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These tents are perfect for permanent setups on your preferred camping platform. Count on Wall Tent Shop for the lowest prices and highest quality. Take advantage of fast, free shipping and no sales tax!
CLICK HERE to view our full selection of canvas tents that can be used on platforms and decks.
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Our rugged tents are made from Army Duck double-fill canvas.
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*Items shipped to an Idaho address must pay Idaho sales tax.
A canvas platform tent is also commonly called a deck tent or off-the-ground tent. Off-the-ground tents are primarily used when it is going to be used in a permanent location.
A canvas platform tent and a deck tent are generally the same type of tent commonly used for glamping resorts. Click glamping tents for detailed information, prices, and pictures.
Click camping platform tent pictures to view many additional examples, which can help you decide how you want to design your platform.
Off-the-ground tents provide a much better camping experience. You will have fewer mice and snakes since the canvas tent platform holds the tent above ground level. Additionally, your tent’s footprint will be level. Also, it is easier to divert water away from the tent. Therefore, you reduce the likelihood of getting water on or under your floor.
If you plan on placing your tent on a deck platform, we have recommendations.
Do not build the camping tent platform until you receive the canvas tent and measure it. Most canvas tents are either smaller or larger than the stated dimensions.
Build the platform to the same width as the frame. In this way, the rain water runs down the roof over the eaves and prevents most water from puddling on the platform and coming inside the tent. Also, place the deck tent frame flush with the back of the wall tent platform to prevent rainwater from coming in from the back of the platform tent.
If you have a porch area and use plywood, cut a 1/2" gap in the plywood immediately in front of the deck tent. This gap will prevent rainwater from coming in from the front. If using 2x6s for the porch, ensure the 2x6s run parallel to the front of the tent and allow a 1/2" gap between boards immediately in front.
Anchors are needed to keep your frame legs from sliding off the sides of your canvas tent platform during high winds. These anchors screw into your platform floor and make your deck tent frame very stable. Click anchors to view leg anchors for platform tents. It is best to have an anchor on each tent frame leg.
If you do not want the sod cloth showing, put it to the inside on top of the platform. Screw it down with 2x4s for a wind and rain seal. Remember, there will be gaps at the corners as sod cloths are cut at each corner. Stain the 2x4s if you want.
In order to make your tent rain- and bug-proof, you can also have the sod cloth hang down along the sides of the platform and then screw in a 1" x 4" board to the platform sides. This is a great way to keep pests and moisture away from platform tents.
Install eyebolts near the bottom of the camping platform directly below eave D rings or grommets on the sides and back. Tie your guy ropes to the eyebolts. In this procedure, you will keep the ropes out of your way instead of having the ropes at a 45º angle from your eaves. You must have your wall tent platform anchored into the ground for this method, or you have a possibility of the canvas tent platform being picked up in strong winds along with your tent.
Canvas tents on platforms are usually set up for long periods of time, and a fly is recommended. A fly will significantly increase the lifespan of your platform tent. A fly protects the tent’s roof from destructive UV rays, provides another moisture barrier, prevents any stove sparks from burning a small hole in your tent roof, and also keeps your roof clean from tree sap, etc.
Oversized Fly: Some people use an oversized fly to have a covered sitting area.
Build a hitching rail 4" higher than the eave and 18 " away to allow for normal fly overhang on each side of the roof. Tie the fly ropes over the top of the hitching rail. The hitching rail must be parallel to the eave to tie your fly ropes to. This hitching rail will preclude having fly ropes around your platform tent. The 4" higher hitching rail allows a gap between the tent and the fly to allow air circulation to help dry out any moisture on the canvas roof. However, if you expect strong winds, do not allow for a gap between the fly and the tent, as high winds will destroy your fly. Tie the fly ropes to the hitching rail starting at the bottom, which will remove any gap.
I prefer a loose waterproof floor for off-the-ground tents as it allows the use of a perimeter sill board that secures the sod cloth to the side of your camping platform. The waterproof floor is definitely necessary if there is any possibility that rain or snow will get inside your canvas platform tent. Water in the tent will come from water being on your wall tent platform, or if rain can be blown in under the walls, especially at the corners where the sod cloth is split. You do not want water inside your tent, especially if you have carpet. Wet carpet is a total disaster, as you have to remove everything on your floor, dry the carpet, and then put everything back in your tent.
