MYOG SW – Duplex style

[Hoosier T]

So I’m looking to make a big a** family tent because we’re going to start taking the little one this year (she’s 2 1/2) and we will certainly have at least one more child so I’m looking to make something durable for longevity yet lighter than a traditional family tent. So I’m thinking of making it like a Zpacks Triplex but bigger. Basically an A frame where you sleep sideways and has a door on each end. Thinking that a starting point would be a 12 x 8 tarp (yes, 12′ wide) as this should allow a floor size of roughly 96″ x 96″. It would basically be an even wider Triplex. I’m thinking of using 1.1 Silpoly PU4000 for the canopy and 1.6 Silpoly for the floor. I know this is heavier than necessary but with kids messing around inside I don’t want to take any chances. By my math, even with the heavier materials and two doors, I should be able to keep think monster at around 40-45oz which is much better than the typical 6-10 lbs for family tents. I would use zippers for the doors as well, unlike Zpacks.

So what are your thoughts on this idea? Has anyone ever made something like this?

[JCH]

Sounds like a great idea, but I think getting the pole height correct will be critical. I would think they will need to be big’uns.

[Jerry Adams]

that would be easy to mock up with a piece of plastic.  To get the pole height correct

[Hoosier T]

Yea I will use painters cloth or tyvek first but I’m currently drawing it up in Sketchup. I will not be using pole extenders so my peak height will be 52″ so it will be plenty of head room.

[Jerry Adams]

might be short for a family

okay if you want to optimize low weight

[J-L]

Why use SilPoly PU4000 for the canopy? It is weaker than normal SilPoly fabric. And at 1.4 oz/sq-yd, it doesn’t save any weight over normal 30D silnylon (which would be much more robust)

The only tent I can think of that is remotely similar is the Tarptent Hogback. Most large, lightweight family tents seem to be big pyramid tarps. It might be worth looking into pole extenders – an extra 6” – 12” of peak height could dramatically improve livability

[Hoosier T]

Why use SilPoly PU4000 for the canopy? It is weaker than normal SilPoly fabric. And at 1.4 oz/sq-yd, it doesn’t save any weight over normal 30D silnylon (which would be much more robust)

I much prefer silpoly due to the taught pitch and lack of stretching when wet. I don’t think the tarp itself need to be overly strong so I figured the extra HH of the PU4000 would be nice. I’m more concerned with the durability of the floor and netting so I’ll be using a heavier noseeum as well.

The only tent I can think of that is remotely similar is the Tarptent Hogback. Most large, lightweight family tents seem to be big pyramid tarps. It might be worth looking into pole extenders – an extra 6” – 12” of peak height could dramatically improve livability

Keep in mind that this will have a straight ridgeline the length of the tent/tarp so the 52″ height will exist for the entire 96″ width of the sleeping area. I feel like this will be a palace since huge, heavy family tents like the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 4 also have a peak height of 52″ but it only exists in the very center since it has a true peak. The Duplex/Triplex have 48″ peak height and I feel like the general consensus is that they provide a ton of headroom. Is that not the case?

[William Chilton]

I think this tent sounds similar to what you’re planning.

[Hoosier T]

Excellent, yes it is!

[Jesse Anderson]

Hoosier,

When you get to the sewing part, I would love some pics or at least an explanation of how you sew up the peaks of the shelter. Every time I contemplate making a tent, I get intimidated by those tight corners where the poles would go and I chicken out.

[Hoosier T]

I don’t plan on getting too fancy for the peaks. Once the tarp is sewn and the front beak sewn on (single zipper like the Bearpaw canopy or Trekkertent stealth) I just plan to glue a circular patch of HyperD right into the peak. Probably a 5-6″ diameter. Since I plan to use Silpoly PU4000 and PU coating of the HyperD 300 will glue right on with Sean grip so no additional stitching will be needed for reinforcing the peak.

