Tent with Concerns...

[theCryptofishist]

I need a tent. I don't want to spend $500 for a wall tent. It needs to be tall--I can't use a dome. It has to pack reasonably small--I don't get to use the entire cargo space in the van. I have concerns about the floor--wheelchairs have amazing destructive force--but it looks like that staking down the floor loosely, at least on the door side, is my best option. I can bring a wood-burner to cauterize the floor if I start shredding it. I really don't want to buy a tent and trash it this year, and then go through the cycle next year. I'm going to go to REI and ask questions, but I thought I'd throw it out to the eplaya brain trust.

[GreyCoyote]

I was thinking a dome would fit the bill until I read "no dome". Can I ask why? How about a high walled yurt? How much space do you need and how wide of a door would be good for you?

[BoyScoutGirl]

Would putting an old, heavy carpet scrap inside on top of the tent floor help protect it or would that just muck up the tread?

Is this too dome-y?

[trilobyte]

Also, what about putting down a couple pieces of wood inside/on the floor once it's set up? Or a piece of linoleum, cut to the size of the tent floor area?

[theCryptofishist]

Dome tents, afaict, are too low to the ground and don't have enough head room.
Carpet has worked in the past--but I worry about a) finding some (although it's not actually hard) and b) transport--that pack small thing.
I'm not sure how linoleum or wood would work with those parameters either.

[Elorrum]

Maybe go floorless? here's a Sierra Design... it looks sturdy. 82" peak height. put down a rug, or canvas and then you don't have to worry about the nylon floor getting wrecked. single wall, no mesh ceiling. I think if you could get a floor fitted well, it could sit on top of the bottom edge, and maybe give you a seal of some sort. Almost any tent I've seen has that lip on the bottom where the door zips up... some seem fairly forgiving. I've tripped on them so many times and never tore one, or brought the tent down.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/sierra ... rFamily=01

[FIGJAM]

When I was looking for rubber mat to do the nieces van, I found some interesting 3x6 mats at HD that were light and easy to roll up.

They were'nt thick enough for my needs, but would be perfect to protect a tent floor.

[msj2u]

http://www.tarptent.com/rainshadow2.html

[FIGJAM]

This is just one of several choices.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Apache-Mills ... ifications

[MikeGyver]

What I Bought this year is a Field&Stream Field Lodge 6. No clue as to durability, but ive set it up in the back yard and at 6'2 I barely scrape the top, and as a size reference I blew up my queen air mattress and 2 of them would fill it side by side. Its sort of copying a spring bar, its got 4 metal poles at the corners and two+one flex poles across the top and the +1 for the vestibule. I like it so far but I haven't camped in it yet, it was 150+50 for a 2 year warranty.

[trilobyte]

Rubber mats (or even a few welcome mats) could work, and hopefully not take up too much space.

[Turtleburp]

I wonder if there are any spare carpets that could come in with BDV?

Although I'm not sure you'd want one of last years - we saw them at the end!

[mudpuppy000]

Hmmmm, I like the rubber mat idea. The large ones are REALLY heavy, but you could probably get a few small ones and cover the floor of the tent pretty well.

[FIGJAM]

The ones I saw were maybe 20 pounds.

The problem with small mats is the chair wheels sink between the seams or gaps.

The footprint of the chair wheels is about 4 square inches total, with 300 pounds on that.

Have to have something to spread the load.

[Aurelia]

Gave mine away or you could have it ..(too brutal last year I thought)
2 room
and it had a front hang so there was no lip to deal with
carpets are best i would think
Just put it to Amazon quest

[mudpuppy000]

Is the tent going to be freestanding or inside another structure? (carport?) You can get by with a less sturdy/tall tent if it's going to have a wind break around it.

[VultureChow]

What about going the canvas route? Something like a vintage boyscout wall tent can be had for $200 or so.

[Blueschaser]

Might check this at REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829184/rei-k ... -tent-2012
They also have a 6 person model....pretty vertical walls.

[Dr. Pyro]

I wonder if there are any spare carpets that could come in with BDV?

The next newsletter will mention that we are looking for 6000 square feet of carpeting for the central area of the camp (shade, foosball table, wine bistro, piano, sofas). If there's any left over you're welcome to it.

[unjonharley]

I'm finding 10X10 pop ups for $80 new and craig's list for $50.. Side walls and ends on the low end $40.. Running around $240. That is only a few minutes search..

I have a light pole up that Is tied down at three angles each corner. With a stake at each leg to keep it from walking..Putting it up in the yard this week.. My son will help me post pictures..

[theCryptofishist]

What about going the canvas route? Something like a vintage boyscout wall tent can be had for $200 or so.

I haven't looked extensively, but I'm not seeing wall tents for much less than $500.

[theCryptofishist]

I wonder if there are any spare carpets that could come in with BDV?

The next newsletter will mention that we are looking for 6000 square feet of carpeting for the central area of the camp (shade, foosball table, wine bistro, piano, sofas). If there's any left over you're welcome to it.

Thank you very much.

[theCryptofishist]

Everything that I've heard about pop-ups at burningman says they won't hold up to the wind, unjon, although I readily admit that you have a lot more practical experience than I do.

[lucky420]

http://www.blueskydesigns.us/freedomtent.htm Eureka discontinued their line but wondering if you might be able to find it elsewhere?

[unjonharley]

Everything that I've heard about pop-ups at burningman says they won't hold up to the wind, unjon, although I readily admit that you have a lot more practical experience than I do.

True we have gone away from them.. The joint break down from the wind.. I called mine a pole up.. It is like a carport with 1/2 inch conduit.. It cut down to 6X8 with a net and foil top.. I think I have a set of corners around here some place..You would be welcome to them..Will have pictures up by the end of the week... The van forms the back wall.. I have to work on the side walls.. Might try king size sheets.. lite and tough..

[VultureChow]

What about going the canvas route? Something like a vintage boyscout wall tent can be had for $200 or so.

I haven't looked extensively, but I'm not seeing wall tents for much less than $500.

What's your budget, if you don't mind me asking. I'm wondering if we could all be on the craigslist lookout for something good. Maybe a gently used Kodiak canvas or Springbar.

[theCryptofishist]

http://www.blueskydesigns.us/freedomtent.htm Eureka discontinued their line but wondering if you might be able to find it elsewhere?

I thought it wasn't made at all anymore. Eureka wasn't the manufacturer?

[theCryptofishist]

What about going the canvas route? Something like a vintage boyscout wall tent can be had for $200 or so.

I haven't looked extensively, but I'm not seeing wall tents for much less than $500.

What's your budget, if you don't mind me asking. I'm wondering if we could all be on the craigslist lookout for something good. Maybe a gently used Kodiak canvas or Springbar.

Say $300. I'm in that "I'm not sure if I'll attend next year or not" thing again.

[msj2u]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coleman-4-perso ... 1145656108

Not sure if this is big enough, found some on ebay and amazon (coleman) under your price limit and they ship.

MSJ

[VultureChow]

What about something like this: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/g ... x?a=884278

I was thinking about the Kodiak or springbar. The entrance is not flush to the ground which might make it unworkable with the chair. This on the other hand has the height and the entrance flush to the ground. I assume you could pound a straight piece of rebar in the center to slip the center pole over for some additional stability.