Hi all,
Looking for some advice on a 4p, 3-Pole, Single-Wall A-frame Tent and whether there are any red flags with this design.
I was previously playing around with ‘mid designs for a 4p tent to use for my family (2 adults, 2 kids) or my 3-man adventures with buddies. I had settled on something similar to a MLD Mondomid w/ perimeter net and a detachable bathtub floor, and a peak height of about 6’8″. However, I’m worried about a few things with having a tent that large, and mainly wondering if “living” space will be a major issue.
I recently went back to the idea of making an A-frame style single wall shelter (like GG’s the Two or the Zpacks Duplex), but making it wider to fit 4 people and using 3 trekking poles (or 2 poles and a CF pole). I think in most circumstances, 2 sets of poles (i.e. 4 poles) would be available. The center pole is to increase the ridgeline from what otherwise would be natural sagging. I know I’d have to taper the panel edges correctly.
Here’s some of my thoughts:
- Bathtub floor: 8′ x 7’8″x8″
- 2 outer poles at 48″ tall, center pole at 54″
- Zpacks style overlapping doors (no zipper).
- Sewn in mesh doors.
- Mesh at head and foot to increase ventilation.
- Materials: 0.93 oz membrane silpoly, 1.1 oz or 1.9 oz (30D or 70D) silnylon bathtub, and 0.67 oz noseeum mesh. Probably would choose the 1.1 oz nylon and a polycro sheet underneath.
- Nominal weight of the fabrics using actual OSY values is about 32 oz. Add another 25% for cordage, tie outs, seam seal, etc. and that brings my total to 40 oz (2.5 lb) w/o stakes and poles.
- I’d like to include a top vent too, but that might be a little tricky.
Here are some general pictures (cut away and fly/vestibule):
Alternatively, are there any issues using just two poles (and nixing the center pole) and raising them up to 54″ to account for the ridgeline curve? An 8 ft span seems pretty long to me, but I see that distance on tarps all the time. Any issues with condensation inside the tent funneling towards the center of the ridgeline and getting rained on?
