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Topic: Khyam - DIY modifications ?

Sam Coleridge

17/9/2007 at 3:16pm
Location: Somerset
Outfit: Khyam XL Excelsior 2007

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Hi all,

As is my wont with new hobbies, I'm being a bit obsessive.
you'll get used to me (eventually

)

I put my Khyam XL Excelsior up yesterday to check all the bits were there. It really is a big tent - height-wise at least - positively cathedral-like

Annoyingly, given the lack of internal poles, they've provided one single hanging tab in a rather silly place - viz front right of the centre of the dome when you walk in the door. I was rather hoping to hang a central light fitting, but the only use I can think of for the tab provided is a pull-switch for it

.
As it happens I will probably settle for using one of my Ikea uplighters (though with a 20 watt fluorescent lamp in place of the 150 watt halogen - and mount the power board on it too. I have considered threading nylon monofilament through the fabric - attaching it to the poles and applying sealant - but that is very naughty

.. I've even considered a scaled-down inside frame .....

The other thing is that I rather like the idea of grass for a carpet, plus loose mats / breatheable groundsheet(s), and propose to buy some self-supporting clothes rails to hang everything from in one corner ... but I have a full-width sleeping compartment. (I had plans to tilt it up from time to time to "air the lawn"

)
It may be that I will be able to simply roll up the unused half reasonably tidily, but the ideal would be a bespoke 2 x 2.5 metre one.Towsure's generic ones are "landscape" rather than "portrait" - is there an alternative source for these ?

I'm just curious about what others may have done, faced with nowhere to hang things.

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Andy Pandy 666

17/9/2007 at 4:10pm
Location: Essex and Norfolk
Outfit: Khyam Ridgidome XL & canvas bell tent

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I hang the light (a 9w. strip light) off one of the 'bedroom pod' hanging tabs. the light isn't heavy and doesn't produce any heat, so is fine hanging there...

As regards letting the grass 'breathe'. In dry weather, we just move the 'stuff' (cooker, kitchen stand, table and chairs) outside, roll back the groundsheet halfway, then we remove the bedding etc. from the 'bedroom pod', undo the base of the pod and 'hang it' from the upper tabs (with the back clips & front peg loops). Roll the groundsheet all the way to the back, then put all the 'stuff' back inside the tent (bedding stacked on the table), roll up the canopy door and leave the mesh down & zipped up, then go out for the day!... It isn't difficult and doesn't take very long, but if you can do it a couple of times a week you don't end up with a bare brown patch (where the grass was!) at the end of your stay...

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"Essex Kingfisher"

oldham

17/9/2007 at 11:13pm
Location: OLDHAM
Outfit: KYHAM XXL Sterling Eccles Emerald

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We have 12 volt florescence twin strip lights on a piece of rope attached with zipper garden ties to rope this allows you to move the lights right or left. We have dog clips either end and hang between the bed pod loops, as the centre is square we can move them as necessary. For airing we just roll up the groundsheet and unclip the front of the bed pods and push them back. We are trying out an ECO mat for the annexe this year but with all the rain found that mud and slutch squelched through and had to put a tarp down. Let us know what you decide and how well it works.

Post last edited on 18/09/2007 08:17:47

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Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Sam Coleridge

18/9/2007 at 7:37am
Location: Somerset
Outfit: Khyam XL Excelsior 2007

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Thanks both.

I spent a week in a frame tent back in the summer with the light attached to the rear bedroom pods and felt it could have been better placed centrally with a reflector to make best use of its meagre output (running off 12 volts). I will start with the Ikea uplighter and a couple of clip on lights and go from there ... being an angler I have a cantilever option in mind (lamp attached to old fishing rod mounted on afore-mentioned uplighter with extra weight added to lamp base and/or spikes.)

I think I'll hold fire on my porous groundsheet / tent carpet for now and go with rolling it up.

I won't really know until I start using it for real. My brother has a mad plan for the next half term - but I suspect they will be taking their caravan

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Andy Pandy 666

18/9/2007 at 10:07am
Location: Essex and Norfolk
Outfit: Khyam Ridgidome XL & canvas bell tent

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Nice to see someone with an inquiring mind and willing to try different things. I used to be like that, but having reached fifty, comfort and convenience become higher priorities!...

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"Essex Kingfisher"

Sam Coleridge

18/9/2007 at 10:25am
Location: Somerset
Outfit: Khyam XL Excelsior 2007

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I will be eligible for my own SAGA card in 2 1/2 years

mini

18/9/2007 at 10:35am
Location: cornwall
Outfit: Outwell Hartford XXL and canopy

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Hi Sam

You sound very much like my OH if he can modify or adapt he will. In our old Outwell Minnasota OH devised a 'power station'. This consisted of a wooden box 12"x9"x6" which sat on the floor. From this there was a wooden pole to the hanging tab between the two bedroom pods. The EHU clipped to the pole but resting on the box and the light clipped to the pole near the top. The light was a bulkhead light fixed to a wooded base plate. The box was the storage for all the light and other small bits of kit. The box was useful to stand our small fan heater on. The contraption ment all electrical equipment was off the ground, no danger of water getting in.

We now have an Outwell Hartford and the power station is still in use with a few modification. No pole to the roof of the tent as there are velcro fixing on the side of the inner tent, to hold our light.

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Mini

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Andy Pandy 666

18/9/2007 at 10:43am
Location: Essex and Norfolk
Outfit: Khyam Ridgidome XL & canvas bell tent

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Quote: Originally posted by Sam Coleridge on 18/9/2007
I will be eligible for my own SAGA card in 2 1/2 years

Well, it just goes to show just how wrong you can be, when making assumptions, based on posts!... I wont be bothering with the 'Saga Holidays' for a while, I'll stick with the tent for a few years yet (I hope!)... Good luck, with the 'XL Excelsior' it's a nice tent and keep us up to date with any innovations you make...

-------------
"Essex Kingfisher"

Sam Coleridge

18/9/2007 at 12:36pm
Location: Somerset
Outfit: Khyam XL Excelsior 2007

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Thanks Mini,

Good to know I'm not way off beam

(but I suspect the disco lights may be a bit unique - it'll be a headphone disco though !)

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