tent brands?

[hsmamato2]

I'm looking for opinions on good tent brands. We need a new one,our old one isn't waterproof,and I didn't like getting wet last camping trip.
The big problem is the floor, the water just soaked up through the nylon and we got all wet- if there was a way to waterproof a whole floor,I'd try it(any suggestions?)
Or we can look for a new one. I've been looking for a really good brand, what do you all think is a good choice? We camp 1-3 times a year,need room for about 6 or so people(not that many,just like the room inside)
and our #1 qualification is being waterproof,and sturdy- we car camp.
TIA......

 

[clkelley]

There are many good tent brands. However, before you give up hope on your old tent, try the following. Get some "seam sealer" and coat all of the seams on your tent. Then get some fabric protectant "Scotch Guard" or one of the many other brands in camping stores and camping sections of stores. Spray several coats of the fabric protectant both inside and out of your tent, on the walls and floor. (But not on your screen manterial).

In addition, purchase a roll of 6 mil plastic from Lowes, HomeDepot, or Wal-Mart. Cut a sheet of the plastic to fit the bottom of your tent (about 1 inch smaller). Then cut a 2nd sheet the same size. One sheet goes under your tent, one sheet goes inside your tent. In addition, at Ft. Wilderness I take a sheet of that .2 mil painters plastic and lay that down first, then dispose of it at the end of the trip.

I have had $30 tents from Wal-Mart, and used $200 tents that belonged to our Scout Troop and have used this method for years and have never had uncomfortable amounts of water coming in from underneath. (Yes there has been small amounts of water seep in, but it stays under the plastic inside the tent). I repeat this about once a year (I camp about every other month).

I hope this helps.

 

[Sweedee]

and our #1 qualification is being waterproof,and sturdy- we car camp. TIA......

Car camp? what is that?

 

[clkelley]

Car camp? what is that?

Car camping is when all of your gear is in your vehicle, and you are not worried about size or weight. You are able to pull directly up to your campsite in your vehicle and unload and set up.

This is the opposite of backpacking where you have to carry everything you need in a pack and walk into your campsite.

 

[Sweedee]

Car camping is when all of your gear is in your vehicle, and you are not worried about size or weight. You are able to pull directly up to your campsite in your vehicle and unload and set up.

This is the opposite of backpacking where you have to carry everything you need in a pack and walk into your campsite.

heheh...well call me blonde! I didn't know there was an actual term for it. We have always car camped!

 

[Poohnatic]

My family got a 14x14 Eddie Bauer tent from Target last year. More than enough room for the four of us, even with three air mattresses inflated! It was my deal of the decade-end of season discount. It'd been $190, but I got it for $45.

Our first use was in October and it rained while we were camping. Not a problem with the rain. It came with a tarp to put underneath. Funniest thing I found in the package was a deck of playing cards.

Suzanne

 

[hsmamato2]

yup-car camping.... for those of us with kids or a bunch of gear we could never carry on our backs!
Thanks clkelley- I think we'll try to save it, other than the water,it's very nice tent-
It's cheap- Coleman brand-but easy to set up and BIG!
I was looking at some Eureka and Kelty brands,if we can't seal it....thanks for all the input!

 

[MickeyMacks]

You don't need an expensive tent, just one with a practical design. There are a lot of good brands but I find what's most important is that it has a full fly - that is, the separate fly (roof) that goes all the way to the ground. The one's that only cover the top or go halfway down don't cut it - there has to be two layers of nylon with a gap in between that don't touch (except at the pole sleeves) to make it good and waterproof.

I have been in wind storms, heavy rain, light snow, never been cold or wet in this style of tent (just a World Famous brand cheapie). It's entire inside rooftop is mesh for proper ventilation, which is important, otherwise condensation from your breath, etc. overnight could leave you damp (as was the case with my previous tent).

Also, the built-in tarp floor that comes up 3 or 4 inches along the walls helps keep us dry, but always place a tarp on the ground and erect the tent on it.

I've found that the simple square dome tents with full fly, especially the 10 x 8 one I have now that has a "vestibule" attached to the fly that gives me a covered front porch for rain gear, flashlights, crocs, etc. Easy and quick for a 5'4" mom and DS9 to set up!

This year I plan to buy a screen house for sitting in or cooking in if it's raining. Lots of people string up tarps over their tent or table but I rarely find a campsite with trees in the right place for that to work!

 

[Sinclare]

After camping in FW for the last couple years one thing I've learned is you don't really need a ground cloth and it's actually better without it. (depends on your type of tent). For example our tent has a very thick floor that comes up 6-7 inches all around the tent (as far as the bottom of the tent goes you could just about use it as a boat). Due to the sand lots in FW the rain drains off very quickly (unless you get one of those sites that end up like a lake after a rain). I've used both a ground cloth and not used one. The one thing I've noiticed is that when I take up the tent w/ ground cloth that not matter how well tucked in/ form cut that it's collected water and the bottom of the tent is very wet/sandy. However, when I didn't use a ground cloth, the sand was a little damp but it wasn't near the mess.

Our current tents are coleman but I don't think I would go with them again. Granted it was a ~$120ish model walmart tent but I had a lot of trouble with it leaking through the seams on the top. Most of that is fixed but it took tons of seam sealer and sealant to do it and I mean tons. The first year we started with a couple cans each tent then when it leaked we put a couple more on it, that didn't completely do it either so last year I put a couple more cans per tent and that's not counting the sealant on the seams.

I love the size of the tent but the leaking really annoyed me.

 

[Whosemom]

Well, in the "your results may varry" line...

We have the cheapy Coleman, and have been in some MAJOR thunderstorms in it and stayed completely dry. The style that we have has what I think they call a "bathtub design". There is no seam at ground level, its about 8 inches up the side. We have always put the tarp underneath as well - folded under so that it doesnot stick out past the tent.