Frequently Asked
Questions

Our current lead time is 3–6 weeks from order placement. All CTC wall tents are made to order in our Denver shop — we don't keep finished inventory on the shelf.

Lead times can stretch during peak hunting season (July–September). If you need a tent by a specific date, call us before ordering and we'll tell you where we stand in the queue.

Yes — and for custom sizes or configurations, we prefer it. Our team can walk through your setup requirements, recommend the right size and canvas weight, and confirm the order details before anything is cut.

For standard in-stock configurations, the website checkout works fine. For anything non-standard, start with a call or email.

We ship within the US and Canada. International orders to other countries are handled case-by-case — contact us before placing an order so we can confirm shipping feasibility, costs, and customs documentation requirements.

Most of our international business is to Canadian hunting outfitters, where we have established shipping lanes. Duties and brokerage fees are the buyer's responsibility.

Because every tent is made to order, we do not accept returns on standard orders. If there is a manufacturing defect, we will repair or replace the item at no cost to you.

For custom sizes and configurations, the same applies — we are not able to accept returns on custom work, which is why we encourage a phone consultation before placing a custom order to make sure we're building exactly what you need.

The 14×17 is our most popular size for exactly this scenario. At 238 square feet with a 9'1" ridge height, it comfortably fits four cots, a wood stove, a small table, and still has room to move around without stepping on gear.

If you want a separate sleeping space and a living/cooking area, consider two tents: a 12×14 as a sleeper and a 10×12 or 12×14 as a cook tent. Most serious outfitters run this configuration.

Our capacity ranges assume standard cot size (30" × 75") with reasonable gear storage space and a center aisle. The lower number is comfortable; the upper number is feasible but tight.

If you're using the tent as a cook/dining space rather than a sleeper, a 14×17 can accommodate 8–10 people seated at folding tables. The capacity math changes significantly with use case.

One thing most people underestimate: you will have more gear than you expect. When in doubt, go one size up.

Yes. We make custom sizes regularly — most commonly for platform installs where the platform was built before the tent was ordered, or for specific transport constraints.

Custom sizes follow the same construction standards as our standard line. Contact us with your dimensions, intended use, and any access constraints, and we'll price it out.

Sunforger® is a branded cotton duck canvas treated for water resistance, mildew resistance, and UV protection during the manufacturing process. It's the American standard for canvas tents, and it's what we've been using since the beginning.

The key advantage over untreated canvas: it won't shrink when wet (untreated canvas can shrink 10–15%), it won't readily mildew if stored slightly damp, and the UV treatment is integrated into the fiber — not a surface coating that wears off.

• 10.10 oz — standard canvas; excellent for most applications
• 12.63 oz — heavier canvas; more durable in high-use or permanent install situations

10.10 oz (per sq yd) Sunforger is our standard canvas. It's what the majority of our tents are made from, and it handles everything from backcountry hunting camps to full-season glamping installations without issue.

12.63 oz Sunforger is heavier and more abrasion-resistant. We recommend it for tents that will see very high traffic (commercial glamping, institutional buyers, guide operations where clients aren't always careful), tents that stay set up for months at a time, or tents in particularly harsh UV environments.

The weight increase is real — a 14×17 in 12.63 oz weighs approximately 8 lbs more than the 10.10 version. For pack-in camps, stick with 10.10 unless you have a specific reason not to.

WeatherMax® 80 is a high-performance synthetic marine fabric — 8 oz per sq yd, 36% lighter than standard canvas, with welded (needle-hole-free) seams and 6× the abrasion resistance of canvas. It's also 100% recyclable.

It's a legitimate option for people who prioritize weight or need a non-absorbent material for specific applications. But it comes with trade-offs compared to cotton canvas:

• Does not breathe the same way — in hot weather or with propane heat, condensation can be higher
• The feel and aesthetic is different — some people love it, some don't
• Cannot be repaired in the field with a needle and thread the way canvas can
• More expensive than comparable canvas tents

Our standard Sunforger canvas is treated for water and mildew resistance but is not automatically fire resistant. Fire-resistant treatment (CPAI-84) is available as an upgrade and we strongly recommend it if you plan to use a wood stove in the tent.

Fire-resistant canvas will not readily catch fire — it will only burn when a direct flame source is present and continuously applied. A spark from a stove landing on fire-resistant canvas will typically char without spreading.

Do not apply aftermarket fire retardants to canvas. As with waterproofing, these products plug the weave and destroy breathability. The treatment needs to be done at the fiber level during manufacturing.

Canvas weight alone is not a quality indicator. What determines quality is the weave construction and the treatment:

• Army Duck (double fill) — both crosswise and lengthwise threads are doubled. Highest quality weave.
• Dual fill — only crosswise threads are doubled. Mid-grade.
• Single fill — all single threads. Entry-level weave.

A 12 oz single-fill canvas is inferior to a 10 oz Army Duck. The treatment (water, mildew, fire) further determines long-term performance. When comparing tents, ask about weave type and treatment — not just the oz weight.

No — the tent body and frame are sold separately. This is standard for canvas wall tents and it's intentional: different customers need different configurations (external vs. internal frame, different ridge heights, porch attachments, etc.).

Our Internal Frame is 1⅜" 16-gauge steel tubing with swedge-fit couplers. It's sized to match your tent exactly. The frame breaks down into manageable lengths for transport and can be staged at a base camp ahead of the season.

Yes, with caveats. External frame systems (e.g., lodgepole or fabricated external frames) are common in some regions. Our tents will work with an external frame if the ridge and wall dimensions match the tent opening sizes.

