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#89767 - 02/16/08 06:22 AM Re: Unknown North Face tent- Floor VENTS? [Re: bigfoot2]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
Anybody have any ideas regarding the specific use of the netting covered floor vents? I'm not a big snow camper, so maybe some of you Penguin types can answer that. Brum
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#89768 - 02/16/08 10:39 AM Re: Unknown North Face tent- Floor VENTS? [Re: Brumfield]
bigfoot2 Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 1432
Loc: Eugene , Oregon
I think on this tent, at least, that it creates a chimney effect that draws cool, fresh air in the bottom vents and moist air out the upper one. I slept in it last night and had ZERO condensation...even all closed up and 29 degrees F, with 2 people and a big dog in it.

BF
_________________________
Hammockers aren't stuck up, they're just above it all.

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#89769 - 02/17/08 10:26 AM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Whoop dee doo [Re: alanwenker]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
Quote:
I think the full name was actually the Whoop-A$$ Grasshopper, but my memory is terrible at these sorts of details.


Good, the tent just went way up in value in my eyes! I'm not allowed to Whoop-A$$ anymore, since I became a Christian. But, it would be nice to live in something that brings back (see multiple choices below) memories.

(choose your preferred type of memories in order to not be offended:)
(1) good
(2) bad
(3) not so good
(4) not so bad
(5) being a bubba

Brum <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
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#89770 - 02/17/08 03:57 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
BradMT Offline
member

Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 151
I remember that tent... I'm pretty sure it was a standard production tent from around circa 1973-ish.

My NF VE24 I got in 1979 is still going strong, as is a circa 1986 "Bullfrog"... both US made.

How the mighty have fallen...
_________________________
There Is No Bad Weather, Just Bad Clothing...

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#89771 - 02/17/08 06:25 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: BradMT]
oldranger Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
Agreed. I had one for a couple of years until it was stolen. It was my first commercial tent, moving up from military surplus and poncho tarps. Very nice to live in, a bit on the heavy side, but I was young and foolish then. Darn if I can remember its model name <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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#89772 - 02/17/08 07:31 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent- Floor VENTS? [Re: Brumfield]
Rick Offline
member

Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 708
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Hi - low ventilation. Works very well to circulate air and help to control condensation. Eureka uses the concept on several of their four season tents.

It has something to do with hot air rising. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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#89773 - 02/19/08 02:01 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
ChrisP347 Offline
member

Registered: 09/05/02
Posts: 50
Loc: NC
Me too! It was my first multi-person tent and I got it at wholesale from TNF because it has a cigarette burn on it. I've no clue as to the name, but I've still got the tipi poles that go with it. Circa 1970's and I could not afford a TNF dome tent.
Chris

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#89774 - 02/19/08 04:06 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
ChrisP347 Offline
member

Registered: 09/05/02
Posts: 50
Loc: NC
Me too! I bought one of these tents in 1975 at wholesale from TNF. It had a small cigarette hole in it from the factory which they had patched nicely.

I had a one man TNF mountain tent and this was the first two man tent I ever had. Good times, spent lots of nights in that tent through all kinds of weather. It had the two big teepee poles and some small aluminum tube struts on the bottom to keep the bottom vents open. It looked cool but I don't remember it as breathing very well. I did love the snow entrance though.

I'm clueless as to the name. Why don't you make up a cool one an let us all know what you decide. To get us started, how about "Wind Wander Teepee".
Chris

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#89775 - 02/19/08 04:18 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: oldranger]
ChrisP347 Offline
member

Registered: 09/05/02
Posts: 50
Loc: NC
I'm posting but nothing seems to happen to it/ http://www.backpacking.net/forums/images/icons/frown.gif

Anyho, I bought one of these tents in 1975 from a TNF dealer in North Carolina. I got it wholesale as it had a small cigarette hole from the factory, which they nicely repaired for me.

The tent had the two tee pee poles plus several small aluminum rods that held up the lower vents. This brings back great memories, as I spent lots of nights in that tent in all kinds of weather.

I still have the tee pee poles and I use them with tarps now. The tent died in the 90's and the last time out was with just the fly sheet up at Mt. Mitchell in '92 or '93 during summer solstice.

BTW I've still got all the pieces to my Svea123 stove but it too died after a long and useful life.

I have no clue as to the name so why don't we make up cool names and then vote on them. To get us started I'll call mine "Wind Wander"
Chris

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#89776 - 02/19/08 06:08 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: ChrisP347]
alanwenker Offline
member

Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 812
You have a 123 that died? I've not heard of that happening before. You should be able to get it up and running again with minimal parts replacement. What is broken?

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#89777 - 02/24/08 03:47 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
bigfoot2 Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 1432
Loc: Eugene , Oregon
Still no reply from The North Face...been 2 weeks.
_________________________
Hammockers aren't stuck up, they're just above it all.