You can use indoor or outdoor carpet on your platform tent. You can keep it dry if you have an effective rain perimeter sill board and rain gap at the front of your canvas tent. Carpets are much more comfortable to walk on than vinyl or wood floors. However, you must have a fireproof material under your stove and 2' around your stove. Carpets are very flammable, and extreme caution must be used. Always use some type of nonflammable material under your stove with a minimum of 18" to the front. Use a carpet at your own risk.
Some individuals want to leave their camping platform tents up in the winter. There is no internal frame that can withstand heavy snow loads. I know outfitters who had to leave tents in the backcountry over the winter because they had to leave quickly with their clients due to heavy snowstorms to make it back to their road base camps before the horse trails became impassable. Their tents were torn and frames destroyed when the outfitters retrieved their gear from their canvas tent platform the following spring. However, if you want to leave tents up on a wall tent platform in the wintertime, I strongly recommend rafters every 2 feet. It should be noted that your house has rafters every 2 feet to support snow loads.
Some customers make a wooden frame. Wood frames are much more difficult to make than a frame using an angle kit with steel pipe. You can make a steel frame in 1-2 hours using an angle kit. The wood frame takes significantly longer and is much more difficult to make. Additionally, if your canvas shrinks more than you planned for, it is very difficult and time-consuming to disassemble wood rafters, wood ridge and tent lengths, and wood legs, and then use a saw to make adjustments and then reassemble your frame using nails or screws. If using 2x4s or 2x6s, you must round the sharp edges, as your canvas platform tent will eventually fray as the canvas billows in the wind.
If you have to make adjustments on a steel frame, the frame comes apart very easily. The steel frame is a slip joint, and no tools are required to assemble or take apart.
If you have questions about a camping platform tent or deck tent, feel free to call us.
Placing a wall tent on a platform instead of directly on the ground offers several benefits, especially in terms of comfort, longevity, and overall convenience. Here are the key advantages:
Improved Comfort
- Level Surface: A canvas tent platform provides a flat, even surface for the tent, which helps prevent the discomfort of uneven ground, like rocks or bumps, beneath you.
- Reduced Moisture: Elevating the tent keeps it away from wet or damp ground, reducing the risk of moisture seeping into the platform tent’s floor, which can cause discomfort or even damage gear.
- Less Cold and Dampness: Being raised off the ground helps protect from the cold, wet earth, making the interior feel warmer and more comfortable in cooler weather.
Increased Durability of the Tent
- Protection from Ground Damage: By lifting the tent off the ground, it’s less likely to be exposed to abrasion, punctures, or dirt that can wear down the tent floor over time.
- Reduced Wear and Tear: Platforms reduce the amount of dirt, mud, and debris that can accumulate underneath the tent, which means less cleaning and maintenance is needed for platform tents.
Better Ventilation
- Airflow Under the Tent: A camping platform allows for air circulation beneath the tent, which helps prevent moisture buildup and condensation inside the tent. This improves the overall climate within the tent, especially in humid or wet environments.
Protection From Insects and Wildlife
- Elevation From Ground Critters: A wall tent platform can provide an extra layer of protection against insects, rodents, and other animals that might otherwise get into the tent when it’s placed directly on the ground.
- Safety: A canvas tent platform can offer some protection against potentially hazardous animals (e.g., snakes, scorpions) that may crawl or slither on the ground.
Ease of Setup and Packing
- Easier Setup: Setting up platform tents can be simpler because the surface is already flat and stable, reducing the need to find a perfect spot on uneven or rocky terrain.
- Cleanliness: With a platform, your tent is less likely to get dirty or muddy on the bottom, making packing it up easier and cleaner.
Longer Tent Life
- Less Wear from Ground Moisture: By avoiding direct contact with moist, uneven ground, the tent floor is less likely to degrade over time from water damage, helping extend the life of the tent.
More Flexibility in Terrain
- Use in Rugged Terrain: A platform allows you to set up a tent in areas that may be too uneven or otherwise unsuitable for camping directly on the ground. Platform tents open up more locations for setting up camp.
Aesthetics & Organization
- Organized and Neat: Platforms can create a more defined and organized camp area. A camping platform makes the space feel more like a "home," with the possibility of adding storage, outdoor gear, or other comforts more easily.
While there are clear benefits, it’s important to weigh the practicalities:
- Cost & Effort: Building or purchasing a canvas tent platform requires an initial investment and some effort to set up.
- Weight & Portability: Depending on the size and material of the platform, it may be heavy or challenging to move.
In general, platform tents are especially useful for longer-term setups (like base camps) or for those who want to maximize comfort and durability.