Out of state - Trailer/Tent setup

[Mosby]

I'm on the fence between Alaknak and 10x14 Kodiak. Hoping to use it for family camping in the summer (1-3 nights) as well as base camp for hunting. Apart from the stove option in the Alaknak, which do you prefer and which would you think would be a better all-around tent for spring, summer and fall camping / hunting?

I like the Kodiak. Much faster and easier to set up.

 

[Brendan]

I'm on the fence between Alaknak and 10x14 Kodiak. Hoping to use it for family camping in the summer (1-3 nights) as well as base camp for hunting. Apart from the stove option in the Alaknak, which do you prefer and which would you think would be a better all-around tent for spring, summer and fall camping / hunting?

You can install a stove jack and stove in a Kodiak:

Kodiak canvas w/ buddy heater review

Had my10x10 Kodiak @ 10K for CO's muzzleloader hunt, 2nd week of Sept. I was solo. Temps were up around 80 during days, 40s @ night. Heat source was tank top heater on 20# propane bottle, never got cold enough to truly test it. Tried it on low setting last morning, in 5 min it was teeshirt...

www.rokslide.com

Kodiak Canvas upgrades

***UPDATE...First, screw you photo bucket, second, I added some pictures later in the thread that aren't hosted by photo bucket. I didn't want to lose all my wording or start a new thread*** Didn't want to jack the other guys thread. 10x14 flex bow deluxe Three dog stove by fourdog stoves...

www.rokslide.com

Kodiak Canvas

Looking for a tent for car camping. It will be used for family camping in the spring/summer and car camping on any hunts that aren't backpack hunts. I was looking at this model. Cabela's Online Store - Quality Hunting, Fishing, Camping and Outdoor Gear I have read lots of good things about the...

www.rokslide.com

 

[ToolMann]

I use a 16 foot travel trailer for many hunts and base camp wherever I can find a good spot to park it. It is a 4 season trailer so, even when frigid, I have a self contained trailer. Which is awesome when I have to take a dump in the middle of the night.

The downside to the 4 season trailers is the water tank and holding tanks are small compared to 3 season trailers.

I will tent camp if I need to, but have found very few places that my trailer wasn't a better option. Outside of a backpack hunt of course.

Jeremy

Not necessarily. My 4 season Lance has 45 gallons for each tank. We hunt out of it a lot but you do need to watch the weather. Camping in snow is no problem, towing in it is another thing.

 

[Eldoradotim]

I'm on the fence between Alaknak and 10x14 Kodiak. Hoping to use it for family camping in the summer (1-3 nights) as well as base camp for hunting. Apart from the stove option in the Alaknak, which do you prefer and which would you think would be a better all-around tent for spring, summer and fall camping / hunting?

10x14 Kodiak here as well. Great family camping tent for non-hunting use, very comfortable. Also excellent 2-man hunting setup with a buddy heater. If going just solo or sometimes with 1 other, I‘d probably go 10x10 for weight/ease of setup.

 

[Elk97]

Not necessarily. My 4 season Lance has 45 gallons for each tank. We hunt out of it a lot but you do need to watch the weather. Camping in snow is no problem, towing in it is another thing.

Our Nash is the same, 50 water and I think 30+ gal for gray and black. That was the first thing that impressed me when we bought it.

 

[24on48hunting]

I like my Smittybilt tent with annex. It’s the XL size. I added a California King sized memory foam mattress topper that I ordered off of Amazon. It closes up inside of and packs away with the tent without issue. I also got the annex room that’s 8’x8’ for when the entire family camps and so that I can stand up to dress. If it’s cold out, I run the buddy heater briefly and it’s toasty in a few minutes. Setup or takedown is easy, usually about 10-15 minutes once you get the hang of it. I’d recommend putting it on a trailer so that your truck isn’t committed to camp.
I plan on building an overland trailer for mine as opposed to forking over a small fortune to buy one.

