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Tent recommendation? 4 person standup 3 season

Original Post
Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,375

So, I recently bought this tent, but it isn't quite what I'd like. Everyplace is out of everything, now, so I have to go online. I thought I may as well ask you peeps. 

This is for car camping, for longer stays where it's nice to be able to sit inside. The four person allows for a couple chairs and a tiny table, with just me sleeping in it. I don't want any larger, it can be a challenge to find a footprint for a tent at some of my locales, and even harder to get stakes in sometimes. I am also setting up and taking down on my own, so that's a consideration.

I have this now. I like the footprint and headroom. I don't like the single, tiny, "window". It's hot, in the sun, with the dark color. So, something like this, but more versatile for openings, without compromising the ability to shed rain, or the odd bit of snow (it happens). Thanks!

Best, OLH

Norm Larson · · Wilson, Wy. · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 75

check out TNF mountain manor tents they make different sizes. We have the 4 and find it's pretty nice for car camping. We got ours at REI

Detrick S · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 147

That tent looks particularly poor for inclement weather, are you looking for a tent with a vestibule?

Sorry I have no recommendations; I too am looking for a roomy, versatile, 4-person car camping tent.

Joel Zenger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2019 · Points: 0

Big Agnes Big House 6 is a great car camping tent.  I would never want to put 6 people in it though (I think the same could be said for most tents and their stated capacity). Perfect size for 4 people with gear (can buy the vestibule add on if you want to leave stuff outside). We have had ours for probably ten years without any major problems. Two huge doors, lots of mesh, so without rain fly it is very open, rain fly can be used alone for shade.  Not great for privacy unless you have the rain fly on though.  

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,375
Joel Zengerwrote:

Big Agnes Big House 6 is a great car camping tent.  I would never want to put 6 people in it though (I think the same could be said for most tents and their stated capacity). Perfect size for 4 people with gear (can buy the vestibule add on if you want to leave stuff outside). We have had ours for probably ten years without any major problems. Two huge doors, lots of mesh, so without rain fly it is very open, rain fly can be used alone for shade.  Not great for privacy unless you have the rain fly on though.  

I'm not looking to put four people in the tent, just that size! 10x10 is too big a footprint. 7 or 8 in a side is about the max I'd want, plus the head space. 

I truly don't understand the idea of mesh without a rain fly, or not being able to open/close it up from inside. I guess people are just wanting bug protection?

I woke up to snow, twice, in the summer.

Norm Larson · · Wilson, Wy. · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 75

Surprisingly the mountain manor tent did really well in inclement weather. Hard wind and sleet in Joshua Tree one spring. Other tents around collapsed. We had ours securely staked. The poles are pretty heavy duty. It certainly not a winter tent but it’s more robust than others. Ours is several years old though so they may have changed it. I haven’t  looked at the current version.
I do like Big Agnes tents a lot too and would definitely check out their offerings.

KathyS · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 125

https://www.sierra.com/passedcriteria~238363/gear~d~4868/camping~d~9788/tents~d~228/

There are 3 listed here that might be worth looking at.  Make that 2.  The ALPs tent has a worthless rain fly.

Ben M · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2017 · Points: 0

MSR Habitude 4 if you want that good good.

Emilio Sosa · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Oct 2019 · Points: 46

the REI Kingdom 4 is 8x8 and has 5 more inches of headroom than the tent you have now, plus optional porch or mud room attachments. It could be a good option for you

SeaJellie · · Ann Arbor, MI · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 5

These types of tents - with a screened in & covered "porch" are very popular in Europe but almost impossible to find in the states (for less than 6 people). This is just the first one I saw at au vieux campeur:

https://www.auvieuxcampeur.fr/activites/camping-scoutisme-plein-air/tentes/tente-familiale-brean-4.html 

The best ones provide complete shade and rain coverage for the porch area, but allow you to pull back that fly if weather allows. The sleeping area is completely separate, and like a normal tent. 

In a rush for a family trip this summer, I ended up buying a cheap Coleman version.  You can sit in the porch area and be away from bugs and most of the sun, but if it rains forget it. You'll have a bathtub in the porch.  Also it's not terribly durable, as I found out after the winds in SE Wyoming tossed it around. But I could not find a 4-person version that could ship stateside and get to me in time, so I went with it:

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-6-Person-Evanston-Camping-Screened/dp/B004E4AW1K/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=coleman+six+person+tent&qid=1597849000&sr=8-4

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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