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Gone2TheCamp
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# Posted: 4 May 2012 10:34pm - Edited by: Gone2TheCamp
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I saw there was a post on this but it wasn't exactly what I was after, so I'll have a go with this one.
So, I have the use of a piece of land with an old camp (cabin) on it. The camp was vacant for 6 years, the mice took over, the ceiling of a couple rooms is likely packed with mouse...stuff....and when it's hot in the summer, well, it is what it is. It's structurally sound, doesn't leak, etc etc...but is likely not a good place to be staying because of the years of mice activity.
It's not mine, so doing 'work' on it isn't an option.
Long story short, do to wife reasons, I'm trying to find a cheap, non-permanent place to stay at the property.
I've been looking for cheap travel trailers and there isn't much around but overpriced junk. Been looking for a while, not finding anything that fits the budget and passes the wife-test.
Looking for opinions/experiences on a wooden platform with a tent on it and uprights built into it to fasten a tarp to...
If it's warm enough for her to come down then it's warm enough for tenting, so the main issue with sleeping in a tent is being on the ground, the tent getting soaked with dew, and getting wet in the rain.
So, thinking of building a platform a few feet larger than the tent, with 5'-6' of extra platform out the front for sitting or cooking/eating on a small table. Build in 6 upright posts (one in each corner and two taller ones halfway) to support a tarp that's high in the center and slopes down to the front and rear.
That way you're off the ground, have a flat, level base, and the dew and rain stays off the tent and you have a protected spot in front to sit in a chair and watch the rain and cook, etc.
Using the upright poles, you could keep the tarp flapping and need for guy ropes to a minimum.
I've built a few desks/patios so the construction isn't a problem, and the cost for materials wouldn't be that high at all. It would only need to last a few years so cheap wood or rough wood could be used. I may decide to built it out of good pressure treated wood and it could serve as a patio in front of a trailer, if I get one. Whatever....
Wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experiences to share with a similar set-up?
Thanks!!
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 4 May 2012 11:12pm
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I like the idea, was going to do that myself but old travel trailers are cheap and easy to come by in my area. The deck I built in my mind had a metal roof and gable ends, with screen "walls" I could cover with a tarp if there was a driving rain
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cabingal3
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# Posted: 4 May 2012 11:45pm
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we use to go to camp meeting and the land and these kinds of cabins u speak of was where everyone stayed.they were so old and every year they would take the canvas covers off the wooden tent platform every year and put them away to keep them in good shape.everyone stayed in those at camp meeting time.
as long as there was no heavy snow load on the tent canvas..i think it sounds like a wonderful idea.
we got camper for free and got a cheap old truck and took the camper to our land at first.jacks came with it.and we unloaded it off the truck and set it on beams to keep it off the ground.finally so much heavy snow load crushed in the roof.we couldnot use it after that.u have that mess to get rid of.my mister torn it down.let me tell u.it was not easy.people may think they are cheaply built.those campers are very well built i tell u.your way u dont have a broken down camper to get rid of.
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 5 May 2012 10:46am - Edited by: trollbridge
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Quoting: Rob_O The deck I built in my mind had a metal roof and gable ends, with screen "walls" I could cover with a tarp if there was a driving rain
That is what comes to my mind also!
How nice does your wife need?
Does your wife need this???
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or this????
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cabingal3
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# Posted: 5 May 2012 02:15pm
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dear Gone.here is some ideas of what i am thinking u are wanting.theres some good wooden platforms with canvas over the wooden forms.
i think why not?
http://www.livabletent.com/livabletent2.html
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cabingal3
Member
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# Posted: 5 May 2012 02:16pm
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oh.scroll down to this one-
CIMARRON TENTS
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brokeneck
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# Posted: 6 May 2012 01:32pm
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I would use a wall tent -- I would build the platform smaller than the tent so when it rains the water will not run off the tent only to puddle back on the floor. If you want a deck outside the deck this could be accomlished by keeping the inner tent floor 1 step up from the surrounding deck / porch. When we built our little camping cabin -- which has canvas sides -- I had at first envisioned building a deck and addiing some walls but topping with a wall tent -- search "yurbin" on this site if you are into canvas ...
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brokeneck
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# Posted: 6 May 2012 05:32pm
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After looking at the other posts I gree with cabingal3Quoting: cabingal3 oh.scroll down to this one- CIMARRON TENTS
Now that's a camp !!
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Gone2TheCamp
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# Posted: 7 May 2012 06:29pm
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Thanks for the ideas all.
Troll....pic #1 would suffice, pic #2...a bit over the top. 
Since it's not my land, I'd need to make sure it's not too bad looking. It'll be a tent with a tarp over no matter how you gift-wrap it, but it would be nice to have something that looks decent (ish).
For the price of some of the canvas tents out there, I'd have an acre of land paid for..
