Kodiak 10x14 Flexbow Deluxe, First Impression

[Deleted member 52995]

Today I did an initial set up of my new 10x14 Flexbow in Northcentral Idaho. My first impression is that it takes significantly more time than 15 minutes for set up, excluding layout, and staking. External frame installation is physically demanding, especially so, though not impossible for one individual. It's spacuous, and appears to be very well made. Though it does have more than adequate ventilation, it's apparent that this tent is in need of a fly or sun sail for shade, even at temperatures lower the current 86 degrees it's exposed to. Overall with layout, staking, set up, and "fine tuning" I'd estimate that total set up time for an experienced 10x14 Flexbow owner would be in the neighborhood of 1 hour. We'll see how it performs over the next 3 days (I'm praying for rain).... Too worn out from set up, and installation to do any bear, wolf, or mountain lion hunting this evening with my Fox Pro....

 

[Adam Gibbs]

Watch this video then try and set it up again. I'm not sure if what you're doing is drastically different than the video, but barring any physical limitations it should not take an hour to set the tent up. I just got one this spring and have used it several times now. Alone, including staking, it takes me about 15 minutes or so.

I agree a fly would be nice. I used it on a full moon last time and with the white fabric it was so dang bright in there it kept me up. Enjoy the tent!

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Dude, you're just slow! 15 minutes to erect mine solo plus 5 minutes to throw the wing up with a tarp under both. That's in cold weather with snow flurries at dusk. And I'm over 60!

 

[5MilesBack]

Overall with layout, staking, set up, and "fine tuning" I'd estimate that total set up time for an experienced 10x14 Flexbow owner would be in the neighborhood of 1 hour.

I can set up my 14x16 wall tent in half that amount of time.......solo. For me there are two problems with the Flexbow tents..........(1) the sewn in floor, and (2) they're too short for my preferences. It's got to be a bear to dry that floor and keep it clean underneath.

 

[Smokeslider]

I have the same Kodak flexbow, have only set it up by myself and usually takes 10-15 minutes. An hour? You’re doing something wrong.

I stake the 4 corners, put the flex bow system in, erect tent and then stake out the rest of the tent.

 

[Steve O]

I have the same Kodak flexbow, have only set it up by myself and usually takes 10-15 minutes. An hour? You’re doing something wrong.

I stake the 4 corners, put the flex bow system in, erect tent and then stake out the rest of the tent.

Yes, same here. I’m sure if OP does it a few times, he will trim that hellacious time way down.

 

[eddielasvegas]

With practice, your time should get under 30 mins easy.

I'm also over 60 and I can put mine up in < 20 mins. The first few times was closer to an hour.

When cold, I bring 4 moving pads to cover the floor. They are bulky, but insulate the floor some + make cleanup easier.

These are sturdy tents. I have been in some seriously windy, rainy weather and this tent just plugs right along keeping your dry and comfortable.

Good luck,


Eddie

 

[thegrouse]

I bring an impact drill and 14" lag bolts, I use these to stake it down and it works in no time flat. It takes me under 15 min to setup or takedown.

 

[sneaky]

Bro, you have to unload the gear from your vehicle, remove everything from the carry bags, lay out the tarp over which you're going to set up the tent, unwrap, and position the tent, pound all 16 stakes into position, then erect the frame. After the frame is erected, and secured to the base of the tent there are "adjustments" that may need to be made to the underlying tarp to prevent the accumulation of rainwater should it rain. And the erection of the supporting pole framework is physically demanding, very demanding. I struggled with it , and I'm a bodybuilder who curls 140 lbs. daily, bench presses a significant amount of weight, and can squat substantially more than I curl. It was a "workout" that caused even me to sweat. Part of the problem may have been due to the fact that it was new, and the material may not have had the opportunity to expand, and "adjust" to the tent framework. In any case, it's clearly too hot in direct sunlight, but I'm prepared for that particular problem. Tomorrow, I'll position a new tarp over the tent to act as a temporary fly until I can find something more suitable. In the meantime, tonight will be my first overnighter in my new Flexbow. I'm certainly looking forward to it....

Take off your hanta virus mask(s) and breathe. That'll speed up your setup time considerably. Unless you spend 45 minutes doing a site survey first

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Nick Muche]

Dude, you're just slow! 15 minutes to erect mine solo plus 5 minutes to throw the wing up with a tarp under both. That's in cold weather with snow flurries at dusk. And I'm over 60!

View attachment 296452

Bruce’s age finally caught up with his IQ.

 

[5MilesBack]

You probably experience significant difficulty doing laundry as well. "Mr. Clean," just isn't you....

