Regular Old Canvas Tents - How Do They Fare on the Playa?

[Packoderm]

This is a traditional canvas tent I picked up at the Goodwill. I think I lucked out on it. It is in great shape, and it only cost me $5.99. The floor is 8x10. Do canvas cabin tents seem to hold up better in the wind than oversized poly fabric dome tents? What if it is guyed down?

[Bob]

Try pitching it somewhere windy.

Like any tent, should work fine w/ a windbreak.

[kikaroo]

Hi Packoderm,

$5.99!!?? A total steal!!

Canvas tents ROCK on the Playa.

1. They breath MUCH better than a traditional tent. Nylon tents instantly heat up like a sauna once the sun rises. Canvas buys you a lot more time.

2. Do the windows completely zip shut? If so, AWESOME! If not, then be prepared for dusty to whip up under the cover and effortless get inside your tent. If this case you may wish to modify the windows (sew, hot glue, or duct tape them shut for the Burn)

3. Finally, from the appearance the of the structure of your canvas tent I would HIGHly advice rebaring each of the corners into the ground AND tether at an angle from the top bend of each pole to a separate piece of rebar to the ground with a ratchet tie down. You'll be set for any wind storm.

I have a Springbar tent. It has been to the Playa three times and has stood up against the gnarliest windstorms with out additional tie downs. I LOVE it! ...then again it wasn't $5.99. You found yourself a sick deal!!!

Have an awesome Burn!

'kika

[Savannah]

Damn, Kikaroo, that's a great first post. Welcome to ePlaya!

[trilobyte]

Replace the standard stakes with something longer (10-inch or better, you can probably find a few discussions around the boards about staking down your stuff). Otherwise, put it up in your yard or at a local park before you take it to the playa (always a good idea to be familiar with how your tent comes together before you arrive), and you can get a better sense of whether it can survive strong winds. Hopefully it all works out, that's a great deal!

[CapSmashy]

NICE SCORE! Canvas is wonderful tent material.

[Packoderm]

Thanks for the compliments on the tent. It gives a nice feel to sit in it as opposed to nylon tents. I'm very happy that Springbar and Kodiak are still making canvas tents. Springbar's tents are back ordered, so the demand is there. Based on your comments, I will bring this new (to me) tent to the playa. The Goodwill clearance center sells all tents for $5.99 regardless of size or fabric. I bought a nylon backpacking two person tent there yesterday. When I bought the canvas one, the poles were scattered about, and there was one missing. I announced that I would pay $5.00 to whoever finds it for me. It was fun to watch all these kids get busy looking for it. So, I guess I really paid $10.99 for the tent, but it was worth it to see the kids be so industrious.

[Oldguy]

Stake down the bottom first, then lift exterior frame. Wind will move aluminum poles around with flexing. You may have to reset frame daily. I suggest rebar anchor spikes at each footing. It's easy to secure shade covering from ground over frame to ground on other side. I always throw a safety rope overall as a wind failsafe. I have used civilwar a-frame style as well as cabin style...Canvas is cooler than plastic, less noisy too.

[nncoco]

You will be comfortable.

I have ben using a smaller square canvas tent for over a decade out there. Mine is a bit stronger in a wind because it has a cross at the top. Just get some good stakes and some rope. Check for dust/air leaks. If you tie it on the wayward side of a vehicle, it will be bomber.

One thing you will really appreciate is some carpet out front and a make-shift shade awning.

When you get home it will have a playa dust smell that I for one don't particularly like. Set it up right away and hose it off good and then dry it in the sun. The dust will corrode any metal zippers. Mine fits in the largest coin operated commercial washers but yours may be a bit too big.

[peachandpapa]

$5.99.... Awesome score!!! We use four different size canvas wall tents...would not use anything else on the playa. When you get home, wash it really well, and more importantly, make sure it is completely dry when you store it. The only thing tougher to get out of it than playa dust is mold and mildew.

[shroom]

I did great in mine last year. Use the rebar playa steaks that you can read about on here. I put a shade over and in front of it to sit under. I parked my truck on one side to help with the wind. I didn't tape my flaps down and wish I did after the one bad windstorm we had. Cover all your things with a sheet with you leave so you can have a sort of dust free place to sleep when you return.

[robbidobbs]

I had a Coleman Vagabond canvas cabin tent my first 2 years. Here's what I learned:
replace the factory poles with galvanized steel conduit, drive rebar stakes into the playa to act like a foundation for the poles.
DO NOT ZIP UP THE TENT IN A DIRT STORM. The pressure exploded my tent and snapped the conduit joins in a silly little 50 mph storm my 2nd year.
My first year we had 75 mph dirt storm that lasted 2 days. No really. 1999 was nuts. My tent did terrific as long as I left the windows open.
To join in with shroom, just bring a huge king size crappy sheet from a thrift store to cover all your bedding and shit. Gently pull it off when you want to go to sleep. Works terrific. I still use this method even though I now use a nylon tent.

[Lassen Forge]

+1 on opening the windows and covering with a sheet. I forgot one time, and watched a fiberglass pole shatter when it went 90 degrees in a windstorm... I like the conduit idea, too, Robbi! (BTW, see you at TTITD)

Wish I could score one of those $5.99 tents... I'm thinking of biting the bullet for next year and getting a Kodiak... Can't afford it this year, darnit. But yeah, I'd love to switch to canvas.

[Packoderm]

I talked with a friend who does canvas sewing. He says to get 2 inch strips of velcro and sew it to the edges of the windows instead of zippers. I'll price some velcro.

[Bob]

Well if you're going to sew on it, consider reinforcing the grommets and ties, those are the weak spots.

[Packoderm]

I got another tent. This one is canvas, but it is a lighter weight canvas. I'm unsure how it will fare in the playa winds. I have a few backpacking tents for backup in case these big ones can't hack it.

[Bob]

You're going to need a windbreak or something for that.

[Ugly Dougly]

You're going to need a windbreak or something for that.

That's what the RV in the background is for.

[Packoderm]

I think Bob has a point. It's still set up, and it doesn't feel that sturdy. Sure, it's worth $5.99, but it will take wind breaks and reinforcing. We'll see how it goes on the playa. Like I said, if it gets too flappy, I'll just move stuff on over to one of the backpacking tents. What I'd really like is one of those Springbar tents.

[FIGJAM]

I got another tent. This one is canvas, but it is a lighter weight canvas. I'm unsure how it will fare in the playa winds. I have a few backpacking tents for backup in case these big ones can't hack it.

It looks like it would be easy to make some new poles out of 3/4 emt.

[robbidobbs]

Definitely consider replacing some/all of the poles. And if you can't fashion a shelter structure to protect it, bungee the fuck out of it. All the way around. solid tie-downs could just pull it apart. It would be really sad to lose it. I've lost x2 tents, and although I had options, it was still sad.

[Bob]

I've done windbreaks just by hanging cheap painter's dropcloths on a tripod spanning the tent.