Clam Shelter - blown away

[topgun2]

I've boondocked at the Lower Sunshine Reservoir just outside Meeteetse, WY for a number of years.  Given that the camping area consists of basically a sagebrush "meadow" overlooking the reservoir, there is no shade other than what the Ollie provides either early in the morning or later in the day.  Virtually every time I've been there I've set up my small (four sided) Clam screen shelter not necessarily to shield me from bugs but more to give me an additional place to relax after a hard day of fishing.  When setting up my Clam I virtually always not only stake the four corners down but I also use the three ties that come off the side center hubs and stake them.  This is to protect the Clam from any sudden winds that just might come up and it has worked very well withstanding some fair strong winds - until this year.

I was in bed at about 11:30pm when the Ollie started rocking.  After about 5 minutes of this I got up to look out the rear window to see how the Clam was fairing - not well.  So not well that it wasn't even there.  Just to make sure or, perhaps, get the Clam before it was swept into the reservoir I jumped into a pair of shorts, donned a head lamp and ventured into that wind.  Yep - not there!  In fact, no sign that it had ever even been there!  Barely being able to stand I turned to get back into the camper and a light colored square object caught my eye about 150 yards away.  Could it be?  Yes it was.  The four sides of the Clam had collapsed but the roof remained fully open.  I managed to get over to it, I collapsed the roof, carted it back to the truck and did not inspect to see what was the extent of the damage to it until yesterday.  

Other than being lucky that the entire thing wasn't lost in the reservoir, I was reasonably certain that the screening or the nylon material or the fiberglass poles or the hubs that hold most of it together would be broken.  Perhaps I could salvage something from it for potential repairs to the new Clam that certainly was in my future.  Well, all of the screening didn't have a scratch on it and the poles and hubs were fully intact.  The roof does have two tears and three abrasions as well as each of the four nylon webbing tabs that are used for staking down the tent had been completely torn from where they were sewed.  The abrasions can easily be fixed with dabbing on a little "E6000" and the two tears (one at about 1/4 inch and the other at about 1 1/2 inches) can be repaired with "Gear Aid" repair tape.  Of course I also sewed the four tabs back on.  I'm not sure if the Clam was purposefully designed so that these tabs would "release" rather than tearing the tent apart, but, it worked that way in this case.

Finally, I should note that I found the four tabs the next morning after the wind storm, still staked to the ground as I had originally placed them.  And, one of the three ropes used to tie down the sides was broken.  I use short bungees that have metal hooks at the ends and place the metal hooks around the ground stakes.  All three metal hooks were straightened!

I've always liked my Clam but now I'm a true believer.

Bill

[Mike and Carol]

Bill, that must have been quite a wind storm!  We have the larger 5 sided Clam.  I use heavy duty cargo tie-down straps on the sides with 12” re-bar stakes to attach them too.  Not sure that would be enough to withstand the wind you experienced.  It’s been through some pretty bad storms but the worst that has happened is that the top collapsed.  Not sure what else you could do!  Mike

[topgun2]

In researching weather data for Meeteetse, WY for July 15, 2021, Weather Underground shows a wind gust of 51 miles per hour.  Certainly I wouldn't call it a gust when the wind maintained its speed for about 15 minutes.  However, since the area I was camped is devoid of trees, buildings and even hills that could help block the wind, I suspect that the real wind speed was somewhat higher than this reported gust.

Another possible reason for the four stake tabs becoming detached from the body could be that the thread used to sew them had become "tired".  While I have used this shelter for 6 years, it has never been put away wet nor has it been abused.  But, as I mentioned above, Clam just might have engineered these so that they would "release" during this kind of event.  In any case, I would suggest that anyone who owns a Clam should take a look at the area where these tabs are sewn to the tent just to make sure that all is OK.

Bill

[Trainman]

We were camping in Colorado and a huge big wind came through the camping ground and ours blew totally down and some 50ft away, We did not have the straps (tiedowns) attached, but did have the stakes in the ground. Not so luck were the campers next to us with the $300,000 motorhome who lost there patio cover and the winder sensors didn't work fast enough to retract it. 

trainman

[ShallowGal]

On 9/10/2021 at 6:54 PM, topgun2 said:

a hard day of fishing. 

🤔

[VBistro]

Hoo Boy...this post brings back some memories.

Friend and I were camping in Moab in the 90s, back when you could still disperse camp just about anywhere.  Set up our tent about 15 feet from the edge of a canyon.  Did our best to stake it out, but we were camped on rock and there were only the flimsiest of trees nearby.  So....we loaded our tent up with all of our gear, including the camp kitchen to give it some extra weight.  Bet you can guess where THIS is going.....Yep!  Went to town for dinner, and when we returned - nothing!  Every last bit of our camping gear had blown into the canyon, about 200 feet below.

Fortunately, there was an established jeep road right below, so we got a hotel for the night and then hiked in 2.5 miles to retrieve our stuff.