With the new so-called High Efficiency washing machines.........the "machines" experience significant difficulty and incompetence doing the laundry. The old regular impeller machines experience no difficulty. But as for me, loading and unloading the machines is the same either way. Just not sure how this applies to keeping a sewn in tent floor dry and clean.

 

[Firehawk]

I set mine up in my backyard earlier this week to give it a thorough cleaning. By myself, took about 10 minutes without worrying about the rainfly. Add another ten minutes for the rainfly/vestibule by myself. So....like others have said, seems you should shave significant amounts of time off your set up as you gain familiarity.

You mention needing a rain fly/tarp of sorts. It wouldn't be a bad idea if you are looking for shade over the tent, but it won't need it for keeping rain out of it. Mine is approaching 10 years old, and I still haven't had any leaks at all. Of course, I am in arid Utah and it doesn't rain often, but my tent has easily withstood several severe "gully wahers" during August archery season as well as some pretty heavy snow.

For my washing, I literally swept out the floor, used a damp rag to mop up any spots if needed, and used the hose to spray off the entire exterior (No water got into the tent, even with the heavy flow from the hose). Used a broom to brush the canvas of any dirt first.

Left it up for the day to dry out and then took it down and made sure the bottom was good and clean as I folded it up. Now she is ready for another great camping season.

 

[5MilesBack]

Hopefully they show greater concern for their personal hygiene than they do for proper care, and maintenance of their camping gear...

And therein lies the problem (or hassle) of a sewn in floor with a large canvas tent that needs to be bone dry for storage. Do you just keep flipping the tent over in the sun until the top, sides, and bottom are completely dry for storage?

 

[mavinwa2]

Hardest part of setting up my Kodiak 10x10 is setting the 13-15 stakes.
just set up 2 weeks ago in Dixie National Forest on a Panguitch Lake camping/fishing trip.
whew, that high elevation wore me out, breathless and took me 30min (usually 15min) to set initial camp that is ready to sleep.

BTW: for 8 days, the trout fishing was very, very good. Avg 17 per day flyfishing from shorelines. All cutthroat, tiger trout, rainbows were release but four 18-20" rainbows kept to grill over campfire.

 

[Firehawk]

BTW: for 8 days, the trout fishing was very, very good. Avg 17 per day flyfishing from shorelines. All cutthroat, tiger trout, rainbows were release but four 18-20" rainbows kept to grill over campfire.

Fresh Trout grilled over the campfire sounds awesome right now. I need some mountain therapy. Guess I know what I am going to do tomorrow.

 

[JeffRaines]

Not trying to pile on a guy but I set the one I bought up for the first time the other day in the yard and it took me all of 15 minutes and that was after watching one YouTube how-to video. I'm sure my next setup will be sub-10 minutes as a few of those minutes were deciding which poles went where and how - this stuff was still in factory wrapping!

My wall tent only takes 20-30 minutes solo. My first time setting it up took an hour or so due to needing to tie the guy ropes onto to the tent... after that its been breezy as well.

 

[Adam Gibbs]

I take the tent down store it like normal. When I get home, I lay out out in the garage and flip it a few times over several days until I feel like it's dry. Then store it until next time. Seems to work.

 

[bracer40]

I’ve had mine for well over 10 years. It’s performed extremely well in all weather. Rain, extremely high winds,15” overnight snow (I did sweep the roof several times through the night) and not a single failure. After using a thick plastic sheet for years I ordered their footprint. Like their tent, it’s bombproof. Makes the setup even easier...and yes, your setup time should decrease...whether you’re in your 20’s or 60’s

 

[thegrouse]

Hardest part of setting up my Kodiak 10x10 is setting the 13-15 stakes.
just set up 2 weeks ago in Dixie National Forest on a Panguitch Lake camping/fishing trip.
whew, that high elevation wore me out, breathless and took me 30min (usually 15min) to set initial camp that is ready to sleep.

BTW: for 8 days, the trout fishing was very, very good. Avg 17 per day flyfishing from shorelines. All cutthroat, tiger trout, rainbows were release but four 18-20" rainbows kept to grill over campfire.

Love fishing up that way, never had days like that though. Good stuff

 

[Fatcamp]

And therein lies the problem (or hassle) of a sewn in floor with a large canvas tent that needs to be bone dry for storage. Do you just keep flipping the tent over in the sun until the top, sides, and bottom are completely dry for storage?

No, you just leave it up until it is dry and once that occurs flip it over in the sun for ten minutes to be sure the bottom is dry. Non issue.