How do you use military surplus tents?

[mtnbkr]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a wall tent and setting up a week long deer camp for late muzzleloading season here in Iowa.

For smaller groups, a wall tent is much nicer than the GP-Small.  Easier to heat, lighter to carry, etc.  Plus, the material lets light through so you can see during the day without laterns (with all the doors closed on the GP-Small, you need artificial light at noon).  When our hunting group fell apart (folks moved away, etc), we were transitioning to wall tents.

Chris

[Jamisjockey]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a wall tent and setting up a week long deer camp for late muzzleloading season here in Iowa.

For smaller groups, a wall tent is much nicer than the GP-Small.  Easier to heat, lighter to carry, etc.  Plus, the material lets light through so you can see during the day without laterns (with all the doors closed on the GP-Small, you need artificial light at noon).  When our hunting group fell apart (folks moved away, etc), we were transitioning to wall tents.

Chris

Speaking of huntin, even if you don't intend to muzzload, are you interested in going with me a few times during the early muzzlehunt?  I figure on it being a bit quieter in them there woods.
 

[mtnbkr]

Sure.  I'll take the 10/22 and see if I can get some squirrels for dinner.

Chris

[luckyorwhat]

If you did have such a tent, and you lived in a rather dry climate like Southern Alberta near the mountains, would it be possible to set the tent up somewhere and not take it down? Could you go out every month and check on it, spray it with protector, make sure it's always in the shade, and just never take it down?

This is what I'd really like to do with such a large tent, if possible.

[RevDisk]

I saw one in person the other day and want one, I could park a car in it for pete's sake. But it looks like it would take two loads in a jeep just to get it out to the campsite.

Do people buy land and set the tents up permanently? Do they fit it all in a trailer and have a second vehicle bring the rest of the camping stuff?

What is the typical usage for these tents?

Typical usage for me was setting them up, leaving them up for about 10 minutes, and then moving them again.  Repeat about ten billion times.  2 people can put up a GP small in about 20 minutes.  Sometimes 30 minutes.  6 people can put it up in about two hours.   

Packed properly, you can put it on a trailer or roof mount if you have a large ish SUV.  It'll fit in just about any pickup very easily.  Center pole is the hardest part to tote.  We had a local guy fab a bunch for us and turn them into four screw together sections.  Made it MUCH easier to move around.

If you wanted to make it quasi permanent, I'd just recommend doing what Hawkmoon described.  Elevated wooden platform.

[Tallpine]

I had a friend that used one for a logging camp.  This was after the forest service made him tear down the log cabin that he and another buddy had built on a timber sale.

He lived in it till almost xmas one year at 10,000'+ in CO.  I was never that tough - just used a camper trailer.

Actually, for a semi-permanent set-up I think one would be better off with a tee-pee (in canvas).  There is (or was?) an outfit in Billings that made them on an authentic Crow pattern.

[Jamisjockey]

If you did have such a tent, and you lived in a rather dry climate like Southern Alberta near the mountains, would it be possible to set the tent up somewhere and not take it down? Could you go out every month and check on it, spray it with protector, make sure it's always in the shade, and just never take it down?

This is what I'd really like to do with such a large tent, if possible.

It also has to be legal.  I typically camp on public property where I couldn't get away with that.

[mtnbkr]

Actually, for a semi-permanent set-up I think one would be better off with a tee-pee (in canvas).  There is (or was?) an outfit in Billings that made them on an authentic Crow pattern.

Some friends of mine (Jamis has met them) used to do deer camp in a large tipi.  I spent a few nights in it myself.  It was quite comfortable.  They too used a wood stove though.

Chris

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

i'm old and like my comfort  built a rased bed outa landscape timbers and filled it with fine sand  it drains well and is soft on an old mans bones

[Bogie]

Important thing is to keep stuff tight...
 
Get some springs that'll handle a decent load, and truck load straps - decent sized, altho cheap ones will do it you're not leaving it alone a lot... Use those corkscrew doggie run stakes to go about a foot or so into the ground. Big thick rebar if you feel the urge to go outside a bit...
 
I cinch the thing with load straps across the sides, with a load strap and doggie stake at each pole, and a load strap and doggie stake at each end in the center.
 
I've had 50mph winds, and stayed up, and on the ground.
 

[coppertales]

I use the shelter halves, aka pup tents, as motorcycle covers.  They work great and last for years.......chris3

[charby]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a wall tent and setting up a week long deer camp for late muzzleloading season here in Iowa.

For smaller groups, a wall tent is much nicer than the GP-Small.  Easier to heat, lighter to carry, etc.  Plus, the material lets light through so you can see during the day without laterns (with all the doors closed on the GP-Small, you need artificial light at noon).  When our hunting group fell apart (folks moved away, etc), we were transitioning to wall tents.

