Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Educate me on car camping tents
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GM2 |
https://www.amazon.com/NTK-Arizona-Person-Camping-Waterproof/dp/B00NOA1X36/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 |
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fadersup |
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jdevries |
bobbernumber3: "jdevries: "I car camp at Fall Lake for a week nearly every year. ly. Fortunately that tent pad (site #29) is no longer there, the wood box rotted away so they removed it completely. Those 2 pictures are from the exact same spot actually. I'm usually at Fall Lake either the week before or the week after Labor Day and daytrip anywhere from Mudro to the South Kawishiwi River to Lake One. JD |
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scotttimm |
tashit: "I don't know if the quality has changed in the past 10+ years, but I bought a 10x10 Coleman Sundowner tent in 2006 (I believe) on sale at Sportmart for $50 and it has been basically indestructible. It has been through nasty winds and 36 hour soaking rains and hasn't leaked a drop. It has fiberglass poles and isn't lightweight by any means, but it has worked awesome as a car camping tent." +1 We had a beautiful Sierra Designs family tent that got absolutely soaked in Yellowstone a few years back, on our way to Glacier. Cant do much when you wake up and your tent is sitting in two inches of water. The rain showed no signs of stopping, and I didn't want to set up and sleep in a wet tent in GNP with the wife and kids. I stopped at a Walmart, bought a 10x10 Coleman for $75, found one that had the decent fly coverage. The bottom is like a bathtub of plastic tarp. We rigged another tarp like a vestibule covering the entrance, and our family absolutely loved it. So much so, that we took it to the BWCA the following summer and it stood up perfectly fine to downpours and wind. For car camping, I think they work just fine, if you don't mind the 17lbs...but if you get a big family tent for car camping, and don't want to spend $450, all your choices will be 15-20lbs. |
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proepro |
HowardSprague: "I have an LL Bean 6 person tent (name escapes me at the moment) - a predecessor to this: and have been pretty happy with it, held up fine in a rainstorm and wind. The rainfly pole is fiberglass, the rest aluminum...I had an issue with the shockcord just on that pole (used duct tape on trip, was fine), and LL Bean sent me a new one with apology and without argument. I imagine this version is similar, and pretty comfortable. |
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mirth |
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mirth |
You could certainly go through and seal a tent like this yourself with seamgrip, but most people don't agree with the idea of needing to improve something you just bought before it's truly usable. |
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BWPaddler |
It has full fly coverage front and back, which I also liked. SO spacious inside - like having a hotel room along with you. You can stand easily and bring your suitcase inside. I love camping in it with the fly off on clear nights. Almost like being outside under the stars. Even with the fly ON, you can have air flow with the windows open and the front vestibule tied back. I have set it up solo and camped in it solo when I felt like having space and bug protection. Great quality - plenty of pockets, a dividing wall if you like, loops for hanging things, zipper for electric cord if you choose. Down sides? - so big, you will not share heat with anyone and need the right gear if you are camping in colder temps - some tent pads are not quite big enough for it, but I've always been able to make it work out and I'm always in rustic campgrounds. There are smaller versions of same, but I have the 8-person and love it. |
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awbrown |
The Kingdom comes in 4, 6, and 8 person sizes. Mine is the 6. It comes in it's own "backpack" so it is easy to lug and to store. It has numerous pockets all along the inside and several tie loops on the ceiling to run a clothesline through. One room has extra no see um screen so you can roll back the fly and watch the stars if you choose. REI Kingdom 6 with garage. In this photo, it shows the garage "canopy" rolled up, but the canopy can be set out with poles to provide shade or a cozy area to sit out a rain storm. Tent without fly, you can clearly see the ventilation. The garage zips into the other end. |
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BWPaddler |
SammyN: "This has been a great thread. I'm surprised at the support of Coleman tents. I didn't expect that. Being in WI, I'm thinking something like a screened in porch or vestibule would be nice to get away from the moquitos. A place to eat, without too much grief." My experience with a Coleman tent (9x9) was that I needed my kid's spare diapers to catch the leaks during a July rain. :( |
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bmaines |
