Any canvas tipi campers?

HDBeav

HDBeav

Joined
Mar 1, 2001
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Have been kicking around a canvas tipi to set up for fall/early winter here. Have examined a few at the primitive get togethers and the fire pit inside brings an interesting change to camping out. From what i have been told the interior liner wall is a must. Probably looking at something around 16' in diameter.

I have not searched the net yet, looking for what information i can get from you guys first, or can you at least point me in the right direction? I had first gotten interested in them by looking at the Colorado Tent company brochure, apparently they are no longer in business. Any help would be appreciated and pics would be great.:thumbup:

Also looking for info on canvas tents and the pros and cons of tents vs tipis if you have any experiences. Thanks in advance.
 
I do a lot of my camping in a canvas tent from the mid 60's (craigslist find of my life!), and I love it! Only problem is, it's big, heavy and bulky...but it keeps the weather out like no-one's business. I do mostly car camping with it (with the missus) due to it's size, but it's the best tent I own. I imagine that a tepee would have the advantage of a teepee would be the ability to start a fire inside, and have that handy vent at the top. Anyhow, good luck and good hunting!
 
Well, maybe I can give you a few tips. I use to have a 16 ft RK lodge that was probably ideal for most temperatures. Small enough for 4, and could have used smaller poles, but ego said go for the 26 ft poles and make it look like an hour glass. I sold it and bought an 18 foot that kicks out to about 19 feet by Blue Star out of Montana no longer in business. It is nice in the summer when most of the camping is done with the family but cold in the winter. Too much area to heat. You need the liner, in my opinion, in the summer as well. The liner helps to cool the lodge. Also additional shade and privacy. Your business will be projected on the big screen without one. If you use a tipi in the winter, consider an ozan. Look it up on the web. It helps to reflect the heat back down to the sleeping area. I have also used a stove in my tipi. Much warmer compared to an open fire. Get the book by Laubin on Tipi Living. Lots of information and old school. Be careful, the tipi is a real chick magnet. Of all the things that I own, the tipi represents me. I don't paint them. The canvas lets people imagine what they see on it. The lodge poles are expensive now, unless you live in an area where you can harvest them. You will need to fashion a rack to legally carry the long poles. Do not pack it away damp, it will mold. Use wooden pegs, metal ones may attract lightning as well as the long poles. Still makes me nervous in a thunder storm with the long poles on an open plain. Don't burn CCA wood. Regards
 
I used to own an 18' and then a 26' tipi. The smaller of the two was time consuming and difficult to erect. The 24 foot one was much worse. I can't imagine camping in a tipi, if "camping" means anything less than a month's stay at a time. I suppose, like anything else, set-up and tear-down gets easier and faster, but it's ALWAYS going to be a chore.

I love tipis. I have no real reason to own one now, but I wish that I did. My first tipi was home for a while. The second and bigger one was for house guests. The is nothing like sitting around the fire in a tipi on a cool autumn night.

I bought both of mine here: http://www.tipi.com/
 
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Scott Free said:
I used to own an 18' and then a 24' tipi. The smaller of the two was time consuming and difficult to erect. The 24 foot one was much worse. I can't imagine camping in a tipi, if "camping" means anything less than a month's stay at a time. I suppose, like anything else, set-up and tear-down gets easier and faster, but it's ALWAYS going to be a chore.

I love tipis. I have no real reason to own one now, but I wish that I did. My first tipi was home for a while. The second and bigger one was for house guests. The is nothing like sitting around the fire in a tipi on a cool autumn night.

I bought both of mine here: http://www.tipi.com/
Click to expand...

It used to take me about an hour to set my 18 ft up. Another hour to move in. Not too bad for a home. The longer set up the better.
 
Check out these guys. I've got their 7' x 7' range tepee and it's great.
They also make wall tents that will accommodate portable wood stoves.
They used to make Sioux & Crow style Tepees but they seem to be temporarily unavailable.
tepeerangeopenBW.gif

http://www.sheridantent.com/index.htm
 
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Lots of Yurt campers around here. We have thousands of miles of rivers and lots of families buy canvas yurts and plop them on 5-10 acre lots on the river as vacation cabins or hunting lodges. It's pretty cool actually, if you can keep the canvas from molding/stinking...
 
HDBeav said:
Have been kicking around a canvas tipi to set up for fall/early winter here. Have examined a few at the primitive get togethers and the fire pit inside brings an interesting change to camping out. From what i have been told the interior liner wall is a must. Probably looking at something around 16' in diameter.

I have not searched the net yet, looking for what information i can get from you guys first, or can you at least point me in the right direction? I had first gotten interested in them by looking at the Colorado Tent company brochure, apparently they are no longer in business. Any help would be appreciated and pics would be great.:thumbup:

Also looking for info on canvas tents and the pros and cons of tents vs tipis if you have any experiences. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I forgot to mention that I have another canvas tent that I use. It is call a one pole or forrester tent from RK lodges. I do not have a picture available but I like it alot for quick camping. I uses one pole placed into it at an angle. I have had it about 15 years. Kind of like a lean to with doors. It is fire retardant. I have a stove jack in it for colder weather. Used it at some mountain man events. I like canvas. You can get your fires closer to you. Again, they are heavier and you must make sure you dry them out.
 
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