Roof Tent for the Vibe!

General discussions not related to the Vibe, Matrix, or any other vehicle. (follow posting rules)
Post Reply
User avatar
BaseWhiteVibe
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:16 pm
Location: Macomb, Michigan

Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by BaseWhiteVibe »

Alrighty! Who wants to work with me to design a roof tent for the Vibe! I will throw in my Engineering skills, maybe throw down some FEA. I think it is doable!

Picture is related and yes IT IS A TRABANT ONCE AGAIN! A very classy Kombi (AKA Shooting-brake AKA Station Wagon)

AND YES THE VIBE IS A STATION WAGON!

<img src="http://www.ifaclub.co.uk/wpimages/wp788719a5_05_06.jpg">
BaseWhiteVibe - As Basic As It Gets!
User avatar
BaseWhiteVibe
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:16 pm
Location: Macomb, Michigan

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by BaseWhiteVibe »

OK the fact that I can't post pictures on this forum is starting to make me not super happy! How the heck do I embed pics in here folks!
BaseWhiteVibe - As Basic As It Gets!
KITT222
Posts: 2257
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:45 pm
Location: Flint, Michigan

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by KITT222 »

Image

Oh wow now that is cool... The fact that it's a Trabant is pretty darn cool.The fact that you know what a shooting brake is makes me happy.


[ img ](URL for image source goes here)[ / img ] without the spaces. Check how I redid it by quoting this post.
User avatar
BaseWhiteVibe
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:16 pm
Location: Macomb, Michigan

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by BaseWhiteVibe »

AHA!

Got it! THANKS!

Love wagons! Best thing ever invented! The only thing I need to do to properly break in the Vibe is camp in it (actually sleep in the car with my gear). I have camped in every car I owned: 1984 Mustang, 1995 Buick Skylark, 2001 Pontiac Aztek (never in the tent, I would pop the seats and sliding cargo tray and sleep on the floor while looking out of the roof glass.) It was awesome! So I need to break this car in!

With the Vibe no longer being made, the Matrix being next it will be hard to guess what the next little wagon produced will be. I don't think the New Trabant (reference: http://www.trabant-nt.de/367/en/home.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) will ever come to be but one can be hopeful! If it does become a reality I want in!
BaseWhiteVibe - As Basic As It Gets!
KITT222
Posts: 2257
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:45 pm
Location: Flint, Michigan

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by KITT222 »

Here, written partially for you - viewtopic.php?f=25&t=41835" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ;)

I need to sleep through the night in my car... I have yet to do so. I have, however, taken naps a few times Some of the best naps I've taken were in my car.
User avatar
trb
Posts: 1670
Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 4:06 am
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by trb »

BaseWhiteVibe wrote: I have camped in every car I owned: 1984 Mustang, 1995 Buick Skylark, 2001 Pontiac Aztek (never in the tent, I would pop the seats and sliding cargo tray and sleep on the floor while looking out of the roof glass.) It was awesome! So I need to break this car in!
I've thought that it would be neat to have a tent in the hatch area of my Mustang. Something that fills in the space when the hatch is open. Just wish there was a bit more length when the rear seats are folded down.
Thomas
the "Mustang Guy"
1987 5.0 LX Mustang
2016 Mustang GT - current daily
2004 Satellite Vibe &
2009 Red Vibe GT -twin's cars
2003 Neptune Vibe GT - prior daily
2010 Red Vibe GT - RIP 6/16/14
2006 Platinum Vibe - son's car
User avatar
BaseWhiteVibe
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:16 pm
Location: Macomb, Michigan

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by BaseWhiteVibe »

The biggest issue with sleeping in the back of the Mustang is that you have to get creative. Your best bet is to lay down the rear seats, slide your front seats forward, tilt your front seats forward and then fill in the gaps with backpacks full of clothes. OR you can do all of the same but lay down a cut sheet of plywood and fill the height between the arm rest and the wood. Also since your front seats are slide up you can make an I beam out of 2x4's and have them standing up from the floor board to the plywood. It would depend how dedicated you want to get!

Now I am just waiting for the day I get to camp in the back of my Vibe. A buddy of work keeps inviting me for opening day (Gun Season) and just let me stay back at the camp while everyone else is hunting (unless I wanted to hunt too). One downfall is that it can get REALLY cold in Michigans Upper Peninsula in November!
BaseWhiteVibe - As Basic As It Gets!
GTwannabe
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 4:21 am

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by GTwannabe »

Can you buy the tent part seperately or would that have to be made? The hardest part I can think of is mounting the frame. The roof rails are so far back you would need to make some supports above the front doors. You could probably make the frame out of aluminum shelving. The ladder might be difficult to place also... GL!
Kendrick Lamar agrees... Keep your Vibe alive and well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF8aaTu2kg0
GTwannabe
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 4:21 am

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by GTwannabe »

Can you buy the tent part seperately or would that have to be made? The hardest part I can think of is mounting the frame. The roof rails are so far back you would need to make some supports above the front doors. You could probably make the frame out of aluminum shelving. The ladder might be difficult to place also... GL!
Kendrick Lamar agrees... Keep your Vibe alive and well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF8aaTu2kg0
User avatar
BaseWhiteVibe
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:16 pm
Location: Macomb, Michigan

Re: Roof Tent for the Vibe!

Post by BaseWhiteVibe »

So aluminum tubing or PVC tubing. As long as a base could be made that is level and have plywood laid on top of them, maybe even have it sit on the tires and then using the roof rack for the upper mounts. As for the tent on the top if a standard tent was small enough that could fit the footprint of the roof then you could just use that. So I think it could be done!
BaseWhiteVibe - As Basic As It Gets!
Post Reply