Amazing Wilderness Camp Cot - Simple Raised Bed Bushcraft Shelter

[XxSkrillexmasterxX]

Wow, that's a pretty ingenious idea.

[EconoChallenge]

@XxSkrillexmasterxX Thank you.

[skunkape49]

cool nice idea

[EconoChallenge]

@skunkape49 Thanks for watching.

[PracticalBushcraft1]

Really like the chairs, have used them many times. The overall footprint of this bed is pretty large, although looks comfy. What size tarp were you using for the cover over the frame? Is the ridge pole lashed ?

[EconoChallenge]

@PracticalBushcraft1 The ridge pole is not lashed in this video but you might want to do that. The tarp is 8x10.

I had the ridge pole slipped out on me once and the result was the collapse of the bed.

[bushnblade]

that paracode to take some tantion is a good idea!

[EconoChallenge]

@bushnblade The fabric used for this proto was heavier than I would like to use. The next one will be made from a lighter nylon fabric. I think the para cord loops will be even more important when we try it out.

[henchman99942]

I am commenting.

Do you need the ridgepole? Could you instead use a ridge line starting with a tent peg in the ground maybe 10 feet from the base of the first tripod, moving up at an angle to the tip of the first tripod, continuing to the next tripod (ridge), then back down to a tent peg 10 feet to the outside of that? This would keep the tripods in place. They could not move in or out or up or down.

I might have trouble finding poles that long... is all I'm saying.

[EconoChallenge]

@henchman99942 If you put spikes on the end of your tripod legs and drove them into the ground, it would prevent the two bed rails from squeezing together until your bed is on the ground. The ridge pole does the same job. You might get away with jamming two short pieces in the top of each tripod. Then securing that with your ridge-line idea.

[MrHatManS]

I may have to try this some time

[druface12345]

Great idea! Have you tried a sleeping pad in-between the layers instead of leaves?

[EconoChallenge]

@druface12345 I will now. Thank you.

[druface12345]

@EconoChallenge So I re-watched the video and saw that you did mention putting a pad in the cot. Sorry i missed that.

You did say that the idea came from the SAS manual, but did you make this or buy it? Were do you find the material to make this stuff?

[EconoChallenge]

@druface12345 I made this. 3-4 years of sewing chairs every winter, you get really good at it. For me I can get the fabric I use at a store called Fabricland. I just happen to have one in my home town. In the US I am not sure you have an equivalent chain store that sells fabric. I have seen several online stores. Perhaps that is the way to go. I have also heard that some Walmart stores carry fabric. Not here! I plan to make a few more camp cots for people to test out.

[ecoshiacom]

Why should we remove the shelter or the main frame of it? Isn't it best to leave it for someone else to benefit if they become stranded in that area? It would save them time.

[EconoChallenge]

@ecoshiacom It is one of the principals of leave no trace. Leave the site as natural looking as you find it. I do have three test shelters I have left up. Two on private property and one on public lands. The last shelter we left on public lands was turned into fire wood buy the next group using the site. I think your idea would be great for a private wilderness campground. Leave the shelter frames and just bring the cot and chairs.

[jeffthecheff]

thats a legit set up

[EconoChallenge]

@jeffthecheff Thank you. We made it a little better in the next video.

[bushcraftgirl]

cool ! I don't have any trees in my back garden for my hammock, but i can put it up now in summer and just chillout in it :-)

[EconoChallenge]

@bushcraftgirl I think you will have a bit of a conversation piece as well.

[Nako521]

Brilliant! An ultralight adjunct to a tarp shelter.

[TheMarinadehaan]

Brilliant! Simple and possible!

Marina

Womentravelalone

[EconoChallenge]

@TheMarinadehaan Oh ya ... if we are doing it ... its possible. ;-)

[GreatLakesBushcraft]

Genius! I love it!

This is going into the toolbox for future use!

[EconoChallenge]

@GreatLakesBushcraft Thanks for checking it out. Sweet.

[DivaBClub]

Hammocks are really nice...and easy

[EconoChallenge]

@DivaBClub This frame will also support a hammock.

[KennethKramm]

Great video and fantastic channel.  I've subscribed. Ken

[EconoChallenge]

@KennethKramm Thanks for the comment. We were going for Amazing but fantastic is better.

[chunkchunk79]

great video but i wonder if it would hold a big guy because i way over 300 pounds

[EconoChallenge]

@chunkchunk79 Just build it with more robust wood. Now the tube bed ... that I can not say. Maybe after I have a few nights in this one I will be able to give you better advice. Thanks for watching.