 

[Voyageur]

I like my Smittybilt tent with annex. It’s the XL size. I added a California King sized memory foam mattress topper that I ordered off of Amazon. It closes up inside of and packs away with the tent without issue. I also got the annex room that’s 8’x8’ for when the entire family camps and so that I can stand up to dress. If it’s cold out, I run the buddy heater briefly and it’s toasty in a few minutes. Setup or takedown is easy, usually about 10-15 minutes once you get the hang of it. I’d recommend putting it on a trailer so that your truck isn’t committed to camp.
I plan on building an overland trailer for mine as opposed to forking over a small fortune to buy one.

Great picture @24on48hunting
Which overland trailer are you planning to model your project after? I've always been intrigued by overlands, but know nothing about them.

 

[24on48hunting]

Great picture @24on48hunting
Which overland trailer are you planning to model your project after? I've always been intrigued by overlands, but know nothing about them.

Thank you. That was from our Fall Salmon fishing trip last October.
I’m still looking around at what’s out there and trying to figure out what is going to best suit our needs.

 

[dtrkyman]

Personally I would never want a roof top tent on a trailer, too much dust to deal with. I have been trying to figure out an ideal set up but not sure, truck camping is convenient but loading and unloading all my stuff constantly sucks.

Seriously considering a small enclosed trailer, but I get into some tight spots on trails and turning around would be impossible!

Those Gazelle hub tents are intriguing, I may grab one next season? I like being mobile and a wall tent type set up is not for me.

 

[24on48hunting]

Personally I would never want a roof top tent on a trailer, too much dust to deal with. I have been trying to figure out an ideal set up but not sure, truck camping is convenient but loading and unloading all my stuff constantly sucks.

Yes, dust will get all over everything, but it’s pretty easy to dust the cover off before removing it. The cover seals off really tight, so dust doesn’t end up working it’s way beneath it. If I build a trailer, it will definitely have a fully enclosed box so that all of my gear isn’t caked with dust at the end of the trip.

 

[tbro16]

I plan on running two camps next year for backcountry elk in october. Have gotten snowed/froze out back to back years now. Will have my backcountry tipi with a wood burning stove a few miles back and an ice fishing shelter with two 20 lb propane tank back at the truck. I've camped out on the ice for ice fishing trips on several multiple day trips without any issue. Figure I can do the same in the elk woods. Cots, coolers, propane heater, with an insulated (must be insulated) shack.

If going this route, make sure to have proper ventilation. Most shacks will have vents built into them but I'll crack two windows. I'll have a small fan running in one of them blowing in fresh air, and a CO2 detector right next to me on throughout the night. Its a fairly cheap option that doesnt involve a trailer or long set up. Looking forward to the change this year.

 

[Titan_Bow]

I usually just sleep in the back of my rig since I am usually solo. About 7 years ago or so, I sold my full size pickup and went with an Xterra. I loved being able to bonzai to a trailhead or hunting area, climb in the back and go to sleep, ready to go in the morning. I totaled my Xterra, and replaced it with a 4Runner, which I can do the same thing with.
However, sometimes I do like to have a more comfortable camp, especially when I'm hunting Nebraska for a week, or going with other people.
I went with an old M101a2 army trailer that I got from a government auction. I got all the rust and old paint off the frame and underside, repainted everything with rustoleum implement paint. I had a guy in Denver make a custom canvas cover for it and I made the bows out of 3/4" conduit, so the roofline pretty much matches the height my 4Runner. I put a BedRug bedliner down on the inside. Im keeping it pretty simple and utilitarian and really just using it to haul my camp. I didnt want to put drawers, rooftop tent, water tanks, etc. that would diminish its use as a utility trailer if I ever need that. But, I can haul my 10 person Turbo Tent, bathroom/shower tent, full camp kitchen setup, cots, heater, coolers, batteries, propane, etc. This set up has been working well for me with family camping trips. I can have a comfy camp set up in 30 minutes or so.

 

[sneaky]

I'm on the fence between Alaknak and 10x14 Kodiak. Hoping to use it for family camping in the summer (1-3 nights) as well as base camp for hunting. Apart from the stove option in the Alaknak, which do you prefer and which would you think would be a better all-around tent for spring, summer and fall camping / hunting?

