I am planning to buy a new wall tent for a fall moose hunt. I’ll also use the tent for deer hunting in November and weather can be cold and snowy here.

I have been looking at several companies and Davis tents seem to have the best prices. I’m strongly leaning toward purchasing one of their 12x14 canvas wall tents.

Does anyone have experience with Davis tents? Any recommendations on options that would be useful?

If you're going to use it for a long term camp, buy the rain fly, the awning, and a stove.

I bought a Panther Primatives 12x16 in 1993 and it has been a very good tent. It is white and lets in a lot of light. We have been warm and cozy in sub-zero weather, over a foot of snow, and high winds.

A friend purchased a 16x14 Davis that was very nice. The extra 2 feet in width was a real benefit in my opinion. We had four hunters with winter gear and a cylinder stove in my 12x16 tent and it would get a little tight. That extra 2 feet in my tent would have been nice. Get a stove jack! Buy a good frame. This is truly a lifetime investment.

You want to consider side wall height (I like 5 feet), seasons you will be camping (more space is nice but you have to heat it in cold weather), roof pitch to handle the snow, and space. If you get one that's too small, you may mumble to yourself when you get cramped. But you can pitch another smaller tent or two for gear and buddies with gas. If you get a tent that's too big, you will eventually quit taking it and wish you had a smaller tent.

Doug

Thanks Frank. Good suggestions.

Don't own a Davis, but they've been in business a long time. To do that, I expect they have a good product.

Davis makes good stuff. I am sure you have but check out Montana Canvas, Colorado Tent & Awning, Canvas Cabins, and Reliable.

Four Dog stoves are some of the best wall tent stoves I have come across. I have the three dog and five dog models. He runs an internal baffle that increases efficiency noticeably.

Rain flys are worth the money and I would consider an extended fly to have a lace to store wood, cook, ect. outside your tent. If you have the money, consider an actual cook shack that butts up to your entrance.

Tent options to consider- Doors on both ends for safety and emergencies. Windows on both sides opposing the doors for ventilation. Colorado door, to protect the door zipper. at least 5' wall height which gives you a lot more head room in the tent. Make sure and ask what the "finished" wall height is. Most companies, like Davis, cut their material at 5' and then sew, which means you get anywhere from 2-4" short. Not a deal breaker, but you need to know what you are actually getting. Internal frames are great. I have just ordered the angles and built my own out of conduit, but would like the pre-made one's some day. Lodgepole is fine for a frame as well. I always ask how they reinforce their tents at corners, ridge, eves, ect. Everybody has their own reasons for what they do ,but there is a difference here between Davis and others. I never cared for their "weak link theory" here, but they still make a nice tent.

A lot of the companies will have extra tents not advertised discounted if you call them. Anyway, hope this helps a little, but you are heading in the right direction with Davis. Feel free to pm me with any questions. You will love your wall tent.

Rick, the awning essentially gives you an extra room. You can pull your boots off outside, leave gear outside, eat outside. Even lounge around if it gets rainy.

Check out Beckel Canvas, I have two that have served me well for 25 years

I looked long and hard at Davis, drooled over their site for years before finally going another route and buying a Kodiak Canvas tent and retrofitting it with a stove jack. I do remember Davis usually had monthly specials and if you hit it right you could really get a good deal on the tent you're looking for.

Also, for what it's worth, I don't believe Four-dog is building stoves any more except titanium. I bought mine there this winter and talked personally with Don and his wife, and it sounds like they're really trying to wind down and retire...I may be wrong, but if that's the stove you're thinking of I'd call him sooner than later.

I have the same tent. Love it. Just buy the angles if you will be using a frame set up and cut your own EMT. Easy and cheaper.

Get the rain fly as stated.

Really love mine I'll see if I can find some pics.

Greg

I've had a Davis tent for 10 years (bought it when i retired). It's a 14'x16' with rain fly and awning extension of 8'. With the tent I ordered a second door (screened) plus two windows to aid in cross ventilation in warmer weather.

I initially went with their 3/4 floor but a couple of years ago purchased the full floor that has a zipper opening when using the wood stove.

Two years ago I called and had them made two side extensions that I attached with zip locks to enclose the sides of the fly. The two pictures show the set up.

I guess I have to have a second message to post the second photo. I'll also add I got this size (14'x16') as I can set it up by myself if needed.

It is spacious as I've had four hunters, the wood stove, plus a 6' table in the middle and it works fine for extended trips.

One last picture shows the inside from a trip last fall.

more pics

Another

Great pics...makes a guy wish it was Fall!

Have you guys seen a noticeable difference in the 10oz vs 12oz tents? Are 12oz worth the extra expense?

I would go 12oz. you would see the difference long term. The important thing there is whether or not the canvas is a single or double fill. Some companies offer from 8 to 15oz.

What does single or double fill mean?

I also went back and forth on ordering a Davis for several years. Just didn't know if I would use it enough to justify the cost. I finally ordered it and a cylinder stove in 2013 and have enjoyed it immensely! I got the 14 X 16 and have had four guys in cots, a wood stove and folding table set up in it and had plenty of room. I have lost count of how many weeks I have spent in it by now but I know I have had it set up in four different states now and spent over four weeks in it at one stretch in Utah last year.

I have set it up and taken it down by myself several times and can have my whole camp set up, cots, stove, awning and all in about an hour and a half with out busting my butt. Two people and we had it set up last fall in about 50 minutes.

