Looking for a wall tent.

[Sneaky]

I have no experience with these, but I'd like something simple to set up that will accommodate 6-8 people for doing things out of the weather like cooking and eating. Nothing fancy. Doesn't need to be huge. Just a shelter to keep warm and dry. Something that will last. Any recommendations?

[UtPreacher]

I've got a set up that I had made by Davis Tent and Awning out of Denver. They have been awesome to work with and were able to listen to my needs and tailor the tent that fit me best. I have had it since 2009 and it is holding up great! We use it from September into November some years and it has always been a great camp.

[cnelk]

Lots of good tent mfgs
For that many people you would be best having at least 2 wall tents, maybe 3.
They are much easier to handle than one of those big ones.
I have found it best to designate one for cooking and food, the rest for sleeping

[Sneaky]

Thanks for the feedback. I like the looks of both set ups.

[ElkNut1]

Jared, you may want to consider one of our Sponsors here who has the Wall Tent Shop Banner above the threads here, just click on the Banner & it will take you to his Site! I have one of his 12X14 models & it is a very nice walltent. His prices are great & service is very good too. Give them a call & they can line you out on anything you need including some great suggestions that will fit your needs.

ElkNut1

[Indian Summer]

something that will accommodate 6-8 people.... Doesn't need to be huge.

Think about the size of a cot which is around 32 inches wide. Call it three feet. In an 8 foot wide tent you can put two down the sides and have 2 feet in between them. In a 14 wide you can get 3 wide with adequate space. Then you can get two more in there coming off the one side wall opposite the woodstove. If you buy a 14 by 16 you'll sleep 5. You could put a cot against the wall when you're cooking/eating etc and put it in place at night but 6 is the max for most any wall tent and that is TIGHT. Keep in mind everyone has gear and there are tools of the trade in there... cook stove, food storage etc.

I think your best bet is to get two tents that will sleep 4 each. Big tents are harder to heat anyway. When you have a smaller party a 12 by 14 would be good. Bring the other one if the whole gang goes.

There are lots of good tent makers. A few not so good. Lots way over priced. Shipping is an issue. Like Paul said.... call the Wall Tent Shop at the link above. His shipping is free and the package comes with the angle kit to make a pole frame. All you need to do is go to Home Depot or any hardware store and buy 1 inch EMT conduit and cut it to length. I can tell you I've owned them all: Davis, Big Sky, Montana Canvas, and several others. Hands down I like the ones he sells at the Wall Tent Shop. Double canvas in all the wear spots like the ridge and corners. Sod cloth all around the base of the floor. Instead of grommets punch through the eaves there are heavy D-rings to tie your guide ropes to which is priceless. Snap buckles to latch the door flap and to hold them open. A screened window in the back for ventilation. They really are the Cadillac.

Good luck Sneaky! (I like that name!)

[Sneaky]

Jared, you may want to consider one of our Sponsors here who has the Wall Tent Shop Banner above the threads here, just click on the Banner & it will take you to his Site! I have one of his 12X14 models & it is a very nice walltent. His prices are great & service is very good too. Give them a call & they can line you out on anything you need including some great suggestions that will fit your needs.

ElkNut1

That's what got me to asking. I was looking through that site after clicking on the banner. There's a lot of options, there, and I have no idea which route to go.

[Sneaky]

something that will accommodate 6-8 people.... Doesn't need to be huge.

Think about the size of a cot which is around 32 inches wide. Call it three feet. In an 8 foot wide tent you can put two down the sides and have 2 feet in between them. In a 14 wide you can get 3 wide with adequate space. Then you can get two more in there coming off the one side wall opposite the woodstove. If you buy a 14 by 16 you'll sleep 5. You could put a cot against the wall when you're cooking/eating etc and put it in place at night but 6 is the max for most any wall tent and that is TIGHT. Keep in mind everyone has gear and there are tools of the trade in there... coo stove, food storage etc.

I think your best bet is to get two tents that will sleep 4 each. Big tents are harder to heat anyway. When you have a smaller party a 12 by 14 would be good. Bring the other one if the whole gang goes.

