RE: Motorcycle tent
I am seriously concidering a motorcycle trip to Alaska. If I can't do Alaska then a Smokie Mnt run as a tune up for Alaska next year. Either way I would prefer to camp along the way. I have Harley classic so a tent could ride on the luggage rack 22wide by 6 or so would be ideal. I am looking for a tent that sets up easily with 1 person. Enough hieght to sit up, plenty of floor space to dry out gear. I am thinking a 3 or 4 person tent. I checked the old posts and those tent models are no longer availible. I don't need a 4 season. I dont plan to ride in the snow. An invisible bear shield would be a nice feature. I want quality but yet would like to stay around $200. This is very limited use 1 trip per summer. I have a lance camper and trailer as well. I just want to do a few long bike trips while I can still ride all day. Any suggestions are welcome. I will need a good sleeping pad and bag as well.
Last year I went through the same exercise: Tent for motorcycle camping
I agree with you that a 3 or 4 person is the sweet spot for a motorcycle camping tent, even if solo camping. Unlike car camping you can't store your stuff in a dry car if it starts raining. You probably have more gear than a backpacker since weight isn't an issue. So, it was important to me to be able to bring my gear into the tent without being cramped in case it rained. Bringing things into the tent is also the only way to keep things out of sight if I go for a ride and left the campsite but don't want to lash it all to the bike.
For an Alaska trip, you might want to look at 4-season tents that will allow you to close up some of the venting. It might get cold in Canada and Alaska at night, even in the summer. Then again, a good sleeping bag may make a bigger difference in comfort (though being able to close up some of the ventilation will allow you to keep out the cold wind).
I went with a Big Agnes Fairview 4 (doesn't seem to be available anymore, but it is very similar to the Coulton Creek 4 which is also discontinued, but last I saw was still available on a website or two). They are both 96"x86" with 60" of headroom. The Fairview packs to 8x22, the Coulton Creek to 8x24". For spring and fall I have a Alps Mountaineering Vertex 4. It is a good tent, but doesn't quite have enough mesh ventilation for summers around here. It measures 86"x96" with 52" of headroom (it packs to 7x22"). The Vertex 4 has been discontinued and apparently replaced by the Morada, but can still be found online. I've had my Vertex 4 for a few years now and, other than summer ventilation, I am very happy with it.
When I first started looking I had 20-30 tents on my list at one time, and there were many suitable tents I left off. Further, I would suggest you also look into 4-season tents given the location of your trip. So, a list of tents may not do a lot of good (a lot will be based upon your personal tastes). As for brands, it all depends upon your budget. Good budget buys would be Eureka (especially the Timberline) and Alps Mountaineering. On the higher end, you can't go wrong with Big Agnes, Sierra Design, Marmot, MSR and Mountain Hardware. Two brands I always put on my list when looking at tents make tents on both the budget and expensive lists: REI and Kelty.
RE: 14 years of RVing going tent camping!
My family has been camping for the past 30 plus years. The past 14 or so have been in an RV. Our current 32 foot Sunseeker is great. However, the wife and I are planning on a tent camping trip. Yep, I have talked her into roughing it. LOL!! Wish me luck! :B
Later...
We (I mean me) are looking so forward to going! The wife is already having some 2nd thoughts. She very might back out. Granted, she does have a few health issues. But I am on “Like Donkey Kong”. If she backs out we will still go. I might shorten the trip by a day.
I hope you have a great time. Hopefully your wife doesn't back out, and hopefully she has a ball and will want to do it again.
We did this this year. Yes we had a ball although the first weekend we were in need of a couple extra blankets. We are adding a kayak to the top of the little trailer this summer. Should be a blast. Hope you have as much fun as we do.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8260401311_23dded7cef.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8261466070_dab1737154.jpg
Nice set up. I'm a little jealous. I've thought about getting one of those little trailers. I have a car with no tow rating but I strongly want a pop-up. I was thinking maybe a little ultra-light tent trailer or motorcycle camper like yours might work. If nothing else, I'll probably get one in a few years after I get a touring sized motorcycle.
I'm also jealous about the car...If the diesel powered Smart cars were available here in the US, I'd probably have one. What kind of gas mileage do you get?
First camping of the year
I've been crazy busy with work and graduate school (I am finishing my last class for my masters this semester, and I am putting together my "capstone" project which is due July 6, and then I'm done with my masters). Unfortunately, that has limited my ability to go camping this spring, and this weekend was my first trip of 2013.
