Evanston Screened 8 Tent

Hello! TL;DR: What tent BRANDS are worth checking out for fair weather car campers on a budget? Long version: We just found out our rainfly got in a fight with a rat sometime over winter so we're in the market for a new tent (this is what I get for admiring someone's tent and wishing I had an excuse to upgrade 🤦). I did a search for budget tents, but it was mostly people asking for specific tent recommendations and I'm looking more for general info on where to look (but I'll put some details at the bottom in case anyone has a favorite tent to recommend). Hopefully a list of reputable brands will be helpful to future searchers with different specific needs. We're a family of 4 looking for a Big Tent for summer car camping once a year in the midwest (usually Wisconsin), and I'd describe us as being on a Coleman budget. I've checked out Coleman, obviously, and I've heard Ozark Trail has some decent models. I'm pretty sure I've seen Core recommended here, too. But there are 5000 random companies I'm not familiar with and it's hard to tell which ones are worth checking out and which are total junk. If anyone does have a specific recommendation, though, we're looking for a tent that: Fits 4 twin air beds comfortably with room for walking and duffel bags Has a screen room *that can be closed to keep rain out* (not counted towards sleeping space) Headroom for shorter adults (tallest is 5'8") Brand offers replacement parts (I know this is a long shot) Our previous tent was a Coleman Evanston 8 and the only complaints we had were that it was just a hair too narrow to fit 4 beds across, and the windows couldn't be covered on the screen porch. One of the kids still gets nervous overnight camping so one big space where we're all together would be preferable to two separate private "rooms." I'm also open to a big main room and a second enclosed non-screenhouse area where we can keep shoes and other dirty stuff that we don't want in the main area, but some separation of spaces is ideal.

It's great beginner advice, imagine doing all your shopping and getting to your campsite and realizing your tent has you packed in like sardines. Small shopping mistakes are inevitable but I 100% wanted to know everything that could save me from large purchases that wouldn't work for us when I was first outfitting us. I've done enough camping that it's not news to me but I'm hoping this thread is a helpful resource to future searchers, so it's still good to mention. Our old tent is 8 person and it would be plenty of room for the 4 of us if some of that counted floor space wasn't dedicated to the screen porch, which wasn't suitable for sleeping. I think we can find a better fit now that we need to replace it anyway, but we would have managed in it if Ratatouille hadn't foiled my plans

Buy. Big Coleman tent, I got the Evanston 8. Bring a pack n play and put inside tent for baby to sleep in. Done

Absolutely go with a Coleman. I’ve got the Evanston 8, plenty of room and has a screened in porch which is great for leaving shoes in, keeping the rest of the tent clean

I know Coleman is seen as a ‘cheap’ brand, but I had the Evanston and it was one of the best tents I’ve ever had. Lots of room and I love that it has a screened in ‘foyer’. Helps keeping your tent clean by being able to take off your shoes before entering. And if there are a lot of bugs, it’s nice to be able to have a place to still be outside but not be eaten alive. I paid like $120 for it 5 years ago. It’s finally starting to fall apart but I’ve used it a ton.

I have the 8P, love this tent and it may be the easiest tent to set up that I’ve ever owned.

30 of my 32 years i spend camping weeks at a time in a Coleman 8 person tent from Walmart. My parents couldnt afford anything else when we were kids and the tent worked great. When I turned 20 my parents got me my own coleman 8 person from Walmart and it rocks. I use it any time im campground camping. Its huge. We call it the tent condo. One time we had 2 queen air mattresses, a play pen, and 3 suitcases in it for an entire week in total comfort. And once my mom cut a hole in the side of her tent, sewed a sleeve on the tent and put a window air-conditioner in it. Talking about lap of luxury. Lol mom said she wasnt that worried about messing up because the tent wasnt that expensive.

I would stick with Coleman or Ozark Trail. I think they are in your budget range. Ozark Trail probably is best for your size/budget requirements. A Coleman that size is going to be a bit more. I have an 8 person Coleman that probably would get the job done, but with that many people, a 10-12 person might be better for you. An Ozark Trail model would run about $200, a similar Coleman would be at least $150 more.

I have used my Coleman 4 person for solo trips for about 3 years now and have had no issues at all. This includes a storm with 50 mph gusts. Besides the money, I think Ozark Trail offers more variety in design than Coleman, so that may fit your needs better. I cannot speak to it's durability as I haven't had any personal experience, but everyone I know who has one is a fan.

I have a large 8 person Coleman. Hard to put up alone but doable. Even tiny hands are a help putting it up though. I put a queen size cot and two single cots inside comfortably.