Tents

[pbmindpaintball]

What kind of tents do you guys have. I have a 3 man and it works great for me. Durable and easy to use.

[algoan]

Previous to our pop-up camper, we had a 9x12 cabin tent and really liked the space it gave us (nice and roomy - we could stand up in it!).  But it was a bear to set up!  We'd use a smaller dome tent when it was just an overnighter.  We wouldn't bother setting up the cabin-style unless we were staying at the same site at least 2 or more nights.

[Jennifer]

We used a cabin style (before we had children), we just didn't enjoy the heat and sleeping on an air mattress, that always seems to go flat.  Plus it never failed  it would  storm every time we went tent camping and I'm not  talking rain shower.  I'm talking thunder,lighting, wind and down pour rain.  We needed the ark not a tent.  Everything got wet or felt wet.  But this was several years ago,  now they make really nice and easy set-up tent and even  some that have power.    We have a pop-up right now and I love it, because I can still hear the crickets and stuff and feel like I'm in a tent, but have power,running water (most places) and that wonderful air conditioning.

[algoan]

How funny.  We ALWAYS get rained on overnight on the last night we're camping.  It's happened about 4 or 5 trips in a row (at least that's how many since we've started paying attention to the trend).  Seriously, it could be completely dry without a cloud in sight, but if we're camping, it'll rain on the last night, so everything will be all soggy when we're packing up the next morning.  At first it was really frustrating, but now it's just funny.   

[Jennifer]

Yeah , I know what you mean, eventually it just becomes  funny  , we were on the river (floating)  during the last storm and we didn't ready the camp for a storm and we were scared the canopy was going to collapse, thank God it didn't that would have been costly.  My sister left her tent all unzipped and didn't put her rain fly on either, so her and her 2 boys  had to sleep in the camper with us, it was crowded but, what can you do. 

[Bigdog57]

For truck or motorcycle camping and roadtrips, I have a three-man dome tent that I really like - it's come through heavy rains and a light hail storm without a problem.  It's big enough to hold my gear, but small and light enough for one-man set-up.  I call it my camo-condo!
I recently got a one-man Bivytent from Sportsman's Guide that I have used on a couple quick over-nighters in the local woods.  Haven't field tested in actual rain yet.  Two-and-a-half pounds, quick set-up/knock-down and easy to carry for hiking.  I want to try it on my next MC road trip in October.

[betias]

I am trying find out the different types of tents, can anyone provide a list of tents and their prices.

[Bigdog57]

There are many types, brands and price ranges.  Campmor has probably the largest selection of any mailorder company I have seen - check them out.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=250&catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226

You can find what you need for your particular situation.

Being single and usually riding a MC on roadtrips, I favor a lightweight dome tent.  A family however would need something larger.

[JBcamps]

We have a family of 5 and a big dog, so we have a large cabin tent.  The newer tents have multi-room options, so you can have a little privacy if you want it.  Amazon.com has nearly every brand of tent available at good prices.  You can also check out a couple of pages on the website below for information and models of tent by Wenzel and Eureka, both of which are pretty good.

www.youcancamp.com/wenzeltent.php

or

www.youcancamp.com/eurekatents.php

[Roaring Rory]

I use to have a really big 3 room tent.  It was really nice but one problem.  I camp alot in the desert where it is really windy.  I got no sleep at all.  I only used the tent once.

[campman]

I have a dome tent and a cabin tent I bought from Kmart.  I know Northwest Territory isn't a huge name in tents, but the two I own are fantastic.  I have never had a problem with them.  Both set up very easily, I can even set the cabin tent up by myself.  I have never been an RV camper, and with the success I have had with my tents I don't think I will ever be.

[tplife]

Because I've been camping on my own since I was 12, I have some pretty good gear now.  Currently my newest base camp tent is a 2008 Sierra Designs Bedouin 6.  My one-day-to-be-retired general base camp is the 1987 Sierra Designs Base Camp 4, still in use.  My "loaner" or "guest" tent is a2006  Eureka! Tetragon 8.  My "motorcycle camping" tent is a 2007 Sierra Designs Electron 2.  I donated my old Ozark Trails 3 that was my old "motorcycle" tent to charity.  It was still in good condition, but I decided that four tents was plenty.     BTW, I buy all my tents new-in-the-box off Ebay for 60% off.  There is no other place to get a better deal than Ebay! 

[familycampman]

I have a couple of tents - a Coleman Red Canyon 8 - 10 person and a Wentzel Timber Ridge. I'm in the market for a new dome tent and am looking at the Eureka Tetragon 8 .  I'm want a quality tent and a decent price and i think that one fits the bill. Not to self promote, but i just wrote about it in my blog at http://www.familycampman.com.  Let me know what you think.

[tplife]

I have a Tetragon , it's not a quality tent.  I got it for around $70 less a  rebate, and that  is all the tent is worth, in my opinion.  It was dirt cheap, and I use it as a "guest" tent when folks join in and need a tent.  The materials quality and  denier thickness is sub-par, the fiberglass quality of the poles is poor, the 2-pole design is not enough for the square footage of canopy, the diameter of the poles is too small for structural integrity, the door design and zippers are outdated and of poor quality.  Eureka! makes quality tents, but not this one.  the Tetragon series is an economical low-end price point.  It's only true advantage is a full-coverage fly that the Eureka! Sunrise models don't offer.  

[Bigdog57]

I finally 'tested' my wee "bodybag with a view" bivytent in a good hard south Georgia 'frog-strangler'........  the tent was a major FAIL.  The rear pole broke for the second time, the front stake pulled out of the hard Georgia ground, and water collected on top of the fly - it soaked right through.  Thank Goodness I usually get up around 4 to 5 AM anyways........   
I left it in the dumpster, and when back home ordered the Eureka Apex 2XT.  It has the full rainfly, two doors and vestibules - I can keep gear in the 'rea'r and still have unimpeded access thru the 'front'.  Packed size is great for motorcycle use, and will take little room in van/car or canoe.  A riding buddy on my trip has a similar though older Eureka 2-man tent that he really likes.

Since this is the 'RV' forum though, I am working a deal with a buddy to trade for his little Scamp 13ft. mini  TT.  It will tow easily behind my Dodge Grand Caravan (which I can also sleep in!).