Building a Wall Tent

[scrotcaster]

Iam thinking about building my own wall tent. For the frame i thinking of using 1" rigid conduit and buying some angle brackets but havent figured out the material to use for the tent part. I know most are canvas but not sure where i can find canvas that is big. Has anyone ever built their own? If so any pointers, what material did you use, etc. ?

Thanks

 

[guywhofishes]

Oh man does that sound brutal! Go talk to local tarp makers.

 

[johnr]

A good friend built his own "ice castle", he saved nothing cost wise, and has an inferior fish house.

Somethings are best purchased made by the experts

 

[pluckem]

Yeah, I would at least run the numbers on the material cost first. My gut feel is you wont save much.

The material you are looking for is Fire Retardant, UV & mildew resistant cotton. Your choice on weight, but most are 10-12oz.
Sunforger treated Army Duck Canvas is the one to look at, looks like you can get it shipped for around $13 a yard. Don't skimp on the material. The labor involved will be the same with crappy materials vs quality materials. Look at Davis Tent Website for more information on canvas material, lots of good info.

Rough #'s put a 12x15' tent at around 38-41 yards?? That's $500 for the canvas material alone.
Then add the following
1.) Stove Jack ($50)
2.) Sod Cloth ($20)
3.) Heavy Duty Zippers and Buckles ($25)
4.) Stakes ($30)
5.) Rope and Tensioners ($30)
6.) Window material/screen ($20)
7.) Heavy Duty UV treated thread

That puts your material cost somewhere around $650-$675. For comparison you can buy a Davis Tent (regarded by many to be one of the best) for $775 for a 12x14' or $860 for a 12x18' model.

Davis also runs specials during the off season so you might be able to get it for even less. Don't undervalue the tried and true design you would get by purchasing from a company. They understand the shrinking characterizes of the material. They know the areas, stress points, and corners that will need to be reinforced. They know the correct spacing of tie downs, guy lines, and stakes.

I understand a wall tent is really a simple design, but it would be labor intensive and a large percent of the cost in materials. For someone who doesn't have access to an industrial sewing machine you would be looking at even more expense buying a machine or contracting out the work. At that point there is no doubt you would be paying more.

 

[arrowdem]

i bought my very heavy canvas wall tent for $200 used then for 1" conduit i spent about $100 and for all of the angles i had made so they would be just right those were 150 i built my own wood stove at around 150 and stove pipe for around 75 all said and done. now i have a well made tent that needs some patch work done and everything else inside of it all ready to rock and roll for under 700 which if you look into that it is a steal when most whole tent stove pole kits in the 13.5-11.5 sized tent i got go for well over 2500 i did well but it was a lot of work to get it all done the way i wanted, and if i had to throw in making a tent to... ya im out but there are good used tents out there for good money especially if you are just looking to get the canvas tent and no poles, i found mine on craigslist from by the cities.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

If you are going to put a stove jack in put it on the gable end that way you can put a plastic tarp over the top of your tent. Nice to put a longer tarp than needed that way you can put a lean on one of your sides to store things under. We always put our saddles and extras under it.

 

[Captain Ahab]

Henry Ford invented the assembly line for a reason. Just buy one.

 

[Tillerman2095]

When building a wall tent you want to use the Fire Retardant material. Rockford Supply website has a material just for wall tents if you wanted build one. Electrical conduit for frame is what I would use. But if I was building one I'd go with a Tipi style cause you'd only maybe need one pole for the middle.

 

[scrotcaster]

Thanks for the info, Maybe I should include that my thoughts are to only use this for early season only ( pronghorn and early archery deer hunts). I just want a tent i can stand up in and walk around and enough room for some cots ( no need for stoves, ect).. I priced out conduit and angles from a tent store( one that makes stuff for wedding/street fair tents) and could get the whole frame for $125 (12'x14'), Thinking maybe i can get some heavy version of blue tarps from menards or something and make it work.. Iam not lookin to be in any cabelas commercial here, Iam picturing a sophisticated hobo living enviroment

 

[guywhofishes]

I am picturing a sophisticated hobo living enviroment

 

[PrairieGhost]

Google "make a tepee from a tarp.

 

[Bowhunter_24]

Thanks for the info, Maybe I should include that my thoughts are to only use this for early season only ( pronghorn and early archery deer hunts). I just want a tent i can stand up in and walk around and enough room for some cots ( no need for stoves, ect)..

If that is the case than I would buy a pop up hub style ice house.

 

[scrotcaster]

If that is the case than I would buy a pop up hub style ice house.

Holy thats actually a great idea ! Thanks

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Ive never been in a Hub style, can the average guy stand in one ?

 

[Bowhunter_24]

Holy thats actually a great idea ! Thanks

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Ive never been in a Hub style, can the average guy stand in one ?

I have a 6x12 house and I'm 6'3" and I can stand up.

 

[FishReaper]

Holy thats actually a great idea ! Thanks

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Ive never been in a Hub style, can the average guy stand in one ?

Yea. Look up eskimo 949I. Fully insulated, blacked out inside, Removable windows if you want good air flow.
I actually plan to spend a few nights on the ice this year in mine, using rattle reels under the cots, figure you can have 2 cots and a heater pretty easy. 2 rattles per cot

 

[pluckem]

Thanks for the info, Maybe I should include that my thoughts are to only use this for early season only ( pronghorn and early archery deer hunts). I just want a tent i can stand up in and walk around and enough room for some cots ( no need for stoves, ect).. I priced out conduit and angles from a tent store( one that makes stuff for wedding/street fair tents) and could get the whole frame for $125 (12'x14'), Thinking maybe i can get some heavy version of blue tarps from menards or something and make it work.. Iam not lookin to be in any cabelas commercial here, Iam picturing a sophisticated hobo living enviroment

Knowing this, a wall tent is overkill and in this temperature and season not my first choice. Wall tents don't have a floor and thus take some work to get completely sealed up (bug proof). Wall tents excel in colder months and with a wood stove. The breathability of the cotton coupled with heat from the stove make for a very nice environment.

You mock cabalas above, but I wouldn't rule them out. They have has some great sales on tents in the last few weeks. So good that I don't need another tent, but almost pulled the trigger on one.

They had a 25% off sale on their Alaknaks, wall tents, and some other tents. Then every week or so they have a 1 day only coupon code of an additional 10% plus free shipping. So basically take 35% off regular price with free shipping and no tax. Hard to beat.

Specifically check out the Cabelas Outback Lodge Tent. They come in 8x8, 10x10, and 12x12.

10x10 regular price at $425
still on sale for $340
yesterday they had 10% code plus free shipping so that would have put it at $306

this would give you a waterproof, bug proof, standing height, simple set up tent with adequate ventilation for late summer heat. Ideal for what you described.

bumping up to the 12x12 would put you at $360, but you not only have a larger footprint the side walls are 3ft (1ft higher than the 10x10) and the center height is taller, so you would have more room to move about while standing up.

 

[guywhofishes]

some models of popups have floors FYI

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BTW - if you end up building your wall tent - make the Mexicans pay for it

 

[fnznfwl]

This is only for early season hunts? Like Pluck em said, skip the hassle and just buy a big tent.

 

[deleted member]

group buy on conduit and fire retardant canvas? :;:huh

 

[BBQBluesMan]

I have the 12x12 outback lodge. No complaints. Even have run a buddy heater in it. I would recommend getting the extra floor tarp with it. Will definitely prolong the life of the floor of the tent.