Gatorgrizz27
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 20, 2020
- Member Number
- 756
- Messages
- 888
I’m personally not a fan of the giant ass car camping standing dome Taj Mahal tents for 2 primary reasons.
#1. Most of them suck as any type of real shelter and won’t handle bad weather. This can be an extreme liability if you have your family out somewhere that you can’t just throw everything in the car and drive home.
#2. Sooner or later, you’ll likely want to do some type of camping that requires a hike, bike, paddle, etc into the campsite, even if it’s just 100 yards. Carrying hundreds of pounds of shit over any type of distances takes all the fun out of it.
I’d focus on buying a good quality $300-$500 semi-lightweight half dome tent. I have a North Face 4 man that weighs 7.5 lbs, consists of 3 semi equal parts parts (body, fly, and stakes/poles) which makes it perfect to split between 3 people on a hunting/backpacking trip, but works great for 2 adults and 2 kids also. If you don’t have an elderly parent or some type of disability the “not standing to get dressed” deal is really just a minor inconvenience.
For vehicle based stuff, get an ARB awning along with the walls or room depending on your conditions. I have the 8’ on my cargo trailer and it’s awesome to quickly pop out and have shade or drizzle protection, and if it’s cold or windy it’s simple to add the walls and run a propane heater. I prefer a floorless setup as it cuts down on worrying about taking boots off, cleanup, etc. You’ve got a nice place to cook, sit, and hang out without getting your tent full of mud and bugs.
#1. Most of them suck as any type of real shelter and won’t handle bad weather. This can be an extreme liability if you have your family out somewhere that you can’t just throw everything in the car and drive home.
#2. Sooner or later, you’ll likely want to do some type of camping that requires a hike, bike, paddle, etc into the campsite, even if it’s just 100 yards. Carrying hundreds of pounds of shit over any type of distances takes all the fun out of it.
I’d focus on buying a good quality $300-$500 semi-lightweight half dome tent. I have a North Face 4 man that weighs 7.5 lbs, consists of 3 semi equal parts parts (body, fly, and stakes/poles) which makes it perfect to split between 3 people on a hunting/backpacking trip, but works great for 2 adults and 2 kids also. If you don’t have an elderly parent or some type of disability the “not standing to get dressed” deal is really just a minor inconvenience.
For vehicle based stuff, get an ARB awning along with the walls or room depending on your conditions. I have the 8’ on my cargo trailer and it’s awesome to quickly pop out and have shade or drizzle protection, and if it’s cold or windy it’s simple to add the walls and run a propane heater. I prefer a floorless setup as it cuts down on worrying about taking boots off, cleanup, etc. You’ve got a nice place to cook, sit, and hang out without getting your tent full of mud and bugs.
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