Family tent suggestions?

[jacal]

I need some good suggestions for a family tent. I have tried a few so far... All 6 person, 3 season.

The mec funhouse was very fussy to setup, and the fly is terrible until its in Place then it's great and has a nice vestibule.

The eureka tetrasomethin 8 was ok, better setup, but low roof due to dome shape. Didn't like the overall design. The fly is easier once you know where the poles go, but it's kind of all or nothing either on or off and no windows.

The marmot limestone is a great solid tent, but the fly is all or nothing and no windows have privacy! Not good. Excellent setup and doesn't depend on the pegging like the other two. Best protection from the elements and best materials I think. The place to be in a storm IMO. No doubt the warmest when it's cold.

Can we get away with a single season? Most summers are not this hot at night, and when it's cold no one is happy.

Looked at can tire and wal mart, not sure what to think, except wal mart actually seemed better.

Realistically will all 6 of us go camping? I doubt it, mostly 1-3 would use it but wife always thinks we will do stuff together even tho it's so hard to do that for so many activities.

thx.

[camoman]

The Fast setup tents at Canadian tire are great.. I have had one for about 20 years now and I still use it!

literally 1 minute to setup or take down.

[four_420_twenty]

check out cabelas. they have quite a few tents. massive ones right down to tiny ones. some of em had bunk bed cots, a recliner and a buncha other stuff lol. it was a like living in a house made of fabric

[Nozzleweed]

Best I have seen for 5-6 person is Outbound. I have bought mine several years ago and this tent was a champ. Until we decided to use camper instead. I recently bought a Cliffside 7 think its outbound as well but the design is crappy. Two room with center vestibule storage area. Its horrible to set up. Got a deal did not set up before buying. I would say quality is good and they all have great Flys which really protect the tent all the way to the ground. Use a reflective material which helps with heat.
I should have bought Outfitter Cabelas brand. Huge tent sleeps 8 I think. Price was about the same and has one large space. It is a dome tent style with fiberglass poles just larger unit. I would go there to see what they have. I know Cabelas the help was really good and you could see them setup which helps to get a feel for the whole thing.

[jacal]

Originally Posted by camoman

The Fast setup tents at Canadian tire are great.. I have had one for about 20 years now and I still use it!

literally 1 minute to setup or take down.

Yeah these look good but out of stock!


J

[mudinmycrack]

I have a Hillary good tent just starting to show its age , its 10 years old and used a lot its 14x10 can sleep 4-5 bought it at sears but I am thinking of getting the one camoman spoke of.

[JB]

May not be on topic, but i need to find a quality kitchen tent....like the screened sided tents. Does anyone know of any decent quality ones, or have any experience with any???? We have an older one that has a thousand metal tubes to connect, and i pretty much need a ladder to set up, and try to keep balanced while trying to connect stupid poles. there's gotta be something easier?? Searched the outdoors stores, and nothing, but i sure thought they carried kitchen tents that go over a picnic bench or whatever...

Actually i don't even know if they're still called kitchen tents...lol...does anyone know the proper name for them...lol

[gasguzzler]

bought a instant tent (coleman) ten man 10x14 from can tire . love it so far easy to set up and take down. screened windows all around. no complaints on my part

[bbrent]

Make sure you can stand up in the thing, and make sure the fly extends down past the rubber floor. If you can't stand up dressing in the morning sucks, and if the fly dosn't cover the entire tent, it will leak when it rains, and that sucks big time pple have told me....lol

[jacal]

Originally Posted by gasguzzler

bought a instant tent (coleman) ten man 10x14 from can tire . love it so far easy to set up and take down. screened windows all around. no complaints on my part

Do they come with ground stakes? Do you need to use guy wires? Are they ok in wind?



Thx,
J.

[jacal]

Originally Posted by bbrent

Make sure you can stand up in the thing, and make sure the fly extends down past the rubber floor. If you can't stand up dressing in the morning sucks, and if the fly dosn't cover the entire tent, it will leak when it rains, and that sucks big time pple have told me....lol

Seems like they all need a fly for rain protection then you have no windows. Maybe I need to dust off the canvas beast! Better grab my wheelbarrow lol.


J

[peinian]

We bought one this year from bass pro. It was the coleman prairie breeze. 14x10 and it's a cabin style so the walls are straight up and down. It gives you a ton of extra space. The ceiling is over 6'6 and it comes wired with a battery pack and ceiling fan with led light and a switch by the door. It only takes about 15 min. to set up. The one poor thing about it is that the rainfly on the zipper is kinda flimsy and if you don't watch it gets caught in the zipper. Really nice ordering from Basspro and was shipped to the post office in less than 2 weeks. Could have been cheaper to send it to border sevices and picked it up.

[camoman]

Originally Posted by JB

May not be on topic, but i need to find a quality kitchen tent....like the screened sided tents. Does anyone know of any decent quality ones, or have any experience with any???? We have an older one that has a thousand metal tubes to connect, and i pretty much need a ladder to set up, and try to keep balanced while trying to connect stupid poles. there's gotta be something easier?? Searched the outdoors stores, and nothing, but i sure thought they carried kitchen tents that go over a picnic bench or whatever...

Actually i don't even know if they're still called kitchen tents...lol...does anyone know the proper name for them...lol

There is a quick setup one in cdn tire flyer this week I think.. same deal, up in a minute!

[gasguzzler]

Originally Posted by camoman

There is a quick setup one in cdn tire flyer this week I think.. same deal, up in a minute!

thats prob the one we have. no fly needed comes with ground stakes. I think it would be good in the wind.