Midwest Tents are Selling Viking/Norman for $255

[T. Finkas]

I like my round pavilion by Midwest and am tempted to buy one of these, Wedge Tents, if only for a Pennsic tent . The Wedge design gives you the bigest tent for the footprint because there are few guylines. Anyhow, I thought I'd point these out to you Archive folks because this looks like a good deal.

http://www.midwesttent.com/catalog/prod ... 56735d5bbe



2-Color, Roomy 14' x 10' footprint and 10' tall, $255!

The downside of this size are whopping long poles. If the ridge pole is 14' you are definitely going to wanted a 2-part sleeved affair. And 10' poles are no treat for some folks to transport!. Still, AFAIK these sorts of tents are relatively easy to put up, shed rain and wind well, and require fewer guylines and stakes than any other profile.

Hehe...I've almost talked myself into getting one. Hard deal to beat. I just wish they had sod cloths.

-----------------

Cheers,
Tim

[Sven6]

I got one.
I had it set up in the front yard about an hour after it arrived... thats including a trip to Home Depot for hardware.

I used 3/4" black iron pipe for the poles. a couple of 90' angle elbows, couplers, and a couple of flanges for feet.
I made the 14' ridge pole and 10' end poles able break down in half.
Home Depot has 10' sections for $10 and will cut & thread them for free.

My jealous squire brothers openly wish for it to turn pink after the first rain.
I told them if it did I was gonna put StrawberryShortcake and CareBear stickers on my armour.

God, I hope the color doesnt run.

[Oswyn_de_Wulferton]

Hey Sven, what is your opinion of it? I am really thinking hard about this, but still a little hesisant. I have mundane tent that is slightly bigger, but looking to improve. How well does the storage work with the heavily slanted walls? My lady was asking me how you prevented a flood in case of heavy rain (a recent event we were at was renamed Flood Wars, after the several lakes that decided to form in encampments). How much can you really get the poles down to? I have a normal car, but since there are only two of us, we can drop a back seat and have room for several feet worth of poles.

[freiman the minstrel]

A shirebrother bought one of these (the uncolored version) recently. I got to get a good look at it at a recent event.

The fabric appears to be of a nice weight, and there was little sag.

It looks like a great tent buy.

f

[InsaneIrish]

...I have mundane tent that is slightly bigger, but looking to improve.

ANY period tent is an improvement over a mundane tent. But, to help curb your fears, I have a 10x12x7 ft sutler tent and I and my fiancee camp in it (with a break down full size bed) with no problems.

How well does the storage work with the heavily slanted walls?

As with any wedge, you stack the stuff at the edges of the tent and walk in the center. Steeper walls means you can stack things on top of each other.

My lady was asking me how you prevented a flood in case of heavy rain (a recent event we were at was renamed Flood Wars, after the several lakes that decided to form in encampments).

buy a shovel and dig a trench around the high side of your tent. This is a common Calontir practice to prevent rain run off.

How much can you really get the poles down to? I have a normal car, but since there are only two of us, we can drop a back seat and have room for several feet worth of poles.

just remember that each breakable down joint is also a place that pole can break. The least amount of "joints" makes a stronger pole. Have you thought about buying a removable roof rack? The are Awsome for carrying poles.

[Oswyn_de_Wulferton]

Yeah, I am thinking about the trench, the problem was that when your tent is an island in a lake, a trench wont do too much. We really dont have too much stuff right now and were planning on stacking stuff as we went inwards. I understand that each joint is a place where it could break, but until I get a permanant car (looking for a junky car for a couple of years until I am out of college), I am not sure how much I want to put into a car like this. If the two 10' poles can break once and the top maybe twice (have to see what car I get), this should be fine. Planning on doing a sleeve with pegs to help reinforce. We also need to invest in some tubs to make stacking easier. Any idea how much lumber runs for the poles for this?

[InsaneIrish]

Yeah, I am thinking about the trench, the problem was that when your tent is an island in a lake, a trench wont do too much.

Well at this point a sod cloth or no sod cloth won't help you. Nothing well help, might as well get ready to get wet. But, most people will put down a large tarp then cover that with a canvas ground cloth (painters drop cloth) or rugs to keep the moisture out. Although if you are looking at lakes nothing is going to stop the rain from getting in. At that point it is better to get all your crap off the floor and wait it out.

I understand that each joint is a place where it could break, but until I get a permanant car (looking for a junky car for a couple of years until I am out of college), I am not sure how much I want to put into a car like this.

Thule and Yakima are the 2 most popular removable roof rack manufacturers. The racks will run about $100 or so depending on the car and you can take the rack with you when you upgrade autos.
http://www.backcountry.com/store/THU005 ... apter.html

If the two 10' poles can break once and the top maybe twice (have to see what car I get), this should be fine. Planning on doing a sleeve with pegs to help reinforce.

the uprites breaking once is ok, not crazy about the ridge breaking twice though, but you can try it out.

We also need to invest in some tubs to make stacking easier. Any idea how much lumber runs for the poles for this?

With a 2x4 ridge (will need 2 8fters) and 2x2 uprites (will need 2 8fters) I would say you are looking at about $20 with screws and scrap plywood. Look below at my ridge pole design for my tent. It will work for this one to:

[Oswyn_de_Wulferton]

Thanks for all the info Irish. Now all I have to do is scrape together the money to get one of these and the lumber. I could always see how much room I would have in my car and then break the pole accordingly until I can manage to get a car roof rack. Anyone else have recommendations of what else is needed with this?

