Camping Shelter Question

Uncle Phil

Uncle Phil

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Joined
Feb 26, 2007
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Age
72
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In The Holler West Of Nashville, Tennessee
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4 ST1100(s)
2024 Miles
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I have a great tent (Timberline 4 person XT) but there is always the issue of when it is raining it would be nice to be able to stand up, etc.
I've been looking at all sorts of 'shelters' but most of them are pretty bulky and not suitable for packing on a bike.
I plan on camping in Newfoundland (RockSToc) assuming I am able and was just noodling on this.
A nice tarp (maybe 10X10) with some collapsible poles might be the answer.
But just wondering if anyone else has come up with a good solution (besides another tent).
One factor is there would be no guarantee of trees or anchors to secure the ropes so it would need to be 'free standing'.
And there is always plenty of wind blowing in Newfoundland so how do you secure it so it doesn't blow away at the first big wind?
 
Phil, I’m not sure if you’ve seen this tent, but it suits me. It’s sort of tent and shelter, in one. Plenty of room to stand or put a chair inside. I also have the smaller version, where the sleeping section is about half the size, while retaining the same vestibule.

Ride down one day, when it warms up, and we’ll throw one up in the yard so you can have a look.

John


151A7496-10B7-4AA3-85DF-367A397441BE.jpeg
 
UP, I was in the same boat (tent?) a couple years ago. I had a "4 person" tent that was 9'x7'. I found a "6 person" tent that was only a slightly lager footprint at 10'x10' but much taller in the middle. I can easily stand up fully in the center of the tent (I'm 5'11"). Much more comfortable entry/egress too! I don't have any pictures of it but I used it at RanchSTOC last year. It was the blue tent at the right side of the yard (with the house at your back), to the right of the fire pit. I much prefer it to the small, 4 person tent and it packs up only slightly larger.
 
Pretty simple. We did this allot when bear hunting in the Northern Territories. We weren't on bikes but I could fit everything as we back packed it in.
Collapsible aluminum tent poles- 6 of them (adjust to 8ft), tarps (10 ft sq.), para cord, tent stakes, hatchet. build tarp canopy over tent. use additional tarps for walls if needed. Use 6th pole for center pole (put tent to one side underneath). 5th pole goes on wind side.
By time you're done camping and get back to the hollar, you'll have all that figured out and write us a nice "what not to do" report. :biggrin:
 
UP, if you go the tarp route, wind can blow rain inside, only a tent will keep out blowing rain. I suggest you check out a variety of dome style tents - there are some tall 3 person tents that can be packed on a mc.
 
When I had my ST1100 I pulled a Mini Mate camper. Sometimes I think I might get back to that again. But in the mean time I have a 2 person Alps Mountaineering tent and have set up a Noah's Tarp over it and some extra dry space to stand up in. I have the 12x12 tarp. It packs a little smaller than the tent and the poles break down to the same length as my tent poles. I pack both in the same dry bag separate from anything else to keep that other stuff dry. At approaching 67 I am still able to be comfortable in my tent and having some extra dry space outside of it helps as well. Plus on really hot and sunny camping days the tarp keeps the tent cooler.IMG_20200806_095718.jpg
 
John - I've seen your tent at FerrySToc before and it is nice and roomy.

I do appreciate all the suggestions but I probably have not made myself very clear about what I am thinking.
I'm not looking for a 'cover' over my tent but additional 'space' to stand under.
I'm not concerned about sides, etc. but more of a place to pack up, sort things out, etc. if it is raining.
My tent is very waterproof/weatherproof and roomy enough for what I need.
The shelter that OhioDeere(Doug) is talking about is more along the lines I am considering.
When I had OEM knees and did a lot of backpacking, I would carry a big tarp, rope, and bungee cords.
Often we would string the tarp way up above the fire pit so if it rained, we could keep a small fire going and had a place to sit around, eat, etc.
At campgrounds, the presence of trees, poles, etc. cannot be counted on so I am looking at a 'free standing' solution that packs reasonably small.
This would be in addition to my tent and would not necessarily be attached to the tent.
Hope that makes it a little clearer.
 
