Another cheap tent rebuild

[Moondog55]

Seems I can't help myself
But actually this tent doesn't really need a complete rebuild as it's the wands need replacing.
$20- at a garage sale across the street
A Coleman Outdoorsman 7 which is a sort of extended half-Geodome
I'll post pictures when I get it set up but I'll be looking for comments on its possible use as my base camp tent for 2016
It being in much better condition than the $5- tent I was going to modify and which my brother will keep using.

[Moondog55]

I managed to find enough wand sections to put it up
Lots of mesh Lots
However the tapered sleeping area is just the right sized for a solo stay and a smaller tent is usually stronger assuming the right sized poles.
Coleman replacement poles are $19- each but because the Durawrap poles are 30% stronger than the standard pultruded pole they are no only available in 9.5mm
I'll put the fly sheet up as soon as I can find enough wand sections for the fly support; even if they are only 7mm

[Moondog55]

I have just spent a few minutes putting on the fly sheet for this tent.
It need new poles and new shock cord peg points
Apart from that there is nothing I can do to this tent that will improve it in any way. Unlike the last few years of Coleman tents this is very very well made with attention to detail and QC not matched in any of the current line.
In total there are 17 tie down points for guy lines
Plenty of tie down points and those points are strong and oriented in the correct directions
This means I concentrate on the big 6-man dome Cecile and I took to Mt Franklin. Back to the original plan but I now have a year to do it in

[Moondog55]

You can get lucky
I was driving home from the shopping yesterday and noticed someone dumping what looked like tent wands on his nature strip, took a drive around the block; stopped and asked if I could have them and I now have enough wand sections to do the whole tent at no cost
Win

[simonm]

You are the king of tent refurbishment MD. Its nice seeing things being re-used.

[Moondog55]

You are the king of tent refurbishment MD. Its nice seeing things being re-used.

Why thank you Simon

Wait until I restart the winter rebuild thread as I'll be looking for maximum input on that one
That won't happen till we get home from the USA tho

[Moondog55]

I am bring this thread back up to the top as this tent is the only one I have available for next winter.
Experience last year tells me it won't be strong enough frame wise as it is at the moment and there is no sheltered vestibule for dressing and cooking but it is a good floor area for a sleeping tent using a king-sized cot as already mentioned
Wondering if buying alloy poles from the USA is an option or simply buying fibreglass from Coleman/ The rescued ones got used this winter past {and broken} and I don't want to use old poles in a winter storm again

[undercling-mike]

On a side note have you considered adding an internal storm guy system to any of these tents? Assuming the external guys are holding solid an internal guy system could really reduce the pole deformation.

On buying new poles I'm guessing you're looking at the alloy poles from Quest Outfitters? Or have you found a cheaper source? I guess it's a matter of finding out what are the biggest poles that will allow the right radius of curvature (or trying to figure out how to put a pre-bend in even heavier ones) and comparing to the fiberglass ones. The alloy poles should be stronger but whether it's enough I don't know.

[Moondog55]

Quest, TPT or even the pre-curved 12.4mm available at higher cost from ANSCO
I have tried the internal guy systems and they do help, but there is a point at which everything gives way at once and last year that happened
I have in mind an extra pole at the sloping part of the back where the Coleman logo is or even 2 such extras
Providing the sheltered vestibule to put the stove in will be the harder part, having used a wood stove heater for the past winters I can't imagine going without one for 2/3 months above the snow line

[Moondog55]

Quick sketch using paint

[johnrs]

Hi Moondog
Following this with interest
And looking forward to the post storm pictures..................
John

[Moondog55]

Hi Moondog

And looking forward to the post storm pictures..................
John

Well winter is 6 months away so patience will be required

[GTL]

And looking forward to the post storm pictures..................

Me too

[GTL]

Hi Moondog

And looking forward to the post storm pictures..................
John

Well winter is 6 months away so patience will be required

[Moondog55]

I miss the white season myself GTL

[Neo]

Is this a new acquisition MD, have you abandoned the other thread of a complete myog winter build?

[Moondog55]

Is this a new acquisition MD, have you abandoned the other thread of a complete myog winter build?

Not abandoned, just postponed for a year or two due to time and finance restraints, I will need a proper long arm sewing machine to do a full tent build
This tent has been sitting in the shed since I bought it more than a year ago sans poles

[Moondog55]

I just re-erected the tent to take some measurements
Tent itself is 4100 long and 2100mm wide. Tent rises from 1700 to 1900 then slopes to 1100mm at the rear
Fly footprint is ~2300 wide and ~5300mm long
Vestibule is 1700 tall and 900mm deep

[Moondog55]

Hi Moondog
Following this with interest
And looking forward to the post storm pictures..................
John

[Moondog55]

Different tent and a month later

[Moondog55]

Any ideas for reinforcing that huge unsupported side wall?
At the moment I see no way I can get the wood stove or the propane camping stove in there either so a bigger external porch will be needed

[Neo]

PVC pipe threaded under the poles? Maybe not so good on the horizontal but comes in various guages, easy to add tieouts or pre bend with heat.

http://www.shelter-systems.com

[Moondog55]

A couple of grip clips on each door panel is a good idea, I have used them on tents in the past Many thanx for reminding me of them.
I'll ask the structural engineer about threading a horizontal using the wands for support.
The Grandkids are exciting about sleeping out in the back yard for the next couple days too, so the tent will stay there until after Xmas
I'd better find a sunshade for it quick

[Moondog55]

Something like this??
Would it work?'

[Neo]

I like it. Especially in a spiffy orange. Will it make a weak point for the original poles to kink where they overlap though?

[Moondog55]

I like it. Especially in a spiffy orange. Will it make a weak point for the original poles to kink where they overlap though?

Good question and I do not know the answer
I have just tried it with some LW alloy wands tho and all it seems to do is stop the fly from hitting the tent which on its own is a good thing
Stupid W10 hates Canon ZoomBrowser tho so I can't upload pix to my laptop I can't wait to get back to W7

[Moondog55]

Had to resort to Picasa whose folder system I do not like and find hard to work with

[Moondog55]

Windy here, that parallel wand is doing not very much at all, I'll now try and see if I can get a wand over the top transverse to the long axis

[Moondog55]

Trying something else
Suggested as much better by the person helping me with design

[Moondog55]

This hoop does a lot more for stability, way to go I think