[Andrew Waight]

I use a Big Agnes Rebranded Shangri-La3 (+nest) for family backpacking (wife and girls 6 and 2). The tent is 55sq ft on the inside and weighs 53oz  (using hiking poles for the center post). I think the center pole is 60+ inches so has nice headroom. I think its just about perfect design wise and but would love to have a PU4000 version because I too like it drum tight all night.

[Hoosier T]

Andrew, don’t you have issues with a center pole and children? I would love to have a huge Mid but the combination of a single pole and children truly frightens me. :)

[Andrew Waight]

You mean like knocking it over? With the stakes all in and the pole in the apex pocket its pretty darn rigid and I think it would be quite hard to knock over especially for little girls. But you’re right…I think having a pole in the center is the single biggest drawback to the pyramid format. Its hard to beat that living space though…..the Tarptent rainshadow comes close with 42sqft of space and 48inches at its peak all for 42oz….. Henry Shires is good at shelter design.

[d k]

Are you talking doors at head and feet, or doors alongside the two outer sleepers?  Your description in the first post makes it sounds like the former, which I think would make it too low for the outer sleepers.  If everyone is sleeping at right angles to the 52″peak, though, then you will have tons of headroom.  My duplex-oid myog is pitched at 52-54″ pole height, which feels palatial.

[Hoosier T]

Yea it will be doors next to the outer sleepers so all four people can sit up along the ridge line. Think Triplex for four (quadraplex?) and made out of silpoly and that’s what I’m hoping to end up with. Same concept though where everyone sleeps perpendicular to the ridge line.

[d k]

That should be a great family tent, given that 2 of the 4 people are not full size – otherwise, 24″ width per person wouldn’t be much for adults.  Even the 50″ for a duplex is a bit snug for many people’s taste when sharing with another adult.  And wtih 52″ pole height, it will be very nice in terms of headroom.  Looking forward to seeing pictures of it (fully stocked with family members!).

[Hoosier T]

Alright so I need some build advice here. I’m struggling to decide how this should all be put together and have never seen a duplex or SMD haven in person. So…I assume I should just start with the canopy and built it like a normal flat tarp with the usual rolled hems and reinforcements. Then, I will take the doors/vestibules and do the same then just double stitch the two together? Also, given this design, will my inner/net doors get sewn right on the same seam and should I sandwich the netting between the canopy and doors then just sew it all in a big sandwich? Lastly, how many rolls do the nosseum edges need?

Thanks in advance!

[Lydia K]

Hi Hoosier, I just wrote up a very long-winded explanation of how I plan to do this in my tent planning thread, but I’d definitely be interested to hear what anyone else has to say on the matter.  The only lightweight tents I’ve seen in person are Tarptents, it would be nice to know what other manufacturers do.  When do you plan do start building your tent?  I’ll be starting this weekend (need to have it ready for a trip that starts on the 30th – yikes!), so perhaps after I get going I’ll have some good lessons learned to share. :)

[Christian K]

Resurrecting am old post here…

 

Did this ever get built?

[Marko M]

So I just made duplex like tent.  It is a roomy 2 person.  Check it out, i tried to film as i went along.  There are two parts  , part one is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK5-XZOB51c&t=32s  , and overview is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlzHrxMnLdw&t=8s

[Sam Farrington]

“Why use SilPoly PU4000 for the canopy? It is weaker than normal SilPoly fabric. And at 1.4 oz/sq-yd, it doesn’t save any weight over normal 30D silnylon (which would be much more robust)”

Agree.  Am looking at sil coated polyester (silpoly) for upper portions of a tent, because it does not sag like nylon does when humidity rises.  But for a tent floor, 6.6 silnylon, around 20-30D, is much more durable and abrasion proof, and it can’t sag because it’s on the ground already. The RBTR 1 oz 6.6 nylon, spec’d at 1.24 oz/sq/yd looks good, and should be tough enough to save carrying a groundcloth.

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