I am considering how to set up a permanent arrangement for an off-grid tent for myself and my 1 year old son. Not homeless, but I work in the city and I don't want to live there as well!
We have been living in a caravan on a campsite in the middle of the woods over the winter. It no longer suits our needs for space, particularly as my son is turning into a toddler. I think I have a set up in mind, but would appreciate some advice from the seasoned campers amongst you!
I am considering buying an Emperor Bell Tent, for the space and head room, then buying an inner partition to turn one corner into a bedroom. The tent would be mounted on a platform (possibly using pallets, unsure yet) to insulate it, then fitted with a carpet.
I have looked at several wood stoves that could be installed (frontier, blaze etc) and would probably install it in the centre of the main space rather than a side wall, to increase the all around heat output, and flue efficiency. Then obviously a 360 childproof fireguard, which I'll probably make by welding a few together.
For power I'm looking at putting in several 5 watt LED lights, and powering them through lead acid battery rigged up to solar panels. I haven't finalised the solar set up yet, and need to work out how much power I need. We have access to hot showers and washing facilities through the campsite, thank goodness. I think I'd also have a petrol generator for winter back up. The site is empty in winter, and the owners have already confirmed the noise wouldn't be an issue during daytime, giving me time to recharge the battery while I'm at work.
I'd appreciate any advice from others with experience of having a wood stove in a tent long term, living in a tent, or anything that seems dodgy in my working plan so far. I have already organised the pitch with the campsite owners, and am aware of the legalities of campsite living, so I don't need advice in that arena. We are good friends with the site owners and managers, and would always have their house only a few hundred metres away in case of fire or inclement weather damaging the tent.
Thanks!
Frank
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I have no experience in this but good luck... looking from the outside it all sounds like a good plan. Maybe use some foam that builders use to insulate stud walls in the space in the pallets. Pallets will be perfect for the floor, long screws with big washers instead of pegs would probably work.
My biggest concern would be the fire and your child but I'm sure you will work that out.
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
Are you going to frame out an area as if you are laying a deck, then using the pallets as flooring material? The Emperor is quite big, but you could make the floor area bigger so you have a sun deck (being optimistic about the sun) all around the tent, plus would help keep the tent clean from mud splash in heavy rain.
It's likely your tent will have some mould growth on the outside when using for a whole year. It will affect the life span of your tent. Most tents are only used for maybe 30 nights out of a whole year, hence they last several years until the fabric degrades through UV or environmental degradation - yours will be exposed to the lot for a long time.
What's wrong with your caravan? If it is sound, and you don't like it - are you handy? Strip it out and put it back the way you like it.
Lastly, whatever wood burning stove you use, spend a few ££'s on a carbon monoxide detector.
I was just about to say the same as ladycake. There is a thread, they had a couple of children. On the thread they had put put photos on the thread of their tent and set up.
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
Quote: Originally posted by Campernic on 28/2/2016
Are you going to frame out an area as if you are laying a deck, then using the pallets as flooring material? The Emperor is quite big, but you could make the floor area bigger so you have a sun deck (being optimistic about the sun) all around the tent, plus would help keep the tent clean from mud splash in heavy rain.
It's likely your tent will have some mould growth on the outside when using for a whole year. It will affect the life span of your tent. Most tents are only used for maybe 30 nights out of a whole year, hence they last several years until the fabric degrades through UV or environmental degradation - yours will be exposed to the lot for a long time.
What's wrong with your caravan? If it is sound, and you don't like it - are you handy? Strip it out and put it back the way you like it.
Lastly, whatever wood burning stove you use, spend a few ££'s on a carbon monoxide detector.
Thanks for the point about the mould and canvas degradation! I'm hoping the tent will last that long actually -- more concerned that it might come down in a strong wind.
The caravan isn't ours, it belongs to the site managers. They have a limit on the number of static caravans they can have on-site, and they've reached the limit so they told us they're planning on destroying it. It's ancient, and only a two berth, so the news was really the push I needed to get out of that tiny space and look for a decent sized piece of canvas. It has felt like a VERY long winter, trying to entertain a crawling baby in such a tiny space, and he needs more room for his development, so I thought a tent was really the only way to go.
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Quote: Originally posted by heath63 on 28/2/2016
I was just about to say the same as ladycake. There is a thread, they had a couple of children. On the thread they had put put photos on the thread of their tent and set up.
Might be a few helpful tips amongst that lot... pretty sure it all went well for them, in the end, and they came back to update us now and again, with a few pics.
If they are going to destroy it, ask if you can have it and you sell it. Ancient two berthers are quite desirable especially if they are quite 'vintagy' looking as people do them up as garden retreats etc. It will have a value.
Regarding the wind, I have a 4m Bell Tent and it has withstood some really high winds!
A two piece pole can be reinforced by cable-tieing a broom handle to it across the join. This is an extreme measure to strengthen a pole if you deem it not to be sturdy enough. Wooden poles are stronger than hollow steel ones. If you are going to put in a support pole you could do this early in anticipation of wind and maybe incorporate some hooks in to the design for storage?
The main thing is don't camp under a tree, as in high wind a branch could come crashing through your ceiling. If the area is known to be windy (as in it's high ground) then find a hedge or wall to pitch adjacent to on the prevailing windward side.
I've even used my car as an improvised wind deflector when needs arise.
There are some YouTube videos if you search for "Living in. A Bell tent for 8 months". You can see that the canvas suffers some mildew, but her set up with stove looks quite comfy. Friends of mine had lived in yurts and tip is for 1-2 years quite successfully, there is lots of advice on YouTube.
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Google wood burners for awnings you will find all the info you need regarding fires don't forget the neoprene fire sleeve. Try and get ex army belltent built to stand tank shells Haha good luck
Quote: Originally posted by Hacksaw Bob on 28/2/2016
Yes, I think this was the first of several threads* about this.
*they seem to have different titles so you'll probably need to use tinhouse69's Profile rather than the "Search" button.
That's not the thread, its a different one, I'm thinking of. But it is townhouse thread.
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
Quote: Originally posted by Hacksaw Bob on 28/2/2016Yes, I think this was the first of several threads* about this.
*they seem to have different titles so you'll probably need to use tinhouse69's Profile rather than the "Search" button.
That's not the thread, its a different one, I'm thinking of. But it is townhouse thread.
Several of these threads are updates on the one I linked to.
There was a blog last year from a family who set out to spend a year under canvas. They started off with the Emperor but the main poles broke during high wind. They got replacements, but ended up using two tents instead - a Soulpad bell tent and an expensive Scandinavian model. http://awildyear.co.uk/
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Permanent Tent for a Year?