It was a small, and short trip but a lot of fun. A buddy and I went to Harpers Ferry, WV. I am a huge history buff (I teach social studies and special ed) and I love Harpers Ferry. The camping itself was also a great time of course.
Because it was a short notice trip, I figured it was easier to just go to the KOA, and I've been to that KOA and know it is a pretty nice campground. It is right at the historical park and has a short hiking trail to one of the rivers.
It was a "medium" bad weather weekend for the time of year. A cold front came in on Friday. So, on Friday evening there were some interesting thunderstorms as the temperatures dropped. Friday night winds weren't terrible, but they weren't great: winds were generally in the teens to 20s, but there were gusts near 40mph (no, not bad, but noticeable). There was off and on rain through much of the night, and some was fairly heavy. Temperatures were below normal for this time of year and dropped to about 40 overnight on Friday.
I brought my Alps Mountaineering Vertex 4. It really is a good solid tent, I've had it for a few years now and the only complaint I've ever had about it was that there isn't really enough ventilation for Mid-Atlantic and Southern summers. Well, when it was 40-45 degrees out and some of those 35-40mph gusts hit, it definitely had enough ventilation in the walls to allow some pretty cold air to blow up under the rainfly and into the tent. At least I had a good sleeping bag and sleep pad so the only times I really noticed it were the times I let my arms or feet dangle outside of the sleeping bag (I unzipped my bag and used it more like a blanket).
Something about camping on a chilly and rainy night, with a good tent to keep you dry and a good sleeping bag to keep you warm, it is a lot of fun. I can't wait until next year when I'm done with grad school and can once again do more late fall and early spring camping. I may need to get a new 4-season tent first though. My cheap fiberglass pole Bass Pro Shop 4-season won't handle any real winds (at least, I've never been out when it is windy and I don't trust it to handle the wind). My Vertex 4, while a terrific tent, isn't ideal for nights that are both cold and windy since I can't close up the mesh to keep the cold wind out.
Depending upon how much work I get done before then for grad school, my next trip (unless I go on the spur of the moment next weekend) is May 3-5. I am meeting with other motorcyclists from a motorcycle forum I frequent so it will be a motorcycle camping weekend. I already have the campsite in Gettysburg, PA reserved. It will probably be either warmer or less windy that weekend (probably both), so it should probably be perfect weather for my Vertex 4. Maybe the weekend after I finish my current class will be a good time for another trip (I need to get the Vertex 4 out a bit before it gets hot and I need to go to my better ventilated Big Agnes or larger and better ventilated Kelty).
RE: Solo Camping
I camp alone in a tent. When in MD, I prefer commercial and state park campgrounds. There are plenty of people around. I also carry a knife, and sometimes some pepper spray.
When camping outside of MD, I feel comfortable wherever I want to camp. I have a UT carry permit which is honored in most of the country. Get a UT CCW and do most of your camping in areas near home that you know are still safe, or out of state where you don't need to worry about legal consequences of carrying.
Of course, another option is to get some kind of camper. The locked doors give some safety, and should buy you some time. Being "indoors" (sort of), you should hopefully be legally safer if you want to keep something in your nightstand by your bed than if you were carrying it while in a tent (IANAL, and different states may differ in how they treat this, so be sure of the situation where you are before making a decision).
RE: Towinf a small Popup with a 2012 Subaru Outback
I have been interested in possibly buying an Outback (I've been interested in them for a few years) so I've done a fair amount of research. A lot of people seem to tow pop-ups with them and are very happy with their performance. Since 2005 they have been rated for 2700LBS with the 4cyl and 3000LBS with the 6cyl (if yours is a 2004 or older you are at the 2K rating) . I wouldn't hesitate to use one to pull any pop-up that will remain in your weight range (remember that you need to include passengers and your gear in that weight, and you'll want to leave a margin for error). There are plenty of pup-ups in the 1500-2000LB range that should pull just fine with a newer Outback. If yours is a 2004 or older with the 2K LB weight rating, I think that 1200LB Starcraft should be fine, though you might have to be somewhat careful about how much stuff you pack, especially if there are more than one or two of you.
RE: Rentals as tow vehicle?
Keep searching. We have a small 4 state auto rental company that has an office near me. They have a 2011 F350 dually for rent every day.
