Do you need to disconnect from your daily hustles and indoor routines and enjoy outdoor activities? Does spending time in the wilderness, mountains, national parks, and campgrounds excite you?
If you resonate with the above, you probably need to wear your outdoor clothes do group camping. Most people use 4-5 person tents, RVs, or cabins to set up camps. Unlike RVs and cabins, you must set up your tents to get shelter.
Setting up tents during your camping trip may be easy or hard, depending on their design, size, and experience in handling them. If you had difficulty setting up your tents or this is your first time, we will help make your following setup easier.
Let’s explore some clever tips to help you set up your tents for your next group camping adventure.
- Choose a Flat and Clear Campsite
Choose a flat ground that is inclined a few degrees. A slightly inclined ground provides a stable base for the tent. Sleeping on that ground in your camping apparel is also comfortable as long as your head is on the high side.
It also helps drain water and prevent it from pooling around the tent. Finally, it provides a safer place to camp as you will not be prone to accidents like tripping and falling.
- Set up your tent on a tarp or ground cloth.
Laying a tarp or ground cloth on the ground before setting up the tent can provide many benefits. Some reasons to lay a tarp in your tent include the following:
- Protection: A tarp can protect the bottom of your tent from sharp objects, like rocks or twigs, that can damage the floor of your tent. Protecting your tent from wear and tear can help increase its lifespan.
- Waterproofing: A tarp can also help keep the bottom of your tent dry by providing an additional barrier between the ground and the bottom of your tent.
- Insulation: Laying a tarp in the tent can also provide insulation from the cold ground. Tarp and camping clothes will help you keep warm.
It’s worth noting that some camping tents come with a built-in groundsheet, so using a tarp may not be necessary. Choose the right size of tarp that is resistant to water and mildew.
- Use Pool Noodles or Glow Sticks
Some tent lines are usually not easily visible. Moreover, you or other campers may forget about the tent lines and run into or trip over them or other camping equipment.
Running your tent lines through a brightly colored pool noodle is a simple and effective way to protect you from tripping over them. You can notice the bright color from afar and avoid it. It also provides a softer surface in case you run into the lines.
You can also use glow sticks to help identify the tent lines and entry points. Glow sticks come in various colors and can emit light for several hours. You can also use them inside the tent or outside to scare away animals or pets.
- Test Your Tent Zippers
Tent zippers can get stuck due to bent, broken, or debris-clogged zipper teeth, rust, dirt, leaves, grass, or a tight zipper. Stuck zippers can be frustrating, but how do you avoid or fix them?
Open and close the zipper several times before leaving your home or the shop where you buy it. Running the zipper ensures you identify issues before you head to the camp.
If you experience problems opening or closing a new zipper, replace it, return it to the seller, or take it to a professional for repair.
If you are already at the campsite and your zippers are stuck, try the following solutions;
- Lubrication: You can lubricate stuck zippers using wax, soap, lip balm, or petroleum jelly.
- Remove the obstacles: If the zipper teeth are blocked by debris, leaves, or grass, you can remove them using a needle, toothpick, or a dry thorn.
- Organize Your Tent
Organize your items to make it easy to access what you need without having to dig through your bag. Have different bags for storing various items such as outdoor apparel, electronics, food, and camping equipment.
Use a camping organizer to store smaller items like headlamps, wallets, keys, lighter, body lotions, and bug sprays.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your tent is set up properly and have a memorable camping experience.