[T. Finkas]

You'll need pegs and a hammer to set them with. I have had luck using those whopping huge 10'-12' nails from the hardware store for pegs, but it might be better to invest in iron "J" stakes from somebody like Panther. I'm guessing you would need 24-28 ground stakes. The stakes would cost you around $50 from Panther. You could also cut your stakes from hardwood---that's what they did in olden times

I would think it prudent to add 2 sets of high wind lines, one to each end. For those you would need an additional 4 stakes + enough 3/8" diam. rope for 4 guylines (est. 18 feet each?) + 4 small chunks hardwood for sliders.

So the 3 posts, metal sleeves, stakes, high wind lines and hammer are likely to run you between $60 and $150.

Does that help? Note that these CAN be put up without a ridge beam, but in that case, high wind lines (i.e. 2 guylines for each post) would be more crucial.

Again, just me 2 groats

Cheers,
Tim

[Sven6]

Oswyn,
I havent actually taken it to an event yet. The only time I've set it up was in my front yard the day it arrived. It went up fairly easy- I was able to set it up in under 15 minutes by myself.

I made my poles to break down into two 7' sections and four 5' sections, but I have a truck so poles that size are not an issue. I spent about $45 for the poles and misc hardware at HomeDepot.

The tent seems to have a lot of room, standing in the middle, I can almost fully extend my arms before they touch the sides. The tall ceiling helps it feel like a bigger space too. I'm thinking about making a clothes hanger that extends down, so the wifey can hang her garb from the ridge pole.

Not having a sod cloth could be a problem in heavy rain, but digging a drainage trench should solve that. I plan on staking mine tightly and putting carpets or a tarp for the floor. Having had all of my garb & gear soaked at a RainWar too, I wised up and started storing my stuff in Rubbermaid totes. If I find out I really need the sod cloth, theres a shop close to my house that makes boat covers, I'm sure I could get them to make me one.

[Scarneck]

My wife was looking at these as well. How is the room for getting suited up?

Thanks.

[Sven6]

Scarneck,
Theres plenty of room for getting suited up. Like I said, I can stand in the middle and almost fully extend my arms before they touch the sides - I'm 6'4".
The actual dimensions of the tent are listed at 10' tall x 14' long, if you look at the pic I posted, the footprint is probably around 8' x '14. Definately large enough for a bed at the end, and storage along the sides.

The photo shows the poles I made.
The uprights are on the left, the two pieces of ridge on the right.

[taltosh]

I jumped on the band wagon and ordered mine last night. I can't wait to be able to attend an event and a: not have to ten in anything modern and b: not have to share or borrow someone elses tent.

Now I can't wait to get it out of the bag and hopefully fit it with a solid A frame

Cheers

[taltosh]

got our tent this afternoon, haven't had a chance to take it out of the bag yet but if the weather stays decent I should take a trip out to the lumber yard and pick up the lumber for a frame.

[Oswyn_de_Wulferton]

I am still waiting on funding to get together for this. I sold my hauberk, and my lady is looking to sell her helm, so we can get this and really improve our encampment appearance.

[Graedwyn]

Tim-
I bought one of these tents last year (all white). The price for the amount of space you get is great. I even walled off about 3 feet at one end to make a closet to keep smelly armor and non period stuff.
High wind lines are a must, and I am having sod flaps added to the bottom
edge to make it a little more snug.
Come for a furniture tour at Pennsic. I will show off my closet.

-Graedwyn

[T. Finkas]

Graedwyn

Sounds cool. That's exactly how I would set one up if I had one. Brilliant!

Tim

[Ezsa]

http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/w ... ord=canvas

Harbor Freight has cotton canvas tarps that work great for sod cloths. They have sizes from 7'5"x9'3" for $24.99 to 25'6"x38'8" for $259.99.

We bought one for the round our friends just made us. We plan to cut it to the correct shape, finish the cut edge, then paint it like we do the tent.

Wishing you happy camping...............
EzaBella

[ThorvaldR Skegglauss]

I got and used the uncolored version of this tent in April. It takes 16 tent pegs to set up and he has them on the site as well as the guy ropes. With shipping and handling for 20 stakes, rope and tent to APO germany it was $400.00. I just recently got a multi colored one for a second tent for the encampment. Now I have room for me, kids, armor and everything else, plus crash space for friends when needed. They shed water great. It rained at the event I used it at in April and nothing got wet. There wasn't a single leak.

Thorald

[T. Finkas]

...Harbor Freight has cotton canvas tarps that work great for sod cloths...

You probably mean Ground Cloths. Sod Cloths (aka Mud Cloths) are flaps attached the the tent walls at the bottom that extend inward approx. 10-12 inches. By placing a Ground Cloth over these you can effectively seal the bottom of the tent off from critters, moisture, dirt, dust and cold drafts.

[Graedwyn]

Yes, the sod cloths(flaps on the bottom) are folded in, the ground cloth is laid on top of them. Any water running down the sides of the tent goes under the ground cloth instead of puddling on top of it, if the edge of the ground cloth is pushed out too far.
Seals everything up nicely.

-Graedwyn

[Ezsa]

Thanks Tim, yes that is what i meant.

**sighs** And so goes the wonderful life of having little ones and never sleeping...........

One day i will have my brain back again, right? Please?

EzaBella

[Halvgrimr]

Our group just bought one for our LH encampment
Black and Yellow to match our colors:)

We plan to leave it out in the sun to fade out the colors as they are much to crisp for our purposes:)

Just commissioned (from anther person) another item today, it will be useable as both a sunshade for the group or a sail for the Fyrdraca:)

Black and yellow as well

Halv

[T. Finkas]

Don't worry, the colors should fade VERY quickly! Mine faded to approx. 70% of their original intensity in just a couple of days in the sun