Cabelas Bighorn II tent. Anyone have or use one (now Alaknak included)

[vandeman17]

There is a Cabelas Bighorn II outfitter tent for sale online that comes with a stove, stove pipe and water tank. Does anyone have any reviews or experience with this tent?

[Crunchy]

I have the bighorn 3.  Awesome set up.  Get vestibule as well.

[vandeman17]

I have the bighorn 3.  Awesome set up.  Get vestibule as well.

Are they pretty much the same? How many guys/gear can you comfortably fit in it?

[Crunchy]

Not sure the of the difference but looks the same.  With cots two is comfy.  We have done four but its a full house then.

[Hockeyhunter]

Have a BH III as well. Really nice with the vestibule. we have only had it with two of us sleeping in it on cots. Could probably fit one or two more comfortably. You could definitely fit more if you were on air mattresses also. Getting ready to list it for sale if you know anyone who is interested;)

[wildmanoutdoors]

My buddy has had his for 10+ years now. Its rock solid! Id say 4 guys max and still have some room to move. Im so impressed if I did not have a RV I would have owned one years ago.
He has no vestibule and its fine for him as its just him and his wife or just him. If you were gonna have say 4 guys Id opt for the vestbule also to eliminate having all the gear inside.

[vandeman17]

I would definitely get a vestibule if I were to buy one. It is really nice to have a protected spot for gear, boots and all that so that the inside can be more of a living space.

[CarbonHunter]

I have a bighorn II. It's been a good tent. It sleeps 4 with oversized cots and no stove. With the stove you can still fit 3 cots no problem. The only problem I found is the roof flap for the stove rolls up and mine got a little melted by the stove pipe.

I'm poor so I just put a popup in front of my door with the aid of some trusty blue tarps. Then you have a vestibule big enough to cook in. 

[go4itlab]

I have the Bighorn III with the vestable, have had 4 guys in it, a little tight but worked, 3 is just right. It a great tent, easy to set up, have never had any issue with condesate and easy to store. The only things I dont like is nothing to hang a lattern from and tough to tie sash cord off  for a clothes line for drying clothes.

[BULLBLASTER]

I have a alaknak and love it. Same material as bighorn. I looked at them both amd ended up with the alaknak because i liked the layout better. I would think 3 guys and a stove would be about max.

[washelkhunter]

I have the Bighorn III with the vestable, have had 4 guys in it, a little tight but worked, 3 is just right. It a great tent, easy to set up, have never had any issue with condesate and easy to store. The only things I dont like is nothing to hang a lattern from and tough to tie sash cored off  for a clothes line for drying clothes.

Check out Beckel Canvas, they sell a very clever center pole lantern hanger

[actionshooter]

OK,
 I'll be the one who didn't like it,
 I bought a new one several years ago and used it on a couple of trips and was never happy with it. I thought its odd shape created a lot of un-usable space, 2 guys were fine but 3+ was a pain. The stove location doesn't help. I took it back to Cabelas and returned it, bought the Alagnak and was much happier. 

[Gutpile]

I agree with actionshooter.

I have one and like it but with my gear and whatnot it's pretty cramped for elk camp with a stove. Lots of unused space so if you plan on using it in cold weather with more than a couple of people you wont be happy. I bought mine knowing I'd be alone in elk camp and it works.

[vandeman17]

Found a 10x10 alaknak for sale online with a stove and floor liner included. Think a 10x10 is too small for two guys, gear and cooking space?

[birddogdad]

Found a 10x10 alaknak for sale online with a stove and floor liner included. Think a 10x10 is too small for two guys, gear and cooking space?

would fit 2 people. cook outside unless your gonna ontop of wood stove?

[vandeman17]

Found a 10x10 alaknak for sale online with a stove and floor liner included. Think a 10x10 is too small for two guys, gear and cooking space?

would fit 2 people. cook outside unless your gonna ontop of wood stove?

Thinking just a little table, big enough for a two burner stove...

[birddogdad]

I have the bighorn 3.  Awesome set up.  Get vestibule as well.

only complaint i had with my alaknak was breathing condensing / drying cloths and the moisture created raining down and even pooling up on the installed floor in corners and edges. watch to not set cloths too close to sides and having them soak up these pools of water!

i worked thru this with a towel to soak up, take outside and ring out before bed/first thing when waking up.

[Duckhunter14]

I have the 12x12 Alaknak with Vestibule and I love it. Took it on its maiden voyage to Montana this September (other than summer trips without the stove) and it held up to 30 mph winds and torrential rains. Stayed dry and the little stove kept us nice and toasty. We are going to use it again in November with 3 guys instead of 2 so we'll see how it goes with another guy and a lot colder temps. I agree with the complaint about the center pole and not being able to hang a lantern. We ran into the same issue, you don't get the light you need when its sitting on a table in the corner. Thank you WASHELKHUNTER; instead of trying to fab something myself I went and ordered a couple of those handy lantern hangers for 9$! Great deal. Seeing the picture of the Bighorn and the layout compared to the Alaknak, I'm definitely glad I bought the Alaknak now. I think it utilizes the space better with the stove just inside the door, and with the extra room having the vestibule all the coolers and pack boxes lined the outer walls of the vestibule and opened up space for wood, seats, cook table etc inside the tent. Just my   

[Stein]

Happy Bighorn III owner here, we use it all year.  I stuff the kids on one of the bunk bed style cot outfits and we fit 4 plus our dog comfortably.  The dog pretty much sleeps under the stove so she doesn't take up much space though.  We cook almost exclusively on the wood stove.

I can actually set up and tear down the thing by myself.

I think you would be happy with either, I actually can't remember why I went with the Bighorn - maybe price or the footprint fits better in some campgrounds?

