Old army style tents

[eigenstates]

Anyone have any experience with these on the playa? I expect they are only as good as the guy wires... but I am looking at buying on so any information would be helpful.

[dragonfly Jafe]

if you are talking about the GP-small-medium-large series of tents, they make excellent Playa shelters. put some carpeting down and you have a serious bivy! These tents laugh at the storms the Playa throws, one can hardly tell they are happening when the tents are all buttoned up. The ridge pole is nice (especially if you want to hang hammocks) but I have not brought mine for the last few years w/o ill effect.

I have an old canvas GP med army tent, been to the playa for 5 years and it is still going strong. we put up the liner, add carpet, hundreds of pillows, and a few swamp coolers, then hide the whole thing under camo netting (3 layers of shade), and one generally must curl up w/ a pillow or blanket for the afternoon siesta...

they are kind of "stereotypical" however...

[phil]

Depending on what you mean, I have seen tons of olive drab tents that reek of army on the playa, and they seem to be able to withstand whatever is blown at them, although I suspect they are well-rigged. These are monster tents, used for galley/dining halls and more, not just little pup tents for sleeping.

[Ugly Dougly]

There's some sort of copper-based preservative in mil surp parts.

[The CO]

I have brought out US military surplus tents of all sizes to the playa since 1999. They are great as long as you use them with the respect they deserve. Some tips:

1-Check ALL the guy wires, replace as needed, and use every last one of them on the playa. The wind out there can be brutal, but if you use all 24 guy wires you are good to go. As mentioned, button it up and you'll barely notice storms outside.
2-Stakes-I recommend the army 12" V-stakes for all your connections. They are spendy but worth it. If not, 2' rebar with all the right precautions works.
3-Make sure all your Zippers work and all your sidewall tie-offs are in good shape.
4-The center ridge beam in the GP Med is overkill unless you plan to hang things from it, even in BRC.
5-Follow the instructions sewn to the inside of the tent. It really is the best way to put it up.

Cpt. DogBoy
M*A*S*H 4207th
Brave & 3:00

[dragonfly Jafe]

...another tip we just figured out this year; if you want to put camoflouge over your tent (for extra shade say), lay the tent out (per the instructions printed inside the tent), but before you erect the 2 main poles spread the camo net out over the tent, arranging it how you want it. Then go inside and erect the 2 main poles, raising the camo up with it.