Set up a tent

Video: Step - By - Step | How To Set Up a Tent

Content

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Part 1 of 3: Putting up the tent
Part 3 of 3: Finding a suitable place
Tips

We've all been there before: it's getting dark, it's cold, the wind is picking up and you're going to sleep outside tonight. This is pretty much the worst time to forget your tent's manual. Before you take a trip through the countryside, make sure you know exactly how to set up the tent to avoid fumbling around and wasting time at the campsite. Camping will be a lot more fun if you know how to find the right place to pitch your tent, how to set up your tent and how to maintain it. Go to Step 1 to learn how to pitch a tent.

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Part 1 of 3: Putting up the tent

Lay out an underground tarpaulin before pitching the tent. When setting up your tent, it is important to provide a barrier between the ground and the groundsheet of your tent to prevent the tent from getting damp. Make sure you have a high-quality plastic or vinyl ground cover for your tent.
- Fold the ground cover up in the shape of the tent, but slightly smaller. Make sure that the ground cover does not protrude under the edges of the tent, as it will leave puddles of water on it when it rains. Fold longer pieces over and tuck them under the tent.
Let the tent dry in the sun before packing. If it rains while camping, it is important to thoroughly dry the tent inside and out before packing. The tent may be full of mold the next time you go camping. Hang it on some low branches or at home on a clothesline to let it dry thoroughly. Then pack it neatly and put it away for your next camping trip.
Do not fold your tent the same way every time. It is important to ensure that your tent does not fold, as this can create weak spots in the fabric where holes can appear. Roll up your tent and stuff it in the bag, but don't fold it up or make sharp creases in it.
- The next time you go camping, it is better to have a cramped and wrinkled tent than to have very sharp folds in the fabric that can cause holes. Remember that a tent is not a fashion accessory and is intended to provide protection from the elements.
Open the bag regularly to air the tent. Sometimes it can take a long time before you go camping again. It is a good idea to regularly remove the tent from the bag and air it in your garden so that the fabric cannot be spoiled by moisture and not eaten by mice. You don't have to pitch the tent. Just take it out of the bag, shake it out and put it back in the bag some other way.

Part 3 of 3: Finding a suitable place

Find a suitable place to pitch your tent. Choose an open area with enough space to assemble your tent. Choose a place on a campsite or natural camping site, because wild camping is prohibited in the Netherlands. If you are abroad, make sure you choose a spot that is designated as a camping area. Make sure you don't pick a spot on someone else's land and follow all camping rules where you are.
Pay attention to the wind direction. Do not position the tent so that the wind is directly on the tent and blows through the opening into the tent. That way, the tent will not inflate like a balloon and the pegs will not be heavily loaded.
- Use a natural row of trees to protect the tent from the wind in particularly strong winds. Place the tent closer to the trees so that they block the wind.
- Do not pitch your tent in a dry river bed in case the area floods quickly. Also, do not camp under the trees, as that can be dangerous when there is a storm and branches can fall on your tent.
Determine where the sun rises. It may be a good idea to check where the sun rises and shines in the morning so that you don't get awakened suddenly. In the summer, your tent can become an oven, which means you can wake up sweaty and irritated if you pitch your tent in a sunny spot. Ideally, the tent remains in the shade in the morning so that you can wake up comfortably at a time of your choosing.
Arrange your camping spot correctly. Place the tent far away from where you cook and the toilets, preferably upwind of it. If you are lighting a campfire, make sure you do it far enough from the tent so that no sparks can fall on the tent. Also make sure to turn off the fire before going to sleep.