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Hey Guys and Gals, I am looking at building some tipi's and just wanted some of your opinions, for those of you that have used the various types of tipi's. If you could have a custom tipi made, to your specifications, what would you consider the top priority? (i.e. extra tie outs, certain height, etc.) Again, think of anything that you wish did or did not come on your existing tipi, and any changes you would make. Thanks in advance for any replies.
If I was making one it would be more like the Kifaru sawtooth. A guy has a template over on Rockslide.
This design has more room....but won't have the wind shedding ability of the catenary designs like the SL-5....but then it will have a lot more floor space.
I would sew in a mesh for a short sidewall just inside perimeter.
And I would put in big vents as the condensation is horrible in these
Are we talking about a traditional teepee or a tent like tipi?
If traditional I would consider a liner and ozan a necessity.
DiamondD, yes, I am gearing more towards making a tent style tipi. No doubt, Kifaru, TiGoat, SeekOutside, etc are all great companies and have great designs. My overall objective is to be able to make custom tipi's for those that prefer a tipi design, and be able to add floors, liners, tie outs, etc, etc, etc. Beendare, those are the suggestions I am looking for.
I can quickly think of several things which make a tipi excellent.
More vertical door (vs sloped-away zipper).
Pole tested to at least 60 mph or more wind gusts.
Stove jack placed according to customer's request.
Plenty of stake loops.
Exterior guy loops.
Interior clothes/dry-line.
Close-fitting liner which saves interior space.
Zipper(s) which do not leak or drip.
Factory-sealed exterior seams.
Optional sod/snow skirt.
I'm on the fence about a vent. After riding out a 5 day hurricane in the Fortymile mountains a vent would have been a pita. My stove-jack cover vibrated and buzzed like rattlesnake when the winds went over 25 mph which was most of the time. It was highly annoying. I hate condensation, but I currently would avoid vents if I wanted my shelter to hold up in wild mountain winds. Make them optional and design them to be secure AND quiet when open or closed.
Kevin Dill, all of your suggestions are ones that I am looking at incorporating or having an option to do .
Well to piggyback on what I said, i've thought long and hard on this and will be making something in the future.
I've owned the Golite Sl-5, a good light shelter but sold it to Rick M here- a good home I'm sure.
The 2 main issues I had were condensation and floorspace. If the SL-5 was pitched off the ground a foot- the floorspace doubled. So if a guy did a modified tipi design but with walls like a wall tent- that might be one heck of a design.
Now if the walls are too high, you lose some of the tipis stability and its ability to shed wind. I'm thinking about a foot or 18" but recessed from the outside perimeter a little. So in effect you have an eve protecting the wall if that makes sense.
Then place multiple vents so you can adjust ventilation. I ould sew in a bathtub floor to those walls, making the walls solid with big mesh windows that close solid, depends; Some guys like no floor..... in some areas the varmints are running across your bag all night long and its nice to be enclosed.
Bruce, I resemble that remark!! The tipi has served me well, thanks. Honestly I think the Cabela's tipi kinda resembles what you are talking about. Can't remember the name but it has 18" or so side walls. Put a stove jack in that design with a floor and zip out stove space and you would have something. It would not be a back pack tent however.
Rick M:)
I think Rick is right...everything comes with additional weight. There is probably a market for a rather deluxe tipi with short sidewalls, external guy-outs and other features as mentioned by Bruce. I'm honestly not sure how much market there would be on that high-end unit. I think a concern would be the ability to maintain a taut pitch on a large unit with inherent flexibility.
I'm relatively sure there is a market for custom tipis with multiple options. I personally think the success of such a venture would be tied to short production times of under 6 weeks.
It is the Outback Lodge. Had to go and look it up.
Yeah, I agree with you Kevin D. Cost and weight would be a big hurdle to jump. Light isn't cheap, and added stuff isn't light. My ultimate objective is to build an all purpose tipi design, that is both affordable and lightweight. I am working on some 1/2 scale models now to see just what I can and can't do. So far, I have made one with an awning for a porch area to get out of the weather, but not be confined to the inside of the tipi. I have made wide short ones, tall skinny ones, octagonal, pentagonal, one that was just a single piece of material similar to a traditional multi stick tipi, off-center ones, and a few others. All have their own quirks and a few out perform the others in other aspects.
Glad to hear Rick!
Well Cabelas doesn't make anything light...even their UL stuff is sort of heavy. Some of the math guys could probably calc how much one of these designs would weight by the total sqft of fabric.
I'm picturing something like one of those yurts...maybe less wall and more peak....giving a guy lots of floorspace
I think I see what you are talking about Beendare. If you have a "wall" about 18" - 24" you really do gain a lot of floor space if needed, and if it is not needed, you could stake out the tipi at the "top" of the "wall" and then you would get a semi floor by folding the excess to the inside. Something like this crude drawing?
hmmmmm.... vertical door.... side walls....usable floor space... stove jack....
I know! A wall tent! =D
Sorry, couldn't help myself... carry on.... TTT
TLong, If you pitch the wall unit 'tipi style' and fold the walls inside, I can see a problem coming. Condensation will run down the inside slopes and gather on top of the inward-folded wall, pooling there.
Only a guess: By the time you add 18" vertical walls and a sod/snow skirt, plus the tie-outs and additional seaming required, you could be doubling the weight of the simple tipi (fabric only). This would definitely take it out of the realm of packability for elk and backcountry guys using legs-only.
I'd have to wonder how tight the walled version would pitch, and how much wind-flop would occur compared to a same-sized simple tipi pitched beside it?
Rick M's Link
Well that did not work. Look up the Outback Lodge at Cabelas. It is pretty much your exact drawing
Well heres a picture of Ricks tent...when I was testing it for him in U76 on an elk hunt- grin. Notice the catenary cut that swoops low to the ground [doesn't show it well in this pic]...it really eats up appx 12" of the whole perimeter of the footprint. Even a short 12" high wall would solve that.
Now the SL-5 tent is pretty big so it still works for 2 guys but I had issues with the condensation soaking anything in that outer perimeter. Less of an issue if you pitch it higher...but then it gets breezy.
I'm thinking something similar to R Longs excellent drawing on the left...but with these mods; 1.Less of a peak- its raised so you don't need that pointed of a upper pyramid, 2. Bring the wall in a couple inches from the perimeter forming a eve on the outside perimeter that is catenary cut between guy outs. This will keep it tight as a drum in the upper pyramid...if the walls aren't banjo tight- no worry.
My Davis herder has the roof hanging over the walls like I describe. Its square, with taller walls..but very stable...tho the square design puts a lot of pressure on the corners for its stability where a round shape equalizes that.
Just thinking....its going to be tough getting all of those sections perfectly equal without any puckering on a round tent.
There has to be a solution to the problem. There always is. I'm sure vents or a liner will solve most of the condensation issues that may arise. Beendare, I have seen canvas tents like that before, and while functional, are quite heavy. Lower guy out points on your first pic would help with the droop of the tent. If Rick still has it, you can easily add guy outs anywhere you wanted, without damaging the tent.