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#89778 - 02/24/08 09:12 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
billk Offline
member

Registered: 08/20/03
Posts: 1196
Loc: Portland, Oregon
Why don't you email Bruce Johnson at Oregonphotos.com? He has a page about the history of gear:

http://www.oregonphotos.com/Backpacking-Revolution1.html

On this page, near the bottom, there's a photo that has the corner of a North Face Dandelion tent visible...maybe you can tell from that if that's what you have.

http://www.oregonphotos.com/Geodesic-tent1.html

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#89779 - 02/24/08 10:57 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: billk]
bigfoot2 Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 1432
Loc: Eugene , Oregon
Thanks, Billk. It sure looks like it. I tried to e-mail him, but it did not work. I will keep trying.
_________________________
Hammockers aren't stuck up, they're just above it all.

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#89780 - 02/25/08 05:37 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
bigfoot2 Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 1432
Loc: Eugene , Oregon
I e-mailed Henry Shires over at Tarptent about sending him the tent to play with. Does anybody else think this design would make a great Tarptent as others have previously mentioned? Now is the time to speak up, people...this could be a new Tarptent with all our input ! Two trekking pole set-up ! Struts like a Contrail ! Three person capacity! Two pound weight ! Let's hear ya...........
_________________________
Hammockers aren't stuck up, they're just above it all.

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#89781 - 02/25/08 05:46 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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#89782 - 02/25/08 09:33 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
bigfoot2 Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 1432
Loc: Eugene , Oregon
Eureka!
Henry contacted me today, i am sending the tent to him and he thinks it has "serious merit". I am sure he would love to hear everyones feedback. I gave him my ideas...great guy! Henry is one of the few designers who will listen.

Really, NOW IS THE TIME TO LET HIM HEAR WHAT YOU WANT IN A NEW TARPTENT ! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Edited by bigfoot2 (02/26/08 09:22 AM)
_________________________
Hammockers aren't stuck up, they're just above it all.

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#89783 - 02/26/08 06:15 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
Yes matt i know, now on with the show! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> I want to see sketches, mockups, you know, the inside scoop, investigative reporter thingy <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Ok, I'll settle for stick figures <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Where's Barry when I need a diagram like his solar still <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Edited by Earthling (02/26/08 06:44 PM)
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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#89784 - 02/27/08 02:11 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: bigfoot2]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
If he will build it, we will buy it. Maybe he can make a jungle version without the two snake <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />... err... vent holes at the bottom. I really can't figure why TNF stopped making that tent. Anybody have any ideas? Brum
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#89785 - 02/27/08 02:31 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: Brumfield]
Carter Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 355
Loc: Missoula, MT
In addition to this TNF tent, Sierra Designs also made a "pyramid" tent with I believe four poles, but maybe six. In a book about winter camping there's a photo of the SD tent collapsed by the snow.

The basic problem of a pyramid tent with fly is that you need a huge number of guylines and stakes, and even then, the fly does nothing to add structural integrity to the tent (unlike current dome tents where the fly is connected to the poles at the ground level). It's also difficult to get a lot of separation between the fly and inner canopy, especially up top.

Unlike a megamid, this TNF tent wouldn't be susceptible to wind blowing underneath the canopy and turning your shelter into a flying umbrella, but it still shares a problem with the mids in that wind high up at the point will knock the thing over.

But the main reason why I think this style of tent is no longer made is due to the fact that modern dome and tunnel tents are easier to set up, easier to incorporate double doors and vestibules, and more resistant to the forces of wind.

Having said all that, I would love to have one these tents for car camping.

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#89786 - 02/28/08 07:48 AM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: Carter]
alanwenker Offline
member

Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 812
The Sierra Designs tent was called the 3 Man. http://www.oregonphotos.com/SierraDesigns2.html

I was camped on Rainier once, around 8500', and along came a storm. Two domes were shredded in the storm while a mid stayed up throughout the storm. Quite amazing what flat line winds can do.

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#89787 - 02/28/08 10:27 AM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: alanwenker]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
Alan, I remember this how Ga Ga I was over this tent back in the '70's <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> I really hope JASON LIVEY tells the folks at MSR to replicate this one in today's technologies <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

If Henry Shires built this tent it would be a runaway best seller for folks with kids IMO.

If you have one of these for sale or trade I still have 2 healthy kidneys <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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#89788 - 02/28/08 05:25 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: Earthling]
alanwenker Offline
member

Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 812
If I had one of these you could have it when you pull my cold, stiff corpse out of it.

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#89789 - 02/28/08 06:19 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: alanwenker]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
If those MinnesotaH Winters keep coming it might be sooner than I think <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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#89790 - 02/28/08 06:23 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: Earthling]
bigfoot2 Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 1432
Loc: Eugene , Oregon
Can't tell, Eugene............only that it WILL NOT be named the "Dandelion" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
Hammockers aren't stuck up, they're just above it all.

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#89791 - 02/28/08 06:33 PM Re: Unknown North Face tent---Help me identify it [Re: Earthling]
bigfoot2 Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 1432
Loc: Eugene , Oregon
So if "someone" were to make a four season version, you actually think it will sell, then? What a novel idea, Eugene !
_________________________
Hammockers aren't stuck up, they're just above it all.

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