I am planning to try some tent camping in Arkansas in June. Question I am asking is what tent to buy?????? 
Tent Camping
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
They no longer make the Winchester brand tent I carried from 1971 until I threw it away in '04. Best tent I ever had and the only one I ever saw like it. People knew where I was by my tent. Packed, it was the size of a loaf of bread and withstood rain, wind and heavy snow on a few ocassions.
Main thing to remember about riding and camping, you waste a lot of time. No, not setting up or tearing down. If you'e in a humid type climate, you have to air all that stuff out before you stow it, else it's not going to last long for you and it will mildew. Which means in a good part of the country, you'll be 10:00 or later getting on the road.
On the other hand, if you're going to camp at an event or somewhere for several days, it's a good deal.
These days, if I plan a ride and camp somewhere for several days, I buy the cheapest dome tent I can find, and leave the darn thing there!
Main thing to remember about riding and camping, you waste a lot of time. No, not setting up or tearing down. If you'e in a humid type climate, you have to air all that stuff out before you stow it, else it's not going to last long for you and it will mildew. Which means in a good part of the country, you'll be 10:00 or later getting on the road.
On the other hand, if you're going to camp at an event or somewhere for several days, it's a good deal.
These days, if I plan a ride and camp somewhere for several days, I buy the cheapest dome tent I can find, and leave the darn thing there!
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From:
I use the Apache tent for motorcycle camping ( http://www.apachetents.com/ ). It is lightweight, goes up in 30 seconds or less, has vestibule, and a great tent. Just read the reviews on their site from other motorcyclists that use it.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: east central Illinois
We did last weekend in the rain in ozarks (MO) rained most of the time 9by8 octagon dome from Target. never got wet at all. It will hold a queen size air mattress just fine But if its one in the tent get a smaller one .We have the battery powered pump blown it up 3 times with 1 set of d cells.....all that was less than one night in a motel . Good time!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
+1 on reminders that there's other gear you'll need! I'm still looking for a good air mattress...
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 890
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
One with Air Conditioning.
There are some great parks in Arkansas, I'd suggest northwest Arkansas.
Check out Devil's Den State Park and Withrow State Park. There are some great rides in this area.
Geaux Tigers !
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 16
From: Norfolk, VA
The MSR Hubba tents are nice.
I've been using an REI Half Dome 2 man backpacking tent for the past 6 years for car and bike camping. It's a rectangular floor plan with 2 entrances and 2 vestibules for stashing gear outside the doors but away from the elements. The tent straps nicely to the top of my saddle bag or atop my sissy bar bag.
I've been using an REI Half Dome 2 man backpacking tent for the past 6 years for car and bike camping. It's a rectangular floor plan with 2 entrances and 2 vestibules for stashing gear outside the doors but away from the elements. The tent straps nicely to the top of my saddle bag or atop my sissy bar bag.
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Fargo, ND
I've got a Eureka Tetragon 5, very pleased with it. Sets up in 10 minutes or less, has plenty of room for me and my gear. It's marketed as a 2-man tent, but I've never shared it and doubt that it would be good for that.
+1 on reminders that there's other gear you'll need! I'm still looking for a good air mattress...
+1 on reminders that there's other gear you'll need! I'm still looking for a good air mattress...
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 1
From: Riverview, FL
I bought the 2 man tent from SAMS. Very light and can set up in 2 minutes. Worked great in Daytona and has a vestabule on the front for light, stove and to keep things dry. No more hotels in Daytona for me. Bike, tent and the Cabbage Patch. Good times.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 6
I've got a Eureka Tetragon 5, very pleased with it. Sets up in 10 minutes or less, has plenty of room for me and my gear. It's marketed as a 2-man tent, but I've never shared it and doubt that it would be good for that.
+1 on reminders that there's other gear you'll need! I'm still looking for a good air mattress...
+1 on reminders that there's other gear you'll need! I'm still looking for a good air mattress...
Seriously, though, do you want an air mattress or a sleeping pad? Difference is one if a little thing that slips under your sleeping bag, the other is a mattress.
I've never found a quality air mattress I'd carry on the bike simply because they're so large and take so long to inflate. If I were camping out of the back of the van, it'd be different, but the van has a tad more cargo capacity than my bike
But, if you're intending to get some wilderness lovin', it might be worth leaving some stuff at home to pack a good sized air mattress. 
Inflatable sleeping pads - the thicker they are, the more comfortable they are, the thinner they are, the easier they are to pack. I own two that are reasonable, a 1" thick and 1.5" thick, both are from Magellan (sold at Academy) and they're holding up OK, but they don't see much use. I, mainly, pack the 1" pad when I'm camping in cooler areas to use as insulation to keep my underside warm in the hammock.
If I were to start sleeping on the ground with regularity, I'd leave the inflatables at home and pack a Thermarest Z Lite. These have been highly recommended to me by people that backpack extensively. They fold up small, they're very light and they are, to my understanding, quite comfortable. Plus, they never puncture.
One other factor to consider on sleeping pads - they're not just to make the ground softer - they are an insulate barrier between you and the ground. In warm places during the summer this isn't that great of an issue. But, when it's cooler, the ground will suck the heat from your body quite fast, leaving you with stiff joints and sore kidneys in the morning.