Tent sugestions

[a1bummer]

I'm looking for a new tent to replace the one I've had since I was in my teens. Which is a 6' dome tent. It still suits me fine when I'm alone, but my better half dosen't like it very much. She's not big on camping like I am. So I got her an air mattress to make her more comfortable, but it won't fit in my dinky little dome tent. I borrowed my parents tent a few times and depended on tents others brought with them that were big enough to put the air mattress in for the past few years. But I feel like a mooch when I do that. Due to her bad back, I need a tent that is big enough to stand up in. And big enough to sleep about 6, so we have enough room to put down two mattresses if need be and/or to put all the extra gear in out of the weather if needed to. I'm looking for a dome tent that big but not to heavy and not take up a lot of room in the trailer. I was also hoping not to spend any more than $150 - $250. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

Thanks, Bill

[yamahamer]

I'm looking for a new tent to replace the one I've had since I was in my teens. Which is a 6' dome tent. It still suits me fine when I'm alone, but my better half dosen't like it very much. She's not big on camping like I am. So I got her an air mattress to make her more comfortable, but it won't fit in my dinky little dome tent. I borrowed my parents tent a few times and depended on tents others brought with them that were big enough to put the air mattress in for the past few years. But I feel like a mooch when I do that. Due to her bad back, I need a tent that is big enough to stand up in. And big enough to sleep about 6, so we have enough room to put down two mattresses if need be and/or to put all the extra gear in out of the weather if needed to. I'm looking for a dome tent that big but not to heavy and not take up a lot of room in the trailer. I was also hoping not to spend any more than $150 - $250. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

Thanks, Bill

 

My wife was the same way. We picked up a 6 man tent at Walmart last year that came with 2 chairs for $60.00 lotts of room. Good luck. Mine wants a camper now.

[timgray]

If you want one that will last and is warm at night youy need to look at the Cabelas alaskan guide tents.

 

These are dry and comfortable in a raging thunderstorm, will last you years, and you can zip everything up so it's warm on even cold nights.

 

Getting one you can stand up in is going to be hard Most good dome tents that are big enough to stand in are the 8-12 person size and those are HUGE. The coleman "cabin" tents are worthless in thunderstorms and cold nights. I gave up on the cheapies and bought a real tent that stands up to what may happen. My tent was standing and everything was dry in the tent and vestibule during 2 storms that flattened most tents in the campground last year.

 

My wife and I also have the Cabelas Westwind tent for motorcycle camping. the 6 person will pack on the bike and is a lightweight version of the alaskan tent. It also will survive without effort a really mean thunderstorm. Not as warm as the alaskan tent.

 

I spent 2 years testing tents, got fed up with every tent you can find from Coleman and other "cheapie" brands.

[GaThumper]

I bought a Whirlwind Guide 5 from Chinook Technical Outdoors over the winter, I'll be using it for the first time in April. It may be a bit small for you, so you may want to look at their Tradewinds Lodge or Guide.

 

I bought the Whirlwind for my wife and I although it's rated for five and the features that sold me were that you can stand up in it and it has a HUGE vestibule (or garage as I call it)! The "Guide" upgrades the standard Whirlwind with a heavier floor in the main tent, a floor and zip out mesh in the vestibule and a few other features.

 

Here's a review that helped me decide to give it a try...

 

http://andrewmartens.com/blog/?p=32

 

This site has a lot of information about it...

 

http://www.sonomaoutfitters.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=11525!025

 

but I bought mine here at a much better price...

 

http://www.shop.escapecamping.com/product.sc;jsessionid=5317976B7EABEC8127486B3BEBF34C96.qscstrfrnt01?productId=17

 

Here's a link to the manufacturer web site where you can download a catalog.

 

http://www.chinooktec.com/

[Guest tx2sturgis]

This might be a budget buster, but its from a company I've had good luck with. I've included the link to a big dome tent and a double sleeping bag...but you can look around on the website and see what they have. This is a small company where you can actually talk to the owners when you call to order...I have a couple of times!

 

They sell some really cool sleeping bags that have a built in airmattress (you order the pad and the bag together) which means you dont have to tote along a big airmattress that you'll slide around on at nite.

 

 

http://www.fullthrottlecamping.com/FourPlusPersonTents/BigHouse6

 

http://www.fullthrottlecamping.com/SyntheticSleepingBags/DreamIsland

Edited March 30, 2009 by tx2sturgis

[RandyR]

Here's a picture of the $60 Walmart tent. Its the blue and black one behind my white Mercury car.

 

http://randyrick.us/LBJam2008/Camping2.jpg

 

Its a 6 man tent, and quite roomy and high enough for me to stand in (I'm 5'9").

 

It is not a cold weather tent. Its light weight and has screening under the rain fly which can make it breezy if the wind is blowing. Great for moderate to warm weather though.

 

It does roll up into a compact enough package that I anticipate carrying it on my RSTD along with a sleeping bag and thick airmattress bungeed onto the passenger seat.

[waterbug]

I dont know if they still do it or not but I think overstock used to sell tents when they have them. I have bought a few things from them and never had a probelm, you might also look at amazon they might have somethinge. You just have to know what your gettting or what you need from them. Good luck. Hey I have a pop up camper that will work also and its got a shower and a/c!!

