Rdome makes a good Kite

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We've always kept the front door off of our Rdome and most times keep the sides rolled up. 
Now over the 4th of July weekend, we had some rather bad storms roll through, the winds came first.  

Our dome was staked and had it's tie downs in place but I saw quickly that should the winds continue it was going to be me picking up shreaded dome the next day from around camp.  Someone mentioned on the facebook page how good a sail the Rdome makes like this.

Now here's the question, for those that leave the front panel door on, are you able to sustain high winds then?  Since the closed front would block the wind rushing in and under the roof helping it take flight?

If so, then I'll be zipping the front door back on and just keeping it rolled up to the sides until it gets stormy in the future.

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kymooses Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky Online Status: Offline Posts: 1807	Topic: Rdome makes a good Kite Posted: 26 Jul 2011 at 4:22pm
	We've always kept the front door off of our Rdome and most times keep the sides rolled up. Now over the 4th of July weekend, we had some rather bad storms roll through, the winds came first. Our dome was staked and had it's tie downs in place but I saw quickly that should the winds continue it was going to be me picking up shreaded dome the next day from around camp. Someone mentioned on the facebook page how good a sail the Rdome makes like this. Now here's the question, for those that leave the front panel door on, are you able to sustain high winds then? Since the closed front would block the wind rushing in and under the roof helping it take flight? If so, then I'll be zipping the front door back on and just keeping it rolled up to the sides until it gets stormy in the future.
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Damour Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Quebec Online Status: Offline Posts: 162	Posted: 26 Jul 2011 at 4:26pm
	I always keep all the sides .. and just roll up the panels But never experiment big winds
	rp 171 , from Québec with not a good english writing lol

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 26 Jul 2011 at 4:43pm
	We had fairly strong winds one day on our last trip, coming from the direction of the front panel. They started overnight, and I had all the panels rolled up. When I got up that morning the dome was collapsed. I think because the arching pole had a constant shaking motion on it, which caused the 3 straight poles to get pushed in. Once that support was gone it just fell down. I tried extending the 3 poles again but within minutes it was on the ground again. My solution was to tie a rope to the arching pole (at one of the holes where the straight poles clip to it) and then tieing that to our picnic table which was sitting in front of the Dome. That took care of the shaking, and it stayed up. I don't think having the panels down would have helped much, it still would have shook and then collapsed. In very strong winds I would worry about the stakes coming out of the ground and then it would all flip over the top of the 'pod. The only good solution is to take it completely down - which isn't an option. Or to intentionally collapse it and then put things on top of it to weigh it down - but then how do you get in and out of the door?
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

kymooses Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky Online Status: Offline Posts: 1807	Posted: 26 Jul 2011 at 4:58pm
	See collapsed I could deal with, and that might lend some support to what I'm thinking, that with the front door panel on the dome and it also zipped shut less of the wind comes in and pulls up on it all. Literally ours would have ripped completely off before it collapsed and just fell against the pod I think. I do like that idea of a new guide line at the front of the arching pole attached where the center pole is though and then tied off to the picnic table. Might try that one. We ended up completely breaking down camp that night, it was our only idea and solution that we could come up with. Luckily it was our last night and we were headed home the next morning anyways. Stupid storms!
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