There are lots of good tent makers. A few not so good. Lots way over priced. Shipping is an issue. Like Paul said.... call the Wall Tent Shop at the link above. His shipping is free and the package comes with the angle kit to make a pole frame. All you need to do is go to Home Depot or any hardware store and buy 1 inch EMT conduit and cut it to length. I can tell you I've owned them all: Davis, Big Sky, Montana Canvas, and several others. Hands down I like the ones he sells at the Wall Tent Shop. Double canvas in all the wear spots like the ridge and corners. Sod cloth all around the base of the floor. Instead of grommets punch through the eaves there are heavy D-rings to tie your guide ropes to which is priceless. Snap buckles to latch the door flap and to hold them open. A screened window in the back for ventilation. They really are the Cadillac.

Good luck Sneaky! (I like that name!)

Oh, no, we're not all going to be shacking up in there! I just want one for a place to hang out where we can stay warm and dry, especially while cooking and eating and such. We just need enough room for that. Not sure how much room that would be, though.

I guess I'll just have to buy one of his if the quality is that good. You mention that it comes in a package with most everything needed. That's good. I was a little confused about how that worked after looking at his site. I'll just call him up and see what he can put together for me.

Thanks for the help, guys. Y'all are a wealth of knowledge.

[Indian Summer]

Oh I see! If you want a tent that, other than the wood stove, just has a cooking area and 3 tables down the middle which means 3 guys down each side and one on each end, I'd say a 14 by 16 is what you want. A Camp Time Roll-A-Tables (nice) go 32 by 32 so three of those is 8 feet long. That leaves two feet for a chair on the back side and three feet of space to the door. Put them to one side leaving just enough room for a row of chairs against that wall and put the cooking area along the other wall. Ideal setup!

Make sure you get the fire/water/mildew treated!!! The Wilderness tent package is what you want. I'd recommend the rear screened window over the rear door for ventilation. The only reason to ever consider two doors, and this might be something you want to do... is if you set up two tents in tandem and want to be able to walk into the dining tent... and from that one into the sleep tent. That's also a really sweet setup because the cook tent stays a little warm at night and it also insulates the sleep tent on one side. Now you're talking Hilton on the hill!!!

[Sneaky]

That's the one I've been looking at. Guess I'll just have to get it. Thanks.

[Swede]

Sneaky: One thing else I would consider is how well the people who make and sell the tent, stand behind their product. Some are very good, while other are here today and gone tomorrow. Some will fix the tent for a reasonable fee, but with others you are on your own.

[Sneaky]

I hear that. That's why I always do a lot of research before buying things like this. I hate cheap equipment.

[cnelk]

Some other things that will matter on price and durability is the canvas thickness and if you want a sewn in floor or maybe an awning.
I have a sewn in floor in one of my tents and its really nice. Much warmer. The same tent has an awning too that I had sewn on.
[its the tent on the far right]
Another factor is to determine if you want to build your own frame or purchase a frame kit.

These things are all important items to consider when buying a wall tent

[Indian Summer]

Yep. Nice thick canvas on is. Paul will tell you he a nice dude and if you have a problem he'll fix it. I prefer an removable floor. Plastic tarps make terrible floors. Mud puddles and moisture underneath! For a good price call Kan at Big Sky Tents in Missoula or Outfitters Supply and look for mesh floors that are the ticket. Pushes grass down and keeps dust down but lets water through. Spike down the corners to keep it in place. Washes easily. Mesh is fine enough to walk on in your socks without touching the ground. Three thumbs up. Plus a tent with no floor is a bit easier to get air to when drying.

[Sneaky]

Noted. Thanks again!

[six]

Bought my tent from Davis in Denver Colorado. Give these guys a call they will answer any questions you have and some you didn't think you had. The picture is the inside of a 16x20 with 5 cots and the biggest stove they had. It was tight when we were hurrying to get around in the morning. Hope this helps ya.

[six]

sleeping arrangments.jpg (224.55 KiB) Viewed 10577 times

[Sneaky]

Thanks. That picture gives me a good perspective on size.