I use a 10'x10' tarp but I have the tent trailer to anchor one end. You are welcome to take shelter there while in Newfoundland.
I have set it up once by itself. 2 centre poles at about 7' 6" , 2 front poles at 6' and the other side with long guy lines which made tht side about 4' off the ground. Worked good at shedding water but was moderately good in the wind. Most of the NL campsites have a few trees that you can run a line to.
Note: the pole were 2 parts so the longer pole was 4'. Probably longer than you want to deal with. I did modify a couple of poles a few years ago to make them 4 sections and total height of 6' 6" if I remember correctly. They worked when I only had the bike. I'll have to look for them. I did count on trees with that system to get some height.Green Point 2021 2.jpg
 
So something more like I used to do with my tarp with my Mini Mate camper like this?
0628130809.jpg
Only imagine my tent in place of the camper? When I initially bought the tarp I didn't have the camper but a different tent and this is kinda the idea I had in mind. To use the tarp when if it's raining when I arrive, set up the tarp first, set up the tent under it, then move the tarp off to the side separate from the tent. I just got lazy in more recent years and didn't move the tarp. But I did set up the tent so some of it was outside the cover of the tarp. My first pic is a little deceptive about that.
 
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Now imagine just 2 poles at each end of the peak guyed off outward with a cord between them to support the peak (premade length of para cord) and corners tied down like this pic. This is it! We shall call this the "Standard ST Tent Setup"
 
If I will be staying at the same spot for more than a day, I bring my Kelty Noah 12 tarp. I have two inexpensive folding steel tent poles that I bring along with some extra paracord and stakes. I like having the tarp to hang out under when its raining. I hate sitting in the little tent to get out of the weather. It doesn't take up much room, easily fitting in my dry bag on the back seta along with my tent and sleep system.


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Poles, rope, stakes and dealing with wind, which i am guessing will be normal in NF. A challenge. If i where going to tackle this option i would take 4 poles, 8 stakes, the lightest 12 x 10 tarp, 60 ft of rip cord. The extension poles, rope, etc..should roll into about a 6" x 3' roll to strap on bike.
 
And interesting side note - in our roofing business, we found that the blue tarps are not as 'waterproof' as they used to be.
We now get the silver versions which seems to do much better at water shedding.
I guess the big challenge is finding poles that fold up or disassemble into small enough sections but are sturdy enough.
MSR makes some nice ones but they sure do think a lot of them! ;)
 
The smaller, lighter, stronger equipment is spensive...camped next to a guy at moto gp in austin once...a micro camper. He had everything and more in a small backpack. Too include a tarp cover, screen, projector for movies at night. Very cool, very spendie.
 
oude geit said:
The smaller, lighter, stronger equipment is spensive...camped next to a guy at moto gp in austin once...a micro camper. He had everything and more in a small backpack. Too include a tarp cover, screen, projector for movies at night. Very cool, very spendie.
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Yeah, I learned that when I was backpacking a lot.
It was amazing how much it cost to shave a few pounds off your gear. ;)
 
I used to go backpacking. But now I only shop for size and not concerned about weight, that much. I know *I* don't have to carry it (except a little at a time from bike to tent).
Small heavier stuff costs a lot less than small lightweight stuff. And if you shop around you can find some small heavier stuff that is fairly durable too. And yet, there are some small lightweight stuffs that doesn't cost too much.
 
Nashcat said:
Phil, I’m not sure if you’ve seen this tent, but it suits me. It’s sort of tent and shelter, in one. Plenty of room to stand or put a chair inside. I also have the smaller version, where the sleeping section is about half the size, while retaining the same vestibule.

Ride down one day, when it warms up, and we’ll throw one up in the yard so you can have a look.

John


151A7496-10B7-4AA3-85DF-367A397441BE.jpeg
Click to expand...

I just bought (used) one of these. Riding up to Massachusetts on Thursday to pick it up. Glad to hear you like it John.
 
Oh Uncle Phil, how you make me spend my hard earned cash! So I looked into this tarp option, and low and behold all these shelter configurations.
JimCG had warned me that I might need to have an alternative to my Hammock as there might not be suitable trees to suspend from at some of the campgrounds.
Well now, didn’t I have to visit my outdoor equipment outlets to check out what is available…..and of course a couple of hours spent on YouTube for tarp shelter set-ups. Then on to Amazon to find a reasonable price option. Hey what’s another $50 Canadian to have another option for shelter…..D#$&@mn you Uncle Phil. ;)
 
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