Bought a tent

[mamaloya]

OK, I just bought a new tent for ds16 and dn14 to stay in on our trip Feb 1. It is a Coleman Mountaineer 8x8 3 person tent. I figure it will be good for the 2 of them. I plan on borrowing 2 army cots from a friend. That will keep the guys off the floor. They can put their stuff under their cots at night and on the cots during the day, "just in case". I will put a rubbermaid bin in between the 2 cots for a nightstand and have a powerstrip in there for their chargers. I will also have a heater in there for them. I have 2 wool blankets in case it is cold. I got the tent at Big Lots for $22. I will set it up when I get home and seal the seams.

Question, if it says it is sealed and guaranteed waterproof, do I still have to seal the seams and waterproof it?

I have a tarp to put under the tent already.

Carol said that the air mattresses get cold in the winter, so that is why I am going with cots. Are cots the better option in the cold?

So, what do you guys think?

 

[Rhonda]

Congratulations on your purchase! I'm sure the boys will love it!!

We've been tent camping for many years, and I've never sealed a seam! LOL! We've never had any problem with leakage.

Cots are good to get them up off the ground - I know people who put air mattresses on top of the cots, but you don't need to do that. A tent heater will be fine.

 

[TheGreatGonzo]

You may want to consider a foam camping mat to place on the cot too. It will act as a little bit of a matress and it will also help insulate them from the cold air. You'd be suprised how much heat loss you have through the bottom of a sleeping bag because the insulation is crushed by your body weight. You can usually find a reasonably priced foam mat in most sporting goods departments.

 

[Fish Almighty]

I would definitely seal the seams if you have the time prior to your trip. It only costs a couple of dollars and takes just a few minutes to do. I've owned a number of tents over the years and most of them come waterproof right from the store, but I had one bad experience with a relatively expensive tent and now I always apply the seam sealer. If you have any left over, you can use the leftover to seal the seams along the floor of the tent too.

Just be sure to use the seam sealer outside... that stuff smells strong!

 

[ntsammy5]

In really cold weather you want to avoid cots and sleep on thermal pads. But the Fort is not really cold, so cots will be fine. As for sealing seams, I camp in all kinds of weather and like others, haven't sealed seams in years. I do spray waterproof once every couple of years though -- especially on the tent I use in the mountains. Get a small ceramic electric heater and they should be warm enough.

One thing that people sometimes overlook is waterproofing their personal rain gear. I have some gortex rain gear that needs to be washed at least once a year depending on use (woolite) and waterproofed. I just found out at last weeks Bills game that I neglected to do that last time they were put away and I got wet. I didn't use that equipment much last year because of a knee replacement, so I forgot.

 

[clkelley]

One thing that people sometimes overlook is waterproofing their personal rain gear. I have some gortex rain gear that needs to be washed at least once a year depending on use (woolite) and waterproofed. I just found out at last weeks Bills game that I neglected to do that last time they were put away and I got wet.

I'll second that. Was at Boy Scout Summer Camp a couple years ago, and one morning pouring down rain, so got up, got dressed, put on the rain gear and started the walk to breakfast. Well by the time I got to breakfast I was soaking wet!!! I hadn't sprayed down the rain jacket in awhile and did wash it once when it came back from a camping trip particularly grungy, and I paid the price!!!

 

[clkelley]

If you use cots, make sure to bring some pieces of scrap cardboard to put under the feet of the cots to help protect the floor of the tent.

(Or some thin foam, or bubble wrap, or batting, and wrap the feet and secure with rubberbands or cable ties.)

 

[mamaloya]

Thanks guys about the seam sealer. We have owned 2 other tents. The first one was a cabin tent and I did not seal the seams and was fine. The second one was a double dome tent. The instructions said to seal so I did. It rained on us in both and neither leaked. The cabin was a downpour too.

Thanks Carol for the tip on the cot legs. I never would have thought of that. I guess I would have found a new use for my lynx levelers when I got there. I have no idea what kind of cots my friend's husband will get for me. I do know that the camping gear will be traveling in my friend's car to keep my wt down on my camper.

