Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > 4 wheels > Equipping the Overland Vehicle
Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Overlanders Handbook - everything you need to know, available NOW!

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southampton
Posts: 671
Leaking Hannibal Rooftent :(

I see on another thread people debating the pros and cons of rooftents. Well I'm back from a very rainy week in Ireland and our tent leaked so much we had to abandon it for a ground tent. It is a Hannibal rooftent and the problem seems to be mainly around the horizontal poles across the top that support the whole thing.

The central pole was fine, but the other two seems to make contact with the outer sheet in the wind, and these 'wicked' the water into the tent, causing a non stop dripping effect.

Has anyone else experienced this, and got any ideas how to fix this problem?

Could it be that it was badly set up? We could not see any issues with the set up, but it seemed that the tension on the outer sheet was not enough.

Also, anyone got any tips on how to dry out a rooftent on the road??

Thanks for any ideas...

I'm still not quite dry!
__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

Last edited by CornishDaddy; 2 Sep 2006 at 21:57.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 3 Sep 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London
Posts: 20
What outer sheet option have you got? Have you go the standard outer where both side are the same, or have you got the extended outer where the side that comes over the entrance is extended for the enclosed entrance?
__________________
Chris D
Land Rover 130 with Trojan Back
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 3 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southampton
Posts: 671
Standard Outer

Hi Chris,

Yes it's the standard outer where both sides are the same. The tension is provided on each side by two springy steel poles, this keeping outer and inner sheets seperated.
__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 3 Sep 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London
Posts: 20
I can see why that would cause problems...the springy poles probably won't stay springy for long...and won't provide enough tension.

We've opted for the extended entrance and the added bonus is that you can tie guy ropes to the top corners and create added tension with them. We also bought the two adjustable poles (but not sure the £18 was worth it).

Have you had a look at playing around with the pole that sits between the outer and inner at the roof apex- if you can move that higher to increase the distance between the two layers, that might help.
__________________
Chris D
Land Rover 130 with Trojan Back
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 3 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southampton
Posts: 671
Thanks

Thanks Chris,

We've jsut been out for another look and have decided to mimic what happens with the cetral pole with the two outer ones. I.E. We want to attached two more poles that sit between the outer and inner sheets. We think we may be able to glue on some fabric and create some sort of steel pole to sit in it.

We may also add so guy ropes once we see the effect of this

thanks again
__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10 Sep 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Surrey
Posts: 13
Hi Ollie,

You should have bought my 110!!
We had a Hannibal and a Howling Moon, the Hannibal always leaked and the Howling Moon never did.
Have you tried waterproofing the material with something like Fabsil? We met a few people on the road that had done this and from what they said it was very effective.
Best of luck.

James

www.womblingafrica.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southampton
Posts: 671
Sometime, when I'm lonely ........

.....I wish I did

Anyhow, can't afford two landys now (can't afford the head bashing I'd get most likely!)

I think we've elected to go for a combination of putting some new poles in, and adding some waterproofing. I think that should do it. Taking him down to Cornwall in October for some more weather testing! I reckon that will take us to the next level.

Thanks for the advice. Which tent did you leave on it? I presume the howling moon? Has it gone yet?
__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10 Sep 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Surrey
Posts: 13
Hi Ollie,

Sold the Hannibal cheap and kept the Howling Moon.
Still got it all, everyone that views the landy loves it and apparently I inspire them so much that they decide to go and build their own!!!

Shouldn't wet weather testing should be done in Wales??!!!!

Good luck.

James

www.womblingafrica.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 22 Nov 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southampton
Posts: 671
Finally made the fix

Just thoughts I'd put an update that we have made the fix mentioned above, adding to extra poles to keep the flysheet away from the the canvas. it definitely helps, but we'll be testing it over the xmas break soon. You can see pictures of the actual fix, and details of the materials used on our blog

http://www.jollyfollies.com/blog/blogfile.html

Give me a shout if you have similar problems
__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 23 Nov 2006
Gipper's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Saltspring Island,Canada/Poole,UK
Posts: 1,081
Ollie,
the fly on the Hannibal is not really up to the job (too thin) in persistant heavy rain and the springy poles dont give enough tension as you've found.
With your fix, it might pool water in the fly above the new cross pole - unless you can put some extra tension on the corners of the fly ??? - in a storm in Ghana I did run some guy lines and pegs from the rear fly eyelets to the ground and at the front some bungee straps from the fly eyelets to the roofrack to keep the fly tight (and so it wouldnt take off!)

Going through Europe in Winter (Non Stop rain for 2 weeks!)) I just threw a good quality (Serratus) Tarp over the top of the fly - and that did the trick.
As for drying it out - just hoist it up any chance you get - at lunch stops etc - if it is that wet - ours was wet for 2 weeks and didnt harm it - no mildew at all.

The Hannibal is the best Roof Tent IMO - for Africa - where its hot n fairly dry, for your route I would think about a new Brownchurch (bombproof) or a Maggiolina - (if you are not too tall) - the Howling moon sounds OK - but the Brownchurch is really well made and has a PU fly, galvanised fittings and is better in high winds.

Cheers
Grif
__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Last edited by Gipper; 23 Nov 2006 at 19:11.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 23 Nov 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southampton
Posts: 671
Too Late Now :)

Hi Grif - I think the next thing we are looking at is putting some sort of guy ropes in. Trying to figure out if you can get some sort of professional type eyelets to put in.

Now that I have six months experience in all things overlanding there are quite a few things I'd change, but we've got our kit now, and I think the fixing is all part of the fun - honest!

Funny you mention the tarp, as we did discuss that put ruled it out as a bit tricky to secure. When you say 'threw' was it attached to the tent in any way?

Thanks for the advice Gripper .... alway nice to hear someone elses experience.

Cheers
__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 24 Nov 2006
Gipper's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Saltspring Island,Canada/Poole,UK
Posts: 1,081
Hi Ollie,
with the tarp I used four bungees - one at each corner and hooked them down onto vehicle
For me the fly needs making in a more waterproof material - I did consider getting one made up from silicon-nylon material (super waterproof) - but didnt bother in the end
- after a very wet Europe - we didnt get much rain through WA - in fact we had the fly off the tent most of the trip, only put it back on when we got back to Morocco.
Im sure your modifications are along the right track - keeping the fly further off the tent - the grangers fabsil idea would help - but the tent will smell bloody awful to sleep in afterwards - very strong odour from fabsil.
Cheers
Grif
__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The Hannibal trail Daves Europe 16 18 Jul 2014 16:35
leaking oil and crankcase full of oil ryanclark11 Yamaha Tech 2 30 Jul 2005 18:02
leaking oil from brakesystem (rear) F650GS fireboomer BMW Tech 3 23 Nov 2004 16:58
the joys of a leaking head gasket nishiki1 Yamaha Tech 1 8 Nov 2004 15:01
Howling Moon Rooftent & Others OverlandFred Equipping the Overland Vehicle 7 16 Apr 2003 07:05

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:47.