I've thought about checking some of the smaller rental companies to see what, if any, restrictions they may have on towing.
RE: Rentals as tow vehicle?
I've also thought about several options for towing:
A 2nd vehicle would let me tow a hybrid or pop-up. I could go whenever I wanted without having to set up a rental. I could go a little older and higher miles than if I bought a replacement vehicle since it wouldn't be my daily driver (though I have memories of breaking down on vacation, more than once, when I was a kid and my parents had an old AMC sedan, not fun). Of course, I'd then have to insure and track maintenance on 2 vehicles instead of one.
The rental option could get me in a camper sooner than if I wait until I'm ready to replace my car, without replacing it early. It would be a newer vehicle than the 2nd vehicle option (no worries about breakdowns on vacation). I'd only have to worry about insurance and repairs on one vehicle. However, I couldn't just go on the spur of the moment. I'd also be towing with an unfamiliar vehicle, and depending upon how often I went, it could get expensive.
The last option, is replacing my car early. I like my car and it is reliable so I don't really want to. Further, I'd like to be debt free within a few years so I'd rather not start my car loan from scratch, and there are depreciation costs to worry about. However, if I want a pop-up, and I am single (so I don't need a huge pop-up), there are several small SUVs that could handle it. I could get something with similar or better gas mileage (the CX5 does better, the 2013 Escape is similar to my Fusion), it would be new (new warranty, more time until any likely problems), and it would have a tow rating, possibly a good one. This way, I'd have a vehicle I could use as my daily driver, have a tow rating and decent mileage, and only have to worry about maintenance and insurance on one vehicle.
I'm really not sure which way I'm leaning.
I'm pretty sure I want a pop-up, and all that I'm most seriously considering are 1500LBS or lighter, and some are closer to 1000LBS. The Mazda CX-5 is reasonably priced, has great gas mileage (26 city and 33 highway with the auto, 36 highway with the stick), and is rated for 2000LBS towing. The 2013 Escape is interesting, with a minimum of 1500LBS in its base form, 2000 with the likely engine I'd do (the 23/33mpg 1.6L Ecoboost), and 3500LBS with the 2.0L Ecoboost that still gets good mileage. The 2012 Escape has some great rebates with the 2013 redesign being out. And, there are several other good small SUV options with at least a 1500LB rating.
A 2nd vehicle, well, it could be done cheaply it would be mine, not a rental, and I wouldn't have to trade my car in early.
A rental, I'd only be paying for it when needed (no insurance, maintenance and repairs).
RE: Rentals as tow vehicle?
...If it were ME I think I'd decide what I'll be towing first and THEN make my decision as to what I'll be towing it with. Options could include an older truck in good condition for the job and much cheaper than buying new. Lots of good old 90s vintage trucks that would be good tow vehicles for hybrids of all sizes or smaller travel trailers. There is ALSO the option of making your RV purchase a self propelled type. Small B conversion vans or even small class Cs can be found that are still quite road worthy and not all that expensive.
Whichever way you decide to go, good luck with your decision / Skip
I've thought about an older tow vehicle as a 2nd vehicle, and I've thought about a Class C (B's are way too much money). They are some of the other options I've mentioned. Frankly, they all have their advantages...
My first choice really is a pop-up. My parents had one when I was a teen and I loved it. I love tent camping, but I'm getting older. This would give me the open outdoor feel of tent camping, while giving a little more weather protection, a bunk (more comfort), and the possibility of heat and AC to extend my camping season to year-round (as it is now, I stay home on the hottest summer days and most of the winter). They are also fairly easy to store (I don't know if the condo/rental I'm moving into would let me keep it on the parking lot or if I'd have to store it, but when I buy a place with a garage in a year or two I could store it in the garage). Price is a great advantage here, if I didn't slightly prefer them over the other options anyway. The biggest disadvantage is I could never have my motorcycle with me.
A hybrid would be a little less tent-like, but it would provide more weather protection. I would hope that the tent bunk ends would give some of the tent-style camping feeling. But they are big and storage could be an issue.