Have I mentioned yet that our party size has gone from 8 to 11. It will now be me, my 5, my niece and nephew, plus my friend will be joining me with her 1 and 2yo. She will be driving her own vehicle and parking it at the outpost. My camper will sleep all of us, but it would be tight. I asked the boys if they wanted a tent and they said "YES!!!!" So, they have their own room and now we will only have to use the sofa bed in addition to the bunk beds and my bed. If there is room for ds8 in the tent and he decided to join them, then we won't even have to use the sofa bed.

I wanted a bigger tent, but for $22, I could not pass it up.

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

Isnt 10 persons the limit to have on one campsite?

 

[des1954]

Isnt 10 persons the limit to have on one campsite?

Yes, but..... the 1 & 2 yo's only count as 1/2 person, each!

 

[Gatordad]

As they say in the Military, don't ask, don't tell.

 

[CaptKen]

I once saw the otters carrying adding machines and walking thru the loops. Any overage is fed to the gators.

 

[mamaloya]

Des, gatordad and captken, ya'll are so funny. Seriously, it is like the other resorts. 10 plus 1 under 3 in crib. I already talked to reservations and it is no problem. They even personally called and spoke to 2 different people at FW directly to make sure. I don't think we could add another "whole" person though, because that would be "2 under 3 in a crib". If you notice most resorts are 4 or 5 plus 1 under 3.

I checked before I told my friend yes. It is going to be real interesting though. Having 2 babies with us. My youngest is 4. Luckily we have lots of helpers. We have already established a buddy system and have all of the "who's pushing who" worked out. My ds16 will be pushing me in a wheelchair. df will be pushing her 2 kids. dn16 will be pushing my dd's 4 & 6 in a rental stroller. Although I can foresee dd4 riding in my lap and ds8 sharing the stroller. LOL

Now, if I can just establish a morning routine BEFORE we get there and are in chaos. I have one that I use when it is just my kids, but now I have to rework it. Luckily most of us will be using the bathhouse.

I am hoping to be able to sneak off to the bathhouse for a long hot shower from time to time. I normally use the one in the camper because I won't use public ones, but if I can escape by myself, I am not sure if I will ever return. I know when we tent camped I would leave the kids with dh and disappear for an hour every morning. It was heaven. He would asked "what took you so long". I would just smile and say "taking care of business." At the time I swear the showers there were more enjoyable than at home.

The trip is getting so close. I can't wait. ds16 just bought a cell phone that can be used to hookup to my laptop for internet. I just got in the last matching shirt I needed. Now, I just need to print the iron ons for the last set. Everything is falling into place.

YAY!!!!! FW here we come!!!!!!!!!

 

[AuburnJen92]

If 1 and 2yr olds are half a person, does that make otters and peacocks 1/4? Wait, the otters are on patrol, so what about the peacocks?

 

[mamaloya]

The peacocks are being chased by all the kids in my krewe. You may NEVER see them again!!!! BTW, I travel with a peacock in the window of my camper. If you happen to see me, honk and wave.

 

[Goofy109]

Sounds like alot of WORK compared to just........ RENTING A ROOM in one of the MANY Resorts ........ Dry......indoor plumbing .....A/C .....Heat ..... Its Disney .......Live a little !!!!

 

[Gatordad]

uh, this is the camping thread.

 

[mamaloya]

uh, this is the camping thread.

EXACTLY. IMHO, why would anyone stay in a hotel room when they can be out in the wide open. Wake up to trees and birds chirping. Have a whole bath house instead of one little bitty bathroom. Sleeping in my own bed instead of someone else's. Have my own kitchen, fridge and pantry as well. Don't have to haul suitcases into the car then into the room than back into the car and then back into the house. And if you are flying, add that as well. UGH!!! Give me the great outdoors anytime.

Why would you stay in a hotel room?

BTW, my camper has indoor plumbing, A/C, and heat. It's the teen boys who are choosing to stay in a tent.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Sounds like alot of WORK compared to just........ RENTING A ROOM in one of the MANY Resorts ........ Dry......indoor plumbing .....A/C .....Heat ..... Its Disney .......Live a little !!!!

Somebody get a rope.

 

[mamaloya]

I have rope in my camper. I will gladly let you use it.



Apparently he is too daft to get that he is in the CAMPING forum.