[Bluejay1968]

Great idea I like it, Not sure if it would work in our local woodlands without chopping down some trees though, tyhere dont seem to be many long enough strong enough deadwood poles lying around :(

[EconoChallenge]

@Bluejay1968 This one took about an hour and a half ... maybe two hours to find cut and prepare the wood. Finding it is the long part. Wondering around the woods, then getting distracted by something you want to investigate .. then oh ya ... looking for strong straight dead wood .... it can take a while.

[werb1961]

this would work between two trees also.this way you would not need a top support,good video .

[ErlefromVa]

Thanks for sharing, the amazing wilderness camp cot is a really cool design with minimal equipment.

[RDPproject]

@ErlefromVa

G'day Erle....If your not already a subscriber...go check out Waldhandwerk ....He's a friend of mine in Austria. Right now as im typing this he is testing out a Hammock/Camp chair that Jeep from EconoChallenge gave me. I in turn sent it to Waldhandwerk to try out. He will probably upload his video of it in the next couple of days.

[CiaranRooney125]

This is absolutely genius!!! This is what i'm going to build my next shelter like! 2 beds parallel to each other and a wood buring stove in the middle. A Tarp/Roof over the top and job's a good one! Just curious where would you be able to pick up the material you used for the bed? Thanks a million for this video :)

[EconoChallenge]

@CiaranRooney125 We have a video on our channel of a viewer that made it a double bed. You should check that out also. Anyway ... I get the nylon and polyester fabric from a store called Fabricland here in Ontario.  Thanks for the great comment.

[RichardStansfield]

Great Idea, I will have to try that. You did make me laugh when you took your boots off, stood on the mat and then stepped off it to move the mat lol. Sort of thing I would do ;-)

[EconoChallenge]

@RichardStansfield Ya and it really ticked me off too. I almost re shot the scene just to fix that.

[SteveB357]

If you can find it, the Boy Scout Field Book, which has been out of print for a long time, has many of these type of structures and other great bushcraft info. The Air Force used that book for instruction while it was current. Greatnstuff. Thanks for the vid.

[EconoChallenge]

@SteveB357 Thank you for the suggestion. Always looking for new ideas to try out.

[SuperDeltaRomeo]

What a good idea,thank you

[EconoChallenge]

@SuperDeltaRomeo If you like this ... you should check out the update. Even more amazing.

[antpop1]

Questions: Where is the fabric tube from? Is it pre-sewn or did you stitch it closed yourself? Love your vids! Always inspiring! Makes me yearn for my Stanley, Idaho to thaw enough for some Spring bushcrafting!

[antpop1]

@antpop1 haha I just found out the answer regarding the fabric tube in the comments. Gee, this whole, "reading the comments" thing really works! Who'da thunk it? lol!

[EconoChallenge]

@antpop1 LOL.  Thank you ... thank you for reading the comments. I always wondered if other people did that.

[RDPproject]

Cool....you have a Platapus water bladder .... 3:00

That upright leg moved at 5:37 ...Thats where the horizontal cross beams come in handy as seen in the follow up video to this one. Good video mate.

Rob

[EconoChallenge]

@RDPproject You have a keen eye for detail Rob. I like that. Yes the legs move. I am glad you mentioned it because a few viewers swear the legs must be anchored in the ground. They move in the update video also. The project in the SAS manual instructs you to sharpen the ends and drive them into the ground. It falls over. Add longer uprights and the cross beam and you don't have to anchor the legs. Thanks Rob.

[hempseed57]

Wow that is great what is the weight capacity of that?

[EconoChallenge]

@hempseed57 Good question. In theory the structure can be build as robust as you need it. As for the tube bed, it would depend on the material you used to make it. The polyester fabric used to make the tube in this video is a heavier material than what I plan to carry this summer. I would say it should hold someone as heavy as 200 lbs before I would be concerned. 180 was my weight when this was shot. I plan to make another one out of lighter nylon fabric and test it again before summer.

[jplsr1964]

one of the neatest and easy shelter and bed ive seen. keep up the good videos.

[EconoChallenge]

@jplsr1964 Thanks for the feedback.  It keeps us going.

[0017Bulldog]

Great stuff! Thanks for the ideas.

[EconoChallenge]

@0017Bulldog More to come on this idea. It just keeps getting better.

[allenh60]

Great idea, I have the same book but haven't tried this particular challenge yet. Thanks for sharing bro.

[FriendofCat]

Sleeping above the ground in a cot is colder than sleeping on the ground with an Insulated mat. I know from experience from camping in the Flagstaff, AZ area in the winter.

[EconoChallenge]

@FriendofCat Cot or hammock ... they both suffer from the same problem.

