Wall tent lifespan

[Jpmiller]

I hadn't thought about this until recently but how long has everyone's wall tent lasted them? I've got one from my dad he bought at least in the early 80s if not prior. We have always taken care to put it away clean and dry and when I took possession of it I started treating the canvas with canvak. The fabric straps are all wore off but the tent is in great shape.

I started hearing stories of guys "wearing out" their tents. Now it's got me thinking but I don't know if it's just abuse that causes them to go bad. Couldn't even get a straight answer as to what failed on the tent. Anyone experience this?

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I bought mine used that was made in the late 70's and it is still in great shape.  If it is taken care of and stored properly, they will last a very long time.  You couldn't guess the age unless I told you.  I have no doubt my son will be using it in the future.

[Colville]

Durration is inversly proportuonal to how wet it gets/stays when stored.  Dry tents are for a real long time.

[Ieatelk]

My dad has had his for over 20 years, been used well in many different states people think it is still new. We take very good care of it. Its been a great tent! Keep it clean and dry and buy a quality tent.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Colville]

What are you using as a drape/tarp material??

[Boss .300 winmag]

I got one from @Aws this summer, I think he said it was 20+ years, yes the thin door strap are mostly gone but the tent it self other than stains is in perfect condition.

Thanks again AWS. 

[Magnum_Willys]

25 years drape ours with camo tarps. 

[jackmaster]

Damn Willy that's a hell of a tent set up!!

[kselkhunter]

My dad has been using his since the 70s.  And not even sure what year it was made.  I think the '50s.   Keep them dry and clean and they last forever.   

[The scout]

  it’s all about how you take care of them: there are a lot of great tent makers out there and I have stayed in a number of them but the best I have stayed in is Montana Canvas this year alone I stayed in a rainier and Davis and Montana and hands down Montana is the best. Can’t go wrong with any of them but life long tent your looking for that’s it.

[Jpmiller]

That's good to hear. I always hang it in the shop when I get home and get it as clean and dry as I can. I had a fear there was some tent killing habit or thing I'd never heard of that mine would succumb to.

[Buzz2401]

Our large one is just shy of 30 years old and has never had a tarp or cover over it.  Is set up for around 4-5 weeks every year. Not a single hole in it and has never been treated since it was new but am thinking of washing it and treating with Canvak.  Was made from this lady in Graham think her company was called early traders or something.

[AWS]

Boss 300's tent was bought in the late 1970's, I lived in it for three years full time in northern WI and ran winter traplines for a number of winters and then used it for Mountian man Rendezvous.  It was a cosy home even down to -30.

For a joke one of my freinds in Texas sent a letter to me addressed to

King of the Canvas Castle(the one with the Bear chained out front)
Siren, WI

My trapline dog was named Bear, he pulled my beaver trapping sled.

It was addressed to the wrong town but got deliverrd anyway.  When you live in a tent in the northwoods word gets around.

[Bigshooter]

I have one that my great grand parents bought in the 50's.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Boss 300's tent was bought in the late 1970's, I lived in it for three years full time in northern WI and ran winter traplines for a number of winters and then used it for Mountian man Rendezvous.  It was a cosy home even down to -30.

For a joke one of my freinds in Texas sent a letter to me addressed to

King of the Canvas Castle(the one with the Bear chained out front)
Siren, WI

My trapline dog was named Bear, he pulled my beaver trapping sled.

It was addressed to the wrong town but got deliverrd anyway.  When you live in a tent in the northwoods word gets around.

Here it is last deer season still in great shape keeping me toasty. 

[AWS]

Good for you.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Good for you.

Thanks again AWS. 

[Axle]

If you buy one that is not treated, set it up in the hot sun and spray it liberally with Thompson's original. Put it away dry and it will last you forever.

[elksnout]

Hang ours from the shop rafters as soon as we get home for at least a week or so. Then I go over both the inside and outside with my shop vac with a brush attachment to clean all of the dried dirt, etc. off of it. Then it gets rolled up and placed in it's bag and stored in the loft until the next fall.

One tip I learned is to keep it covered while in use as pine needles when wet tend to stain the white canvas on the roof.

Elksnout

[Boss .300 winmag]

I used a Costco tarp on mine for water purposes, stains meh.

[Buzz2401]

Funny thing is you can spend about $4000 and have a fully outfitted canvas tent that will cost literally zero dollars in maintenance that will last multiple decades. Or you can spend $20k-$80K on a travel trailer that will start to leak in less the 10 years.  Cost an arm and a leg to maintain and repair and still not be as cozy as a wall tent with wood stove.

[JimmyHoffa]

Hang ours from the shop rafters as soon as we get home for at least a week or so. Then I go over both the inside and outside with my shop vac with a brush attachment to clean all of the dried dirt, etc. off of it. Then it gets rolled up and placed in it's bag and stored in the loft until the next fall.

One tip I learned is to keep it covered while in use as pine needles when wet tend to stain the white canvas on the roof.

Elksnout

Yeah, the pine needles (especially the fresh dark green ones) are acidic and can eat away at the canvas.  The brown needles (pine straw) aren't too acidic and just mostly discolor.

[Jpmiller]

Funny thing is you can spend about $4000 and have a fully outfitted canvas tent that will cost literally zero dollars in maintenance that will last multiple decades. Or you can spend $20k-$80K on a travel trailer that will start to leak in less the 10 years.  Cost an arm and a leg to maintain and repair and still not be as cozy as a wall tent with wood stove.

Lol I had to have this conversation with my wife a year ago.

Indo have to continually buy new rope to tie down and brace my poles though as about half of it seems to walk out of the stake bag every year. That's a little cost in maintenance.

[follow maggie]

I used a canvas tent my parents bought used in the early 1970s until 2013. I was turkey hunting in the Colockum & a wind storm tore a couple seams. The old canvas was too brittle to be resewn so in 2014 I bought a wall tent from Davis Tent at the sportsman's show. If you keep it clean & dry, it'll last a long time. Putting a tarp over the top to keep the UV off it helps a lot, too.