Post by: Grizzly95 on April 06, 2010, 08:06:51 PM
Post by: nw_bowhunter on April 06, 2010, 08:43:03 PM
They don't take as long as you would think to set up but at minimum two guys makes it a lot easier. I say about 30 minutes for my. I have everything labled and before I start to assemble I lay all the pieces I need.
Depending on what you are using for, gear and # of people in it I would check out a 12 x 14 as a starting point.
Post by: denali on April 06, 2010, 08:55:24 PM
Post by: Axle on April 06, 2010, 08:59:22 PM
I much prefer the tent version of hunting. The canvas wall tent is easy to put up and take down and store. You can use a smaller rig for all the gear too. You can move camp easily.
One big thing for me was, I had friends who would come along in the RV and not respect cleanliness at all. They would also never off to help with cleaning it and some of the more rude ones would never off gas money. A big RV takes a gas guzzler to haul it which costs a lot in the long run.
I got a wall tent about 20 years ago, set it up in my back yard, sprayed it real good with Thompson's original waterseal and it has been serving me well since then.
Post by: Smokepole on April 06, 2010, 09:07:09 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 06, 2010, 09:23:38 PM
Post by: Bulldozer on April 06, 2010, 09:24:50 PM
Post by: gasman on April 07, 2010, 05:16:01 AM
I started with a tent and switched to a camper. I often am first and last in camp and set up of a canvas tent is a Biatch to set up and take downfor one person. So much gear to buy and pack with a tent, it is just easier to park my truck with my camper and drive my jeep or i can drop my camper in 10 minutes and drive my truck.
Just my .02.
Post by: GoldTip on April 07, 2010, 07:06:57 AM
Post by: croix on April 07, 2010, 07:14:40 AM
Why do you not use the camper :dunno:
:yeah:
You can't beat the ease of use that a camper offers, but it doesn't suit all situations. I use my camper throughout the summer for family camping and I still think it's the best option for family outings where there's only three of us in the camper and we are in a campground. It's the ONLY way I will take the family out.
I've used it for hunting a few times also when it was me and maybe one or two other guys and there was a campround near the hunting and it was a short trip, but for our BIG deer camp the tents just work better. They have more space and you don't have to worry about tromping snow/mud/dirt in and out of them. I suppose if I had a single purpose camper that was only used for hunting and not family use then I might not worry so much about it, but there is still the space issue. We have had a dozen people in our cook/social tent playing cards, drinking, cooking etc.- NEVER be able to do that in a camper.
If you go the tent route, I am a big proponent of having seperate cook and sleep tents, especially for groups and for hunting. It allows people to go to bed while others are still being social. Also, I'm not a big scent nazi, but I would rather not cook burgers and onions in the same tent where my hunting clothes are hanging. It's tough to justify the setup of two or more tents though when you are only spending two nights.
Bottom line - short trips with few people = camper
long trips or large groups = tent(s)
:twocents:
Post by: alanger on April 07, 2010, 07:15:52 AM
Post by: MtnMuley on April 07, 2010, 08:32:12 PM
Can't beat a good solid wall tent with a wood stove. nice and toasty. :twocents:
.....in the back of the utility trailer your pulling with your truck/camper. :) Wall tent for socializing and kitchen/eating and the camper for snoozing(propane heat)--that way when it's your buddys turn to stoke the fire in the middle of the night, you don't freeze your arse off!
Post by: gasman on April 07, 2010, 08:42:33 PM
Can't beat a good solid wall tent with a wood stove. nice and toasty. :twocents:
.....in the back of the utility trailer your pulling with your truck/camper. :) Wall tent for socializing and kitchen/eating and the camper for snoozing(propane heat)--that way when it's your buddys turn to stoke the fire in the middle of the night, you don't freeze your arse off!
I would second that.......
Post by: royalbull on April 08, 2010, 09:51:42 AM
Post by: littlemac on April 08, 2010, 10:02:14 AM
Converted a 23' Tioga to 4X4 and it gets me where I want to go for camp. I don't have a couple of days to get out there and set up usually so when I park it's ready to go.
Don't get me wrong though, if I can tent I would go 16 x 16 wall tent at least. Make sure you have the right canvas for the frame though. We f'd up and took one that was too small for our old frame one year. Just improvise after that.
Post by: Grizzly95 on April 08, 2010, 10:35:14 PM
I was just going to build a trailer for the jeep, but with 3 kids and the wife and I we don't fit (legally). Not as much worried about the law as I am the safety aspect. But that is another story.
Royalbull: Did your friend build that trailer? If so I want the plans! That is an ideal setup, if the boys in camp put the hurt on the animals you can always use the trailer for the game and someone gets to enjoy a cruise in the jeep.
I do remember sleeping in a wall tent years ago and the comfort and warmth was unmatched by any rv I have slept in. Maybe it sounds stupid, but heat from a wood stove always feels better than from a gas furnace. My dad only heats his house with wood and my kids even remark about how much warmer it feels at his place. Maybe it is all the junk food grandpa cracks them up on.
Thanks for all the advice guys. I might still go for a wall tent. There is a spot I want to elk hunt that the truck and camper could get a little sketchy on the side hill.
