a good 18v impact driver and long lag bolts with big washers puts the fun back into setting up and using those tents. 20+ minutes of PITA pounding stakes switches to a couple easy minutes of zipping bolts into the ground. It’s a crazy good time and effort saver. 👍
You need a high quality down sleeping bag. I sleep in negative 15 comfortably with no heat. That's the ideal heat source that never fails you. Your own body heat. Save fuel. No risk of carbon monoxide. No risk of fire. When you wake up light your heater and stay in your bag until it warms up. Actually at negative 15 I put my down sleeping bag inside my Wiggys synthetic bag and I stay perfectly warm.
You're right. I think this last setup made me appreciate the idea of an RV some day, but it was a great fishing trip and we had a lot of fun. thanks for stopping by and letting me know my future is in another area. Rick
Agreed. It was really easy to setup, and was good in the cold weather. It's only a heavy snow storm I would be concerned about. It has enough stakes so I wasn't concerned with the wind. Thanks for the comment. Rick
No I did not, but now after several thunderstorms and no leaks, I'm hoping everything is okay, however, I will look into curing the tent for future tents and other camping trips. Thanks for the tip. Rick
Mr. Rick, The difficulties you had are why I have spent the winter watching videos about pitching these springbar tents. They're all made pretty much the same way. And with all the notes I've taken, I'm certain I'll find my own way to make it harder than it needs to be. Thank you for being willing to huff and puff and struggle on camera. I made the right decision to get a 10 x 10 and not the 10 x 14. We really need realistic expectations. I'm new to camping. I just got my first canvas tent and it's helpful to see that huffing and puffing and forgetting to make sure which side is facing which and the temptation to cuss your own self are not unique to me. Edited to add: I bought a planar diesel heater because I can use kerosene in it and the 4kw unit will work well with my 10 x 10 tent AND I use an electric blanket. That means using electric sites or a battery bank but it's comfortable. I plan redundancy.
Great points. I'm looking into the diesel heater now but hadn't given any thought to the electric blankets. I love these canvas tents though and now I know to look for the door a little better. Also, I like using these in the summer because you can get a lot of air flowing through the tent to keep it cool, plus this tent holds up better then any other tent I've owned in a severe thunderstorm. Rick
You did a good job! Maybe I'd angle the stakes with the bottom towards the tent for a better anchoring. Also, it's useful to season the tent before using it for the first time. Cheers!
Thanks for the tips. I have used this tent 5 times since buying it and one of those times was in a massive thunderstorm that almost took down some less desirable tents, and it held up really well and did not leak. I haven't checked the instructions lately but I'm wondering if I should season the tent now. Rick
@@campingwithmikenrickoutdoors Have you ever used it in 90F weather with no shade provided by trees/rocks? If so, how bearable or unbearable was it? Thanks.
I used tent several time in the past two summers here in Colorado in temperatures in the 80's at least, and in full sunlight. I was able to open all of the windows and doors and I was impressed with how nice it was with all of the openings. I was concerned that it may be to warm, but honestly, I was just as happy with it as I have been with my 3-season tents. I also like this tent better as I have had several intense thunderstorms roll through and some of the 3-season tents around me were blowing over, and this tent didn't hardly move. I have been extremely impressed with it. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick
FIY you can hang your two small storage pockets one below the other clipped togather. Also I much prefer to use the net loft in sling mode where as both hooks on the lofts LH side hook into a corresponding tent grommet and likewise for the other two hooks on the RH side. That way it hangs down along one tent end and doesn't interfere with over head room.
Yep, I think I had it all correct, except for the front being in the wrong direction. That ground was so hard that there was no way I was going to pull them and hammer them in again. Rick
@@campingwithmikenrickoutdoors I just bought mine from Amazon. Only advice I can give is make sure to get one with good size fan. The first one I bought and returned hd a very small fan. The one I have now has about a 9” fan and does a good job.
I bought a Signstek stove fan and used it on the camping trip last week. It was plenty good, but you make a good point, that my fan may not be large enough for the fishing trip in late October when the temperatures here in Colorado will start plunging. I'll buy a second stove fan to review and compare. Thanks for the tip and advice. Rick
a good 18v impact driver and long lag bolts with big washers puts the fun back into setting up and using those tents. 20+ minutes of PITA pounding stakes switches to a couple easy minutes of zipping bolts into the ground. It’s a crazy good time and effort saver. 👍
I learned by lesson and now have the lag bolts for the next trip. Thanks for the heads up.
Rick
Just so you know, there may be many of us -- I for one -- who can relate to your tent foibles and blunders. Specially on first setup.
Well thanks. I never intend to show I am perfect, only human, but hopefully this helps others think about my mistakes when they set up a tent.
Rick
You need a high quality down sleeping bag. I sleep in negative 15 comfortably with no heat. That's the ideal heat source that never fails you. Your own body heat. Save fuel. No risk of carbon monoxide. No risk of fire. When you wake up light your heater and stay in your bag until it warms up. Actually at negative 15 I put my down sleeping bag inside my Wiggys synthetic bag and I stay perfectly warm.
Thanks for the tips! I always appreciate learning more about how other people camp and sleep.