[Magnum]

I gave up on the cheapies and bought a real tent that stands up to what may happen.

 

I could not agree with you more. Being the Scoutmaster of our local Boy Scout Troop I have learned this lesson. After a few years with some cheap tents with paid a little extra last year for some quality tents.

 

When the going gets tough, and it will eventually, you want to have a tent that will stand up to the weather.

[DwightGA]

This is not your typical tent but they are very light weight and very comfortable.

 

http://hennessyhammock.com/

[dr_bar]

No more tents for me... picking up this baby in May...

 

http://www.leesurelite.com/video.asp

[SapperMedic]

Walmart always has a great deal on a tent. My wife and I have purchased a couple that were just fine in the price range that you mentioned. When I started hunting more often in Utah, I bought one from Kirkhams outdoor products. They build the best tent that money can buy, but you pay for it also. Our scout troop has been using the springbar tent for 15 years and they still work perfectly. It is a patented design so no one else makes them.

 

http://www.kirkhams.com/depts/camping.htm

 

Anyone who uses them a lot will be very pleased. I plan on giving mine to my grandkids in a few more years when the only camping we do will be out of our fifth wheel.

 

Wilkie

[Guest tx2sturgis]

No more tents for me... picking up this baby in May...

 

http://www.leesurelite.com/video.asp

 

For 5 grand it had better come with a stocked cooler, surround sound, 42 inch plasma TV, 3 babes in bikinis and a coupon for a dozen free meals!

 

 

 

Geeze.

[ToRide1]

I'm in my 50's now and still do the tent We have a camper also but at 11.5 miles to the gallon to pull it and that considered good many can't do better than 7-9 miles to the gallon.

Now where to find good shelter! There is a Company called Campmore out of N.J. I think the web address is Campmoreusa.com and then we also have Cabelas.com Now a lot of these dome tents don't holdup very well in a high wind because there is no tie-downs Cabelas WestWind 4,6,and 8 man is a good pick, my self I go with with the A-Frame tents like Eureka Timberline Outfitter series 4 & 6 man not cheep but tuff & last for years.

[Mikealiasmike]

No more tents for me... picking up this baby in May...

 

http://www.leesurelite.com/video.asp

 

 

I NEED THIS That is drop dead neat.

[Richb]

I just bought this...

 

http://www.rei.com/product/767241

 

I'm 6' tall and can just about stand up in it. Aluminum poles, bath tub floor, two doors / windows, & goes together very easy and actuallly folds up in the carrying case that comes with it.

[dray]

last year i bought a new 7x9 its nice but i want bigger more room to stand up in move about a bit and not have to get dressed laying down im thinking about this one for me this year it will work nice with my queen size double thick airbed

 

http://www.beebusyoutdoors.com/copper-canyon-1312--7-person-family.html

 

dray

[1joeranger]

At 6'2" I always look at the tent height. I lucked out at Target after the holidays and found a Coleman Tucana tent http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/190-1817521-0866216?ASIN=B000LWGG0K&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B000LWGG0K|Coleman_Tucana_Tent_16x10&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B000LWGG0K&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001 on clearance for $70! The tent measures 10x16x7' tall. I can stand and navigate the room with ease. Our Queen size air mattress and 2 end tables (containers) fit nicely with plenty of room for the TV (Notebook PC). This may sound like a lot for camping but after the military I saw no reason to be a minimalist any longer! It is my way of combining my love of camping, with my love of comfort!!

[Midnight Rider]

I got this one http://www.apachetents.com/ sets up in less then a minute and can withstand the heavy rain and the wind. A bit pricey but well worth the money... I bought the 4 man tent. I have enough room for all my gear, two single or one queen air mattress and I can stand in the middle.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Yall are makin me want to go camping!! See what yall started?

 

 

[juggler]

We bought a Ozark Trail cabin tent last year and anyone that saw it at Pork in the Pines can tell you it is huge. We can put two air mattresses inside and it has a walk-in closet/changing room. This tent is great because you can stand up inside to get dressed.

 

I bought it at Walmart at a great discount.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4664261

 

We just saw this camper trailer at the Donny Smith bike show in St. Paul on Saturday. http://timeouttrailers.org/campingtrailers.aspx

 

I can see this in the future.

[1sttenor]

My wife was the same way. We picked up a 6 man tent at Walmart last year that came with 2 chairs for $60.00 lotts of room. Good luck. Mine wants a camper now.

 

Time for a toy hauler???

[hillrider]

I've got the 5 man Apache. Great, easy to set and dismantle. Good in the wind. Rides perfect on top on my Aluma Trailer (along with two chairs).

[timgray]

No more tents for me... picking up this baby in May...

 

http://www.leesurelite.com/video.asp

 

sad part is there is one rotting away in a fenced area at a long dead motorcycle dealer here in town. The guy went out of business 2 years ago and one of those campers is still sitting there. I remember it sitting there for about 5 years before they went out of business.

[a1bummer]

No more tents for me... picking up this baby in May...

 

http://www.leesurelite.com/video.asp

 

So... what does one of them cost a guy? I like!

[Guest tx2sturgis]

So... what does one of them cost a guy? I like!

 

 

In post number 12 I mentioned it...close to 5 grand list price...and thats without all the options!