Springbar Type Tent

G-Hought3

G-Hought3

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Springbar is the main one I know of but I’m sure there are others similar. Looking for something with a stove jack so I can camp with my wife and two young boys. Do you guys have any options that you’ve loved? Is a wall tent better for any reason? Is there enough room in a Springbar for a family of 4? I’d mostly be truck camping with this tent, except for when I take horses back in, but when I do that it would be without the kids.
Thanks!
 
I recently bought a Teton Mesa 10x14 and I’m really happy with it. It looks like they’re on sale right now.
 
It doesn’t look like the Teton or the Mesa have options for a stove jack. Is that correct or what have you guys done??
 
I have the 10x14 Kodiak Canvas. I really like it. Not sure you can put a stove jack in it. I’m guessing it would void any warranty if you modified it. They have the lodge model, but that’s more like a wall tent, I think.

10x14 says 8 man. 5 is about as many as I’d want in there. If you had a stove, it would be more like 3-4 people max.
 
I have a 10x14 Kodiak as well. I don't think I've ever had more than two people staying in it. I think 4+ people would be too many if you're spending much time in it.
When I use mine, it's typically too cold to sit outside and it's later in the year when the sun is down by 6ish. I have a 6 foot table on one end with my stove and food prep area. On the other end I have a bunk cot for two people. Then I have my propane heater and two chairs, and I think it's a good fit. But if I were to add a 3rd person, 3rd cot, 3rd chair, it would be tight.
The walls on those spring bar tents have an angle to them, so 10x14 isn't really 10x14. At waist height, it's more like 8.5x12.5.
I think if I were shopping for a tent again I'd be looking for something with vertical walls. I'd probably go with the same size, but that's because I'd rarely have more than 2-3 people staying in it.
 
We went with the 12x12 Alaknak four our family. We use the Disco Bed Cots. It works really well for 4 and with our oversized stove it will flat cook you out. Add the front porch for cooking and boots and it works well. We also ran the floor liner and roof protector etc. It has been a great option for longer weekend and family's trips etc. We got creative with folding tables, hangers etc. To maximize the space. As long as you allow it to vent condensation is not an issue..
 
I have the Kodiak 10x14. You can fit 4 cots in it. It's tight and you have to put each persons gear under the cots but it's a comfortable night on a cot with a little space at the head to run a teat heater. It is a great tent. I've woke up to 8" of snow on it and it takes it like a champ. Sturdy in the wind too.
 
Remember a wood stove will take up at least a 5’x5’ area of the tent.
If you are using late season, like mentioned above, it may be too cold out to cook in the dark or hang out out side of the tent so keep that in mind as well when deciding on size.
 
I have the 10x14 Spring bar family camper.

I also have a 12x14 wall tent with wood stove.

The family camper is good for my family of 4.

Those tents are flexible in the wind, and not a good idea to modify them. (I know people will argue that point)

I can set up my wall tent, with wood stove, arriving in camp to warming tent in about 2 hours.

I can do the spring bar by myself in less than 1 hour.

If you are dead set on a tent, with wood stove for your family, get a wall tent, and make sure it's bigger than 12x14.

3 people is tight, 2, with the ability to set up a small table and cook inside is doable.
 
This answers the wood stove question.
A221E8BB-96EF-45BA-A18A-86380022387D.png
 
I own 4 different wall tents and just love them. The wall tent is the way to go once it gets cold and weather sets in. The wood burning stove is awesome and keeps you and the tent comfortable and dry.

I have been researching the tents you mentioned and will be buying one this week. I have decided on the Kodiak 10x14. This tent will be for short weekends and two person early hunts where weather and cold is not an issue. Will be great for the wife and myself on short trips without the time of setting up the wall tents. I bought a Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater, 12 foot hose and filter and if needed can use the heater if temps drop or need to dry tent out after a good rain storm.

This tent will be awesome for my moose hunt that starts this Thursday until it colds down and gets worse weather in October and November. Also good for short weekend trips, early season antelope and muzzleloader deer hunts and summer weekend trips.

