Wall tent idea, your thoughts?

[natertot]

As the kids get bigger and since we now have a family pet, the tent that has been in faithful service as the family tent is getting a bit smallish. So, in talking with the family over the last few weeks, I have been getting feedback on what they would like for a tent. The biggest two desires are being able to stand up and have room to get dressed and to "keep warm". Mrs. Tot has not forgotten the moment Hunter63 told her you can put a tent stove/heater in a wall tent. I tend to like the possibility for colder campouts too.

That being said, wall tents are pricey! Worth it.... but I only have so much funds. Having a family of four with a dog, and my daughter bringing enough stuff in case we never come back home (Future prepper! Just gotta get her to prioritize and cut down a little bit.), I'm looking at a sizable wall tent which is running a bit rich for me. Military surplus type shelters are just as pricey, if not more.

But, as I was checking out my favorite online venues, I came across this.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/produ...white?a=502872

After watching the video, I'm thinking this is perfect. With the buyers club discount and free shipping (excluding the oversize fee), the total cost is $419.98 delivered. It comes with everything. A two inch frame, all the panels, roof pads, more than sufficient size. In fact, I was thinking I could add a canvas panel 1/3 of the way back. I would make the back 2/3 the sleeping and private quarters, and use the front 1/3 as a vestibule/ shelter for bad weather. All I would have to do is add a stove jack to it.

The fact that this is the same price as the smallest wall tent, but is twice the size and includes everything needed, I'm strongly considering this. I just wanted to get your guys opinion.

Thanks.

DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with "Sportsman's Guide" in any way. Just a frequent customer that posted a link to get some feed back.

[hunter63]

I have looked at those.....and seems like a good idea as you don't have to stay primitive.

Makes me wonder how "portable" it is...as the ones I've seem were set up permanent...or as long as they last.

Good wall tents are expensive, with the bells and whistle's....mine that way you saw it is about $8oo new, maybe a tad more.
Talk to Kyrat, he may be able to hook you up with a used one for 1/2 the price.

If you really want to be "cool"...find a 16' Tipi...everyone needs to have at least one in their life.

[natertot]

Yeah, I'm not worried about primitive or period correctness. This is just family camping. I figured I could remove the walls and use it as a shade canopy at times, too. Or keep on the long walls and remove the short walls for a "rain" canopy too. It just seems I could use it for many other things besides a tent. You know, multi-purpose item. As far a portability, the entire thing is under 200lbs. The big thing would be the length of the poles. We recently got a new (new to us) vehicle with luggage rack. I figured I could maybe come up with a storage system for the poles and put them up there.

I would love the tipi. I could get that and my son could get a military shelter then we could go play cowboys and Indians!

[kyratshooter]

The problem I have with big wall tents is setup and take down time. It can take more than an hour for some if the big ones and wears your butt completely out.

I have a 12'x14' foot with 5 foot walls and 8" peak that is a canvas palace but it takes 2 people over an hour to set up, weighs nearly 200 pounds and requires 250 pounds of poles, 20 stakes and enough rope to rig a sailing ship. I keep it stored in a 60 gallon wheelie bin with wheels so I can roll it around instead of lifting it. Also keeps the mice out of the canvas.

I bought the square "hunter tent" I have used the last two years at the jamboree specifically as a one person easy to set up unit that was easy to pack, required only one pole, and is tall enough to stand up in. This year I did not even fire up the heater

They can be had cheaper and larger than mine because I got mine as a dual purpose tent for weekend use and reenactment use. The nylon types are much cheaper.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/produ...18x18?a=884278

I think Hunter bought one of these in the smaller 10' size a while back. I think the 18' size would make a good family tent and be big enough to use a heater effectively. Setup time would probably be 20 minutes for one person.

[Rick]

Nater, I have a Coleman Montana 6 tent that I use when we take the grandkids. So far, it has done a great job and I've had it since 2010. It was pretty inexpensive and weighs in at 17.5 pounds. The problem with a walled tent is critters can get under the walls. Last year, we were camped next to a family that used a wall tent. They went somewhere and returned about midnight. In the meantime, raccoons had crawled under the tent sides and trashed the place. The got into all their food and it was spread all over. You can't put a heater in the Montana but otherwise works well for us.

