Tent for Airventure Oshkosh M20J

[Ron_Dace]

Looking for recommendations on a tent that i can transport in my J for the Airventure Oshkosh and camp with my plane. I am alone so the tent and luggage would be just for me.

[Boilermonkey]

Don't cheep out is my first advice.  There will be at lest one big storm, if not more if you stay the week and if you don't have a good tent you get wet and likely it will collapse on you.   You'll want t tent that has strong aluminum poles and tie downs.  

First year I came with a friend and had no idea what I was doing, I brought a Coleman, hence the advice above.  You'll see more Coleman tents in the dumpsters after a storm than anything else.

I have had great mostly great experiences with Big Agnes Tents.  For ~5 years I had a Big House 4 and it stood up to a lot of storms.  It's a simple design and is high enough that you can stand up inside.  I then upgraded to the Big House 6 when the kids got older/bigger.  First big storm with 50 mph winds and it collapsed bending the aluminum poles.  Given that tents shape it has a large cross section and just couldn't take it.  FWIW, that storm took down about 1 in 4 tests, event the good ones.  Thankfully, I had the Big House 4 with me as a backup (I store my stuff with a group in a storage unit near OSH).   After that, I took the Big House 6 pieces home with me and contacted their support.  Since I had bought it that year they took it back and game me full credit.  I talked with their sales rep and he recommended their "strongest tent," the Mad House.   The new tent has taken over 60 mph winds and been fine.  No bent poles or leaks.  It was a wild ride ;-)

Check out this one:   https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/tents/products/mad-house-6

If you come be sure to visit the MooneyCaravan and if you want to join the Pirate party on Tuesday night with my group, let me know.  When are you planning to fly in?

 

[Marc_B]

The Coleman/big high profile/walmart el cheapo tents don’t fare too well. Every year Osh has at least one storm roll though that flattens and fills lesser tests with rain. I’ve used an REI Half dome tent without issue twice in downpours at Osh. REI, Big Agnes, North Face, etc are solid tents that will be fine. 
Plan for rain and you’ll be fine. 

[Z W]

After throwing away an old leaky tent after the last time I flew to OSH, I saw some threads here or on Beechtalk and everyone seemed to recommend the Cabella's Alaskan Guide, so I saved it:

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-alaskan-guide-model-geodesic-8-person-tent

Have since been to OSH again, but in an RV so no tent required.  But I would buy one of those if I were flying in again.

Even if going solo, I would get the larger 8-person tent.  It gives you enough space to keep your stuff dry and inside, and even set up a folding chair inside to wait out a rain shower or storm.

[M20F]

This will be what I will be using and have used this set up for 15yrs (all original for 15yrs).  
 
https://a.co/d/343Omnh

https://a.co/d/afXifKK
 
https://a.co/d/bJ1zvFV

Comfortable, easy to set up, fits nicely in plane.  It also fits nicely in the MGB.  Tent sets up on cot. 

[Rick Junkin]

If you need/want a lighter, more budget-friendly option I’ve had good luck with this tent. It’s also easy to set up solo:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WH1B28/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ALPS Mountaineering Extreme 3 Outfitter Tent Tan/Green/Tan, 96" L x 80" W x 50" H  $239.99