Awnings, rdomes, and screen rooms

After setting our Rdome up a couple times I found that I can do it by myself easily, and in about 10 minutes or less.  Some tips to make it easier.... this looks complicated written out but it really isn't.  

1.  As others have said, spray some silicone into the track and on the bead.  It doesn't take much.  Also, DEFINITELY smooth the very sharp ends of the track.  

2.  Cut a 45 degree chamfer on the ends of the bead to allow it to slide over any protruding screw heads in the track.  

3.  Push the bead into the track from one end.  With the track lubed and the ends chamfered, it is an easy job to feed it all the way up and over our 171 from one end without assistance.  No ladder or helper required.  

4.  Make sure you do not catch the tent fabric on the edge of the fender while you are feeding the bead into the track!  The fender is sharp and can damage the fabric or even rip it.  

5.  With the bead fully in the track, feed the shock corded pole into the pocket and bow the Rdome with the strap but do not stake it down yet.  If you will be using the front wall, zip it into place at this time.  Don't zip it to the Rdome until the pole is inserted and bowed or it will be much harder to insert the pole.  

6.  Move the two front corners of the Rdome towards the trailer, which will lower the front of the tent enough that you can clip the roof support poles into place without a ladder.  Once they are in place, make the front of the tent vertical and extend and lock the roof support poles.  

7.   I just stake the two front guy straps unless severe weather is expected.  The tent is plenty strong with just the front guys staked.  However, in high wind it is probably a good idea to also stake the two front corners so they don't bounce up and down.  

We got a Clam shelter (the green one) before we bought the Rpod and we mostly love it.  We carry it along with the Rdome and may use both at some point for more outdoor space.  

1.  BE SURE to use the guy ropes on EVERY panel of the shelter.  If you do not, a sudden wind can collapse a panel and the rest of the shelter will come down in a chain reaction ;)  This is doubly important if using the rain panels.  

2.  Beware that in a rain, there will be drips INSIDE around the periphery of the roof since water can run off the roof and UNDER the rain panels.  

3.  Clam makes a brown shelter similar to the green one that has a flap that is supposed to overlap the rain panels and allow water to run down the OUTSIDE of the rain panels.  Unfortunately on the one we bought to replace our green one, the panels were a VERY poor fit and the flap missed them entirely in places.  After extensive discussions with Clam they refused to do anything about it, saying ours was an unfortunate worst case stackup of tolerances.  Sorry, too bad, sucks to be you.  I was stunned and returned the brown shelter for a refund.  We will continue to use the green one, which is MOSTLY dry, especially after spraying the roof with waterproofing.  Before spraying it, water would run through in places where threads penetrated the roof at the seams.  

Also, the clam is not tall enough to snug against the Rpod door so you get wet going from one to the other.  

We still like it for its easy setup and large interior space.  

Paul