I've thought quite a bit about a motorcycle camper. The 6' Quicksilver is just light and small enough, but most are little more than a tent on wheels (with one pop-up style bunk, but no mattress). They will be a bit more comfortable than a tent, they are raised off the ground, and they can be heated or air conditioned. When I upgrade to a larger motorcycle (probably next year, possibly this fall), I could pull it with the motorcycle and have my bike with me on vacation. Even with my car with no tow rating, I feel comfortable towing one. Most are 250-450LBS, with my brother and best friend in the car I have about 400LBS of passengers inside the car. These campers are quite low profile, so I doubt I couldn't tow something that I could have (weight-wise) if I put it inside the passenger compartment. Heck, these are designed to be pulled by a motorcycle, I think my car would be OK.
The idea of an C-class (maybe a B) has had my eye a bit lately. They would be more isolated from the outdoors, but they'd have the advantages of being able to use the facilities while on the road. There would be no separate vehicle for sightseeing. Everywhere I'd go, I'd have to take the camper (though I'd likely go for something in the 21-24' size so it would be acceptable). The bigger pain would be breaking camp whenever sightseeing. Though, I could tow a car behind it, and I could get a motorcycle trailer and take my bike (that is probably the biggest reason I've been thinking about it). Of course, they tend to be quite pricey if I went new or with a late model used one, and older and more reasonable ones would be a bigger risk.
Rentals as tow vehicle?
I have a Ford Fusion, not the most tow worthy car (it has no tow rating, I've been debating setting it up for a very lightweight pop-up, like a motorcycle camper, but that is for another discussion). I know setting up a car to tow over its tow rating is, at best, controversial around here, so I don't really want that discussion. I just mention it because if I go this route it would be in a fairly conservative fashion and I'd be looking at something no heavier than the 6' Quicksilvers, and more likely a motorcycle camper (they tend to run in the 250-450LB range). That is pretty limiting.
So, I've been looking at other options. I like my car, it is very reliable thus far, and I owe a lot more than I can get for it, so trading it is not one of the options right now (plus, I'd like to be debt free within about 4 years so I'd rather not take a larger and/or longer car loan).
Ok, done with the background.
I noticed a campground in an area where I like to go often (both in a tent and when I do a hotel) where they seem to have a reasonable yearly rate ($1700/yr for a campground about 30min from the ocean is reasonable, especially considering just parking it in a local storage lot could run $50-100/mo). I would price other yearly and seasonal options before going that route, but it got me thinking...
I could get a larger used pop-up, or even a hybrid or travel trailer, for a reasonable price, set it up there, and have a decent set-up. I go to the Ocean City area often enough that it might be almost worth it just for that location. Then, I was thinking I might rent a tow vehicle for taking it elsewhere from time to time.
I know that the usual car rental places (Hertz, Enterprise, etc) do not allow towing when you rent an SUV or pick-up from them. However, the more business oriented rentals, U-haul for instance, will rent pick-ups (and maybe SUVs) and I believe they do allow towing. I know they don't have any free miles unlike the consumer oriented rental companies so long (or frequent) trips would be too expensive. However, if the camper was set up at a place that would often be my destination, I'm thinking it is a possibility. Are there any considerations I'm missing? Good plan? Bad idea?
Anyway, I had previously thought about getting what I wanted and pulling it with a rental, and decided against it since I'd likely get little use out of it (the mileage charges would add up on the U-haul pick-up). However, the fairly reasonable yearly site rate at a campground I might consider (based on location) has me reconsidering since I could use it often and just drive (or ride my motorcycle) to it and use it at its "storage" location.
This also would not be a permanent solution. In a year or 2 I might get a second vehicle that could tow, or at worst, in a few years I would replace my car with a small SUV or pick-up.
There are other options I'm considering, but for this thread, I want to hear what you all think of either option with using a rental as a tow vehicle. Either the yearly site at a campground near an area I would often go to (the more likely option), or just storing it locally and renting a U-haul pick-up when I want to go somewhere. While that $1700 for a yearly site would buy a lot of miles from U-haul, I'd have to pay for storage somewhere and it would likely be at least 1/3 of that price, plus that $1700 won't be only storage since I'd often "visit" the camper there for no additional charge.
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
Due to their low-end integrity, I'd avoid Eureka! fiberglass-poled tents, budget permitting. We have one of them, a Tetragon, and its fiberglass poles are nothing like our Sierra Designs fiberglass poles of our BaseCamp6, circa 1987 (you get what you pay for).
