Base camp tents

[jackelope]

Curious to know what you guys all use for a big tent at your camps. I don't think a wall tent is in the cards for me as I don't have the means to set it up indoors to dry it out after use all the time like it seems needs to happen.  I have a couple great backpacking tents and for family camping I have a 9'x9' Coleman instant tent which is a good tent as long as it's dry. If it rains, we might as well be sleeping under nothing. Water pretty much enters immediately. I've taken it hunting twice now, both times it rained and most of our gear got wet. I'd like to get into a better quality big tent, and I'd likely use it for family camping, but I don't think a great big wall tent is practical for me.
When I met Ghosthunter this past weekend, he had a cool tent I've been looking at. It's kind of a wall tent I guess, but not "as" substantial.
http://trektents.com/245-246.htm
Looking pretty hard at one of these but am curious to hear what others are using.
I've also looked at the Kodiak Canvas tents. They seem to be along the same lines.
I like the look of this one.
http://www.kodiakcanvas.com/10-x-14-ft-flex-bow-canvas-tent/
A smaller traditional wall tent might be good too...maybe a 10x12 or thereabouts. I've not owned this type of tent before so I guess I'm looking for some guidance from folks with experience.
Thanks in advance.

[KFhunter]

whats wrong with a cut pole, a couple lengths of hemp rope and a tarp?

[jackelope]

Curious to hear thoughts on this setup. It might be perfect for us.

Koidak Canvas 12x9 cabin tent with the awning and the walls added to the awning.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Kodiak-Canvas-8x8.5-Wall-Enclosure-for-12x9-Cabin-Tent/productDetail/Canvas-Tents/prod99990135629/cat100834

That's the link for the awning only, but you see the whole setup.

[jackelope]

whats wrong with a cut pole, a couple lengths of hemp rope and a tarp?

Nothing if you want to sleep under a tarp. A wife and 6 year old girl won't want to, though.

I can't say I do either. Not to sound like a wuss, but that doesn't sound awesome to me for a week at a time.

That doesn't solve my keeping stuff dry issue either. It would, as long as everything stayed under the tarp. That likely isn't going to happen though. It'd be fine for summertime, but the last place I want to be in the Blues in November is trying to sleep under a tarp.

[Fl0und3rz]

Tarp would go over existing tent, if I am not mistaken.

[jackelope]

Tarp would go over existing tent, if I am not mistaken.

OK... I guess I thought KFHunter was going all cave man on me.
The design/shape of my Coleman tent makes putting a tent over it a giant PITA.
It's doable but not ideal. I did it last weekend. I'd like to have a bigger tent anyway.

[Mark Brenckle]

Curious to hear thoughts on this setup. It might be perfect for us.

Koidak Canvas 12x9 cabin tent with the awning and the walls added to the awning.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Kodiak-Canvas-8x8.5-Wall-Enclosure-for-12x9-Cabin-Tent/productDetail/Canvas-Tents/prod99990135629/cat100834

That's the link for the awning only, but you see the whole setup.

  That looks pretty nice, and the 2 reviews were positive. The extra room with walls would be ideal for keeping extra items dry or hanging things to dry. Now you've got me thinking... way better than a $ 30k camper that I'd need to modify my truck for!  Hmmm, all I've ever used are the cheap ons from k-mart...

[washelkhunter]

Kodiak is a nice fair weather setup. For the cold rain and snow however you want a wall tent. A 10x12 with the stove jack out the side is a nice setup for 2 hunters.

[jackelope]

Kodiak is a nice fair weather setup. For the cold rain and snow however you want a wall tent. A 10x12 with the stove jack out the side is a nice setup for 2 hunters.

I wonder about having a stove jack installed into one of the walls under that awning and put a stove in there.

[jackelope]

Kodiak is a nice fair weather setup. For the cold rain and snow however you want a wall tent. A 10x12 with the stove jack out the side is a nice setup for 2 hunters.

I wonder about having a stove jack installed into one of the walls under that awning and put a stove in there.

At that point, I might as well have a wall tent though, I suppose.

[7mag.]

Curious to hear thoughts on this setup. It might be perfect for us.

Koidak Canvas 12x9 cabin tent with the awning and the walls added to the awning.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Kodiak-Canvas-8x8.5-Wall-Enclosure-for-12x9-Cabin-Tent/productDetail/Canvas-Tents/prod99990135629/cat100834

That's the link for the awning only, but you see the whole setup.

My buddy had that exact same setup. He's been using it for a few years now, and loves it. He uses it from family camping trips, to elk camp in November. Seems like it packs down pretty small for storage too.

[bobcat]

I have a 6 man Sierra Designs that worked well for a week during the high hunt in the Pasayten. We got snowed on a couple nights and everything stayed really dry. I haven't used it in November though, and not sure I would want to, unless I could be fairly sure from the weather forecast that there wouldn't be much rain or snow.

This is similar to mine but I got mine on sale and it didn't cost nearly that much:

http://www.backcountry.com/sierra-designs-yahi-annex-6-plus-2-tent-6-person?ti=UExQIENhdDozLVNlYXNvbiBGYW1pbHkgJiBDYW1wZ3JvdW5kIFRlbnRzOjE6MjpiY3NDYXQ3MTExMDA0Ng&skid=SDS0680-ONECOL-ONESIZ

[kckrawler]

Curious to hear thoughts on this setup. It might be perfect for us.

Koidak Canvas 12x9 cabin tent with the awning and the walls added to the awning.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Kodiak-Canvas-8x8.5-Wall-Enclosure-for-12x9-Cabin-Tent/productDetail/Canvas-Tents/prod99990135629/cat100834

That's the link for the awning only, but you see the whole setup.

Bought that setup from Cabelas for my 2010 SW Rifle Elk hunt. We had to take the awning down the first night, wouldn't hold up to the wind. Otherwise, I was happy with it....until I got home....after a thorough cleaning and drying, the tent had black and pink mold spots already!!!! I contacted Kodiak directly and they told me how to kill it but it wouldn't ever really come out. I packed it all up, headed back to Lacey and swapped it out for an Alaknak.

I'm guessing there was something wrong with my tent, they didn't prepare the canvas correctly or something, not sure....but mold after a week of SW Washington weather is ridiculous.

[jackelope]

I have a 6 man Sierra Designs that worked well for a week during the high hunt in the Pasayten. We got snowed on a couple nights and everything stayed really dry. I haven't used it in November though, and not sure I would want to, unless I could be fairly sure from the weather forecast that there wouldn't be much rain or snow.

This is similar to mine but I got mine on sale and it didn't cost nearly that much:

http://www.backcountry.com/sierra-designs-yahi-annex-6-plus-2-tent-6-person?ti=UExQIENhdDozLVNlYXNvbiBGYW1pbHkgJiBDYW1wZ3JvdW5kIFRlbnRzOjE6MjpiY3NDYXQ3MTExMDA0Ng&skid=SDS0680-ONECOL-ONESIZ

Who got the crappy job of packing that beast into the Pasayten?
 

[bobcat]

Cascade Wilderness Outfitters and their mules.