We recommend our internal frame for most customers because it's sized-to-tent, maintains proper wall plumb, and is easier to set up solo. If you're using an existing external frame or building your own, contact us with the frame dimensions before ordering so we can confirm fit.

An experienced two-person crew can set up a 14×17 in about 45 minutes to an hour. First-timers should budget 2–3 hours and do a backyard test setup before the trip.

Key steps: lay out the tent, assemble the frame inside the tent body, lift the ridge, stake out the corners and guy lines, attach the fly if using one. The frame assembly is the most time-consuming part.

• Always do a setup at home before your first trip
• Label frame sections for faster field assembly
• For pack-in camps, pre-drill stake positions if possible

Yes — many of our tents are used on permanent or semi-permanent platforms for glamping operations, youth camps, and ranch facilities. If your platform is pre-built, contact us with the platform dimensions before ordering so we can match sod cloth height and door placement.

Platform installs typically use our attachment D-rings and a vinyl floor on top of the platform decking, rather than the full tent floor system.

New canvas tents need to be "weathered in" before their first rain. Set the tent up and soak it thoroughly with a garden hose — let it dry completely, then repeat 2–3 times. This causes the cotton fibers to swell and close the needle holes from stitching.

Until this process is complete, the tent will leak through the seams. After 2–3 wetting cycles, the seams become essentially watertight. This is not a defect — it's how cotton canvas works.

The most important rule: the tent must be completely dry before storage. Even Sunforger-treated canvas will mildew if stored damp for more than a few days. If you break camp in wet weather, hang the tent as soon as you get home and let it dry fully before packing it away.

• Store in a cool, dry location — avoid attics that get very hot in summer
• Store loosely folded or in the provided tent bag — not compressed under weight
• Air it out once a season even in off-season storage
• Keep rodents away from canvas storage — they will chew it

Surface mildew can be scrubbed off with a stiff brush and a diluted solution of white vinegar and water (1 part vinegar, 4 parts water). Let the tent dry completely in the sun after cleaning — UV exposure helps kill remaining mildew spores.

For heavy mildew penetration, commercial canvas cleaners are available. Avoid bleach — it will weaken the cotton fibers and strip the Sunforger treatment.

Mildew staining is cosmetic — it can be difficult or impossible to remove completely once it's set in. The tent is still structurally sound. Prevention (dry storage) is always better than remediation.

Yes — canvas is one of the few tent materials that can be repaired in the field. A canvas repair kit with needle, waxed thread, and patch material lets you handle most tears on the spot. This is one of the key practical advantages of canvas over synthetic tent materials.

For permanent repairs, we can handle them in our Denver shop. Send the tent back with a description of the damage and we'll repair it to original specification.

We can customize nearly any dimension or feature of a standard wall tent. Common customizations include:

• Non-standard footprint dimensions
• Porch (enclosed front extension) or awning (open roof extension)
• Cook shack / kitchen extension
• Custom sod cloth height for platform installs
• Additional windows or modified window placement
• Stove jack placement adjustments
• Heavy-duty eave socks for external frame connection
• 12.63 oz canvas on standard tent sizes

Custom orders start with a phone call. We'll scope the build, give you a quote, and confirm lead time before anything is ordered.

A porch is a covered extension of the tent's front wall and roof — the sides are open, the front is open, and the roof continues out from the main tent body. It gives you a covered area to remove boots, hang game, or keep gear accessible without tracking into the main tent.

An awning is just a roof extension — no side walls. Better for shade, less useful for weather protection.

A cook shack is a fully enclosed extension — roof, walls, and a door. Used as a separate cooking and dining area attached to the main tent.

For extended hunting or base camps where cooking smell management matters, a cook shack is worth considering. For most family camps, the main tent at the next size up accomplishes the same goal with less complexity.

A fly is not required, but we strongly recommend one if:

• You're using a wood stove — sparks can ignite canvas roofs
• The tent will stay set up for extended periods — UV is very damaging to canvas
• You camp in heavy snow country — snow sitting on canvas adds significant weight and moisture
• You want maximum weather protection in heavy rain

Our vinyl fly has a pre-cut opening for the stove jack so you can still use your stove safely with the fly in place. For glamping installations or permanent setups, the fly will noticeably extend the life of your canvas.

A sewn-in floor is permanently attached to the tent body. It provides the best seal against drafts and insects. However, it is very difficult to set up with an internal frame — you typically need a lot of stakes to hold the tent body down while the frame is assembled inside.

A D-ring floor (our standard) attaches to the tent's perimeter D-rings after the tent is set up. It's much easier to install and remove, makes cleanup easier, and allows you to remove the floor entirely if you're using a stove on bare ground.

Our lifetime warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship — seam failures, zipper defects, fabric flaws in the canvas as received. It does not cover normal wear, UV degradation from extended sun exposure without a fly, mildew from improper storage, fire damage, or physical damage from use.

In practice: if something fails that shouldn't fail, we make it right. We've been in business since 1890 and our reputation is built on standing behind what we make. Call us — we'll work it out.

Yes, we do canvas repair work on tents from any manufacturer. Send us photos of the damage before shipping and we'll give you a repair estimate. Standard turnaround on repairs is 1–2 weeks.

We can repair torn canvas, failed seams, damaged zippers, deteriorated sod cloth, and most other common failure points. If a tent has significant mildew damage or UV degradation, we'll be honest with you about whether repair makes economic sense vs. replacement.