Recommendation for a wall tent that won't break the bank

[xcutter]

Got an Elk hunting trip planned this year and me and one of the guys would like to purchase a wall tent for base camp. We are planning on possibly putting a wood stove in it as well. Need something big enough to get 4 guys with cots and all there gear in. I don't want to break the bank either though. I was thinking about checking out a military surplus tent maybe?

I appreciate any help.

 

[Luked]

I have one of the cabelas outfitter tents. It is the alkanak II with the vestibule. It's the 12x12 model. It would be plenty big enough for guys and cots and gear could go in the vestibule.
I have not used mine oit west but both of my brothers have and they work great. We put a stove in ours but we don't use wood stoves anymore. We have smaller warm morning propane stoves that we use and they do very well. Buy the time you get the tent vestibule and I highly recommend getting the floor liner your about $1100-1200 but they are very well worth the money in my opinion.
I have stayed in the bigger heavier wall tents like montana canvas and they do work well but are heavy and a little harder to set up vs the cabelas tents. I can sit mine up by myself in about 30 min vestibule and all. And they take up way less space

Here is a picture of mine last Nov in the smokey mountains

 

[SHTF]

Kodiak Canvas its all Ive ever used for a Canvas tent but its pretty slick setup. These guys are huge on customer service too.

 

[5MilesBack]

Not sure where your "break the bank" point is, but give Davis Tent in Denver a call. They usually have specials especially this time of year, and even brand new without a deal you could get a 14x16 setup for right at $1000 plus shipping.

 

[GKPrice]

Got an Elk hunting trip planned this year and me and one of the guys would like to purchase a wall tent for base camp. We are planning on possibly putting a wood stove in it as well. Need something big enough to get 4 guys with cots and all there gear in. I don't want to break the bank either though. I was thinking about checking out a military surplus tent maybe?

I appreciate any help.

3 years ago my sons and I decided we needed to upgrade to a 16' x 20' from the old 14' x 16' we had been using since ... forever

Since I'm "supposed" to be retired I always get the job of researching for the best and least expensive of whatever it is we're looking into

My R&D was not what I'd call extensive but I waited until show season in Portland and checked all the tent dealers at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmans Expo but came away not satisfied with what I'd seen there (5 or 6 dealers) I ended up at "Reliable Tents" in Billings MT and we purchased a synthetic blend 10 oz 16' x 20' w/ 5' sidewalls and included an aluminum internal frame, the slightly heavier duty frame for snow load - They're having a yearly sale right now too - We've been very happy with this tent, it's big enough yet not too heavy to pack on animals AND you have options when ordering like zippered entry at both ends or a back "zippered window" - stove pipe jack for sure (placement near the entry makes it quick and easy to carry wood to the stove) top or side (personal preference) - I added tie down rings along the eaves for those windy camps - 16' x 20' with frame was a "show special" for $1100

ADVICE: always put a cover over the top, I use 6 mil clear visquene, 4 mil will work but no matter what the person selling the tent says you need a WP cover on the top that is slick You "might" get a little bit of condensation inside with 4 guys and no stove but as long as the sidewalls are not covered you'll be fine - In campsites that will allow I have stretched a rope between to big trees and created a "canopy" to pitch the tent beneath, if you make the canopy bigger then you can have a nice front "porch" area, sometimes I've planted a post outside the front that will support the rope and also stabilize the post, pick a post with branches to leave stobs for coat hooks or drive nails -keeps clutter inside down a bit and with a little care you will break camp and roll up a DRY tent, nice to go home not having to worry about drying it
sorry for the long wind - hope this helps ...

 

[go4thegusto]

Too bad I am not closer. I have a 10X10 canvas center pole range/spike tent I was just going to Craigslist for $300. Would not pay to ship this bad boy.

 

[PNWGATOR]

I've looked for an old army surplus model like Robby has used, but no luck to date. Best bet may be watching craigslist in your region.

 

[5MilesBack]

Too bad I am not closer. I have a 10X10 canvas center pole range/spike tent I was just going to Craigslist for $300. Would not pay to ship this bad boy.

No way four guys are fitting in a 10x10 comfortably. 14x16 would be the smallest I would go.

 

[GKPrice]

No way four guys are fitting in a 10x10 comfortably. 14x16 would be the smallest I would go.

used the 14' x 16' for a lot of seasons, now that we have the 16' x 20' I don't know how we did it - IF you're packing in yourself with limited packstring size I can sure see it though ....

 

[RCR]

I have a 14x16 Davis. I would definitely go to the 16x20 if I had to fit 4 guys, gear, and a stove on a regular basis. You might consider a smaller tent or tarp for gear storage and you could get away with the 14-16.

