Northwest Territory Family Cabin w/ Screen Porch Tent, 15X16

I am an avid camper with about 10 years of experience, and own several tents.

First thing you have to do is know your limit, this tent is NOT FOR BEGINNERS!

Second, come to understand that the written directions are garbage. Once I trashed the directions I set up the tent in about a half hour by myself. TIP before you raise the tent, lightly secure the rain-fly on!

Good, now we can proceed!

Because this tent is so large I had to buy an EXTRA LARGE TARP and lay that down on the ground. I opened the tent on the tarp and staked it down. (Once the tent was up a traced the whole tent with a razor blade about two inches in from the edges, I created a separate tarp for the screen porch) The tarp needs to be smaller than the tent otherwise the water that runs off the tent will collect on the tarp and go into the tent. When the tarp is cut correctly water will go below the tarp preventing water from seeping through the floor. It also extends the life of your tent by preventing dirt from wearing directly on your tent.

Once the tent was up I used about 8 bottles of Coleman Seam Sealer on the inside and outside of the tent, and used GOOP TENT SEALER for the corners. Once that dried I used a standard water repellent agent (about 3 bottles, well 2 ½ to be exact) and sprayed the rain fly (3 coats light coats), walls of the tent (2 coats heavy), Screen porch (3 coats heavy), and closet (4 coats heavy). It is important to seal the closet and porch well as the rain fly provide 0 protection for them.

Once that was done I took the time to see what I liked about the tent- here is was I like:
1. The floor of the tent is one solid sheet of material except for the closet and the screen porch.
2. They made the screen porch floor separate than the actually tent floor so water wont run into the tent
3. Roof is screened- and ventilates well
4. All the floor seams are folded and double stitched
5. Rain fly is factory seam taped

Here is what I don’t like!
1. they could have shock corded the freaken closet poles!
2. Extend the rain fly at least over the closets.
3. The screen porch poles are free standing! Who ever thought of that should get slapped aaaaaaaaalot! Here is how I fixed that situation, I took 9 inch piece of steel pipe that is smaller than the inside of the screen porch poles and hammered that into the ground at an angle and than placed the screen porch poles over them to add better stability.
4. Should provide more guy-out lines

One last tip, if you expect rain on your trip dig about a 5 inch gutter around your tent and make an opening that is down hill from your tent this will funnel heavy rain away from your tent, and if down correctly the water will steer clear of your tent!

Over all I am really happy with this tent and I know it will not leak. I hope I helped everyone out!