Outdoor Camping Tent Cover

- When looking for a new tent, is there anything I should consider? What brands should I stay away from?
I have heard recommendations to purchase 2 tents. However, I am a single mom and we all need to be in one tent. I currently have a smaller 6 man tent and it is not big enough for myself, 4 children and our gear. The youngest is 1 and he requires more than usual. The tent will get quite a bit of use but only during the late spring and summer. A multi room tent is fine as long as the inner dividers are removable. In a perfect outdoor world I would love a tent with a full rain cover as well as storage vestibules (though these are not a must). I prefer to use an air matress as I need my sleep to manage four young ones on a camping trip :) Again, this is not a must. I would greatly appreciate any guidance as I know I will be spending over 200 and I can not afford for the tent not to last. Thank you!

A With the possible of exception of Cabella's, stay away from store brand private label tents!! They are not made to the same specifications and quality control standards as name brand tents. Columbia, Eureka, Coleman, Kelty, Marmot, The North Face etc are all good quality tents, some being better than others but also more costly. You only mention the age of your youngest child but I would suggest that for 1 adult and 5 growing children, you get a tent rated for no less than 8 people. Larger is even better.When the manufacturers optimistically rate a tent, their rating leaves on room for additional gear or storage unless the tent does have a vestibule or two. If you are not in a hurry to make this purchase, wait until the week right before Memorial Day to purchase a new tent. That is the when traditionally the chain stores run their largest camping ads to kick off the "camping season". (I know, I know.............people camp all year long!! )

- Is the Coleman SPORT CAT portable propane heater approved for tent use?
I purchased a SPORT CAT but do not know whether it is just for outdoor use, for example at sporting events, etc. or whether I can use it to heat a tent as well when camping. I am very nervous about using any propane powered piece of camping equipment other than outside the tent in a very well ventilated area for obvious reasons (possible flame setting things a fire and carbon monoxide build up) and I would never use any piece of equipment that has on open flame in a enclosed area for those reasons anyway. However, the SPORT CAT has a protected, meshed metal top that prevents open flame and diffuses the heat. My tent has quite a large amount of mesh screening which is covered by a rain fly, but there is also quite a large amount of space (several inches) between the rain fly and the mesh, supposedly allowing for good ventilation. Would this amount of ventilation be adequate to use the heater inside the tent for cooler nights without risking build up of carbon monoxide? Has anyone ever used one inside a tent when camping? I'm just a little nervous to try it without asking these questions first. Thanks for your help!

A You need to carefully read the the CERTIFIED manufacturer's operating instructions for that heater and follow them to the letter. I have attached a link to a "sport cat" heater from coleman's website. I don't know if this is the exact model you have or not. http://www.coleman.com/coleman/images/pdf/5035.pdf It does not specifically say whether you can use it inside a tent or not. IT DOES talk about clearance from combustibles, not sleeping in an area were this heater is operating, providing adequate ventilation. You need to make sure you meet ALL of the requirements. The ventilation provided must be uninterrupted. In other words you cannot rely on an open window because a passerby might close that window. A tent flap could be tied shut cutting off your fresh air supply. They are not saying you CAN use it in a tent, but they are sure hinting that you shouldn't! You need to remember that even though it is a catalytic style burner with no open flame, it is still burning propane. And if it does not have sufficient fresh air you will be producing carbon monoxide. I'll tell you this much...I've worked around propane and propane burning equipment for 22 years. I would never operate anything like that in a tent. Heater, lantern, cooker...none of them. Use battery operated lights and an extra blanket! If you do not follow those operating instructions to the letter, and anyone is hurt by this thing, the manufacturer will take no responsibility because it has been used in a manner "other than what it was intended". Insurance companies would deny any personal injury or property damage claims for the same reason. Edit: Scott...I followed your link to that tent heater. It's looks like a great idea, however if you follow the link on that page to the manufacturer's website( not the retailer ) it shows as no longer available. That raises an eyebrow! You have to be very careful with retail sellers. They sometimes make claims that are not necessarily what the manufacturer supports. A perfect example of this is http://www.colemanheaters.com They are not what you would expect, which is the manufacturer of the well known "coleman" camping equipment. Well they are not! They are a retailer! The actual manufacturer's website is http://www.coleman.com It's the old "buyer beware" thing... If there was ever a court case, it would be the manufacturer's instructions that would be considered correct, not what the retailer claimed it was OK to do.