You can have a stove jack added to the Kodiak, and it sets up quicker than the Alaknak. Both good shelters

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[drmatara]

A spring bar tent and a propane heater are the best for your base camp.


What didn’t you like about the enclosed trailer?

 

[Calcoyote]

Like some others on here I have a few different setups and which one I use depends on the kind of hunt and the weather. My setups are not large because I usually hunt/camp alone:

Davis 12x14 with 4 Dog stove - Great for when someone is with me. Tons of room but setup and take down time is a hassle especially for just a 2-3 night stay.

Cabelas Alaknak 12x12 with 4 Dog stove - Lighter and faster to setup than my wall tent. I like using it if I know their is going to be rain. It is a lot easier to dry out than a canvas wall tent after you get home.

Seek Outside 12 man tipi - This is a dream to use. It goes up a lot faster and if it gets wet all I have to do is bring it home and spread it out on the floor of my garage for one day before I put it away. Since I am by myself most of the time the interior walk around space and headroom is similar to the 12x12 Alaknak. But, I need to get a smaller stove for it. The 4 Dog is too much and is miserably hot in temps above 25 degrees. I had to choke the stove down so much that it would begin to smoke.

Seek Outside Cimarron tipi - This is my backpack setup. I also have a small titanium stove that will keep me warm in just about any temp. It is not tall enough to stand up in but you can fit a small cot if you are truck camping. In addition to the titanium wood stove I also have a Nuway propane stove that is vented with flu pipe just like a woodstove vents. While it is not strong enough to heat the Alaknak 12x12 it will really heat the inside of that little tipi if I am truck camping.

No matter how many tents I own I always see another I want to buy. Other tents I would like:

That new Davis Go-Tent is 10x10 and has a 6'8" ridge height and a 3' side wall. I am only 5'9" tall so I would probably have a lot of walkaround room. Quick and easy to set up and dry out. I am thinking that my NuWay stove would probably keep me warm. I DON'T NEED THIS TENT, but I get on the Davis website and look at it 3-4 times per week.

Some men love to get on the internet and look at porn, but I have a great wife and don't need that. My weakness is tents. I spend HOURS online looking at tents and comparing them. My wife probably prefers that I look at tents too. lol

 

[TodOz]

I have a 16' enclosed trailer with e-track along both sides, a side door, and ramp door at the back. I have two side vents and two ceiling vents (one is reinforced for future A/C). I've installed a 100 amp electrical box with 2 circuits. One for outlets and overhead switched light. The other for the future A/C. I also have a generator.

I plan to use the trailer for base camp this coming October in NM for my Elk hunt. I've thought about making fold down benches/bunks from the e-track. Would love to see or hear ideas on what others have done to modify enclosed trailers for hunting. I've seen cabinets with sinks installed in the v-nose. That would be very useful. Any other mods worth pursuing?

 

[Lytro]

I pull a 12’x6’ Cargo Craft Off-Road trailer. A half ton pickup pulls it up mountain roads with no problem and it can go just about anywhere my truck can. Insulated with heat and a/c, lots of lighting, and plenty of outlets inside for charging electronics and running boot dryers. I keep a twin size memory foam mattress in it with a fold up bed frame.

 

[iseebucks]

Look into the larger insulated hub style fish houses as well. I'm using mine this year, it's an eskimo 5i so it's 110"x100" inside, enough room for 2 guys with cots and a buddy heater. I use moving blankets on the ground.

I am intrigued by this option. How do these insulated hub style tents handle snow load?

 

[Voyageur]

@Lytro Which Cargo Craft trailer do you have? I went to their website and did not see the Off Road model listed.
Also, did you buy yours from a SD dealer?
Thanks.

 

[TodOz]

@Lytro. That’s a sweet trailer. The off road tires and other mods are a great idea. I haven’t insulated mine yet. Might just leave it plywood. I’ll have to see how well it does in the cold. Can’t be worse than a tent. Two years in a row having my tent flattened in Wyoming drove me to the trailer. My mule barely fits. I got a 7.5’ ceiling so it would fit through the door.