Modular Shelter Plan – Need Advice

[Hoosier T]

I’m currently working on a cuben shelter. It’s pretty similar to the latest Tramplites that have the door. This is also very similar to the Deschutes but I think the rear will have more angle for better wind performance. Anyways, I was going to make it single wall and not I’m considering another path.

I’m thinking of making a net similar to the S2S Nano Single, but offset. Think the same shape as the SMD Serenity Net Tent where the front wall is completely vertical and slopes down to the rear. Then, I’m thinking of making a bathtub groundsheet with very small loops and clips in the inside-corners. Where the stake loops would normally be on the S2S net, will be the other end of the clips so the net will clip into the corners of the ground sheet. It will still have the excess netting going beneath your pad as well. This is all the same as the Nano. So, you can use the tub floor for cowboy camping, add the net in buggy weather using a single pole to support the net, throw both under the tarp with bug and rain, or use only the tub under the tarp when there aren’t any bugs.

Lastly, I’m going to attempt to make the bathtub groundsheet a poncho as well. What do you think about this plan? For those who have used the S2S nano, taking the same concept, do you think it will work well clipped into the corners of a bathtub grounsheet?

[Hoosier T]

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[Hoosier T]

The other nice thing about the net being clipped in is I can raise it anywhere. There will be 18″ of rear vestibule space behind the bathtub where I can store gear. The dotted line below represents the rear of the floor. This would be a view looking down from the top. So, I can unclip one of the rear corner and easily access my gear in the rear vestibule.

What are your thoughts? The other nice thing about designing these to match is that I can add four attachment point to the net panels and inside panels of the tarp to clip the net to the tarp and keep it pulled back.

[Greg Deitrick]

I just made something similar for a MLD Cuben Duomid, although sized for 1 person. I used “polycryo” for the bathtub and snaps between the bathtub and net so that the net would hold the bathtub walls vertical. Total weight was under 5 ounces. I haven’t tested it yet, but my impression is that it will work. However, with snaps attaching the screen to the floor the assembly is a bit more of a hassle to deal with than it would be if they were sewn or taped together.

I camp solo with 2 busy dogs. Not sure how all that netting will work out with them around. And they don’t give me much time to hang out in the tent except for sleeping. I’m considering going instead with a bivy.

With luck the heavy rains will continue into the weekend and I’ll have a chance to test this out in the back yard.

[Victor Jorgensen]

I had a Deshutes and I made a bathtub floor out of an old spinnaker ground cloth.  Your design is quite a bit wider front to back than the Deschutes.  My bathtub floor was made 32″ wide at the top and bottom, but extended into the back vestibule to make a pentagon shape.  I used 5 mitten hooks to clip in to each corner to lift the bathtub walls.  I think it may be more convenient to access the storage in the back vestibule, if it part of it was within the bathtub.  The netting could be much shorter, so weight difference would be small.  However, because your design appears to be so much deeper, maybe you don’t want to make the floor any bigger.

My biggest concern with your design, is that the slope of the fabric going towards the back of that 18″ vestibule is going to require a lot of fabric for little gain in storage (or living) space.  I would want to reduce that alcove to 9″ or less.  But  I understand your choice, for the wind shedding ability.  Best wishes with it.

[Hoosier T]

Using .51 cuben (which I am) reducing the slope would likely save less than an ounce (it would definitely be less than 2 sq yards saved) and I would basically have a hexamid. The latest deschutes plus (forgot to mention I was comparing it to the plus) is 80″ front to back, mine is 82″ so not that much different.

[R]

Have you considered putting the bug net underneath the groundsheet instead of inside it? I think you’ll get a better seal from crawling bugs and spiders. Any water that gets on the net won’t collect inside the bath tub.  This could happen from spray, or if you skip the tarp and it starts to rain.

The trade off is it may be harder to open and close it in back to reach the vestibule.

You might also be able to make it go either way.

 

 

[Hoosier T]

Thanks, Rene. I hadn’t really considered that but it sounds like a good alternative. Basically a hexamid with removable net. The thought of making it single wall is still on my mind though. Here in the Midwest we have bugs to deal with in all but the coldest weather so a bug new will be needed most of the time so building a shelter around that makes the most sense but the idea of modularity seems so nice in theory. Just not sure how often I’ll really get to use it. Plus I’ll have so much interior room if it’s SW. The tarp is nearly done so I need to make a decision soon. Such a tough call making sure you get what you want when investing the money into a MYOG cuben shelter.

[Hoosier T]

I should add to the mention of size. The reason for a 42″ floor is because I’m going for a 1+ person rig. Should be much lighter than my 2p Cirriform so awesome for a solo shelter but I also want to be able to take my daughter out with me in it.

[R]

Since the real motivation for separating the bug net from the ground cloth is to be able to use the ground cloth alone, you could actually sew them together like a normal double wall tent body, and then let the net canopy lay on the floor and sleep on top of it. Or do this but up side down so the mesh is under the ground cloth, like a hexamid. Since you no longer need a generous overlap to seal the mesh, you get to counter some of the weight penalty of a zippered door. A small back door would give you access to the rear storage area.

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