So it looks like I found me a killer deal on a used Military GP "small" canvas tent. (18' hex shape, 5'8" at the eve, 10' at peak, two zip doors.)
GP small.jpg
I have been offered to camp on a small piece of land. The place I have in mind to make a permanent camp on is a teeny 2 acre privately owned parcel within the Cherokee National forest. An old couple I know lived there from the early seventies up until just a few years ago. They both were having medical conditions at random and decided they needed to move into an apartment in the nearest town so they would be closer to Emergency medical care. They have offered for me to stay on the property at no cost just to keep an eye on it. A dream of an offer!! Bear, deer, critters in the mountains- right on a trout stream- a dream of an offer!
I have been looking and pray'n about getting a wall tent. My initial thought was a teepee but I hear unless your standing in the VERY center, you got a crick in your neck if not a hunched back. So I jumped to wall tents. And then decided on one with a stove jack as using a woods stove in the tent would solve the heat, cooking & hot water problem with high efficiency (compared to camp fire.) And then I decided on a Military tent so it would blend in instead of a bright white typical one.
Since I will likely be living in the thing- (and it will have no door locks, security system etc) I don't want my place to stick out like sore thumb. On top of that It will be in a secluded place. If the thieves show up when I'm away the could whistle dixie while eat'n crackers as they nonchalantly loaded up my every possession...
Many prayers were answered! I don't have too much extra money and could not afford the typical $600+++ for these tents. I found one in good shape ready to go for $300!
But it's on the other side of the country. Can't afford the tent and the shipping.
More prayers. Then a pilot firend of mine calls me up and says "I bought an airplane engine in OK city. Care to help me with the driving to pick it up- I'll cover your travel costs if you just help me with the driving? Guess where the tent is!!??
Coincidence? NOT!!!!
So this weekend likely I will be headed to get my tent. In the near future I will have it set up mostly permanent in the National Forest. This is all the culmination of a goal I have had to get in a position to live in the wilderness for a very long period of time and live a primitive skills way of life.
I'm sure there are folks on here that have some experience with wall tents- I have none. Please chime in with any thing you have to offer.
For the record I'm getting the tent, "arctic liner", floor (vinyl??) and all the poles etc. It has a 4" stove jack. On that note...
I need a camp/cook stove. I have operated many wood stoves, but never had one of my own. I don't know about their hassles and headaches of getting them set up and running right. Nor about selection. I do need it to have a flat/level top to cook on and heat water on, etc. I DON"T have much money at all. The tent is essentially an 18" dia hex shape, size wise. I like the look of this unit and *assume* it would fit the bill well, but those with experience please chime in. http://www.harborfreight.com/cast-ir...ove-32058.html I would have to find it used to afford it. Or maybe it's not the right choice at all? I'm not looking to be able to make the tent super toasty in winter Just looking to make a good difference between inside and outside air temp.
Any advice you can offer with tent living, stoves preliminary info of what to expect in (re)homesteading a place (the property, garden plot, etc. has been abandoned and has gone 60% back to the wilds) etc would be really appreciated.
Thanks so much everyone,
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