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Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia




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  #31  
Old 18 Oct 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
I start out by using tents with fully waterproof floors. Simple, really. Can be expensive, but I'm in favor of using expensive tents if they work well and last for a long time. Mine do. Water under the tent doesn't mean I get wet.

I also pitch on high spots so that water drains away. Easy with a small tent, harder with large tents.

I try to pitch on well-drained soil, e.g., pure sand or gravel. Seldom available, but nice when you can get it.

I don't use a footprint (groundsheet), since I've never yet had a tent floor wear out. Footprints tend to collect water unless very carefully placed, and I'd much rather let any water drain away than collect a major lake on a waterproof groundsheet right under my tent. Occasional punctures are easily enough repaired with the kit I carry anyway for my thermarests.

None of the above represents any sort of secret knowledge or requires a high degree of skill. However, YMMV.

Mark
(tenting for 5.5 decades)
Every thing you mentioned is known. Every tent I have ever purchased has a water proof floor. I always use a footprint to keep punctures from damaging the waterproof flooring. High ground is nice when available. Porous soils are everywhere here in California, so not a problem.

I'm still going to trench...
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  #32  
Old 18 Oct 2013
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I'm not arguing with you or anyone else, and I'm not pretending that what I know is special in any way. In fact, I was merely answering your question.

I am, of course, pointing out that trenching is generally considered in very bad form away from established campsites. In wilderness and parks it's also often illegal. You probably know this.

And, I'm stating that I personally haven't found any use for trenching since the days of porous canvas and WWII army surplus. Which is why I then added "YMMV," as it apparently does.

Mark
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  #33  
Old 21 Oct 2013
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It is a nice looking tent, I have a Big Agnus(Copper Spur UL 2) with double doors ( 3 pounds) I carry a 9' X 10' tarp and can use my bike for the tent poles to extend the tarp out from the tent, it makes for a handy place to cook in the rain when there aren't bears in the area. I use the tarp away from the tent when I am in bear country and need shelter while cooking. It has been thru some huge monsoons and done me right! Have fun out there!
Smoke
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  #34  
Old 3 Nov 2013
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Sierra Design Lightning XT4 person tent

Overland fitness 2 - YouTube

Here is our Sierra Design Lightning XT4 person tent we have used on
three continents and 4 seasons. And, tips on how to exit...... + how to start your day.

Very inexpensive, but accommodates 2 + all gear (soft luggage for 2 bikes, panniers, tail and tank bags helmets, jackets, boots, etc) with ease, no leaks, and able to withstand severe winds.

The best part is that it is light enough to backpack, and especially if backpacked by 2 people. Amazing!

Eat, Drink and Stay Dry
xfiltrate
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  #35  
Old 10 Nov 2013
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Each to their own, but I've NEVER understood why anyone would want to park their bike in their tent with them.

I mean, they're pretty waterproof. None of mine have dissolved yet...

Petrol fumes, dog shit on your tyres, dripping chain oiler etc etc etc...

Save the space for the ladeeeezzzz
Lol...good thinking! Just get a rain cover for your steel lady and keep the real lady nice and warm inside)
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  #36  
Old 22 Jan 2014
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Redverz tent

I have just spent a month camping with this tent as a tester for a trip around the Americas. To my mind the size of the tent not its weight is the biggest factor that may be a drawbck when on a motorcycle. On the trip I had driving wind and/or rain on a number of occasions and not a drop inside the sleeping section and very little seepage in the covered area . The "parking section" and vestibule is terrific for cooking, drying out gear or just sitting watching the "world go by". I had a small freezer, LArge food container, two chairs and a small table in there and still could easily access the sleeping section. The 3 "front door" options came in handy for ventilation, changing views and easy access from any point.