I guess my main thing I need to figure out is how to build a frame of some sort to support the tarp well.
Also, I need to have the frame, platform and tarp big enough to put the 8x10 tent under it with the covered 'porch' in the front.
Something along the lines of this looks like a good set-up as far as supporting the roof and securing the sides:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mountaindale/5033865437/
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brokeneck
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# Posted: 7 May 2012 08:05pm
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Classic platform in the attachment -- as a former Boy Scout and long time Scout Leader -- I do like the comment attached to the pic ...
"Platform Tents are another Outdoor Sleeping option at Birch Ridge Camp. The flaps can be lifted for access and ventilation. A family of baby mice showed us how important it is to drop the flaps after each use".
As if merely rolling down the flaps would keep the mice out : )
Have fun with the build like I said it's my kind of classic camp.
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Gone2TheCamp
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# Posted: 11 May 2012 10:12am
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Well...still not 100% sure on what direction I'm going....still hoping to be able to find a camper/trailer within the budget I allotted.
It would be far easier since it would have everything already there...cooking, heating, fridge, bed, etc etc.
I'm hoping that I'll find something soon, but I might end up goign the route of a tent platform....
Thanks folks!
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 11 May 2012 10:59am
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Good luck!
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Scott_T
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# Posted: 21 May 2012 04:03pm - Edited by: Scott_T
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Quoting: Gone2TheCamp end up goign the route of a tent platform
This is what I built for a wall tent 14x16'. I stapled window screen the entire area then applied 5/4 deck boards on top (sorry unfortunately no photos of the finished deck) so that water sheds readily. I plan to install appropriate guy rope structures to ensure tent can't blow away.
Check out Davis Tent and Awning. The make custom, quality tents and are very friendly and knowledgeable. If you plan to 'live' in your tent a 12x14' would be the smallest I would recommend.
16x16 tent platform before bug screen and deck boards installed
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Gone2TheCamp
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# Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:54am
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Well, changed my mind again..... happy wife, happy life.....
Found a good deal on a slide-in truck camper. Everything works, and the Mrs is happy.
So for now, it's my 'small cabin'..... Still working on a piece of land.at which point this will be relocated and used while I build a camp...or as you folks like to call it...a cabin.
Posted a couple pics in my intro thread.
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:40pm
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doesn't matter what is protecting you from the elements the point is you are doing what you dreamed of doing! Congrats!
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2013 09:14pm
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http://www.sweetwaterbungalows.com/
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exsailor
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2013 11:28am
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The ultimate in portable paltforms are pallets covered with plywood just big enough for your wall tent to set on. Low impact, cheap, and portable would work well here especially since you have guest use for the land. I have camped in a 10x15 foot wall tent with a stove fro extended periods of time. At times when it was raining hard I put my hand out on the floor to makes sure I didn't have a river running through. Of course choosing the right spot to pitch camp goes a long way to keeping comfortable. You can even make a sun deck using the same foot print idea. I would keep your keep your deck separate from your camping platform by a few inches to prevent standing water problems getting in and out of your tent.
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 09:40am
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Check out Deluxe Wall Tents in BC. They have a bunch of platform tent setups in their photo gallery on their website. I have one of their tents...it seems quite good.
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Scott_T
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# Posted: 24 Jan 2013 08:44am
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A picture of my wall tent set up.
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DaveShilling
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# Posted: 13 May 2013 06:08pm
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I've been living in a wall tent in Virginia for over a year now. And I love it!
http://dshillingtentliving.blogspot.be/2012/04/tour-of-my-home.html
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cabingal3
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# Posted: 14 May 2013 05:00pm
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we use to have these kind of tents when we went to campmeeting.i like them alot.
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DaveShilling
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# Posted: 14 May 2013 08:18pm
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As you can see in the photo, I built the platform such that the canvas could overhang, as recommended by "brokeneck". And I had the mice problem, too. But since then I've nail firring strip all along the bottom edge of the canvas to make a tighter seal with the platform. No more mice (so far!)
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Scott_T
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# Posted: 14 May 2013 11:30pm - Edited by: Scott_T
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@Dave:I like what you have done with your tent cabin. Since you are living permanently in your tent you might consider using rigid insulation to help contain the heat better in winter. Take a look at what Plickety Cat (another member here) did when they lived in their tent before their Alaskan cabin was built.
URL
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DaveShilling
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# Posted: 15 May 2013 04:17pm
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Thanks for the tip, Scott_T. I checked out their blog and that's quite a setup! I'm in Virginia for now, so it's not really very cold in the winter. I've grown used to coming home to a cold tent in the evenings (I still work a fulltime job). Since I'm in a 12 x 14, it heats up pretty quick. And I really enjoy the thin walls in a way. Let's me hear outside, and it's great when it rains!
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