I like the external poles as I think it is easier to set up by myself. I made mine from wood once the tent came in.

The guys from Davis are a pleasure to deal with and I can recommend them 100%.

The only upgrade that I have made so far is in my stove. I don't remember the brand of cylinder stove that I had but it just would not heat the tent. I called Four Dog stoves and got one in with the baffles and it will run you out of the tent.

My tent and stove are a couple of the best investments I have ever made.

I have had my 12 x 12 Reliable yellowstone tent, fly and a Colorado cylinder stove for 18 years. Use it in the summer, fall and winter. It has been nothing but........RELIABLE! TLM

The tarp on top allows the rain and snow to drain/slide off and keeps the tent a lot drier and warmer.

Here is my friend's Davis wall tent in action. He likes a lot of space!

How about this one

Here it shows the vent and stove jack

full screen front front

and 1/2 door with screed in back with window

I have had 2 Davis wall tents and this on has just as much room and head room and only 45# with 7.5 canvas. With one aluminum pole and only 20 to 30 min set up.

Carl

Sykshooter, do my eyes deceive me or was that nighttime shot a cover for TBM once upon a time??

Yeah that's the pits !

I wonder why we lost all the photos on here LW ?

All the threads with wall tent photo's where on the photos are all gone !

DS

Been using a rainer WT for 20 years. Like them all and ai stay in camp the entire elk season .I also place tarps over the tent fot extra wet weather protection.

Nice Tent deerspotter! Who makes it ? What model? Thanks TLM

It is a Torrent 10 X 12 , Full screen door front, Half screen door with side window in back. All kinds of tie outs inside. And a loop on the top so you don't have to use a poll on the center. And loop at front door for a cook fly. The Pole set I have is aluminum, 24 inches is what the polls breakdown to. One small pole in back and one in the front. And of course the one in the center. Easy set up of about 30 minutes if that. 2 dog stove for heat in the fall for hunting. I set it up once for those photos and have not used it for camping or it's never been in the woods. Both stove and tent are new. It is 7.5 canvas and the canvas is from India. It's the closest thing you can get to Egyptian cotton Canvas. tent and pole Wt. is 45Lb. I also have heat shields for the floor when using the stove. It's a great set up. I am 6' and can walk in the doors.

I had it up for sale on the classifieds, and I didn't have any takers on it. Shipping to most places in United States is about $100 for the tent. Stove is about $85

I had a few ask if It still for sale, yes it is.

Carl

Don’t know if anybody mentioned “wilderness “ tents yet. I bought mine last summer. It’s 16X20 with an 8’ porch. I got the extended fly and vinyl stake in floor also. Stove and Kevlar Mat too. Just google tent shop Idaho to find his site, there are several videos on there also.

Like mentioned above, get the angle kit but buy pipe at Lowe’s.

Here are things to consider when ordering.

* you can get free shipping if you order just angles instead of the whole frame. * there are package deals, like tent, fly, stove, angles that will save $$$ * I would do mildew protection instead of fire proof. * going to a bigger size doesn’t increase the price much. * get all you accessories which you main order because they are discounted if shipped with your tent. Things like, canvas pole bags, Kevlar stove mat, spark arrestor etc. * “Idaho tent shop” was the only one I could find that included canvas storage bags for your tent, fly and floor. I paid extra for my canvas pole bags. * I bought those poly foot lockers at tractor supply for storage(keep mice out) and to transport in my trailer.

Good luck, and feel free to pm me if you want to talk on the phone about it or have other questions. It might save you some research time.

PS, in my photo I had the fly pulled over Just the tent and not the porch because I didn’t realize that the fly had 2 stove pipe flaps. I had to wait for the snow to melt to spin it properly.

We need a scammer alert system on this thing LW.( that works )

And my comments are not even in the classified, some of these guys are just jerks. And a lot of them don't even have sentences that make sense. You really got to watch it on this site !!! Because some of them not very often are very sophisticated.

DS

Photo of porch

Inside, what a mess drying clothes after that September snow storm.

Craigslist is your friend. Last summer I picked up a Montana 16x20 with frame and stove for $500. Not bright white like a new tent but will work great for my hunting buddys and I for another 20 years. Picked up a military GP small w/stove for free. This is our cook tent. We keep the tents and all camp gear in an old covered snowmobile trailer ($200). We hook up to the trailer and head north. Easy and cheap.

T4

Wow halo, that is a great find! I have around 3500.00 invested in my setup.

I looked for used but they are tough to find in the eastern part of the country and most don’t want to deal with shipping something that heavy/large.

To be totally honest, I kinda wish I would have went a little smaller. Maybe 14x16 just for the ease of setting up solo....it is nice having the extra space though.

I had been looking for a wall tent for a couple months when this one popped up for sale. I called the fella and told him it was sold. I drove straight to his house (about an hour away) and gave the guy cash. The GP tent was from an old Army buddy. We built 5 bunk beds out of 2x4s and plywood that disassemble and stack in the trailer. Our floor is two RV awning mats that allow moisture to pass through. It’s a great set up. We had 10 in camp last year. A little tight but nobody complained.

T4

I'm excited for next weekend! Spring turkey camp. I'll be setting up my 12x14 Davis and will likely be in there by myself. It takes me about 2 hours to make camp with all my stuff and could probably hunt 6 or 7 comfortably though I will likely be solo this time. Why go through all the trouble to put up the big tent just for me??? Because it is nice that's why!

:-)

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