Concerns:
1. The floor of tent is made of very light material (although still 10 000 water column), even the clip on ground cover is made of the same light ripstop nylon. I am not sure how this will stand up to months of use.
2. Triangular aluminium pegs not very robust and prone to pull out in softer soil when wet and windy.
3. Heavy condensation every morning in the vestibule area made drying out a little longer.
4. Tie back straps have elasticised toggle connectors OUTSIDE the tent. I am sure these will not last. It would be easy to have put them on the inside to afford better protection for the elastised material.
5. Not stand alone , but this is not really a big problem for me.

Really like:
1. It is a bit of a PITA but you can pack up the sleeping section by itself under cover of the fly if the weather is really wet. Keeps things pretty dry, the fly can be then wrapped wet without messing up the sleeping section. Same goes for loading the bike under cover.
2. For a tent this size its really light weight (6.5kg).
3. Height and space for extended camping time and/or drying off gear, is priceless.
4. Surprisingly tolerant of wind for such a large "tunnel tent", especially if you place the sleeping section facing into the wind.
5. The tent can be put up by myself and taken down in 15 minutes each way in good weather.
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  #37  
Old 22 Jan 2014
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I have two free standing tents, a two man for when I go alone and a 4 man for when my wife accompanies me. I would love to have a vestibule where I could sit and/or cook. But for me a tent has to be able to free stand. By that I mean able to stand up without the use of pegs.

I admit both of them really need to have one anchor pit at the front to be completely watertight in a storm. I carry a longish piece of cord for that and have on occasion used the bikes centre stand foot.
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  #38  
Old 10 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by stuxtttr View Post
Great tent, I think having the ability to hide the bike away or work on the bike in a torrential downpour is a big advantage.

As long as the tent is not too big or heavy.

Like you say for a year plus of travel 3 mins extra per pitch is a little to pay for space and comfort.

I saw a tepee style tent that could sleep 3 in a netted section still had room for four more and weighed in at 4.5 kgs, not sure if you could fit a bike in there but it seemed like a good price at around £200
I know the TeePee you are talking about, but you can't fit a bike inside that. The door of the tent is too small to put in the motorcycle, plus the teepee has a vertical pole standing in the middle, you don't want to risk knocking it out by trying to force the bike inside the tent.
Let me grab this opportunity to use this smiley:
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  #39  
Old 11 Jul 2014
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other tents to consider

black shrimp

the complete tent-130071v14_01_black-shrimp3_rob14.tif_61.jpg
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  #40  
Old 11 Jul 2014
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other tents to consider

hilleburg nallo 2gt for people with money

the complete tent-jpeg10rgb-nallogtred-08-1138-norgbtag
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  #41  
Old 11 Jul 2014
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other tents to consider

omega 250

the complete tent-omega.jpg
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  #42  
Old 11 Jul 2014
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other tents to consider

another big ass heavy tent like the redvertz,the mototent

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  #43  
Old 11 Jul 2014
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other tents to consider

or this one,i was considering buying myself the coleman tasman 2

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  #44  
Old 11 Jul 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brian p View Post
hilleburg nallo 2gt for people with money

Attachment 13356

Yes, its expensive, but its also easily the best tent Ive ever owned. I see the price has gone up even more since we bought ours (now $785) good as it is, there's lots of other good tents around these days.

Here's ours at 14,885ft/4,537m in Peru, a fairly windy night followed by the temperature dropping to -5 C with the DR and tent covered with thick ice, we were fine inside, but with some condensation build up. The inner is not mesh, so its not a good hot weather tent as is, though you can split the inner door and have that as mesh and its got plenty of vents to get air through, this is a 4 season bombproof shelter. If you are using it in hot weather you can buy a full mesh inner for it.

The vestibule area is great, we can fit in all our riding gear, panniers etc with room to spare. The sleeping area is 'cosy' for 2 but we are not tall/big. Weight including full footprint is 3.2kg (2.8kg without)


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  #45  
Old 11 Jul 2014
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mmm i read a few reports on dodgy seams from factory,couple of people not getting the best customer service either but i think the popularity of this tent can be well identified with most of the loyal hilleburg mob on the road,

would love to cough up the money,especially in terms of room to weight ratio.
a lot of tent for under 3 kilos
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