BD - yuppers, the zippers on the palace didn't make it through a overnight Death Valley wind event. But to clarify, the palace is a Colman family tent that is supposed to sleep 7, with a side entrance for the dog. There were 2 of us sharing the tent, with very comfy air mattresses. This is not a tent that would ever be on my back hiking uphill anywhere. It is strictly a car camping tent.
Renting a good quality tent is always an option. Or if you do a little research, a good quality used tent might be a better option than a Wal Mart tent for about the same cost.
I have had really good experience with a Sierra Design tent. I had it for over 20 years and it held up well in some really strong Sierra storms. I bought the newer version of the same model a few years ago, I'm hoping to get another 20 years out of it.