WHendrix: "I like the Marmot Limestone. I have the 4 person, but they also make a 6 person." I bought one of these guys about 8 years ago. It is the absolute perfect size for two people with cots, leaving a nice alley down the middle for changing and moving around inside. I have had it set up as a basecamp out west elk hunting a few times, along with a multitude of blueberry, morel and grouse trips. I'm not one to sing the praises of many things, but this tent I will. |
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JackpineJim |
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Dooger |
I spent about $400 on a Cabela’s Alaskan Outfitter and haven’t looked back. My kids are still in preschool and we camped over 14 nights this past summer in varying weather/wind. No issues. The tent is over 5 years old now. |
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butthead |
Same thoughts apply to other brands of family style tents, good quality to start with, full coverage "to the ground" flys with guy-out lines that attach thru the fly to the frame, sufficient staking to hold down. If new looks to expensive consider Ebay and other used/clearance sources. Mine was returned due to a small hole on the interior wall (a cigarette burn?), so small a skeeter could not get thru, I left it alone. July 19 2018 Historic Road Races this included 2 full days of rain. Another used family tent I enjoyed was a BA Big House 4 the early 3 pole version, now in possession of another board member. butthead |
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SammyN |
Are these "6-8" person tents for $100 worth it? Are there any recommendations for a family tent? |
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drnatus |
We always use a Tyvek self made innie and this has always worked well. The above tent would have been floating in a downpour in Algonquin Provincial park about 5 years ago, but did fine and the tyvek innie gave all the more protection. |
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bobbernumber3 |
jdevries: "I car camp at Fall Lake for a week nearly every year. ly. What is your usual week at Fall Lake Campground? Your picture shows one of the dislikes I have about the sites. Tent pads, ugh. Never the right size or location on the site. |
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SammyN |
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Tomcat |
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thistlekicker |
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SammyN |
From what I'm seeing, I'm really liking the idea of a front porch. Especially with a screen. That would help to keep the mosquitos away, while having something to eat, or a place to relax and enjoy the evening. |
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SammyN |
Keep them coming. let me know what you use, even if it is just the name, and if you like it or not. I can always google the tent name. |
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MisterKrabs |
There's another option though, an entire category of manufacturers in the middle of the market. For just a little more, you can get much better tent like an Alps Mountaineering Meramac/Taurus or a Kelty Outback or a Eureka Tetragon. Personally, after a lot of research, I spent about $200 on an Alps Mountaineering Taurus 5 Outfitter for my car camping tent. I couldn't be happier. Heavy duty everything and a fly to the ground. Of course, you can spend double this amount and get an REI, TNF, MSR BA, etc. tent, and they would be great too, Just not 2 times as great to me. https://www.kelty.com/outback-4-tent/ https://eurekacamping.johnsonoutdoors.com/tents/camping/tetragon-hd-4-person-tent http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/products/tents/outfitter-tents/taurus-5-outfitter edit:timberlines are expensive! |
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tashit |
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THEGrandRapids |
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WHendrix |
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ParkerMag |
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TominMpls |
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jdevries |
JD |
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jdevries |
JD |
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walllee |
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HowardSprague |
Northwoods Cabin Lodge tent*SGGSTD_S*Family%20Camping sorry, seems the link is jacked up |
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walllee |
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awbrown |
TominMpls: "I've read reviews of the Kingdom tents that say the floors aren't waterproof, which is kind of the point of a tent. Have you found it to be waterproof?" It's been through some doozies of storms with no leakage. I can't imagine a tent with a water permeable floor. |
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BuckFlicks |
I'm intrigued by the roof rack car-top tents, but not at well over $1000. I think I'd just take my backpacking tent and use that. |
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LindenTree3 |
Using our Eureka Sunrise 8, four person tent. It's good for two people and two large dogs. |
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Blatz |
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