[_TONY_]

I have the bighorn 3.  Awesome set up.  Get vestibule as well.

only complaint i had with my alaknak was breathing condensing / drying cloths and the moisture created raining down and even pooling up on the installed floor in corners and edges. watch to not set cloths too close to sides and having them soak up these pools of water!

i worked thru this with a towel to soak up, take outside and ring out before bed/first thing when waking up.

I have the same issue with mine... 

[actionshooter]

I have the bighorn 3.  Awesome set up.  Get vestibule as well.

only complaint i had with my alaknak was breathing condensing / drying cloths and the moisture created raining down and even pooling up on the installed floor in corners and edges. watch to not set cloths too close to sides and having them soak up these pools of water!

i worked thru this with a towel to soak up, take outside and ring out before bed/first thing when waking up.

I have had this problem with the condensation in my 12x12 alagnak. It wasn't terrible but it can be a bit of a pain. Sounds like you have a good plan and having a floor is worth it.

[Duckhunter14]

I have the bighorn 3.  Awesome set up.  Get vestibule as well.

only complaint i had with my alaknak was breathing condensing / drying cloths and the moisture created raining down and even pooling up on the installed floor in corners and edges. watch to not set cloths too close to sides and having them soak up these pools of water!

i worked thru this with a towel to soak up, take outside and ring out before bed/first thing when waking up.

I have had some minor condensation with mine, especially when it was pouring outside and we had the stove cooking on the inside, and also cooking on the cook stove inside. But never to the point of puddling; up or even close to. Do you guys have a water tank on the side of your woodstove? I read a lot into this tent before I ended up buying it and the one negative comment I saw was issues with condensation. But the one common factor most guys had with this complaint was the use of a water tank. Essentially turning the tent into a sauna. I chose not to use one as a result of this information and didn't see the problem. Just curious if maybe that's the issue? The tent has natural ventilation built it and with the combination of the ventilation and dry heat from the stove it kept the condensation down to a minimum. Be interested to hear what your guys set-ups look like...   

[actionshooter]

No, on the water heater. I used one for 1 year in my 12x20 Alagnak and it did cause condensation so I never used it again.
 I think our condensation problems have come from drying clothes inside the tent during rainy conditions. 

[huntnnw]

Does anyone know the longevity of the the material?

[BULLBLASTER]

Does anyone know the longevity of the the material?

i have had mine since april and it still doesnt leak! Hows that?   

[92xj]

Does anyone know the longevity of the the material?

I remember seeing one of your post about heating your wall tent with your wood stove with two northern Idaho logs at night. What size tent do you use and what wood stove do you have? I'm trying to decide what stove to get for my smaller canvas tent and would like to use those logs as a night time heating source.

Threading hi jacking admitter here. The op won't mind, I might be heating him in my tent.

[Woodchuck]

I built my woodstove for my big tent. It is not light by any stretch. You are welcome to use it as a template to make one if you wanted xj.

[92xj]

I don't have the means to build one. Had to leave/sell all my tools back home before moving out here. I don't have jack anymore. But am thinking of one of the collapsible stoves or a 2-3 dog kit that stores everything inside. I have very limited space inside the tent (10x14) as well as inside the truck to transport. I have a feeling your stove would heat my tent and the whole Forest I'd be camping in.

[BULLBLASTER]

Huntnnws tent is a 10x10 and the stove he uses is a kni-co packer. I just bought a kni-co alaskan for mine. Its the next size up. They are lightweight but non collapseable.

[92xj]

Huntnnws tent is a 10x10 and the stove he uses is a kni-co packer. I just bought a kni-co alaskan for mine. Its the next size up. They are lightweight but non collapseable.

How warm does it get under those stoves? If you had a floored tent would there be a concern with the floor?  They look like short legs on the stoves. Also, do you use a grate in the bottom of the fire box to burn on? I'm completely green to this wood stove thing, if you couldn't tell.

[huntnnw]

it will cook you out of the tent    I have had the doors wide open in single digits.

[Gutpile]

Does anyone know the longevity of the the material?

I have no leaks and have used mine every elk season in the blues for 5 or 6 years. No leaks at all.

Off topic a little but this thing stands up to wind very very well because of it's shape. Anybody who was down there this year knows how windy it was on saturday and sunday. It was freaking fierce. I think they had said 40-50 mph. I had to tighten the ropes once and I'll admit I was pretty worried at 2:00 in the morning but it made it through without a problem

[180-GRAIN]

I have the alaknak 13-27. It's a great tent! Spent around 40 days in it now. The only complaint I have is even with the roof panel protector I still get small holes burned in the roof every year. Not a huge deal pretty easy to patch. Other then that stays dry in downpours and have been in 60-70 mile winds. I will pick another one up when we wear this one out!

[actionshooter]

I have the alaknak 13-27. It's a great tent! Spent around 40 days in it now. The only complaint I have is even with the roof panel protector I still get small holes burned in the roof every year. Not a huge deal pretty easy to patch. Other then that stays dry in downpours and have been in 60-70 mile winds. I will pick another one up when we wear this one out!

I have the same experiences with mine, I have the 12x20 and a 12x12 and been using them 2-3 times a year since 2008

[Wanttohuntmore]

I just used my 12x12 alaknak in e.wa in 7 degree nights, with highs to 35, for five nights with two others.  We did get the condensation that was mentioned, actual pools of water that would turn to I've when we let the stove die down.  Used a four dog stove and could easily get 85 degrees in the tent.  Would last about 3 hours then would add more would.  We were using pine which I don't think I'd optimal.  Overall, love it.  I can take down and set it up solo.