Yeah, once it really came down to it (not just making a list of what might work) I couldn't really bring myself to seriously consider any 4-person tents with fiberglass poles. After having two aluminum poled tents and an aluminum poled dome screen room, it would be hard to go back. For a three person tent I was willing to seriously consider the fiberglass pole Alps Meramac and Eureka Tetragon, but in the end I wanted more space than a 3-person would give me. I almost considered the new Kelty Acadia 4. It has fiberglass poles, but they are supposedly heavier duty than typical fiberglass. The Kelty website says they are "wrapped", the photo does appear that there is some kind of textured fiberglass tape under the final clear layer, and some of the reviews I've read stated that the poles are thicker, heavier, and more robust than normal fiberglass poles. Still, I couldn't really feel comfortable with a tent that was larger than a 3 person with fiberglass. I suspect that this tent will get a lot of use, and in a couple years I'd like to do a cross country motorcycle tour so I figured that I may as well get a quality tent that can handle that now, so I went higher quality.
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
Thank you everyone who participated in this thread, many of you were helpful in my making up my mind. I know a lot of posts were mine, posting after myself, thinking out loud. My apologies, but getting it down also helped me make up my mind.
I bought the Big Agnes Fairview 4. In the end, the taller headroom v. the Alps Mountaineering Edge, and better ventilation and smaller pack size than the Big Agnes Coulton Creek4 won out. It was a $229.93 "special buy" at the REI Outlet. I am very excited, looks like a nice tent. I can't wait to get it.
http://www.rei.com/product/815018/big-agnes-fairview-4-tent-special-buy
RE: Just bought a popup looking for adventure!
welcome that is a good family pup i had a 2002 Colmen pup with the 2 king beds toilet and shower. l just sold it and bought a TT some things you might want to look into the plug in fans and light work great in the bunk in the kids will love them one of my lights had a built in fan in it it will keep you cool on a hot night.have fun and be safe out their
...I wanted a popup with an outdoor shower and water heater, but alas this was too good to pass up. Maybe I'll add one down the line..
We don't have a toilet, but hopefully if that becomes a problem I'll buy a porta potty. I just didn't like the idea of a bathroom in a popup. I do remember camping in GlacierNP and having multiple Pepto Bismo moments in the middle of the night and the bathroom seemed MILES away. ;) On the other hand, I doubt the family would enjoy the wrath I unleashed that night when sleeping only inches away.
:D
That's why you get something like this. At night, or in emergencies, you can take care of your business in semi-privacy, and during the day you can buy a camp shower and have a place to shower as well (when facilities aren't available or aren't acceptable).
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Camp-Essentials/Showers-Toilets-Accessories|/pc/104795280/c/104709780/sc/104569380/Cabelas-Privy-Shelter/1322157.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fcamping-camp-essentials-showers-toilets-accessories%2F_%2FN-1100689%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104569380%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd745195%253Bcat104709780&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd745195%3Bcat104709780%3Bcat104569380
RE: Cookware
Since this is about 2 months old I wonder if the OP bought the set. I looked at the Academy site and you can only tell so much from the website, but it isn't much money so I'd say it is worth a shot. If so, I'd be interested in hearing a review.
As for the discussion about cast iron or not...
I love cast iron at home. Nice thick cast iron really gives you a nice evenly heated cooking surface. As you use it and it gets nicely seasoned it develops a terrific non-stick surface, without the chemicals of teflon.
However, for me, it isn't worth it for camping. It is just too heavy. Then again, it is usually just me, or me and a friend, I'm not cooking for a family. I also just don't use my camp stove that much. Much of my camp cooking is on a grill or over the campfire.
In the morning, I may boil some water for coffee and oatmeal. Quite often, I don't even light it in the morning, my breakfast is just a granola bar or two, maybe some cereal, or I may go out to eat. If I am really feeling ambitious, I may light a small campfire shortly after I get up so it is ready to cook when I'm ready to make breakfast (though, that is quite rare).
In the afternoon I am not usually still at the campsite. I may be sightseeing, exploring, or doing some nearby activity. Depending upon what I'm doing, I may either bring sandwiches, or if sightseeing in town, I'm probably going to eat out.
Dinner is my main camp meal. I will get a fire going or start the grill shortly after coming in for the evening (if it isn't too early). I might use the camp stove to cook some corn or other veggies (if I don't do fresh veggies on the fire/grill) or heat up some canned baked beans. Otherwise, I'm using the fire or grill.
