Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting DIY Invent-a-Tent

My winter project. There's no way that I could find a pattern like this so I invented it as I went. This might be a bit heavier than you'd want for backpacking but I use llamas and it should work great for that. The tent itself weights 5.5lb. With the poles, etc., it's 8 lb. It's 10x10, made of 1.3 oz silnylon. It's 7.5' high with 2' sidewalls. I made it tall for a steep slope for runnoff.

I made it with all the poles and wall poles on the outside for ease of set up and to make it easier to cut poles if I'm camping where there are enough trees.

For backpacking, you'd want lighter poles. I got these from REI for $40 each. They make a shorter version, too, that's lighter and packs shorter. Those have a max height of 79" and I wanted it a little higher. These will go up to over 8'. These were supposed to be 4 section and fold to 22" but they turned out to be 3 section and fold to 29". They'll still work in my panniers, though.

I made a catenary roof with a 4" drop in the center. As a result, I have wrinkles on the top that I haven't yet been able to adjust out. I'll keep working on that. Someone with more experience than me could probably have made it so it was smooth all over.

The side poles are made of aluminum tent pole sections cut to 24". They have tips made for grommets. I used NiteIze tensioners and reflective rope on the sides. It looks bright white in these photos because the flash fired for some of them. That really lights them up.

I'm not completely done yet. I still have to seal the seams and add a few stake loops at the bottom. I need to make a carrying bag, too. I'm sure I'll be making some refinements as I go along.








I have these 12x20" screened vents in both ends. I used 1/8" nylon rod for bows and 3/32 shock cord to keep them from flipping up in the wind.




I put in a screen door and a rear window for ventilation in addition to the roof vents.


[img]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n267/rockchuck/tent/tentwindowLR.jpg[/img]

I don't have a stove yet but I installed a jack. It's MUCH easier to install before the tent is assembled. I'll cut the hole when I get a stove. I placed it 4' from the front so it's pretty much centered yet leaves lots of room behind it. The cord running the length of the tent is a clothesline. It's anchored to the poles by velcro straps on the outside.
[img]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n267/rockchuck/tent/tentinsidefrontLR.jpg[/img]

I put in 2 shock cord loops for gun holders. They're anchored to the pole outside. I got that idea from Snubbie.
[img]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n267/rockchuck/tent/tentgunLR.jpg[/img]

Headroom? Oh, yes indeed.
[img]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n267/rockchuck/tent/tentheadroomLR.jpg[/img]

Looks good! You'll want some of the 9" military stakes for the main ridge line ropes to get enough tension in looser mountain soils.

Well done sir!!!