Overland Expo 2010

We traveled to Amado, AZ for the Overland Expo last week. We showed our new Air Top andit was a hit! Met lots of old and new friends. My thanks to Frenchie LaChance (Western 4X4 Adventures) and Chris Cole of CampaUSA for their participation and support.

This is our 'company car' - a 1996 Toyota Landcruiser with many modifications for overland travel.

We look forward to participating again next year!

Spring shipment arriving April 17th

We have a shipment of tents arriving April 17th. The shipment includes some of the new Maggiolina Air Top tents. Lots of interest in the traditional tents and the new Air Top.

Water crossing

Long-time Maggiolina owner Bob Bancroft send us a photo of a water crossing in Alaska. Naturally, you should not (cannot?) try this at home... 

Bob has been traveling with his Maggiolina for more than a dozen years, and recently bought another for one of his other vehicles. We will be joining Bob for a 8 to 10 day backcountry jaunt in May. Stay tuned.

New Air Top Maggiolina

The new Maggiolina Air Top will be available in Mid-April.

The new Air Top is a significant advance in design – offering ease of opening, three doors, great interior space, and the durability that owners worldwide have come to expect from the Maggiolina series. 

The Air Top has a lift system based on articulated gas rams that eliminates the scissors lift and crank of the standard Maggiolina. This enables easy, rapid set-up and provides 7” more interior space. Other benefits of this new design are; a rear entry door in addition to the two side doors,  the huge window opening the front end of the tent, and a new shell design for extra strength. In short, the Air Top incorporates all the comfort and space of the traditional Maggiolina series with a simple, strong, and easy to operate opening system. To open simply remove the safety hooks and the tent opens instantaneously! 

The new Air Top incorporates all the great features of the traditional Maggiolina series with even more comfort and space. To open, simply remove the latch straps and the tent opens instantaneously! Extreme Adventure with Extreme Comfort!

Standard Air Top Equipment includes: 

● 3 doors - one each side and one in the rear of the tent

● Generous front facing, screened window

● Full mosquito netting and covers against wind or rain

● Two or three foam pillows

● 2 arched windows with mosquito netting for ventilation and reduction of condensation

● arched zips on the windows with rain covers.

● internal elastics straps to help folding of the fabric when closing the tent.

● simple, adjustable Rally-Race style locking straps.  (Arnitel EL 550®) 

● Spacious roof mounted stowage net.

●     4 Removable Pockets.

● Large internal roof mounted light

● Height adjustable locking aluminium ladder.

Fall Shipment Arrives

We have received the Fall shipment of new AutoHome tents.

So tents - Maggiolina and Columbus models - are available now. This shipment was to have arrived at the end of November but was delayed due to production of new models - but more about that later.

Fiberglass Care

Florida is called the "Sunshine State" for a reason. Because we are traveling so much our Columbus is on our car full time and bearing the brunt of this. It is nice having the shade of the tent, keeps the car much cooler.

I have been noticing something odd. The windshield has some white deposits, like calcium deposits. The tent isn't quite so shiny either, UV damage, chalky gelcoat is sluffing off the tent's roof. Automotive wax is OK but it takes a lot of effort because gel coat is soft and doesn't polish as easily as automotive paint. I'm working with some fiberglass boats so I took a little 3M Fiberglass Restorer and it is easy. Looks like new, but then again it is only a couple years old.

New Maggiolina Changing Room

Announcing a new, improved changing room for the Maggiolina series. Available in standard or 4X4 (tall model). These are now on order... prices TBD.