Bushwalk Australia

Having proven to myself that the Geodome structure is the best option for our wet winter snow I am now searching for a new tent for next winter

The big tent I have spent time working on and modifying is the correct size for extended use; any smaller and cabin fever would set in early I think.
The tent I am looking for needs the same basic size but with 2 very important differences
There needs to vertical end walls and extended entrances at each end and absolutely minimal mesh.
So I'm asking members who have visual excess to display tents to keep this in mind when window shopping and add links to tents as they find them.
The other considerations are multiple sliders on zippers and large zipper size for strength

However one other possibility is the modular approach using something like the large Kathmandu shelter dome with tents used as carrels leading off it so if anybody has access to this system erected I'd appreciate feedback

Why not something like this?

http://makezine.com/2015/04/10/build-fu ... -dome-pvc/

http://www.solidsmack.com/fabrication/y ... handy-kit/

http://www.byexample.net/articles/curre ... s.jpg.html

A big dome with igloo door would really work well
Final cost and spouse permissions will be the end arbitrator

How about something like this - http://www.weatherhaven.com.au/?

https://kimloanesouthpole.files.wordpre ... c_5042.jpg

or a hilleberg? http://www.shackletoncentenary.org/the- ... m-home.php

I also found this one for you Moondog but the extension cord will need to be a long one!

http://www.yolloy.net/blog/wp-content/u ... IT_278.jpg

That weatherhaven has been available but too expensive by far
The big Hilleberg has always been on my shortlist
Lets be realistic here, needs to be available here to inspect and not over $1000- in total
In reality the only thing wrong with the tent I am using in it's recent iteration is the lack of real vestibules and snow skirts
Snow skirts are easy and quick Maybe if I used the tent in the link as add-on vestibules it would work out. Work required but it's work I'm good at

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/Product/ ... TRY/387814

Just cut out most of the stupid poly floor
I'm looking at it today I think if had been available last month I'd have bought it already if it fits

I did look at the big Cabelas Outfitter but it was too heavy to bring home this trip http://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/ ... 481180.uts

Make your own Geodesic dome. Make your own shell. If you use steel conduit it'll be cheap-ish and bombproof.

You could even build two and use one as a vestibule.

tastrax wrote:I also found this one for you Moondog but the extension cord will need to be a long one!

http://www.yolloy.net/blog/wp-content/u ... IT_278.jpg

I could take a big gennie but I hate to disturb the silence

Tattslotto tent New from Hilleberg

http://us.hilleberg.com/EN/tents/blue-l ... stalon-xl/

Could you cut a hole in it for a chimney though


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My thoughts are that the easiest design to put together is a tunnel - think nissen (quonset) hut. The frame is series of arcs (with straight vertical sections at the bottom if necessary) connected with horizontal poles - think thin wall pipe. For strength it is just a matter the distance between arcs and number and placement of the horizontal joiners. All the fabric is just straight flat panels with minimal simple curves.

Tunnel would be the easiest DIY project I must admit but buying a ready made tent and making the modifications seems to be much cheaper.
That cheap tunnel from Rays is OK but not quite strong enough; really needs 4 wands ; 3 OK for summer use but more is always better for snow use
A DIY tunnel vestibule for each end of a new Geodome tent does however make real sense to me

Perhaps the thinking behind a simple poly pipe greenhouse may provide inspiration?

Yes Ron but as always we are dealing with wet sticky Australian snow; so unfortunately we need strong poles/wands to cope.
The devil is always in the detail of how to tie it all together to A Stop it collapsing and B Stop it from blowing away
And at the same time make it easily transportable and not so heavy that one man can't move it or erect it on his own.
All this and I have to fit it into the limited budget $1000- is tops
Thanx for all the ideas so far and I'll keep trawling the Op=Shops and Recycle centres for old tent poles and other bits

That tunnel from Rays looks fine. It would be very easy to add 2 poles intermediate between to original 3. Add a porch to one end with a third pole. You could also double pole if you felt it necessary. Total cost under $300.

Mark F wrote:That tunnel from Rays looks fine. It would be very easy to add 2 poles intermediate between to original 3. Add a porch to one end with a third pole. You could also double pole if you felt it necessary. Total cost under $300.

As a short term measure for this season these were also my thoughts
Hoping my stuff sells to fund the purchase; new skis etc have taken all my discretionary funds but it is never too early to start planning for next ski season.

I just found that the local farm supply sells 10mm FG poles individually 1500mm for $8- each
add some 20mm PVC fittings and pressure pipe and I have another experiment for the winter
Most tents at Rays went on sale today also including that cheap tunnel

Meanwhile the big Varanger Camp from Hellesport is still one of those on my short list

I have just sent Rays/BCF a rather long email pointing out the deficiencies in their premier geodome tents when used in winter and they actually posted my critique on line.
Given the cheap price of these tents perhaps the cheapest realistic option is to simply buy another one and add a short tunnel at each end to protect the entrances from driving snow and rain
A tunnel is easy enough but I don't think I have the design skill to make the shaped end well although cannabilising an old tent is an option there and cheap as well
I won't be buying that cheap tunnel tho; after thinking about it for a day or so I realise it will not be strong enough as it is

I just found an older extra large tunnel tent selling on eBay
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/162079257767 ... EBIDX%3AIT
Seems to be exactly what is needed to use as a storm vestibule or tent joiner as it is both wide and tall enough
Seller won't post unfortunately but that is about what materials would cost me for the fly only and about my budget in the short term
I think I'm in a minority of one with this sort of tent in this country

I can pick it up and post it to you MD if its what you're after. I drive through there all the time to visit family

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Bluegum Mic wrote:I can pick it up and post it to you MD if its what you're after. I drive through there all the time to visit family

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OK Many thanx
PM incoming

Giddy_up wrote:Could you cut a hole in it for a chimney though


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I can cut a hole in anything, but doing so in a tent that costs as much as our house is a daunting prospect.
I think I should stick to the cheaper end of base-camp tenting
Trying to swing enough cash now to bid on that eBay tunnel.

Coleman Australia also have a new dome shelter on the website that at first glance looks like it may be stronger than the Event 14.

http://www.colemanaustralia.com.au/prod ... 19TnaIwBi4

Not cheap tho but it does seem as if it could withstand higher winds and perhaps a bit of a snow load

Well with the help of BGM and some negotiation I am getting that cheap 2nd hand tunnel
A modular set-up does now seem to be likely and I think I will get one of those bigger Rays geodomes without the porch extension for next trip
A sort of poor mans polar village type of tent

I have been meaning to send you this for sometime Moondog. I have seen this setup at Island Bend a couple of times. I think its a guy who is regularly on the snow forums (backcountry). He has built a few tents over the years I understand. Maybe someone on the forum knows his name. It may even have a firebox in it.

Nice work there. Maybe it is the same feller that makes the yurts.

Certainly a strong tent. Looked to have galv pipe for the frame. This was at least version 2. I have a high resolution copy of the photo somewhere that could help with a bit more detail. I wonder what he did with version one?

Well 12mm FG wands certainly aren't strong enough for the winds at PV, if the visual Beaufort scale is any indication winds were at least Force 8 and maybe even Force 9 a "Strong Gale" With lots of Eucalypt shrapnel flying everywhere

I guess your biggest difficulty stems from having to set up and then leave MD, this leaves the tent very vulnerable to the elements until you return. A broken wand can be repaired quickly if on site but it manifests into 3 or 4 when unattended and tent destruction in the end with wind damage or heavy snow.
Can you see yourself hauling in what you need once it snows and then set up, might make for a far less painful experience overall.


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