Chris

I was going to get a modern wall tent whenever I cross that route. Probably be when I purchase my recreational land and live out of a wall tent until I can save up the $$ for a cabin.

-C

[Tallpine]

This thread is really in tents.

[Bogie]

Well, never really thought about the concept until we discovered that in inclement weather, the party moves to whoever has the biggest tent in the area... And Knob Creek gets rained on.
 

[Jamisjockey]

I might have reason to get one myself...or a wall tent.
with the BIL moving out here, the SFIL (Step father in law) has requested I call him.  MIL wants to move out in this area.  SFIL is an avid hunter and wants to find out what I know about the area.
Guess I'll have to think about a good tent and a yearly family hunt.
 

[mtnbkr]

You've got a place to store it, a vehicle to tow it, and plenty opportunities to use it, why not get a camper?  If I had a place to store it, I'd get one.  That way, I might get the wifey to come out with me some.

Chris

[K Frame]

I doubt it.

She told me last hunting season that it was a great chance to get you the hell out of the house. 

[Jamisjockey]

You've got a place to store it, a vehicle to tow it, and plenty opportunities to use it, why not get a camper?  If I had a place to store it, I'd get one.  That way, I might get the wifey to come out with me some.

Chris

Dunno yet.  With the 3-car garage I'd certainly have a spot for a small pop up.  Nice thing about a tent is that it requires less maintence and there's no costs like registration. 
Actually, the SFIL has a trailer......not sure if he plans on bringing it with him.

[charby]

She told me last hunting season that it was a great chance to get you the hell out of the house. 

My wife told me something similar when I asked her if she minded me hunting every weekend from first part of September to the end of January.

[charby]

If you did have such a tent, and you lived in a rather dry climate like Southern Alberta near the mountains, would it be possible to set the tent up somewhere and not take it down? Could you go out every month and check on it, spray it with protector, make sure it's always in the shade, and just never take it down?

This is what I'd really like to do with such a large tent, if possible.

Google the word: Yurts

[Manedwolf]

If you did have such a tent, and you lived in a rather dry climate like Southern Alberta near the mountains, would it be possible to set the tent up somewhere and not take it down? Could you go out every month and check on it, spray it with protector, make sure it's always in the shade, and just never take it down?

This is what I'd really like to do with such a large tent, if possible.

Google the word: Yurts

AKA mobile homes for white guys with dreadlocks and unshaven girls who smell like patchouli. 

[charby]

If you did have such a tent, and you lived in a rather dry climate like Southern Alberta near the mountains, would it be possible to set the tent up somewhere and not take it down? Could you go out every month and check on it, spray it with protector, make sure it's always in the shade, and just never take it down?

This is what I'd really like to do with such a large tent, if possible.

Google the word: Yurts

AKA mobile homes for white guys with dreadlocks and unshaven girls who smell like patchouli. 

Well I happen to like the yurt idea, yeah I'm a white guy and my wife shaves her legs and armpits and baths everyday, sometimes twice. So take your stereotype, put it in your pipe and smoke it.

Wife doesn't like the yurt idea, or a wall tent or my manshack I'm going to build someday.

[Bogie]

FWIW, my trailer is a single axle 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer. 3500 pounds max weight, so I can haul a BUNCH of stuff... The trailer gets a cot (mine!) or a futon (mine and Jen's), and the van has a futon (folks get to fight over it). We put up "family" tents for the kids. If a kid wants their own tent, they put up their own tent. I can put up the Freak Show Tent in about an hourish by myself without working all that hard (i.e., beer breaks). We put 3-4 folding tables and a bunch of chairs in it.
 

[Manedwolf]

If you did have such a tent, and you lived in a rather dry climate like Southern Alberta near the mountains, would it be possible to set the tent up somewhere and not take it down? Could you go out every month and check on it, spray it with protector, make sure it's always in the shade, and just never take it down?

This is what I'd really like to do with such a large tent, if possible.

Google the word: Yurts

AKA mobile homes for white guys with dreadlocks and unshaven girls who smell like patchouli. 

Well I happen to like the yurt idea, yeah I'm a white guy and my wife shaves her legs and armpits and baths everyday, sometimes twice. So take your stereotype, put it in your pipe and smoke it.

Wife doesn't like the yurt idea, or a wall tent or my manshack I'm going to build someday.

I know, I'm just kidding. You have to admit that that demographic loves the things too, though!

And yes, they are good in really crappy weather, since they can stand up on the winds howling across the Tibetan steppes. If a design has been refined for thousands of years, it's generally an okay one.

If your wife doesn't like the idea, show one like this: 

[charby]

If your wife doesn't like the idea, show one like this: 

So where in God's green earth am I going to be able to skin a deer with that high falutin bed in my way?