plenty of head room for me :wink:

http://www.busdepot.com/a7905b

Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:15 am

thewalrus wrote: I've been using Bus Depot's EZ-Awning for years. Not so "EZ" getting the damn thing up or down but it's really handy at shows, retracts heat awesome and has never leaked. Plus I'm 6'14" and it has plenty of head room for me :wink:

http://www.busdepot.com/a7905b

Damn dude. You are TALL! :wink:

Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:22 am

poptop tom wrote: Damn dude. You are TALL! :wink:
Damn it... :roll:

Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:48 am

notchboy wrote: I realy like the first and last tents. Very cool collection there.

When I bought my first Westfalia side tent, I was so excited - and the fact that it was hot outside, I put it up in the Kitchen :shock:

Super nice tent. Am in love with the tent poles. Super clean barley looks used. Jealous as my tent poles are scratched up. There has got to be a way to restore these?

Anyone have ideas on restoring this type of tent pole to near stock finish?

Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:58 am

thewalrus wrote: poptop tom wrote: Damn dude. You are TALL! :wink:
Damn it... :roll:

You should see Jason (notchboy), he is a mountain! :wink:

Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:22 am

I really like my circus tent. Too much of a pain to set up for one or two days, but if you're staying the weekend somewhere, it's nice. So far I've used it three times this year.

Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:48 am

If I were to restore my tent poles, the first thing Id look into would be to powder coat. Do they match color for that? For me they would have to for sure.

After that Id go the paint route having the color mixed, have the poles completely sand blasted-repaired then I would paint myself. Go get some colored electrical tape for the color codes at on each. Done.

Something Im going to do for the bottoms is like most, the round plastic pad on most my poles are broke or breaking. Im going to get nice rubber ones from HomeDepot - if they have the size, quality in black. Set a washer in the bottom of the pad for durabuility, then put them on the pole.

Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:49 am

I've always wanted to get my tent poles powder coated/anodized. What color were they originally? Appears to be gold of some kind. I'm missing two of the feet on the bottom and one wingnut screw.

Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:58 am

Wondering if there is a gold metal plating that could be done to them? Rather than paint.

Also curious if anyone knows of a fix for the tabs that depress on the poles to hold them together. I have two poles missing this mechanism.

Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:04 am

curtis4085 wrote: Wondering if there is a gold metal plating that could be done to them? Rather than paint.

Also curious if anyone knows of a fix for the tabs that depress on the poles to hold them together. I have two poles missing this mechanism.

This may be a dumb question, but did you check down in the pole itself? I found 3 of mine further down in the pole. I just took a skinny rod and shoved them out and then put them back in where they were supposed to go. May be worth a look if you haven't already done so!

Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:12 am

justcruzin wrote: curtis4085 wrote: Wondering if there is a gold metal plating that could be done to them? Rather than paint.

Also curious if anyone knows of a fix for the tabs that depress on the poles to hold them together. I have two poles missing this mechanism.

This may be a dumb question, but did you check down in the pole itself? I found 3 of mine further down in the pole. I just took a skinny rod and shoved them out and then put them back in where they were supposed to go. May be worth a look if you haven't already done so!

Hmmm. Will have to take a look. Thank you for the suggestion.

Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:22 am

My tent :)

Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:13 pm

curtis4085 wrote: Wondering if there is a gold metal plating that could be done to them? Rather than paint.

Some poles came gold colored and some came painted brown.

curtis4085 wrote: Also curious if anyone knows of a fix for the tabs that depress on the poles to hold them together. I have two poles missing this mechanism.

Try here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#push-button-quick-release-pins/=jriqda

Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:30 pm

Opossum wrote: curtis4085 wrote: Wondering if there is a gold metal plating that could be done to them? Rather than paint.

Some poles came gold colored and some came painted brown.

curtis4085 wrote: Also curious if anyone knows of a fix for the tabs that depress on the poles to hold them together. I have two poles missing this mechanism.

Try here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#push-button-quick-release-pins/=jriqda

Nice link... Thank you

Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:14 pm

Tonight was Christmas Early, Wedding Anniversary, and Birthday all rolled into one. :D Found out from some friends of a Side Tent for possible sale last week here locally. Did some corresponding with the owner the last few days. Took my wife with me tonight as she was curious to see it. Long story short, she knew the previous owner when she was younger. Her and her daughter grew up and were best friends growing up. :shock: They caught up on old times and memories, while I set the tent partially up. Baffled by the great shape it was in, my heart was racing and was full of joy!

Got the story of the Bus they use to own back in the early 70's. Apparently they sold the Bus back in 1972. They had held onto the tent thinking they would use it again. It was put in basement in plastic bag, with the poles, stakes,and storage bags in 1972. Never brought out again until tonight. Amazing that this tent has sat in a basement, two years longer than I have been alive. :shock:
I asked how much she was asking, and she had not thought about a price. My wife and I explained the value of them nowdays to her and how we didn't want to screw her or screw ourselves. She still didnt want to set a price, and wanted to just be rid of it and see it go to another good home. My wife says to her "How does $200 sound?" The lady replies "Works for me, and for you guys. Consider it the" family" price. Anyone else Id ask for more now that I know howmuch they are worth" :lol: Much thanks to my wife for the gift and the previous owner for the deal.

Plan to set it up fully this weekend and repair a small pinhole in a screen, and retreat the canvas.