[noahhill308ruger]

Fantastic setup . my only concern would be getting strong enough tarp for the cot ( im a rather large man ) . but will be trying this idea and testing to find a suitable setup that works for me .

[EconoChallenge]

@noahhill308ruger Polyester or nylon will work for you. Just make sure you have a really good seam to form the tube. Stay tuned. When the weather improves we will be shooting and uploading a slightly different version that will work better for those that think this shelter is a little flimsy.

[noahhill308ruger]

@EconoChallenge I haven't thought of polyester or nylon but I will give it a try . I was thinking of using burlap or canvas ( wight isn't to much of a problem for me ). Thanks for the info and looking forward to the future videos !

[jcmartinez66]

This is a fantastic idea for a basecamp for an extended trip, say three or more nights. This type of setup can keep "the young of spirit" visiting the wilderness we so love, without feeling that sleeping on the ground is going to be the death of them.

[EconoChallenge]

@jcmartinez66 Those of us young of spirit my also appreciate an elevated bed to help with those knees. Thanks for commenting.

[ib516]

Nice job! Lightweight and innovative shelter. (subscribing).

I would have probably lashed the ends of the bed supports to the tripod legs.

[EconoChallenge]

@ib516 Lashing the bed to the supports would be safer. Makes it a little more difficult to take down. Better that than fall down. We have a different way to accomplish the same thing without lashing the bed to the frame. We will be posting an update ... someday.

[rainbowhiker]

Honestly, this is an excellent idea and seems quite comfortable, but, it would take a bit longer and expend more energy than I want to spend in setting up a camp. Daylight for me is meant for exploring things. Thats it. I do like this. Thanks.

[EconoChallenge]

@rainbowhiker Thank you for your evaluation. Feedback is awesome!

[FIyingPengwin]

Where did you get the polyester tube for the Amazing Wilderness Camp Cot?

[EconoChallenge]

@FIyingPengwin We picked up some inexpensive polyester fabric from our local fabric store and sewed this proto together. Now that we have the size figured out, the next one will be made out of nylon fabric from the same store. More expensive but much lighter than polyester. Its the same fabric we used to make the Amazing Wilderness Camp Chairs. Thanks for watching.

[FIyingPengwin]

I think this is quite brilliant. cause of the ridgeline, you could EASILY make a shelter out of that, in addition the fact you are off the ground means you can have storage space underneath, whether it'd be dry fire wood or your pack. I am definitely going to try this out.

[todddguillory]

I like the hell out of that set up. All it would need is a bug bar....Great job!!!

[EconoChallenge]

@todddguillory Cool! You know your gear. I already have a modified bug bar we picked up last year to make a personal bug shelter. We show it at the end of one of our recent meal reviews. It is going to work perfect with this set up. Of course we will not be able to test it until next spring when the bugs come back!

[Giorgiopozzer]

very good project! excellent option between a hammock and sleep on the floor! congratulations!

[EconoChallenge]

@Giorgiopozzer Thank you. We love it and will be camping in this setup in the future.

[enjoythewildUSA]

Jeep, awesome awesome awesome inspirational video. That is absolutely the coolest shelter I have seen on YouTube. Down here in Southern California we don't have the sturdy downed wood that you guys have so it wouldn't be an option here but I just think it is so cool that you get both a bed and a nice overhang for your tarp.

Very cool.

Looks like you have hit the time of year where the bugs have gone away as well.

Stay warm this winter friend!

[EconoChallenge]

@enjoythewildUSA The best time of year to hike is about a month ago. No bugs. Way too cold at night to keep them alive. Nice warm days. But not too warm that you get hot and sweaty hiking. It still would be the same condition now except we have added hunting! Not the best time to be wondering off the trail in some remote wilderness. Hunters have taken over and it stays that way until December! #^@% I might get a chance to stay the night in this shelter if I stay on a campsite ... maybe.

[enjoythewildUSA]

@EconoChallenge Wear orange Jeep if you are going to be wandering around out there. 2 years ago, my friend was sitting around a fire after left camp. A deer ran through our camp about 20 feet from my buddy. An idiot on a hilltop opened up with an SKS and fired a volley of bullets that impacted all around him. He won't go out during huntin' season now. It can be dangerous.

I told a friend at work this morning what I thrill I got when you whipped your custom saw out on the video! : )

[EconoChallenge]

@enjoythewildUSA The shelter is simple. Just two lash points! Our enjoythewildUSA saw just ripped through the 9 logs needed for this shelter in no time at all. You do make a good point. We are blessed with a "lumber store like" selection of wood when it comes to bushcraft. Thanks for your awesome comment.