On my 7-10 day hunts it will always be the wall tents. A little more time to set up, but for extended hunts well worth it.
 
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have a 10X12 wall tent and a 12X18. With the stove two people is max in the 10x12. Unless you did a bunk cot, then might be able to have three fit. You'd have to keep stuff very organized. THe 12x18 is great for 3-4. 3 still feels like a lot of room, four is getting tighter. Have done five. No room in tent for lounging, its jstu sleeping and sitting on your cot, but doable.
 
I have a 35 year old spring bar that has served me and my friends/family very well. Lately, my son and I use it like ridge and slammy as a two man tent with plenty of space for food, chairs, cots etc. Oh and yes when the nights are cold we crank up the Buddy Heater! (I always include an empty powerade bottle for a night-time pee cup. At my age that's essential)

A real poor man's trailer!
 
Man this is some great feedback! Thanks for all the comments. I’m torn between the 10x14 Kodiak and the wall tent now. Sounds like I’d be pushing the limits of the Kodiak with 4 people, but where my boys are 2 and a newborn maybe getting them a double bunk cot we’d have some great space. I like the idea of sticking with the easy to set up tent and just using a mr buddy heater rather than a wood burning stove for truck camping.
 
Just bought a kodiak 10X14 at Cabel's last night. The Lehi store had 10 of them on the floor. Will try it out this weekend with wife scouting/hunting moose. Plenty warm. Probably no heater and no start to any rutting for a bit. Will try out tent and learn roads, rivers and area.
 
I also have the 10x14 Kodiak and love it and I've had my wife and two boys in it but there isn't much room for any gear after you get the bed setup and it also doesn't have a stove jack. I have a toy hauler as well that we use 99% of the time I have stayed in the alaknaks as well both the 12x12 and the 12x20 and that is the route I would go if I didn't have a toy hauler because they are more roomy, have a stove jack and also can be setup with one person.
 
We pass a guy every year headed elk hunting. He has the Kodiak with a stove jack.

Haven't stopped to ask him who did it.
 
I have the Springbar Family Camper 10'X14'. It's been an exceptional tent that has endured some extreme conditions. No stove jack though.
 
littlebighorn said:
I have a 35 year old spring bar that has served me and my friends/family very well. Lately, my son and I use it like ridge and slammy as a two man tent with plenty of space for food, chairs, cots etc. Oh and yes when the nights are cold we crank up the Buddy Heater! (I always include an empty powerade bottle for a night-time pee cup. At my age that's essential)

A real poor man's trailer!
Click to expand...
TMI LBH Did you notice the poweraid/gatoraid went from 32 to to 28 oz? How am I suppose to get my "package" in a 28oz in the middle of the night??
 
I also have a 10×14 kodiak canvas. We love the tent. Its simple to set up and take down. We have had 4 cots in it, and we take a little buddy heater just to take the chill out at night and first thing in the morning. I think you could put a stove jack in yourself, but it would take up some room when using the stove. If it's going to be cold and we want heat all night, we have an old wall tent with a stove in it.
 
You can’t beat a wall tent. But they are bigger and much harder (IE time consuming) to set up.

My family of 5 and a dog fit in my 10x14 kodiak just fine. I have an XL cot and there are two other regular sized cots. Two of the kids and the dog sleep on the floor. Bags/gear go under the cots. There definitely isn’t room for a table and chairs in there with the 5 of us, but that’s what outside is for when family camping.

I would not want 5 people in there for a week hunting. But 3 on cots could easily fit and have oodles of room inside. This edition as a 2-man would be the Taj Mahal.

I really wanted a 16x20 wall tent when I was getting my current tent, but knew I’d be limited on where I could put it, and this kodiak works great for what I needed.

We were out recently with a large group, and a big wind storm came through in the middle of the night. One of the trailers woke up worried about us and shined the spotlight over to make sure we didn’t get blown away. The tent barely moved and I was the only one that even woke up from the noise.

