Basecamp

[Vince]

Thinking about adding one of these for my hunts that I can't haul the horse trailer to.

I've got a 4 x 4 truck that gets me pretty far back. My upcoming deer hunt involves 13 miles of a 4 x 4 trail to where I'm hunting. So, being older, but not always wiser, I'm thinking of this instead of my usual tent and sleeping on the ground.

I'd love to hear what you all think of these. I'm wondering how well it holds up. I've not been too impressed with the nylon ones I've seen as they look to be a buy, use once, and replace. At least the ones I've seen.

So what say you?

http://www.kodiakcanvas.com/canvas-truck-tent-6-ft/

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[LD375]

Looks to be well made Vince, I like it, keeps you off the ground too, seems to have great reviews too, smart move if you get one 8)

Lou

 

[tim629]

looks like a nice tent, i've seen similar ones but never canvas.

my only piece of advice is don't forget a step stool of some sort

 

[Guy Miner]

Vince - it looks like it would work out okay...

But, in some ways I'm a bit of a minimalist. I like my two tents, that I've had for many years. Both, on-the-ground tents.

One is a big pop-up tent for family camping. About a 10x10 I think? We put cots in it, and I can stand up in the middle. It was inexpensive, one of those chinese made things labeled "Kelty by Ridgeway" or something like that.

The other is a much smaller backpacking tent. Higher quality. Sleep "on the ground" but with a good "therm-a-rest" backpacking mat underneath. I've had this one for years, and it's served on many trips: backpacking, hunting, fishing, motorcycle camping, and last summer I spent three weeks living in it, on various Jeep trips.

My Jeep/off-road buddies are big into what's called "overlanding" where the emphasis is more on seeing, and being in, cool places, and less on "who can climb that rock?" There's a wide mix of shelters used. Simple guys, like me, just pop up our little backpacking tents and crawl in, happy as ever, even in our 50's, 60's and 70's. Some like a bigger tent, walk-in. Some go with really expensive ($3,000) "roof-top-tents" which are really pretty neat - and something you might like. They're not all $3,000+. The fabric is heavier. They have room for a mattress stowed in them. Very nice. Some have an extension, allowing use of a shower and/or portable toilet underneath, or perhaps a kitchen...

Stuff like this:
http://tepuitents.com/products/kukenam-xl-ruggedized

My buddy has this setup on his pickup. He can still use the truck bed for hauling stuff, but has this really nice, sturdy, tent on a frame. The frame can also be raised, to put the tent up higher. It's a great setup, if you're looking for something attached to the truck:


Another buddy has this good RTT (roof top tent) on the trailer he hauls behind his Jeep. Also works great:


Me? I just shrug my shoulders and use the same tent I use for backpacking and motorcycle camping:


Choices... So, to me - it comes down to "What do you want?" One reason I don't like the tents attached to the vehicle - is they make it more difficult if you want to use the vehicle at some point, but don't want to break camp.. I can leave my camp set up, just hop in the Jeep and drive away if I want. And yeah, sometimes (not often) I use my much bigger free-standing tent. Like if my wife is along - she really likes the cots, the luxury of the bigger tent, etc..

Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

Another photo of my pard's roof-top-tent on his pickup. It's a sturdy, good setup:



And my little camp, for comparison:



Guy

 

[joelkdouglas]

Vince, I have a Kodiak Canvas 10x14 tent for use on the ground. I will say I really like my Kodiak tent. I've never used their pickup tent.

But I have a camper shell on the back of my pickup, and I used to (before kids) steal away in Wyoming, and spend 2-3 days fly fishing, moving to different parts of the river, eat dehydrated meals and zingers, and sleep in the camper shell on a foam pad. It was alright, fine for a young twenties guy who didn't want to bother putting up and taking down a tent.

I will note sleeping in the back of a pickup is colder than sleeping on the ground. The cold night air moves under the pickup bed. So if I were hunting in cold (or even just cold morning) hunt camp I would want to be on the ground.

 

[Anonymous]

Joe brings up a good point. Sleeping on a truck bed is cold to me. A friend of mine has a Kodiak tent (regular, not truck) and it's held up pretty well.

If I was looking to sleep in a truck bed, I'd look for a used topper/shell that would be a bit more weatherproof and not require tear down to move. Another friend of mine put on a capper, built a raised platform out of plywood and sleeps considerably warmer than with a pad on the metal. He stores gear under the platform as well.

 

[Vince]

Thank you all.
You've given me much to ponder.

Vince

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[Vince]

I went ahead and ordered it.

I believe that this gives me more options seeing that I already have a backpacking tent and a horse trailer to sleep in.

I'll put a futon in it so I won't be sleeping on the metal floor. I learned a few tricks song it up today and will test drove it this weekend helping a friend hunt deer.

Vince



Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[Elkman]

That looks great Vince !!! How will it do in the wind? Its up pretty high? Can one stand up in it? Very nice.

 

[sask boy]

Vince that looks like it is going to work just fine. My wife and I are planning that trip next summer back up to Dawson Creek and beyond :wink:.
We were thinking of getting a trailer but at that price it sure might be worth looking into. Thank you for the photographs and the heads up.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Vince]

That looks great Vince !!! How will it do in the wind? Its up pretty high? Can one stand up in it? Very nice.

Given our respective lack of elongation we can sit upright on a cot or bend our head and move around inside this tent. Has a five foot inside height.

Vince

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[sask boy]

Vince it should still work fine as it is mostly for sleeping anyways.
Please let us know your thoughts once you have tested out on this upcoming hunt :wink:.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Vince]

Vince it should still work fine as it is mostly for sleeping anyways.
Please let us know your thoughts once you have tested out on this upcoming hunt :wink:.

Blessings,
Dan

Will do.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk