Good Cheap Tent for RTR

[cynanne]

I need a tent for day use mostly as I will not likely be sleeping in the tent at the RTR (maybe one night). I am considering the Coleman Sundome 2 person Dome Tent. 

https://www.coleman.com/sundome-2-person-dome-tent/2000024579.html

Would this be a good tent for the type of ground the rtr is on? I know Bob has mentioned tents blowing away before. Would it be easy to stake this into the rtr ground? This tent looks very easy to setup and is cheap but highly rated for its class. Any opinions would be appreciated. I have little experience with tents and tent buying. Thanks.

 

[highdesertranger]

well cheap and good are at opposite ends of the spectrum for tents. cheap tents usually don't fair well in the wind. Coleman says their tents are good for 35 mph. it could easily be over 35 mph at the RTR or not. I will say one thing for sure those stakes will not work at all. also you are going to need a heavy duty ground cloth or you will ruin the floor of the tent no matter how good the tent is. I am curious, what do you need a tent for during the day? highdesertranger

 

[tx2sturgis]

My assumption is that 'day use' means, as a placeholder when the car/van is used for running around, and to store camping supplies, or maybe for daytime naps or whatever.

Those little dome tents will do OK in moderately high winds IF they are securely staked down, and IF you remove the rainfly.

They tend to 'flatten out' in windy conditions, but normally they survive undamaged, IF properly anchored to the ground.

The included cheap tent stakes are worthless in the desert, you will need much better ones. 

Keeping heavy items inside, such as an icechest on the windward side, will help.

 

[cynanne]

My assumption is that 'day use' means, as a placeholder when the car/van is used for running around, and to store camping supplies, or maybe for daytime naps or whatever.

Bingo! I may sleep in it for one night too. 
I read on another thread about buying "stakes and ropes" and not to use what comes in the box. Where is the best place to buy this cheaply and why would ropes be used with this? Is there a standard stake that is really strong and the right size for these tents? I had considered a popup tent or a backpackers tent which are super lightweight as well. Also, how does the rainfly make this type of tent unstable? 
I am ignorant of this stuff - sorry for such basic questions. Any answers are a big help.

 

[bullfrog]

The weak point with these type of tents are the fiberglass poles and the anchor points where the stakes go through. If you take out the poles while or when you have high winds they will still hold the contents if there are no sharp edges that would wear holes in the tent. If you use ball bungees to attach the tent to the stakes it will relieve most of the stress on the mounting points. Stakes have been discussed in several threads on this site and may be your biggest problem but surely someone will have the means to get them in the ground if you ask for help. The rain fly acts as a sail in high wind and just adds to the stress put on the weak poles. You might be better off looking at a heavy canvass tarp and the methods that can be used to camp in them even though it might cost a little more.

 

[ckelly78z]

Does anyone use a Indian style TeePee tent ? They are designed to withstand bad weather, and look pretty cool in the process.

 

[WanderingRose]

I’ve been reading here about how inhospitable the ground is out there for tent stakes, so might consider picking up sandbags to disperse into smaller bags for your corners.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Also, how does the rainfly make this type of tent unstable? 
I am ignorant of this stuff - sorry for such basic questions. Any answers are a big help.

The rainfly on these cheaper tents is usually just held on with shock cords or lightweight poly or nylon cord, and plastic clips or hooks. Some of them have a small fiberglass rod inserted into a couple of sleeves or little 'pockets' to help retain the shape. Most of these dome tents have a mesh screen at the top, so the rainfly covers that screen but lets air circulate even when it's raining.

In a gusty wind it will probably tear the material, break the clips or the cords, or tear the pockets, or all of the above!

Meanwhile the tent might be fine, but now you have a damaged rainfly. Not that it ever rains in Q....well, not normally in winter....but you never know.

 

[highdesertranger]

no need to buy a tent to hold your spot at RTR. in fact if that's the only reason then I think it's a waste of money. you can use anything to hold your spot. caution tape and/or those little orange cones are two popular methods. highdesertranger

 

[cynanne]

Thanks for all the info. I will likely stay one night in the tent. The rest of the time it will be used a little each day. Can you buy the stakes at home depot? Is there a good size/strength anyone can rec?