[hobbexp]

i think its great

[EconoChallenge]

@hobbexp Glad you think so. I think we will be doing more with this in the future. I still have to make sure it will stay up all night!

[oldguy537]

great video, good to see these things haven''t been lost in time, we used to knock these up way way back when I was a scout, things you remember nearly 50 years on ..

[EconoChallenge]

@oldguy537 In cub scouts we built shelters but not like this one. More like the lean-to shelter. However I am sure I would not have been able to get this far without the basic learning given to me by some great volunteer scout leaders!!

[oldguy537]

@EconoChallenge here in Australia scouts were for early teens, just about every weekend was spent out hiking,camping and rock climbing, kept you out of trouble, and yes I owe a lot those who gave their time to pass on their bushcrafting skills, thanks for the reply and your videos , great stuff ..

[Wintertrekker]

Great idea!

[rowdybeaver33]

Nice video. By-the-way, it's not the Sas Survival Manual. It's the S. A. S. (Special Air Service) Survival manual. If Lofty Wiseman knew that you called it the Sas manual he would probably punch you in the neck. Keep on keepin on brother.

[EconoChallenge]

@rowdybeaver33 Thank you for the tip. You don't know what you don't know and I appreciate your help. I think I have been calling it that from the start. Oops.

[Ggreenvideos]

I have to feature this one on my channel it's so damn cool bro!

[Ggreenvideos]

I can't believe this wasn't showing up for me either :o( YT has gotta' get it together man!!!! Oh my Brother! It's perfection man! I love that :o)))) It looks so comfy! Great, no outstanding idea! You CAN enjoy the wild buddy! I really gotta' try this someday :o) Hopefully sooner than later!

[TangoSpiceCompany]

Even though I am not a wilderness trekker or a bushcrafter by any stretch of the imagination, I really enjoy your videos. Fantastic!

[EconoChallenge]

@TangoSpiceCompany If you ever go ... you will definitely impress your friends with something like this.  You already have great meals nailed so in some ways you are light years ahead of us! LOL

[MrOurcanada]

cool design

[EconoChallenge]

@MrOurcanada Thank you for dropping by

[BLynchCAN]

Sorry Jeep. I was distracted the first time I was watching this. It's a great idea.

[EconoChallenge]

@BLynchCAN Thanks brother. You are the man that brought us back to life. Thumbs up!

[BLynchCAN]

@EconoChallenge The way it's two chairs and/or a bed is a great use of material.

[epetrie]

Great design. I have been thinking about something like this for a while. I love YouTube. Please keep your videos coming. Thanks.

[McHenryAnge]

Well if you're going to make amazing stuff, why not save a great guy like me some money and time and build a bed that TIES at the four corners.

Got the idea from a Dave Canterbury video of tying a square net to 3 or 4 trees to make a square "bed".

Or.. I wonder what would happen if you just run paracord through it.

It's your butt hanging over the ground and not mine so I fully support your testing it out. :D

[EconoChallenge]

@McHenryAnge The ridgepole keeps the support legs from sliding together when you lie on the bed. It would not keep the legs on each tripod from sliding toward each other if they were tied with para cord rather than the rails used in the video. I am sure you would end up on the ground fast. Maybe if you hammered the legs into the ground. But that would be more work. More tying and and untying to take it down.

[pharmajoe990]

Cool... I was wondering what the top beam was for until I saw the tarp over it :-)

[EconoChallenge]

@pharmajoe990 Ah yes the top beam. I did make a special mention of that part of the frame. It is important because it keeps the legs from squeezing together under the weight of the cot rails. Without that beam you would be on the ground.

[davidsquall351]

looks comfortable and pretty simple.

[wawhiker]

Awesome design and construction! The best one I've seen yet. And it has so many options for finishing it out for a complete shelter. Well done Jeep! This is great!

[EconoChallenge]

@wawhiker Youtube is awesome for learning new stuff.  It is like we get to go hiking with hundreds of other like minded people and learn from them. Thanks for the comment. We also think it is the best design (so far). But we need to test it out in some wind!!

[Ggreenvideos]

@wawhiker Isn't that cool brother? It's another AMAZING idea...haha :o)

[wawhiker]

@Ggreenvideos It really is!

[mrriprock2]

Simply Epic. Bravo!...Dash Riprock

[EconoChallenge]

@mrriprock2 Thank you.

[NewbieCamper]

@econochallenge - Thanks for the quick answer!

[CdnLifeguard71]

Very cool Jeep. You just took the material and sewed it into a tube to whatever size you wanted?