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-200000.../dp/B001RPFAFW

[natertot]

Hey Kyrat,

I have considered the 18' tipi you referenced. There are only a few issues I have with it. The outer 4-5 feet of the tipi is next to unusable when it comes to standing room. So in the center, you end up with a 8-10 foot diameter of stand up room, or 50-75 square feet. In the middle of this circle, there is a pole and then the tent stove. When I think of the kids tired, excited, or having one of their uncoordinated moments inside this little circle with a hot stove and the main support of the tent, I can't help but to see a potential disaster in the making. Another thing that concerns me with that tipi specifically is that while it may have good reviews, most of those reviews have been made by people without having really used it. When I look into long term reviews on it, many report lots of issues with grommets, seams, leaks and what not.

In comparison, the canopy shelter provides 3-4 times the standing room, the ability to have a vestibule or cordon off a part for a two room tent, and fit more people should family/friends want to join. Instead of using it as a camping tent, it can also be used as a back yard picnic shelter, garage sale cover, or any other uses that just a plain canopy can come in handy. The "multi-purpose" aspect of it is appealing, both as different tent configurations without modifying anything, and uses beyond a tent.

Just my thoughts.

[Tokwan]

Naah...too big for me....!

[hunter63]

Sound to me like you have your mind made up....so I would go for it.
Might be a be-ach, setting up at 3:00 AM

Worst case is you will have a "garage" to park other cool guy toys in......

[natertot]

Hey Rick,

I have thought about getting a bigger tent of the traditional type. And I am not opposed to it, either. I may get one for simpler, one night stays such as the annual church campout and the like. I'm thinking for stays of 2 or more nights and having the ability to camp in any weather (excluding natural disasters). I have thought about the critter thing, I don't allow food to enter the tent anyway and I have switched to keeping camping gear in plastic totes. While the potential is there, it is minimal and not of major concern.

[rebel]

A pop up trailer, they usually have a qeen size bed on each side and a stove n the middle.

[natertot]

I just found this one, too. A few less features and uses the standard 1 3/8 frame which would allow me to use the angles for other shelters/tents just requiring me to make the poles. $175 dollars cheaper than the other one too..... decisions, decisions.

I hear you Rebel. Unfortunately, my subdivision frowns upon trailers.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I don't see where you could get ahead buying a polyethylene tent. There is this one on the same site. Looks like a good deal.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/produ...ontent=criteo2

[crashdive123]

I don't care for the first one you posted Nate - at least not for camping. It weighs 200 pounds, costs an extra 100 to ship and would be a nightmare to set up and take down.

I love canvas wall tents. I will send you a PM to one that is available that you may be interested in.

[hunter63]

Need to add extra for frame $189, and floor about the same, so you are in the $800 buck range again.
I prefer canvas.

My original 12' x 13'wall ten , seen in my avatar cost me $600 plus $300 for the 12X12' awing, floor, room divider, smoke hole 5ft walls.
That was in 1995...was still in good shape and sold 2 years ago for $500 for everything....poles, stakes, ropes tarp drop cloth.

Quality lasts, got half my money back...........kids got big and moved away....we down sized.

[natertot]

I don't see where you could get ahead buying a polyethylene tent. There is this one on the same site. Looks like a good deal.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/produ...ontent=criteo2

I saw that, too. I do like it. But that does not include the frame which if I made a tube frame, would cost another $150 or so. Still an option that I like.

[natertot]

Hunter, I agree with you completely. I haven't owned canvas, but have stayed in it. It is great stuff. I would like to get a tent that would last for years and can be used all seasons. If it were just me, I'd get a small wall tent of about 6x8. Or a small tipi!

Crash, just saw you post.





Thanks Crash! I just signed up and PM'd him.

[aflineman]

We used the cheaper "garage" tents in Scouts a lot. Mess tent and some sleeping. They will melt quick if blown into a stove. Make sure the bottom is staked down. Take about 3 folks to set-up, and a ladder can sometimes be helpful.
Other than those things, they work well. Straw or wood chips make a good floor, if you are NOT planning on a stove in one.

[rebel]

Sometimes Craigslist has one for sale. There is also the military GP tent http://www.armytents.com/tents/tent-gps.html

[sjj]

deleting..

[Grizz123]

Consider that some tent fabrics will go up in flames very quickly.

going up in flames is better than melting and dripping on people, thats why I went with a 10oz canvas, 12x18 custom wall tent. I could set it up myself in a little over half hour after I got a system worked out. Flooring was a layer of straw under heavy duty canvas tarp, it went up the walls about 5 inches so no critters made it inside. It was heavy but I was young at the time (30's) and it didnt bother me. I made the frame from fence rails and bought the corners as a kit from one of the camping stores (cabelas IIRC)