Thus, cheap (and light) cookware is really all that I need when camping (though I might pick up a cast iron dutch oven to put over the campfire). There is one exception. I like cast iron for this stuff:
http://www.pieiron.com/
Quite versatile, compact, and kind of fun. They'd be especially good if you had kids (fun, single size so they can make their own dinner), but they are good for us adults too.
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
Correction:
When looking closely at the photos online, the Alps Mountaineering Edge 4 does appear to have two vents in the rainfly. Still, if they are like the ones in my Vertex 4 I doubt if they open very wide. It does have a lot more mesh than the Big Agnes choices. The Fairview's vent opens to a pretty large opening however. I suspect the overall ventilation is similar, though the Edge 4 is probably better due to the extra mesh. However, with the Fairview's 5' of headroom, I think it still edges out the Edge :D
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
I have narrowed my list to two (with a third just hanging on), and I am strongly leaning towards one of them. I will wait a few hours before I buy it though just to see if anyone here has anything to say that might sway me one way or the other.
I'm leaning towards the Big Agnes Fairview 4. The tent itself is very similar the the Coulton Creek 4 with a similar fly. Both have a rainfly which is not full coverage (the door and window are open but sheltered like the Eureka Tetragon), but I've seen many reviews that say it stands up to weather, and none with issues. The smaller pack size is nice, but by itself isn't quite worth the extra $60 ($230 v. $170). The Fairview appears to have more features, and the fly has one big advantage for Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern summers- the Coulton Creek rainfly just sits there, the Fairview has two adjustable vents. So, I think this is my top choice of the Big Agnes options (I might be swayed to the Coulton Creek though, $60 is $60 and they both are Big Agnes quality, so it is hanging on).
The other primary contender is the Alps Mountaineering Edge 4. The $160 price is nice. It does have a little more floor space than the Big Agnes Fairview or Coulton Creek, but it has 8" less headroom (52" v. 60"). Since the two Big Agnes tents have enough floorspace, I think the extra headroom would make them seem roomier. I know and trust Alps Mountaineering quality. An advantage over the two Big Agnes contenders is that it has 2 doors instead of 1. A disadvantage over the Fairview, like the Coulton Creek it does not have a vent in the top of the rainfly. However, it does have a full rainfly with two storage vestibules, and it is $70 less than the Fairview (only $10 less than the Coulton Creek though). While it loses the rainfly vents of the Fairview, and the shorter interior height may hold more body heat, it has a lot more mesh so that might be a wash (or even a slight overall improvement).
So, if it was your money, which way would you go?
Do the rainfly vents and extra pouches inside the tent make the Big Agnes Fairview worth $60 more than the otherwise similar Coulton Creek?
Does the $10 lower cost over the Coulton Creek (and $70 under the Fairview), 2 doors, vestibules, and full rainfly make the Alps Mountaineering Edge the better deal?
I am leaning towards the Big Agnes Fairview, with the Alps Mountaineering Edge 4 close behind. The Coulton Creek's lesser ventilation can be an issue around here (this will be a warm weather tent, for cooler weather I can bring my Alps Mountaineering Vertex 4) so it is lower on the list. The Fairview's rainfly vents are quite nice, and while the Edge doesn't have them, it does have more mesh (putting it above the Coulton Creek). In the end, it is the extra venting (v. the Coulton Creek) plus the 60" of headroom (v. 52" for the Edge) that looks like it is putting the Fairview over the top, but the $70 price difference could save the Edge. The Coulton Creek just won't go away though- Big Agnes quality, decent room, and only $170.
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
I have an Eureka Timberline 4 that I bought around 1980.
It is a 4 season tent with less venting than an Alps Mountaneering.
It takes longer to put up than the Alps ( and other ) 2 pole types.
The Timberline 4 does have aluminum poles however.
We got caught last year in a rainstorm and the Timberline 4 keeps me dry when a civilian tent does not.
I have had an TT for about 15 years in between so the T4 has not seen constant use.
I own an 18 foot low profile ski boat that I love to use. Some trips are just too far to take both my trailer and my boat.
I am seriously considering a new bigger 4 season type tent.
To me the Alps Mountaineering ZF FG line shown on their outfitter page is the most logical answer (Meramac 5 ZF FG ). The ZF FG is a heavier duty line but does not include the aluminum poles of their Outfitter series. The ZF works for me because I am old and I only have a few years left of water skiing.
Alps are cheaper than Eureka for similar tents.