Post by: Cylvertip on April 08, 2010, 11:56:24 PM
Post by: high country on April 11, 2010, 12:07:50 PM
If it is just yourself I would keep the camper. We set up 3 wall tents, have a 16' cargo trailer that we build a kitchen off one side. It takes a long time to set every thing up. A few years back another friend of mine joined our camp he has an 11' camper with a jeep he tows behind. He doesn't even unhook his trailer, just jack knives it so he can get in and out. When we started to break down camp he walked out with his remote pushed the button his jacks went up slide went in. Jumped in his jeep drove it onto his trailer (no ramps needed) tied it down and was ready to go in less than ten minutes. It takes us days to get every thing set up and about 4-5 hours to break down. Then the work still isn't done because you have to unpack everything when you get home and dry it out cots, tents, tarps, etc. I love the comfort of my wall tent but if there wasn't several of us I think I would have a camper
that looks flat scary to me.....tongue extender dragging a single axle trailr that is heavy........yikes! of course my jeep is pretty heavy
Post by: high country on April 11, 2010, 12:13:00 PM
Post by: Jamieb on April 11, 2010, 09:54:15 PM
I bring a generator along on some trips so I can run the microwave. I have a solar panal on top to charge the batteries durring the day.
I've hauled this thing to AK a couple of times, Idaho a few times and used in all over WA. Its nice to be able to take so much gear, have the fridge/freezer, stove/oven, furnace, and other comforts.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv376%2Felkhunter%2Fcamperloadedup.jpg&hash=ce1d47c9ed207629adb503fec98b087398b8f160)
Camp in AK
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv376%2Felkhunter%2F003-3.jpg&hash=c0a9e5bee32f332d120a86f39ecf231e66114a83)
I never have to cut wood or feed a wood stove, if it gets cold then I just turn up the stat.
Get bloody and sweaty from packing out meat, I have a shower.
Most of the cooking I do is in the microwave, or just heating up a can of chili on the stove.
If I bring the dish along then I even have satalite TV.
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on April 11, 2010, 10:55:44 PM
If you don't use your camper, that's your fault! :chuckle: They can be very convenient in a lot of destinations, but if the camper doesn't suit the places you're going, then it's time to let it go. But man... No splitting wood to keep warm, -just turn up the thermostat! Lights? Just hit the switch! Running water? Hit the switch and open the faucet valve! Hot water too! Oh, and a hot shower!
Love my trailer!
-Steve
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on April 11, 2010, 11:21:31 PM
Post by: turkey buster on April 11, 2010, 11:45:54 PM
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on April 12, 2010, 06:24:39 AM
Post by: Heavily Armed Hiker on April 12, 2010, 06:27:58 AM
Post by: whacker1 on April 12, 2010, 10:33:44 AM
It currently takes me an 1 1/2 hours to assemble full blown camp and about an 1 hour to take it down. With a bigger wall tent it will take longer.
And don't kid yourself about the space it takes up. for me and a hunting buddy it takes a solid 30 minutes to load the truck, takes up the entire bed of my pickup, and takes that kind of time to unload the truck when i return home. I would like to have the freedom to be pre-loaded, hook up the truck and go with a trailer or camper. We stayed in my cousins tent trailer last year and that wasn't too bad. I would like to advance to a small trailer in the next 5 years.
The family is getting older and we will need more family friendly space in the next few years.
Post by: rasbo on April 12, 2010, 11:29:13 AM
Post by: Axle on April 12, 2010, 04:16:40 PM
Our best family memories do come from the tent camping though.
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on April 12, 2010, 07:28:39 PM
Quote
One nice thing about the RV is that when you have guests, they can use it as a guest house.
Yup! When our trailer isn't hooked to the truck, it's clean and parked out back, plugged in under cover.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on April 13, 2010, 05:20:07 AM
Post by: elk311 on April 13, 2010, 03:07:38 PM
Post by: gasman on April 13, 2010, 07:34:29 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi249.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg225%2Fgasman400%2FJuly4th08111.jpg&hash=7c8448db9595646d81aaa61ac6a36e05b3acbd1f)
And it is dam comfortable especially with the jeep getting me where i want or need to go ;)
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on April 13, 2010, 10:12:06 PM
Both have thier advantages... a tent will go wherever your rig will go. The same cannot be said of an RV. I am however, pondering setting up both. Artic Fox and Montana Canvas elk camp... hmmmm...
I know a few camps that do just that. There's an Army wall tent for sleeping quarters for the younger crowd, then a wall tent for a mass kitchen/chow line, then a trailer or two for the adults to have as retreat and sleeping quarters.
I can see my camp evolve to something like that someday with my boys, and some relatives in the future. The trailer may sleep eight, but we seldom push that far.
-Steve
Post by: ICEMAN on April 14, 2010, 06:08:40 AM
For summer or campouts with the family, it is nice to just be able to toss everything into the cargo trailer and keep the cab of the expedition clear of gear. Deer season with the kids, we sleep in one tent, cook in the cargo trailer, and lounge in the second more used/beaten up tent. Elk season, I sleep in the cargo trailer on a cot or on top of the coolers... and only set up the beater tent for lounging in with my other camp mates. Works for me!
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on April 15, 2010, 04:53:52 AM
September for me, a one man gore tex bivy..... Not comfortable.... But keeps me alive.
Post by: Kowsrule30 on April 27, 2010, 12:31:46 PM