 

[highdesertranger]

K&B tools in Quartzsite sells good stakes. anything you buy at Home Depot will need to be modified or assembled from other parts. I think Bullfrog uses lag bolts and washers. highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

Yep at Quartsite I use 1/2" x 12" lag bolts with large plastic fender washers to hold ball bungees attached to the tent. So far I have been able to screw/drill most of them in with a 1/2" drive 18 volt Ryobi newer improved impact. Some I have had to angle or move to get around large buried rocks or sledge hammer the last few inches. Because of that I am considering getting getting a masonary bit. The lag bolts and washers came from a big box store (Home Depot or Lowe's) and probably cost more than rebar at K&B and I believe you can buy protective caps for the rebar. I have used the lag bolts for several years and they are beginning to round off the points but I still can get them all the way in the ground. If I do get an 18" x 1/2" masonary bit in the future I may get rebar stakes with caps as I would be able to get them almost all the way in ( I don't like stakes with sharp edges sticking up too far to trip over or fall on) but I still like being able to screw out the lag bolts after removing the ball bungees when taking down rather than trying to remove 18" of rebar almost completely in the ground.

 

[Almost There]

One of the biggest mistakes I see with people trying to set up tents, no matter what stakes they are using or the ground they are trying to drive the stakes in to is this: ALL tent stakes should be driven in at an angle - 45 degrees preferable but at least 30 degrees NOT straight down. They need to be in at an angle that is away from the tent. If its a pole being staked out then 2 lines at 90 degrees not just one tie out line.

I sure wish I could draw pictures on here, much easier to explain in a diagram than trying to describe it. Maybe someone with better skills can draw pics!

 

[highdesertranger]

good point Almost There. highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

On desert pavement I would just be happy to get them in most times. Straight stakes are driven in normal ground as stated above. Sand augar type stakes are best screwed in straight up so the bar you use to twist them in with doesn't continually have to be moved off center putting uneven force on the shaft and the eyelet of the augar can be flush with the ground which will help support shaft the eyelet is made from and help prevent it from bending once pressure is put on it. The shafts are usually 1/2" steel rod at least 2' long and can be easly bent if pressure is put on them while more than 9" of shaft are above the ground. If you can not get them flush with the ground you are better to angle them towards the tent and if you can not get them at least 10" into the ground you are better off to switch to angle iron type stakes angled away from the tent as the augar will pull out or bend making it difficult to use again. It is amazing the many different types of ground/rocks/sand you find when you tent camp. I carry 3 or 4 different types of stakes and sometimes end up using different types as there is different types of ground at either end of the tent! Be careful driving longer stakes especially out west in developed campgrounds as some have utility lines buried less deeply than you would believe, don't ask me how I know! Solar lights and light reflective lines and tape can really help when walking around at night. Rebar can be down right deadly if the protective caps are not used, we used to put shiny tin cans with reflective tape over the ends before they came out with the plastic protective caps. It is really apparent that many people today lack training that used to be provided by scout troops and the military as even they today have changed focus. Some things have gotten better as most people have a cell phone they can use as a flashlight but still don't know about what to watchout for around a pitched tent at night!

 

[tx2sturgis]

I sure wish I could draw pictures on here, much easier to explain in a diagram than trying to describe it. Maybe someone with better skills can draw pics!

You mean like this?    

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks Texas. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

Thanks Tx2Sturgis.

Wow color drawings and all...  

Now, show people how to stake out a free standing awning pole with 2 tie outs....

 

[Seminole Wind]

Does anyone use a Indian style TeePee tent ? They are designed to withstand bad weather, and look pretty cool in the process.

i have for many years. but they are not conducive to tossing under the seat in my minivan. they take a bit to set up/take down. and they to will blow away/over if not properly staked down

 

[tx2sturgis]

Now, show people how to stake out a free standing awning pole with 2 tie outs....

lol...can I cheat a little bit?

My cargo trailer and DIY mesh awning, with two poles, and two tie-offs for each pole, about 90 degrees apart. I also use an aluminum spreader bar at the outside edge, to keep the whole thing a bit more stable.

I use little pieces of hi-vis tape to help me and others see the lines after dark.