I think the Alps outfitter line ( aluminum poles, # 10 zipper , heavier floor ) are equal to the Eureka Timberline ( or REI or Big Agnes ) at a lower price.
I found the best pricing on Overstock dot com for Alps tents.
I highly reccommend the Outfitter grade of tents. They just last longer.
I looked at, but decided against, the Timberline. Either the 2 or 4 person seem to give decent usable interior space (for a 2 or 4 person tent). They have good reputations and they have acceptable pack sizes. In the end, since I'd probably get the 4 person due to size, I decided against it on price. The Alps Mountaineering tents are good tents at better prices, and with the prices on those 3 Big Agnes tents, I couldn't see getting the Eureka for around $200. Also, the regular Timberline doesn't have a lot of mesh. To get the amount of mesh I'd want for summers around here, I'd need to get the Timberline SQ 4XT- they have a lot more mesh, but they add about $90 to the price.
As for what you are considering, I have an Alps Mountaineering Vertex 4. My only issue with it is that it doesn't have a lot of mesh. I think Alps gives a lot of tent for the money, as evidenced by the fact that I have listed about half a dozen of their tents on this thread that I have considered, and at least one has stayed on the list every step of the way (beating out Sierra Designs, Mountain Hardware, Marmot, and other terrific tents on my list).
The Meramac appears to be a good tent- decent size, with a lot of options (and a lot more mesh than the Vertex :) ). The ZF FG series seems to be a great bargain. If you are comfortable with fiberglass poles, you get all the other features of the aluminum pole Outfitter, with the beefed up floor and zippers of the Outfitter, but with more size options (4-6 person tents, instead of the 4 person only aluminum pole version), and of course a much lower price. They are also a lot easier to find than the aluminum pole version.
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
As for my search, I have added three tents that weren't on my radar before (all but one with an 8"x24" pack size, and all 3 measure 96"x86" with 5' of headroom):
Big Agnes Coulton Creek 4, currently can be found for $170. It doesn't have a full fly, but it is a Big Agnes at a very reasonable price
Big Agnes Picket Mountain 4, can be had for $230. It is basically the Coulton Creek with a full fly. A full fly is nice, but I don't see many complaints with the Coulton Creek, so I'm not sure the full fly is worth $60 more for what is otherwise the same tent.
Big Agnes Fairview 4, basically a Coulton Creek but with brighter colors and a smaller pack size at 8x22". It may have a few more features but I can't tell for sure online. It is currently available for $230. The smaller pack size may put it above the $60 less expensive Coulton Creek, but at $170 for a 4-person Big Agnes, I may still go with the Coulton Creek.
Those are definitely in my top 4 now, and possibly may be my top 3 (good size, Big Agnes quality at a reasonable price). The Alps Mountaineering Edge 4 is still on my list. Due to price and pack size the Eureka Tetragon 3 is on my list (I think I feel comfortable with that tent, and the small 3 person size, with fiberglass poles), and if someone can convince me that fiberglass poles can stand up to a 4 person Tetragon 4, the price, size, and pack size may put that high on my list as well (and possibly drop the Tetragon 3).
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
I have been looking for a good cycle tent as well. Hope to make a run to Alaska next summer. I think one very important criteria for a cycle tent is quick set up take down. Picture riding all day rain storm coming on fast. Also you are always moving set up and take down each day. Should have room to sit up or almost stand. A vestible large enough to park the bike under would be a plus. I do bring a small tarp for that. I have a large harley so I have some room for a cycle. Generaly travel alone. Bear proof would be a plus as well. I don't know much at all about tents so keep searching please. Some links would be helpfull as well. I posted this a few months ago and got like 2 responses.
Oh, I missed something important in my previous response...You are going to Alaska.
I have never been, but I would imagine that parts of Canada and Alaska will get pretty cold at night even in the summer, and I would assume you will deal with some nasty winds at times. You will probably want a warm tent, and you will probably want something pretty heavy duty, outfitter quality. I'd look for one that is mostly tenting material and only a little mesh, or maybe even a 4-season tent that lets you close up most of the mesh. Definitely look for a tent with aluminum poles for that trip.
Just out of curiosity I checked the weather in a couple Alaska cities. Right now (7/15, 10:10am EDT) it is 83 degrees here in Annapolis and it will hit 90 (decent summer day). In Anchorage it is currently 51 with a high of 57. Fairbanks is currently 54 with a "balmy" 68 degree high. I'd guess that on your trip you will probably experience temps that could be in the 80s or higher, yet some nights may be close to freezing, and you definitely have to be prepared for rain. I can't think of many things that are less pleasant than being cold and wet. Look for a quality tent, you'll need one that is up for a variety of conditions.
