I can see where it would be nice if putting two tents back to back and also for extra ventilation in warmer weather. Any downsides?

No.

+1 on that.

Myself, i would not want a door on each end, just get the Cook Shack addition and do it that way, that is what i did, it works great. JMO

Kevin

Have two doors would make setting it up easier with a internal frame. You could set the whole frame up, the just pull the works over the top.

The real downside is, any tent without two......

Lotsa reason to have two doors,not any I can think of not to.
Hot day you can get a breeze going. Extra escape if fire or ? gets in tent. You can tandem two together of needed. When one door zipper gets worn with age, you can tie that door shut and use the other.

and it's easier to sneak in the whores without the neighbors seein'.....grin

GreatWaputi:

With two doors you give up the use of the end wall because it's a corridor instead of a work space. The tent becomes less efficient from for space utilization.

A good way to put two wall tents together is to set them up with the doors facing each other and span the distance with 1" EMT then cover the space with a tarp. Here's an example using canvas gable tents.



KC

The reason I ask is because I just snagged a 14x16 Kirkham's (AAA Tent & Awning) that has doors on both ends and I'm trying to decide whether to keep it or my Davis 14x16. Both have features I really like, but I can't afford to keep both.

The Kirkham's has been used twice and has just about every extra they offer (doors on both ends with screens and their buckled Uintah storm door closure, windows in both side walls, extended eaves, internal frame kit with snow poles, and a factory rain fly). Both tents are the same size on paper, but the finished size of the Kirkham's is noticeably bigger than my Davis. Both have Sunforger treated canvas and the Kirkham's is also fire-retardant. My Davis has three windows (back and both side walls), a screened front door, Colorado door, and internal frame. The biggest differences are the doors on both ends of the Kirkham's and the way the internal frames are set up, with Davis having the better frame, IMO.

I wasn't really looking for another tent, but couldn't pass up the Kirkham's for what I paid ($600.00). Now I just gotta make a decision as to which one to keep. Right now I'm leaning toward the Kirkham's, and it doesn't hurt that they're local.

Unless one of those doors is zippered with a fly over it, it's going to be drafty, and like KC said you loose the end wall area for beds, cooking, storage etc.

Both doors are zippered and both have an outer buckled flap (Uintah door) that covers the zippers. Just thinking out loud, but just because you have two doors, doesn't mean you have to use both doors all the time.

Well then it's a matter of choosing which tent you like the best, and going from there.
Frankly I don't think you can have to many tents. I have 3 wall tents, an army squad tent with the liner, and two smaller tents that can be used to pack in a spike camp or stay in when traveling lite, and not going someplace the camper can go.

If you use 2 doors --- your tent is way too big. A screened window with a canvas flap (my flap is held down with velcro) is an okay option though.

That's the hard part..

If they're both paid for, it's easy... Keep em both!!

yeah, right........ a 9x12 with 2 cots, stove, gear and saddles/tack? Too big, huh?

The only downside to any Wall Tents is putting them up and taking them down. Tent having two door wouldn't have any down falls that i could think of.

Interesting you mention the putting up and taking down part. I just got back from a 10-day hunt where a buddy and I stayed in my wall tent. A good friend who also went on the hunt just recently purchased a Fleetwood Scorpion trailer (basically a tent trailer attached to an ATV trailer) and bragged the entire time about how easy it was to set up and take down.

They rolled into camp one day while we were out hunting, so I didn't see the set up, but the day we left, we both started breaking camp at the same time and we were done and had everything loaded in the truck and on the trailer an easy 15 minutes ahead of them. My buddy and I have set up camp and tore it down enough times together that we pretty much have it down to a science. Still not much fun, but well worth it once everything is set up and ready to go.

Ever camp with guys with trailers/campers and notice everyone tends to congregate in the wall tent(s)?

My wall tent is about 12'x 14'. No frame, just an EMT ridge pole and up rights and 1/2" EMT For the wall poles.
I set it up and take it down myself. I'm 5'-5" anddon't weigh 150 lbs. Having two doors makes it nice that I don't have to run around the front when I'm working on the back.Once the tent is set up you DON"T HAVE to use both doors if the back of the tent needs to be used.

Having two doors and not needing one of them is a wholelot better than having one and needing two.

If used duirng the summer, on a hot day, you will really enjoy being able to have a breeze thru the tent.

Biggest issues I see with two doors, as mention you lose the space of the back wall.

But an equal or bigger issue is that your defeating part of the functional beauty of a wall tent.

Setting the back wall into the prevailing wind (west by north-west most of Colorado's mountain ranges, with some typographical variations ) , and banking the sod-flap firmly.

A well banked tent with little to no up-wind drafts will get you a much better nights sleep.

Unless the tent is HUGE, I would not go out of my way to get a door on each end.

A zipped window on the other hand, that can be handy.

Of course the universal rule for a good deal on something in good-used condition trumps all other preconceptions!

I have a Davis 14x16 with two doors each zippered with storm flap buckles and screens. Also have a window on the two sides. We only use one door elk hunting, and open the windows once in a while for venting out any smoke (I cook in it since only have one tent). I wanted the flexibility to be able to use it in warmer weather if I wanted.

Setting up in very windy locations makes a solid end wall a slightly better set up. If you can keep the solid wall from billowing. All wall tents should come with mid end wall tie downs. Wind and heavy snow are your tents two worst threats. A good frame and snow tarp solves the snow loading. Lots of sewn in tie downs helps the wind issue. If you can not keep both tents, keep the tent with best frame and wind security.

That is reason enough to get two doors IMO!

So would that be the "Whore Door" option? Sorry, couldn't resist...

See no reason not to have 2 doors - more options. But here is a thought. Set up both and then try your gear in each to see how you like the fit and floor layout. Had two tents once, one a Beckel Canvas Eena tent, the other a nice Davis. The Davis was bigger but had shorter sidewalls. The shorter sidewalls made the walking area in the tent smaller, even for a 5'5" person; a taller person had less effective floor area. The Davis had a roof vent for the stovepipe, so the stove took more floorspace. The Eena has a wall vent - easier to put a tarp on the whole roof, less tar dripping on the roof, easier to clear the stovepipe of crud. Kept the original Eena. Better use of the floor area, better stove location. We use the end with the stove as the entry, but you could use the non-stove end, I suppose.

Back door whore...

I set the Kirkham's up in my driveway this morning to look at it on the frame, but am still undecided. Both have features I really like, and both have things I'd tweak a little if I could. Too bad I can't meld them both into one!... And keeping both isn't an option.

Decisions, decisions...

I have a Montana tent 14X17, I had another door installed. One side is clips and canvas ties and the other end has a zipper.

I like having two doors.

FWIW, I decided to keep the Kirkham's and sold my Davis to my best bud for the same $600.00 I paid for the Kirkham's. Now we each have a high quality tent, so a win-win for both.

We used to keep the wood stove in the back and the wood was brought into the tent from the back door. It was sealed up pretty good and used once a week during the elk season. I liked it that way.

[quote=GreatWaputi]I set the Kirkham's up in my driveway this morning to look at it on the frame, but am still undecided. Both have features I really like, and both have things I'd tweak a little if I could. Too bad I can't meld them both into one!... And keeping both isn't an option.

Decisions, decisions...

That's easy; sell 'em both and order one just the way you want it.

I use a 10x12 Davis Tent & Awning with 5' side walls with a zipper and flap door at each end. Great tent, two doors are great when it's warm out, and no problem to zip and secure the flaps when I want it sealed.