Getting Started

Getting Started

You have arrived at the campground, checked in, and found the perfect level campsite.  You pull your tent bag out of your car or truck.  The only tool you need to grab out of your toolbox is a hammer.  Depending on the size of your tent, you might also want to grab a person to help you out as well.  

For demonstration, I am setting up a Eureka! Copper Canyon 6 tent.  This is a large, 6 person tent, so two people are setting it up.  It can be set up by just one person, but it is much easier and faster, if you have help.

Now, let's set up the tent.

Preparing Tent and Equipment for Set Up

1. Empty tent bag of its contents.  
2. Locate the tent, rain fly (possibly wrapped up in the tent), poles, and stakes.  (The rain fly can be an optional piece of equipment; some tents do not have one.)

   

   Tent, Poles, and Stakes

3. Place your tent where you want to locate it on the campsite.
4. Locate the door end of your rolled up tent.
5. Face the door in the direction you want.
6. Unroll and unfold your tent.  (The rain fly may also be rolled up with the tent, if it is, set it aside for now.)

   

   Unrolled Tent

   
   

   

   Unrolled and Unfolded Tent. 

7. Connect your tent poles together from their folded up storage condition.  (The number of poles you have will vary by tent model.  The Copper Canyon 6 has six poles: four structure poles and two roof poles.)
   

   

   Tent Poles (Connected and Disconnected)
   Structure Poles (Left) and Roof Poles (Right)
   
   
   

8. Identify how many stakes your tent requires.  (Most tents require at least four stakes, one at each corner.)

   

   Tent Stakes

9. Locate where your stakes go.
10. Place stakes and poles near where they will be used on the tent.

    

    Place Stakes Near Where They Will Be Hammered In

We are now ready to raise the tent.  If you are setting up a large tent, this is a good time to find someone to lend you a hand.  Continue on to my next blog post.