[Jim_Oker]

Some tents are just bigger sails than others and are not possible to hold down without something giving in a sufficiently strong wind. That’s amazing how well it held up. Sounds like it did better than my grandmother’s clothesline (one of those with a post and rails making a square on top) which my father describes chasing partway across Southbridge MA during the Hurricane of 1938. He said the clothes weren’t much good by the time he finally got to them.

[Teaney]

And here it is 3 years later, Looking Good. 

Thanks Duke and Chris for fixing it up and putting it in the wonderful mountain of goodies you gave us. 

Look forward to the next time we get together and make a list of all the cool places you guys have been. 

My Bucket List is not big enough, now that I’ve met you guys. 

 

Gary

On 9/27/2021 at 6:58 PM, ShallowGal said:

🤔

 

[Galway Girl]

Last tear down of our 5 sided clam we made a mistake and somehow ended up during the next setup having the clam partially "inside out".

I'd never saw that happen before.  We ended up releasing a few legs from the pockets and and worked sequentially around the perimeter getting the clam rightsize out.  That was quite an an origami project.

Once setup again I noticed one of the front door braces had lost it's "top corner bolt" and may have been the culprit for getting it turned inside out.

We've also ordered a 4 sided version for shorter trips.

 

[topgun2]

2 hours ago, Galway Girl said:

We've also ordered a 4 sided version for shorter trips.

One of the great things about the four sided Clam is that it can easily be stored in the Ollie's closet.

Its more than enough room for two people, chairs and a small table.

With three people it is cozy but doable.

Four people in there should know each other fairly well.

Five people is best done with at least one person standing outside.😁

Bill

[Patriot]

We have a five sided clam and have used it some, but we have not used it in the last 2 years. It really depends on where we camp as to how much we will use it. As of late it’s been left at home on our long trips out west. 
 

 

Edited Wednesday at 12:49 AM by Patriot

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, Patriot said:

We have a five sided clam and have used it some, but we have not used it in the last 2 years. It really depends on where we camp as to how much we will use it. As of late it’s been left at home on our long trips out west. 
 

 

We’ve had our Clam for a number of years and don’t use it in warm/hot weather.  The screen is so fine that it blocks any breeze.  We do use it in the winter and during cool and cold weather.  When it’s really cold we attach the sides and the propane fire pit in the middle keeps things toasty.  Mike

Edited Wednesday at 03:01 AM by Mike and Carol

[John Dorrer]

On 9/11/2021 at 8:46 AM, topgun2 said:

In researching weather data for Meeteetse, WY for July 15, 2021, Weather Underground shows a wind gust of 51 miles per hour.  Certainly I wouldn't call it a gust when the wind maintained its speed for about 15 minutes.  However, since the area I was camped is devoid of trees, buildings and even hills that could help block the wind, I suspect that the real wind speed was somewhat higher than this reported gust.

Another possible reason for the four stake tabs becoming detached from the body could be that the thread used to sew them had become "tired".  While I have used this shelter for 6 years, it has never been put away wet nor has it been abused.  But, as I mentioned above, Clam just might have engineered these so that they would "release" during this kind of event.  In any case, I would suggest that anyone who owns a Clam should take a look at the area where these tabs are sewn to the tent just to make sure that all is OK.

Bill

Well our 4 side has 9 lives. On Cape Cod it was one stake from the ship channel. At Inks Lake several years ago, it ended up 250 yards back on the park Road. Another time it landed in our pond while I had it on the patio to clean and dry

The four corner tabs have all come off and been re-attached with fishing line. Holes have been patched.

It  keeps on ticking. We will continue to use it until we can't.

 

[DavePhelps]

Don't have a Clam shelter, but have been snug as a bug in my little legacy1 in very high winds. I can't imagine any of these shelters are up to the task of the high intensity winds and micro blasts of the inter-mountain West and other areas. Best to take them down at night. Also, there is a pretty good app called Windy that gives detailed wind information, both current and projected, worth looking in to.

Dave

[jd1923]

Thought about one. Found really good price Amazon used and ask myself, do I want to carry one?

Which led to the answer no. And that was before reading this. @DavePhelps love the windsock pic. Reminds me of a past trip to Moab!

[topgun2]

I always have my 4 sided Clam with me since it nicely fits into the closet.

I never use it if its: hot or if I'm simply stopping for only a day or two.  But, when the bugs are bad and the temps are below the mid 80's I provides a great place to read, relax by a stream, and have a beverage (or two).  It is also a great place to sit when there is a light rain.  Simply put - the Clam gives you options.

Bill

Edited Wednesday at 07:45 PM by topgun2

[jd1923]

On 12/17/2024 at 4:16 PM, topgun2 said:

… easily be stored in the Ollie's closet.

Not in our closet! Barely enough room for my few hanging items, if you know what I mean.

If we had rain or bugs, less wind… I may consider one. Heck, we don’t even use our awning! 🤣