RE: Tent for motorcycle camping
I have been looking for a good cycle tent as well. Hope to make a run to Alaska next summer. I think one very important criteria for a cycle tent is quick set up take down. Picture riding all day rain storm coming on fast. Also you are always moving set up and take down each day. Should have room to sit up or almost stand. A vestible large enough to park the bike under would be a plus. I do bring a small tarp for that. I have a large harley so I have some room for a cycle. Generaly travel alone. Bear proof would be a plus as well. I don't know much at all about tents so keep searching please. Some links would be helpfull as well. I posted this a few months ago and got like 2 responses.
Sorry you didn't have much response when you posted your question. I hadn't seen it (with grad school and work I don't spend as much time on any internet forum as I'd like), if I had I would have posted with some of the ideas I have about motorcycle camping. Anyway, I'll respond to your criteria now:
Quick Set up and take down:
Pretty much any 2-4 person 2 pole dome will go up and down pretty fast. I can have my 6 person Kelty Grand Mesa up in about 10 minutes putting it up alone.
Room to sit or stand:
Most 2 and 3 person tents have only about 3-3 1/2 feet of room. Go to a 4 person and you will be over 4' and up to 5' (enough to sit and even stand up bending over. I have nearly eliminated all tents under 4' tall for this reason (though I have a couple tents with 45-47" of headroom still on the list).
Vestibule big enough to park:
Personally, I don't see this as necessary. I ride in the rain. I park it in parking lots at work or wherever else I'm going and it gets rained on. Starting in a couple weeks I will be moving to a condo (rental, sniff) that doesn't have a garage, and I don't yet have a cover. I think it can get wet without too much trouble. If you do want to keep it dry, like you said, a tarp will work, or you can invest in a motorcycle cover (some pack pretty small). I'll probably get a cover or half cover soon.
Since you seem to care about that criteria however, I'll let you know about four that I've noticed that might work (none are inexpensive though and only one has a small pack size). The first one is actually made with that use in mind:
http://www.redverz.com/index.html
http://www.rei.com/product/810122/rei-hobitat-4-tent-2011. You will need to buy the garage separately on this one ($100) and I'm not 100% sure if it is big enough for a motorcycle (I haven't checked the measurements).
http://www.rei.com/product/748023/big-agnes-big-house-4-tent. The aftermarket vestibule (which runs an additional $100) may be large enough (if not, and if space isn't a major issue on your bike, check out the 6-person version of the Big House).
This next one looks interesting, has a small pack size, and I thought about bumping my limit to $350 so I could consider it. Though, I'd probably use it as a sitting area in the rain and not as a garage for my bike.
http://www.rei.com/product/830973/big-agnes-wyoming-trail-2-camp-tent
Bear proof would be a plus as well.
No such thing as a bear proof tent. Heck, there is no such thing as a bear proof RV, car or truck (have you seen some of the YouTube videos that show what a determined bear can do when it wants to get into a car?).
If you are worried about bears, the best thing is to get some bear strength pepper spray. Yes, pepper spray. I am a big gun collector and I'd say that a gun isn't your best option. It takes a really lucky shot to put an adrenaline filled charging bear down with any handgun. Even a rifle would have lower odds than I want when my life is on the line (and forget a shotgun, not enough penetration). Further, how big an expert on bear behavior are you- can you tell the difference between a serious charge where it wants to kill you and a bluff charge? If you kill a bear (without a hunting license with an endorsement for bear during bear season) you can be in a world of legal hurt. Pepper spray is actually the most effective thing we have at stopping a charge and has the nice bonus that if you misjudged the situation and didn't really need to use it, you won't face any legal consequences. Just keep in mind, I'm not talking about the little containers you can buy for self-defense, I'm talking about the much stronger, large bear spray containers you can get at outdoor stores (don't buy the wrong stuff and assume it will work).
Anyway, if you are looking for specific tent suggestions, other than those I posted here with big vestibules that might be able to shelter your bike, I'm not going to make another list. I've put some serious list of my top contenders on other posts in this thread. Any of them would make good selections for anyone considering camping off a motorcycle.