As far as heating: just be careful not to run the Mr Buddy heater all night unless you have a carbon monoxide detector and other safety precautions in place. You can buy them for pretty cheap. I know the Mr Buddy says it has automatic shutoffs, etc built in. I would not trust my life to it. I only have ever run one while we are awake to take the bite off in the tent. I have a 0° bag to keep warm if needed.
 
bowhunter3 said:
Man this is some great feedback! Thanks for all the comments. I’m torn between the 10x14 Kodiak and the wall tent now. Sounds like I’d be pushing the limits of the Kodiak with 4 people, but where my boys are 2 and a newborn maybe getting them a double bunk cot we’d have some great space. I like the idea of sticking with the easy to set up tent and just using a mr buddy heater rather than a wood burning stove for truck camping.
Click to expand...
Something else to think about is if your wife and children are ok with bugs, mice, reptiles etc getting into your tent/ bedding. If not an issue go with a floor-less wall tent. Other wise a Kodiak tent is easier to put up than a wall tent with a floor. I use both types depending on the time of year and who is with me.
 
We have used the 10X14 Kodiak for years, use an electric space heater, plugged into a solar powered inverter/battery set up for heat. It'll run on low heat for 10 hours. Bunk cots, PVC pipe clothes rods, small folding table and chairs. Also a cooking canopy out one entrance, peepee teepee out the other. Got to take care of the daughters!
 
I second the springbar tent and buddy heater approach. I have 2 10x10 tents and when hunting for long periods of a week or more with a buddy I setup 2 easy up canopies as a common area for cooking and dry storage/quad parking and then setup each tent at the opposite ends of the common area so each guy gets his own room. Each guy gets a folding chair, an oversized cot and a BIG buddy heater. I prefer the 16ounce propane bottles as they seem to be more reliable than the bulk tank hoses. We also setup a separate poop and shower shelter. For camping for just a couple days or with the wife and a kid the single tent will do fine. As mentioned by others the use of cots allows for storage underneath which maximizes space in the tent. keep the heater within arms reach of your cot so you can turn it on without leaving your sleeping bag in the morning.

If you go the springbar tent or grizzly approach with a buddy heater be sure to bring a carbon monoxide alarm even if you turn the heater off at night which you should. Also, get a ground protector canvas tarp the size of the tent from the manufacturer to preserve the vulnerable floor and it also helps with planning where to put the actual tent before you set it up. Even on the apringbar the floors can get holes pretty easily from sticks and rocks. Finally, buy some drill/screw in tent stakes from Amazon. you can install them easily and quickly for all the tents and canopies but most importantly they are way easier to remove from hard ground which used to be the suckiest aspect of my springbars in Arizona. .You just need to bring a cordless drill to screw them in with.

And for those with big bladders and fatter "packages", the Gold Peak tea bottles hold at least 32 ounces with a nice wide spout. nothing worse than running out of piss space at 3am midstream or forcing a bratwurst in a straw ?

Ryan
 
I think there's a reason I see a lot of kodiak canvas tents in the hunting woods. I am currently using my 10x14 for the whole month. Once this one craps out, (if it does) i will be buying the deluxe model.
 
This is my 14’X16’ wall tent. I can fit 4 cots comfortably and still have room for my outfitter size cylinder stove and a full kitchen with a 3 burner camp chef stove with plenty of room to move around. Its a big heavy set up. Tent and poles weigh around 150 lbs and takes a big flat area to set up. Rollin the tent up and stuffin it in the duffle bag is like putting a condom on an elephant. But it’s worth it for the comfort it provides on a long hunt with clients. I’ve spent many long hunts in it solo too. I just picked up a 10’X14’ Kodiak the other day for short trips with just me and my wife and our two dogs. Haven’t had a chance to use it yet. If we don’t like it we’ll go back to packin the wall tent.

E9CE0DB3-6719-4E7B-AAB9-4ADAC1CB369D.jpeg
 

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