[Ansteorra] Semi-OT question... advice given on vehicles and a bit on tents, too

[Susan McMahill]

I moved here from An Tir, where I needed 4WD often in the rural area where I lived, to the DFW area five years ago. I am still driving my 99 Ford Ranger with 4WD but have used the 4WD only once or twice at an event, and maybe half a dozen times total since I have lived here. Even those times it was used more as a precaution than a necessity. Front Wheel Drive is a good idea, but keeping good rubber on any vehicle is more important. Most of the events that I have been to are at sites with paved roads and solid surfaces. The one event where I did use my 4WD was at a primitive site that the road was badly rutted and eroded. It hasn't been used for events for a couple of years now since one event that had major flooding. Depending on how many people you have in your family and how much stuff you bring to an event, you  may want to consider something that has the capability to tow a small trailer. Once you start talking about large pavilions and the like, you start running into space issues in your vehicle. Thus far, my lord and I have managed with my Ranger with the extended cab and canopy, but we are about maxed out. We are considering a minivan with towing capability or a car...(not SUV because I don't think that we need 4WD) with the same capabilities. 
 
Oh, and one of my first camping events was the most recent of the Steppes Warlord floods and I never needed 4WD or a boat. My nylon tent kept me snug and only leaked where there were seams that I had never sealed, being a novice tent owner...I didn't know you needed to seal them. It did not wick moisture where things touched it...lord knows there was a lot in it as everything just got thrown in before the storms. Properly sealed and rainfly'd and on occasion covered with a tarp if you're really concerned. I have never had a nylon tent leak on me. The new ones have so much mesh for ventilation that the ventilation issues with canvas really isn't an issue. If you don't know if you will stay with the SCA, I'd get a multi-purpose nylon tent that you can use in or out of the SCA. We have a Browning Palisade tent that is very roomy and well ventilated. I recommend it highly.
 
Lyneya de Grey



> Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:04:24 -0700> From: gwynethb63 at yahoo.com> To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Semi-OT question... advice sought on vehicles suitible for Ansteorra camping events...> > Weelll..for most events, a pickup with a camper is fine. I can remember a couple of events in Ravensfort, however, that a 4x4 was the only thing pulling people out.<G> Mundanely that's Huntsville. If you plan to go to Steppes Warlord (held in Canton every year), you should get something that can outrun a tornado and convert to a boat. Other than that, you should be fine with whatever...LOL.> gwyneth> > "Haraldr Bassi (ansteorra lists)" <ansteorra at haraldr.drakkar.org> wrote:> As many of you know, I will be relocating to Ansteorra later this month. As part > of my relocation I am re-evaluating all of our current vehicles. One possible > variation is to obtain a pickup truck specific for use to go to and from camping > events as there seems to be many more opportunities in Ansteorra than in the > East to go camping. However, I am unsure if I should get a 4x4 option on the truck.> > In the East it's a no brainer, of course I get it, but for your environment I am > a total novice. Are there camping event sites in the winter months where the > weather gets things so muddy that a 4x4 is highly advised? I know I don't want > my current AWD vehicles and hope to liquidate them up here where they are likely > to have better resale values. But would appreciate advice on conditions in > Ansteorra.> > Thanks in advance,> Haraldr Bassi> _______________________________________________> Ansteorra mailing list> Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org> > > > ---------------------------------> Need Mail bonding?> Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.> _______________________________________________> Ansteorra mailing list> Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org