Bison Tundra 8 - Too big?

[Matt Weir]

Hi,

I am ordering a Bison Tundra 8 and stove. I want to accommodate 4 plus dog and kit and feel the 4 would not be big enough.

Has anyone got an opinion?

 

[w00dsmoke]

Hi,

I am ordering a Bison Tundra 8 and stove. I want to accommodate 4 plus dog and kit and feel the 4 would not be big enough.

Has anyone got an opinion?

Cheers Matt,

Well I bought a Tinde 8 a while ago and to be honest it is huge however, when camping in the summer with my wife and 2 kids and dog, it was,nt too big. It gave everyone plenty room to spread out, hang their wet gear up and still allow plenty area at the entrance for getting in and out aswell as having a dedicated kitchen/stores area! But hey to be honest, it's too big for just my wife, myself and the dog on our own uless we are away for many days. I love mine to bits although I'm thinking about buying a tundra 4...

WS

 

[Matt Weir]

Cheers Woodsmoke,

Is it much of a pain tto set-up as I feel that would be the only real issue I can see?

Plus do you have the stove and do you think it would take much more to heat the 8 compared to the 4?

 

[w00dsmoke]

Hi Matt,

yes initially it can be quite an issue, not because it's complecated
but because of the size of the tent. It's best with two but it can be done alone.
You can make it easier, for example, I sewed the top
cap onto the webbing top of the tipi as it was a nightmare in the wind
to slide up and tie off, impossible on yourt own in the wind, but hey once
sewn on it was no problems.

Best way for me was

1. spread base out

2. Spread the tipi out and peg the cross shaped webbing guides
on the base (over the base) and then push the pole up in the middle

You can see the webbing straps on the base in this photo

This is a wild camp in GlenEtive, you can see the cap on the top,
I don't know if it's the same with Tundra's but if the caps are loose
like the tinde's i'd sew it on with linen thread and tie the cap on and
leave it that way when you pack up.

I didn't buy the stove as I bought the Tinde which is silnylon,
although they say it can be used with a stove I didn't bother,
too risky, however I use a huge meths burner inside or an enclosed
charcoal bucket. One or two things to be wary of is you will need
to find a huge bit of flat ground for it to go up on and the guy lines are
very poor quality. I'm replacing all of mine with decent paratype cord.
My pole was lightweight and it bent in the wind when I never guyed
the tipi out one weekend, to be fair it was not even a strong wind but
because the tipi acts like a huge sail the forces on the pole are immense.
I bought a replacement steeel pole from Bison which has been fine.
the only other rpoblem that I found was that the lower skirt would flap
about causing some serious draughts in the wind, I usually get around
this by placeing stones around the inside but thats a lot of stones,
maybe pegging would be a better option but to do that you'd need a lot of
pegs and a lot of brass eyelets to be put in.

Hope this doesn't put you off, they are fab tents for the price and they
really are great fun esp if canoe camping or car hawling!

WS

 

[Matt Weir]

Cheers WS,

I've gone and ordered the Tundra 8 and stove from Oliver (Solitude on here) at madbearoutdoors.co.uk.

Looks like I got the last of his next shipment that is due in in 10 days. I haven't ordered the groundsheet as most have said they don't bother but I have a large groundsheet from my old tent is I need it.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Matt,
I think you're likely to find the T8 to be exactly the right size. As Woodsmoke has pointed out, after a few practice go's, its easy enough to put up on your own in a matter of minutes.
One tip for getting the top cap on is to lay it on the ground opposite to the door, behind the tent - take the guy line from one side of the split and take it around the correct side of the tent and tie it to one of the tent guys in a slip knot. Next, get the other guy from the other side of the split and take it around the other side of the tent - you should be able to reach the first cap guy line - pull to release the slip knot and you'll have one guy in each hand going around the tent to the cap at the back. Simply wiggle the cap up the back of the tent by pulling each guy in turn, until it crawls over the apex into position. Its a lot easier to show than explain but trust me, it works!
I also have an idea for a modified groundsheet, but thats going to take a bit of time with a paint program to explain - I'll add it to this thread later on if I get the time tonight.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Matt Weir]

Muchos gracias

Off to see Ray now in Buxton so I'll check back later.