I was searching and saw a nifty tent on Amazon, but no description, but found the same thing here: Costco - Sportz Dome-to-Go Tent

Looks like it is made to fit any compact hatch. My question I guess is how practical is this design since the hatch light would be on the whole time you have it open with the tent attached. Anyone go camping with their Fit yet?

 

I think the fit with a tent that fits the hatch could be an excellent compromise for family vacations in the world of $4/gallon gas. You might research all the hatchback/tent options as quality may vary. I'm worried that a tent meant for tailgating might be inadequate for protecting your children. If chosen carefully you could end up with the GREEN/motorhome of the 21st century.

 

I agree with feddup's cautions, but the Costco hatchback tent should work perfectly with the Fit. If you search, you will find at least one thread describing how to modify the rear interior light so that it works with an add-on on-off switch.

Here in CA, bears looking for food are a gigantic problem in all mountainous campgrounds. I assume that not all of your camping is done in KS or MO- more likely a little more west in CO. Bears are a problem there too. My strong warning is, DO NOT keep any food in your tent or in your car. That won't guarantee that no bears will come into your car or tent, but it eliminates the guarantee that they WILL.

P.s. These kinds of tents have been around for decades. I really like the one at Costco- thanks for the link. I may buy one myself as a preparation for our next earthquake.

 

Knew about the bears. Planned on keeping it outside the car at night. Although that got me thinking, is there such a thing as a safe tent against a bear? Or just a thicker one to deter them more? I've honestly never bought a tent. California, hmm, I hear you guys have a cougar problem too. I've seen one on my grandparents farm, but those are rare here. I mostly see bobcats near KC.

 

Being from the Midwest my whole life I wish we had more bears as it might keep the hillbillies (2 legged nuisances) in check. Meth dealers and people shooting each other for entertainment is a far bigger threat. I drove abroad and FINALLY got to see a bear in Oregon. It was a dead cub on the side of the road. I was upset by that vacation vision. Anyway I finally checked out the costco tent and the weird survivalist in me wants to pick one up. By the way if a grizzly (or black) wants in the Fit how long will that take him? Our windshields stress fracture in the sun!!!

 

That Sportz Dome look nice. I'll see if I find one for next years vacationtrip. Not planed where to go yet. But for now I only have a realy small 2-person tunell tent. But this Sportz Dome looks much more spacious.

 

Safe tent against a bear? No- absolutely none. But with bears, not even a camper or trailer is "safe". In the Lake Tahoe area, they regularly smash down the doors of houses to raid the kitchens. People are in the habit of making "bear welcome mats" out of plywood sheets full of nails pointing up.

Keep in mind that bear attacks are rare, but drought conditions have reduced their normal food supply all over the country. They associate humans (houses, trash dumpsters, cars, campers) with food.

BTW, I stayed in a friend's condo in the CA Sierra Nevada mountains a few weeks ago. Just after dark one night I went out to my Fit to get something or other, and in the parking lot about 30 feet away (near the dumpster) was a CA Black bear that looked to be just as big as my car. I turned around and went back into the condo.

 

I've seen this in a video on TV used in an ad for a body shop.

Answer- Grizzly- about 15 seconds to tear a door completely off.;

 

I think the meth dealers would not be deterred by a bear, they are just nuts anyway. My grandpa had to a keep a close eye on all his farming supplies b/c of those nut jobs. Central Missouri is ripe with thieves stealing what they need to make it. You would think they would be deterred by his shotgun or the bear and raccoon traps out there. Or maybe even the coyotes. But all I guess you need is any rifle for the kind of wildlife is Missouri. The bears hear rarely bother anyone. A Grizzly sounds frightening. Not sure what wildlife I may run into with the Yellowstone trip, but the tent sounded like a good idea from the perspective of saving money on the trip.

 

It's still a great idea. Wyoming has some VERY cool free camping spots. Google for, and I may get the spelling wrong the Gross Ventre (french) River. It's between Yellowstone and Jackson hole and there are SOOOO many gorgeous camping spots that are completely free in that area. Prepare ahead as far as supplies. Jackson hole and yellowstone aree very high priced. I'd never before seen an area where natives got a 10% discount on everything. That means if you're NOT a native prepare to grab your ankles, financially. It's still gorgeous and well worth it. Many things are changing (climate, etc.) that may make the bears more desperate. The cool part of the tent/car would be your ability to retreate to the car and run away. I'm not joking, for responible campers the fit/tent combo or something like it may be the motorhome of the future. Darwin said it best "adapt or die"!

 

I am jealous about your Yellowstone trip, though you will share the park with Grizzlies. Don't attract them with food smells, and you should be fine. As feddup said, the hatchback tent will save you a fortune over hotel/motel fees. Another caveat regarding wildlife in Yellowstone-- don't trust the placid appearance of the bison. If you startle 2500 pounds of muscle with horns on its head, you're in the hospital only if your very lucky. In the ground if you're not. Keep your distance. The Yelowstone area is a great, beautiful, part of the country.

Thanks again for calling my attention to the Costco tent. I WILL buy one, just on speculation, for future use.

 

Central Missouri is ripe with thieves stealing what they need to make it. You would think they would be deterred by his shotgun or the bear and raccoon traps out there. Or maybe even the coyotes

 

If you are looking at the Domz to Go by Napier you need to be sure to get the model 86000. That is the one the Napier catalog says fits the Honda Fit as well as many other hatchbacks.

I am very interested in getting a tent like this. Bass Pro Shops carry the Napier ones. I have not been to Cosco yet.

If anyone knows of any other brands as well, I'd be interested.

These look great and I do plan to get one, soon! It seems to be the only accessory my Fit is missing now.

crouchet

 

how exactly does it "fit" the car. How does it attach and seal to keep out bugs?

 

I found it in the catalog here:
http://napierenterprises.com/pdf/Catalog_2008.pdf

see page 9 for Honda Civic SA, Insight, FCX, Fit and others.


They have several good pics of it.

I went ahead and ordered on from Keenzo.com, they got good reviews and seemed to have the best price on the net. I did not have a Bass Pro Shop near me or a membership to Cosco to go see one, so I just took the chance.