Camper or Tent? Which do you Prefer?

joekeith · November 06, 2011, 08:18:00 PM

November 10, 2011, 12:59:00 AM

http://www.tentsmiths.com/egyptian-cotton-tents.html

RkyMtn Joe · November 10, 2011, 10:53:00 AM

What is a shepherd's stove? Sorry to sound so ignorant, but I guess that is what I am when it comes to a shepherd's stove! Any photos and dimensions etc.?

Rick Butler · November 10, 2011, 12:41:00 PM

Anyone have or tried the Herder Tent from Davis Tent and Awning? Thinking about ordering the 12x12 and getting a cylinder stove for it. But wondering if it will be big enough for a couple of guys and thier gear.

November 10, 2011, 01:54:00 PM

A 12 x 15 works for three of us with a stove at one end and that is with a table set up in the tent. 12 by 12 should be plenty unless you are putting in more than two single person cots and trying to get a full sized picnic table in with you.

Jeff Strubberg · November 10, 2011, 02:25:00 PM

I've done it both ways, and the next rig will be right in the middle. Gonna build a teardrop trailer that's basically a bed in a box with a gallay attached to the back.

stujay · November 10, 2011, 02:57:00 PM

I use both, but for preferences it's my camper. It allows my wife to join me on my hunts.

longbowray · November 10, 2011, 04:22:00 PM

I've had the camper and trailer , I just tents

This one a 10x10 with a wood stove and we have a 16x20 with a big wood stove also

Larry m · November 10, 2011, 09:29:00 PM

Jeff S.
My brother has made several teardrop trailers. He beefs up the suspension, uses 14 in. steel belt radials and gives the rig a lift. Amazing some of the mean jeep trails we have taken that thing into. After tent camping for years and I mean physically wearing out several tents I have moved onto a Chalet solid walled A frame collapsible trailer. Has all the comforts of home. I followed my brothers example and oversized the tires, with a raised beefed up suspension. It does just fine with a 4x4 and fire roads.

Kavogt · November 10, 2011, 09:53:00 PM

While I don't hunt (yet) I've done my share of hiking and backpacking in my younger days. Nowdays, there's something to be said for a comfy bed, heaters and warm water in the morning.

doug77 · November 10, 2011, 10:25:00 PM

I'm with Kavogt,I used to love tents any more hot water and a bed

doug77

Jeff Strubberg · November 10, 2011, 10:41:00 PM

Good to hear, Larry, since my tow rig is a lifted Wrangler!

David Yukon · November 10, 2011, 11:16:00 PM

I think if you do it right, a tent can be as comfortable as a small trailer or camper, with a wood stove, a big pot of water on it, a 2 burner propan stove, and good beding, like cots, or even better, spruce boughs floor under a tarp, and man you will sleep like a baby!!! And the bonus, is, if your set up is light enought, it gives you access to places where nobody else would go! Our set up is a SnowTrekker EXP short wall 9.5 x 11 x 8 with the frame it weight in a under 30, it takes less than 15 min to set up. we are leaving on saturday for 3 days for bison hunting,(no bow allowed :confused: ), and is snowing and suposed to be around -10c( maybe around 25F), and my 4 years old daughter will be with us!!

wulf · November 10, 2011, 11:48:00 PM

I'll preface this by saying that this is only my opinion, but I feel a tent camp may be the ultimate camping experience when done right.
I've used wall tents for years and with a vapor barrier underneath to stop ground moisture and a wood stove inside, there isn't a camper out there that is more comfortable to live in. Of course I'm talking about a white colored, canvas wall tent, one with a canvas fly held up over the top and enough room for cots, chairs, gear and all occupants. The wood stove keeps us as warm as anybody would like and everything is as dry as a bone by morning regardless of the weather.

I'd also like to add a nice tent camp starts out and ends up a fair amount of work. Preparation setting up is time consuming and so is tearing down. And if the tent and fly are covered with ice or is wet when packing up you need someplace to dry it out before putting it away and that usually means a barn or empty garage. So tenting certainly isn't for everyone but for anyone who's used a setup like the one I'm talking about, no finer accommodations can be had.

Gray Buffalo · November 11, 2011, 12:00:00 AM

This is it most of the time

buckeye_hunter · November 11, 2011, 05:03:00 PM

I use my small tent with a Mr. Heat heater and air matress. I really don't need anything more than that. If it is warm then I don't even need the heater.

Cootling · November 11, 2011, 08:57:00 PM

I have a 1980s vintage 16' Scamp.

Can't say it's more comfortable than my wall tent... but using the wall tent means hauling everything separately and then setting it all up. I prefer the Scamp because it is so darn convenient. Heat, lights, stove, water, comfortable bed, and moveable at the drop of a hat.

It's nice being able to lock the door, too.

dragon rider · November 11, 2011, 09:37:00 PM

To quote my mother "Camping is housekeeping without the luxury of a house to do it in." I'm with Huntschool - at 66 I want at least a cabin and preferably a motel with a hot shower and a clean bed.

archerhunter · November 11, 2011, 11:10:00 PM

I have used both for 3rd season rifle hunts in CO. My friend and I debated buying a camper together. I ended up buying a davis tent and he bought a camper later on. We have used my tent setup with up to 4 people in the group and haven't taken his camper yet. Main reasons we haven't used his camper yet is we now have a group of 3-4 which is too many for the camper and we are worried his camper will get damaged going up/down.

A camper is nice IMO if there is enough room for everyone, nice easy heating, etc... Tent is nice for more room, is also easy to heat (albeit the pine burns darn fast). Personally, I prefer the tent but admit I do like some of the comforts of a camper if and a big if there is enough room for everyone to be comfortable and beds don't have to be taken down during the day, etc....

Last two trips, we took an elk last morning of the hunt and when we took down camp it was snowing and windy so I can relate to the above experiences.

Can't wait to go out elk hunting with a bow and positive will use the tent when that happens.

ilarcher · November 12, 2011, 12:33:00 AM

I have tent camped all my life. But tomorrow I'm going to buy a pop up. I have thought about one for years then I found one the other day for the right price and I'm picking it up. My wife is even looking forward to camping more now,,,matter of fact she told me to buy the pop up, and I thought I was going to have a hard time talking her into it.