Rick
Pretty safe to say you’ll never get a job setting up tents 😂 but you got there in the end 👍
You're right. I think this last setup made me appreciate the idea of an RV some day, but it was a great fishing trip and we had a lot of fun. thanks for stopping by and letting me know my future is in another area.
Rick
Maybe you should have titled the video: How NOT to set up a Kodiak tent 😮. Seriously though, just kidding; I get it.
That may get some attention. I just may change the title. Thanks for the idea and it's good to have a sense of humor.
Rick
I just changed the video title. Good idea.
Rick
I have the same tent. We all make the same mistakes tenting too LOL
The nice thing is, after making these mistakes, we are less prone to making them again. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.
Rick
Biggest advantage with flex bow is definitely not having guy lines
Agreed. It was really easy to setup, and was good in the cold weather. It's only a heavy snow storm I would be concerned about. It has enough stakes so I wasn't concerned with the wind. Thanks for the comment.
Rick
You didn't cure the tent
No I did not, but now after several thunderstorms and no leaks, I'm hoping everything is okay, however, I will look into curing the tent for future tents and other camping trips.
Thanks for the tip.
Rick
Mr. Rick,
The difficulties you had are why I have spent the winter watching videos about pitching these springbar tents. They're all made pretty much the same way. And with all the notes I've taken, I'm certain I'll find my own way to make it harder than it needs to be. Thank you for being willing to huff and puff and struggle on camera. I made the right decision to get a 10 x 10 and not the 10 x 14. We really need realistic expectations. I'm new to camping. I just got my first canvas tent and it's helpful to see that huffing and puffing and forgetting to make sure which side is facing which and the temptation to cuss your own self are not unique to me.
Edited to add: I bought a planar diesel heater because I can use kerosene in it and the 4kw unit will work well with my 10 x 10 tent AND I use an electric blanket. That means using electric sites or a battery bank but it's comfortable. I plan redundancy.
Great points. I'm looking into the diesel heater now but hadn't given any thought to the electric blankets.
I love these canvas tents though and now I know to look for the door a little better. Also, I like using these in the summer because you can get a lot of air flowing through the tent to keep it cool, plus this tent holds up better then any other tent I've owned in a severe thunderstorm.
Rick
Your ground tarp is in the wrong direction your leaving 3 ft of the bottom of your tent unprotected
Thanks for the tip. I'll make that adjustment next time I put it up.
Rick
Ground tarps real only for protecting the floor from moisture sharp stones or twigs. Also in the winter it will keep you floor and tent a bit warmer
You did a good job! Maybe I'd angle the stakes with the bottom towards the tent for a better anchoring. Also, it's useful to season the tent before using it for the first time. Cheers!
Thanks for the tips.
I have used this tent 5 times since buying it and one of those times was in a massive thunderstorm that almost took down some less desirable tents, and it held up really well and did not leak.
I haven't checked the instructions lately but I'm wondering if I should season the tent now.
Rick
@@campingwithmikenrickoutdoors I think you don't have to season it anymore since it has already been through a thunderstorm.
Good point. Thanks. It is probably my favorite tent and it's amazing how well it did in the high winds and the extreme rain.
Rick
@@campingwithmikenrickoutdoors Have you ever used it in 90F weather with no shade provided by trees/rocks? If so, how bearable or unbearable was it? Thanks.
I used tent several time in the past two summers here in Colorado in temperatures in the 80's at least, and in full sunlight. I was able to open all of the windows and doors and I was impressed with how nice it was with all of the openings.
I was concerned that it may be to warm, but honestly, I was just as happy with it as I have been with my 3-season tents.
I also like this tent better as I have had several intense thunderstorms roll through and some of the 3-season tents around me were blowing over, and this tent didn't hardly move. I have been extremely impressed with it.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Rick
FIY you can hang your two small storage pockets one below the other clipped togather. Also I much prefer to use the net loft in sling mode where as both hooks on the lofts LH side hook into a corresponding tent grommet and likewise for the other two hooks on the RH side. That way it hangs down along one tent end and doesn't interfere with over head room.
Great advice. I'll be setting the tent up again for a December camping trip in Arkansas so I'll try out your suggestions. Thanks,
Rick
Excellent idea. Tks
You made an error. Welcome to the human race 🎉 haha! Good demo.
Yep, I think I had it all correct, except for the front being in the wrong direction. That ground was so hard that there was no way I was going to pull them and hammer them in again.
Rick
Get yourself one of those heat powered stove fans.
Really helps circulate the heat more efficiently of the heaters.
That's great advice. I've had a few other people recommend this. Do you have any that you would recommend?
Rick
@@campingwithmikenrickoutdoors
I just bought mine from Amazon.
Only advice I can give is make sure to get one with good size fan.
The first one I bought and returned hd a very small fan. The one I have now has about a 9” fan and does a good job.
I bought a Signstek stove fan and used it on the camping trip last week. It was plenty good, but you make a good point, that my fan may not be large enough for the fishing trip in late October when the temperatures here in Colorado will start plunging.
I'll buy a second stove fan to review and compare. Thanks for the tip and advice.
Rick