Do-It-Yourself You Need Make on Your Camping Trip

Camping trips require you to set up a shelter where you can spend the night in comfortably. Should you forget to bring a tent, there is no need to worry. You can create a do-it-yourself tent which can protect you from the unpredictable weather.

It is a great idea to establish a shelter which shall help you stay dry and warm throughout the day. Making your own tent is not an easy task. You need to gather appropriate tools and materials. The process can also be learned. This is a great knowledge to learn if you are an avid enthusiast of camping.

Here is a quick guide in making your first do-it-yourself camping tent. We recommend you seek the assistance of your other camp mates should the procedure require help.

Building the Frame

The key to having a sturdy tent is making sure that the frame is well built. You need certain supplies such as strong rope, four pieces of stakes, stones and at least two sheets of tarpaulin.

Once you gather these supplies, the next step is looking for a nice area for the tent. Here are some tips when searching for a good location:

It is recommended to find a spot with two trees nearby. The trees should not be too far as you need to tie your ropes through it.
You should get an area that has lower elevation. Areas in higher elevation tend to get cold once the night comes in.
If you are expecting rain to fall, you must avoid building a tent on steep valleys as it may collect water which shall flood your area.

It is preferable to select an area with the ground still at a slightly damp state. This makes sure that the dust will not be blown of around as your build your shelter. Moreover, it can help with the adherence of tarp on the ground.

Lastly, a strong frame needs a rope that is heavy duty. The rope must be wrapped around on the trees a before you secure it by tying. It should be on the right level as highly tied ropes product a cramped tent.

Positioning the Floor

The first step in finding the right spot of your tent floor is checking the ground. You must remove large rocks, twigs and pebbles before you place your bottom tarp. The tarp should lay smoothly on the floor as there are no items that may poke tiny holes on it.

The floor must be beneath the ropes that you previously hung in between trees. You must make sure that it is centered with the ropes above it.

Finally, secure your tarp by keeping it in place with the stakes. Provided below are a quick run through of the steps when securing the bottom tarp.

Create a hole on the sides of the tarp
Place the stakes on each of the holes
Utilize a rock to hammer it well on the ground

Make sure that you are not hammering the stakes too deep. You might redo the placement once you build the walls on your tent.

Building the Walls

You can build the walls of the tent by stretching your other sheet top over the rope. You should straighten the tarp as it evenly hangs down on the rope. Should your tarp reach the ground, it means that you tied the rope on a higher level. You must make proper adjustments.

To keep the water out of your tent, you must build embankments. Potential rain flood can make your tent damp and muddy. Thus, you can use materials readily found on the campsite such as rocks, dirt and sticks to establish a wall around your floor tarp.

Troubleshooting Tips

You may encounter several issues as you build you do-it-yourself tent. Here are some tips and trick should you feel the need to tweak your tent according to the conditions of your area.

Flapping Walls

If you have a large tarp, it is better to not cut it in two – one for your floor and your wall. You can initially lay your tarp beneath the rope and secure it in place using rocks. Then, throw the tarp edge over your rope and secure it on the other side. By having a single piece of tarp, your walls are more secured and have lesser risk of flapping.

Carving Stakes

Getting high-quality stakes is essential in securing your tarp. We recommend you find broken branches from trees and carve them out. Using a knife, whittle on of the ends to create a pointed tip. This will make it easier to hammer down on the sides.

Building with a single tree

Are you having a hard time finding two adjacent trees to hang your rope? There is nothing to worry. You can still built a makeshift tent using a single tree.

You will need a sturdy stake to take the place of the other tree. Tie the rope on the tree and another end on the stake. Similarly, place the tarp over the rope and this will serve as the walls of the tent.

These are just some of the instances where you need troubleshooting activities when setting up your camp site. If you encounter other issues, make sure that you are prepared. You can seek help from other campers if the troubleshooting tasks become harder.

Conclusion

You can benefit in knowing the process of making your camping tent, do-it-yourself style. Your budget will not suffer as the materials needed do not cost too much. Aside from the fact that it can save you money, it comes in handy during emergency purposes.

A camping tent can save your life during situations where survival is threatened. By putting several materials together you can combat potential challenges brought by weather and external conditions. The tent can keep you warm and dry especially on a chilly night.