On Jun 5, 2004
About 3 years ago I searched the internet for a family sized tent (8
children) that was not only big enough, but more importantly, truly
waterproof. After lots of searching, we bought an 18′ Dome. We have camped
with it in Texas, Florida, and Wisconsin. We have used it as a base camp for
Paleontology digs in Florida and Colorado. We have also used it as
temporary storage and a Garage Sale shelter.
Sounds like you got a lot of use out of the yurt dome. What sort of digs where you on?
We were glad that we had purchased a floor from you. Here is how we use the
floor. First we erect and stake down the dome. Then we spread the round
floor tarp out inside the tent so that it overlaps up the wall all the way
around about a foot. Then I take 8 foot pvc poles and connectors hooked
together and feed the resulting long pole into the dome at one of the doors.
I tension it all the way around the inside of the floor perimeter making a
big ring pushing outward on the exterior poles. This creates a tight seal
at the walls and keeps the floor stretched and secure.
This is an interesting approach to securing the floor. How high up is the pole on the wall? Does it get in the way of coming in the door at all?
The Dome has NEVER leaked. We have also found it to be spacious enough
inside to never feel really hot or stuffy. Our Dome came with two screened
doors that help with ventilation.. We often use two pvc poles to hold two
of the door flaps open to create small sun flaps allowing cross ventilation.
Putting up the dome is quite easy, once you get the hang of having one
person to bend the poles while the other puts it in the connector. My wife
and 13 year old son have put up the 18′ Dome by themselves.
The only real design complaint we have is the doors seem unfinished. We use
binder clips to secure them, but it lacks the feel of a completed product.
Do you know of anyone who has modified the doors to be more useable? Maybe
a module with a zippered door?
Do you use a door pole at the bottom of your door? We now include some sticky back velcro that can be used to seal the door in windy conditions. We have found zippers to snag, jam, fail, cause leakage where they are sewn to the covering; and not the least is the time and difficulty in getting in and out of the yurt dome with zippers. When you are living in a tent you and your family go in and out lots and speed and ease of entrance and exit are important. This is why I asked if you use a door pole. Hook one side of the door and then with the pole attached you can grab the other side of the door and swing it open. Enter and then the door will close itself. True if it is windy you will then need to secure the door with the hook at the bottom. Perhaps some sticky back velcro would be useful for you also.
Over time, we have kinked a few poles, broken one Grip-clip and broken a
pair of dome connectors. We also had a small hole poked in the roof that we
repaired with duct tape. These were all easily repaired.
Yesterday, a wind storm took our Dome (being used for a Garage Sale shelter,
and not well staked) for quite a ride through the yard and down the river.
Amazingly, it survived in tact. However, the two top panels are each torn
where they connect to the Grip Clips. Upon closer inspection, it seems that
most of the panels look stressed at the points where they connect to the
connectors and look like they might tear soon as well. I wonder if it is
just getting old.
It does sound like your covering is beginning to wear out but you may still get a bit more life out of it.
What will it cost to get replacements for both of the top two panels? What
will a whole new shell cost?
Replacement panels are $45 each. New cover is $648.
Thank you Wayne for the interesting and use full feed back.