Sweet

Nate

[EconoChallenge]

@CdnLifeguard71 2 inches longer than my full length ground pad. That was the easy part. Getting the correct width was a bit of a pain. If your sewing is a little off you get parts that will feel stiffer than other parts of the bed. I will be more careful with the one I am going to make for next summer.

[MiWilderness]

That is the great thing about YouTube, innovate not imitate. This looks like a great setup.

[EconoChallenge]

@MiWilderness Learned more in the last three years than I did in the first 17! Getting involved with all you guys on youtube has been awesome. And it just keeps getting better.

[ETHIOLOGIST1]

Love that fact that it's pressure-fit instead of being lashed. The beauty of simplicity!

[EconoChallenge]

@ETHIOLOGIST1 You can take it apart just as easy as it goes together. Sweet

[NewbieCamper]

Okay, so ... before anyone starts snickering, I figure my login name let's me ask a couple of "Duh!" questions ;-). Here's the first one - re this video:

Am I right in assuming that the ridge pole's critical purpose is to act as a "locking mechanism" for the tripods, so two front legs don't move when you add the cot? (And, of course, also being needed to hang tarp.)

Thanks!

[EconoChallenge]

@NewbieCamper Awesome. You got it. Now get this. I first tried it with the ridge pole. Then just to be sure you need it I tried it without the ridge pole. Friction and my weight is not enough to keep those legs from sliding together. Thanks for the question.

[bushcraftbartons]

Nicely done Jeep....very comfy...10 STARS

[EconoChallenge]

@bushcraftbartons The next question is ... will this design survive through the night?

[nedeljkomostar]

great video and great idea. Only problem is you have to be in forest environment. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[EconoChallenge]

@nedeljkomostar Yes we are lucky. Lots and lots of dead wood to choose from. Maybe that is why we like thest projects.

[Arnoldsbrickoven]

I LOVE This...Thank You for your work and sharing it with us !!

[NewbieCamper]

I love that you start a number of your videos by first erecting the amazing chair!! Just adds that much more to always great videos ;-)

[EconoChallenge]

@NewbieCamper Thank you. As you get older you like your comforts.

[medicjimr]

Great jeep going to have to get some material and try that out really cool design and like the added bonus of a litter for extrication .

[EconoChallenge]

@medicjimr I did not know you have a name for it. I love stuff that can be used for a different purpose if needed. It makes a good ground pad cover if you want to use it outside your tent or hammock. Folded it can make a little sitting pad.

[medicjimr]

@EconoChallenge Ya litter , gurney , stretcher all common names lol. Great job again Jeep

[ekhaat]

Awesome idea

[txcaleath]

Looks great..off the ground able to secure shelter to it...and no worries about finding two trees that are the right spacing...I will be trying this one out myself.

[EconoChallenge]

@txcaleath It works with a hammock also. You just need to add a much longer ridge pole that will support your weight. We showed that one earlier this year. Enjoy and let us know how it works out for you.

[txcaleath]

@EconoChallenge

I would be great if you could use it as a shelf and still have your hammock above it...sorta a gear shelf.

[EconoChallenge]

@txcaleath When you hang a hammock on the same rig, you can spread the support legs out wider. I would say the gear loft idea would work if it was above you. Just a quick thought.

[Foxr6]

Right on Man, great job!

[alonewolverine1984]

Really good construction, like it!

[EconoChallenge]

@alonewolverine1984 Thank you for inspiring us to try it again.

[BCkayakcamper]

Wow - that is cool! I'd love to see a video of you testing it out for a night and see how it went the next morning!

[EconoChallenge]

@BCkayakcamper You know it! That will be happening soon. Hopefully before the snow arrives. We have to see if this design will stand up to a wind storm also.

[Woodenarrows]

I LIKE IT! Makes a great bed and shelter frame. As you mentioned, off the ground but nice and flat for comfort aaaand you only need to carry the sleeve itself. How much better can it get. Thanks too for the shout out and the link.

[EconoChallenge]

@Woodenarrows Ah you see the beauty we see in the simplicity. Now we need to find out if it will last the night. The little screen house I demonstrated earlier this summer will fit over the bed. That was why I was so excited when you sent the link. It just fits perfectly into what we are already doing. Thanks again!!!

[nellyyllen1]

looks great & comfy

[TomsBackwoods]

Yes I heard that! lol ...I have been considering this raised bed for along while. Thanks for putting it together! Great job as always! Get out and hike take a friend...err umm... that's somebody else's to !..... thanks Econochallenge!

[EconoChallenge]

@TomsBackwoods Now thats funny. We do have a few stars among us don't we? May not always be for good reasons. LOL.