 

[MOHunter]

I have a 14x16 Davis. We ran 5 guys on cots with a wood stove this yr. We were plenty comfortable. Had to keep coolers outside, but it certainly worked. Granted, bigger would give more stretch room. I guess it's all a matter of what you're after. For us, camp is for eating, warming/drying and sleeping. So many guys say bigger, I just wanted to point out that it's not required.

 

[LaHunter]

I've got a 12X20 Cabela's Alaknak tent with vestibule. I've had it for 3 years and have been very happy with it. I have a large wood burning stove in mine and strongly recommend one in your wall tent, it really makes a big difference especially when it's really nasty outside. I'm not sure I would want 4 people in my tent for 7+ days with cots / gear / food / etc. I don't like being cramped or crowded I guess.

Good Luck

 

[husky390]

Keep an eye on Davis Tent. They're supposed to post a new sale on 3/1. Last month they had 14'x16' tents on sale.

I have a 16'x20' and it's plenty big enough for four guy's, stove, and gear with room to spare. I wouldn't bother ordering a floor, just throw tarps down and throw a tarp or two over the roof. One thing to keep in mind is the rafters are over 9' long so you'll have to figure out the logistics on getting it there.
Here's a few recommendations if I may. Additional side windows are a plus for ventilation, get a stove with a coal grate, and I don't like the smell of the Fire retardant treatment so I stick with Water and Mildew treatment only. Make sure you're not hungover when it comes time to break down the tent and all of you are there for takedown which takes longer than setup.

I like mine so much that I'm now considering buying a 12'x14' with traditional poles to haul in my Jeep Cherokee.

 

[husky390]

Too bad I am not closer. I have a 10X10 canvas center pole range/spike tent I was just going to Craigslist for $300. Would not pay to ship this bad boy.

Heck, I wish I was closer.

 

[5MilesBack]

I have a 14x16 Davis. We ran 5 guys on cots with a wood stove this yr. We were plenty comfortable.

My 14x16 is "barely" big enough for me, my wife, and three kids on cots, and that's without a wood stove. Where do you eat? Do you cook in the same tent? Do you have a table?

Yes, it's true.......you can go as cheap and compact as you want, and everybody can cook with their Jetboils at their cot. But it's really nice having room for a table and maybe some chairs, along with the cots and the wood stove........and don't forget about the space it takes to store your wood too. 16x20 would be ideal for four guys with a stove. I wouldn't want to do more than 3 in my 14x16 with a stove. Without a stove and table, 5 is very doable in a 14x16.

 

[GKPrice]

Keep an eye on Davis Tent. They're supposed to post a new sale on 3/1. Last month they had 14'x16' tents on sale.

I have a 16'x20' and it's plenty big enough for four guy's, stove, and gear with room to spare. I wouldn't bother ordering a floor, just throw tarps down and throw a tarp or two over the roof. One thing to keep in mind is the rafters are over 9' long so you'll have to figure out the logistics on getting it there.
Here's a few recommendations if I may. Additional side windows are a plus for ventilation, get a stove with a coal grate, and I don't like the smell of the Fire retardant treatment so I stick with Water and Mildew treatment only. Make sure you're not hungover when it comes time to break down the tent and all of you are there for takedown which takes longer than setup.

I like mine so much that I'm now considering buying a 12'x14' with traditional poles to haul in my Jeep Cherokee.

that fire retardant is strongly carcinogenic also so beware

 

[GKPrice]

My 14x16 is "barely" big enough for me, my wife, and three kids on cots, and that's without a wood stove. Where do you eat? Do you cook in the same tent? Do you have a table?

Yes, it's true.......you can go as cheap and compact as you want, and everybody can cook with their Jetboils at their cot. But it's really nice having room for a table and maybe some chairs, along with the cots and the wood stove........and don't forget about the space it takes to store your wood too. 16x20 would be ideal for four guys with a stove. I wouldn't want to do more than 3 in my 14x16 with a stove. Without a stove and table, 5 is very doable in a 14x16.

You are right on with that assessment - Also, with roll-a-tables and one of the newer aluminum sliding fold-up chairs 5 is not too daunting a task - A big part depends on what time of the seasons you will be camping but except for early archery (sometimes) I can't imagine not having a wood stove - Hardcore is fine but it is also nice to sit with a full belly and recap the day, hopefully with a story or two - "hunting" is not always about go go go

 

[MOHunter]

My 14x16 is "barely" big enough for me, my wife, and three kids on cots, and that's without a wood stove. Where do you eat? Do you cook in the same tent? Do you have a table?

.

We had a table in the front corner with a stove on it. Wood stove in the other corner. Sat on cots to eat. Plenty of relaxing and story telling.

 

[xcutter]

That's a sweet setup. Home away from home.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[missjordan]

I had a montana canvas tent for a few year and while I did like it, they took quite a bit of time to set up and we're pretty heavy. But if you want to stick with traditional canvas I would check them out