Last Updated on November 13, 2020 by Jackie
Imagine you are in the middle of woods, ready to unpack the gears and get the adventure started when you find out that you forgot to carry your tent. Boom! Now what? Only if you have a few extra supplies and a piece of knowledge about how to make a camping tent from scratch, you’d be able to survive.
Doesn’t it all sound like a nasty horror movie’s scene?
Well, jokes apart, you really have to have knowledge about making a camping tent from scratch because it has a whole lot of benefits. And it requires nothing more than a few wooden sticks or poles, a sheet to cover, and a rope to tie everything together, completely.
With that being said, making a camping tent on your own can be really fun, never mind the exhaustion. It is a great thing to do at the campsites because nothing beats the swag of living in something you had made yourself. Camping can be turned into something productive when you choose to build your camp on your own.
So, here we are going to discuss the major steps that are to be followed while making your own camping tent, along with the details of all the necessary equipment. With that said, let’s not wait for another minute, and get straight to the point:
Contents
Tips and Tricks to Make a Camping Tent from Scratch:
Apart from the emergency situation, making a camp on your own can be a personal choice as well. Camping is not something which is loved and appreciated by every type of person. It is the hobby of adventure seekers who constantly look up to something exciting and thrilling.
With that aside, it is a skill and not everyone is aware of it. In fact, you might be the only one in your circle to learn it properly and get to know all the minor tweaks of making a camp from scratch. So that’s what you got to show off!
Now, the thing is:
We are going to discuss the most prominent and widely used method of making a tent from scratch, in the first place. It is gonna be a detailed one, with all the major and minor things highlighted. So this thorough guide will help you get the best piece of knowledge regarding camp-making.
If you really want to know what’s inside, then stay tuned till the last word.
Bits and Pieces Needed to Make Tent on Your Own:
If you are not interested in carrying the ready-to-use tent along with you on the venture, then there are very few pieces of equipment that you would need to make a camping tent on your own. These things do not even weigh too heavy in your backpack that you get seriously weary with excessive exertion.
And the worst part about carrying weighty things is:
These hefty things are difficult to use as per the requirement of a camping tent. For instance, if the tarp sheet is heavy and bulky, then it would lean down to the ground after every instant, and would not provide proper shelter. Also, the thick, massive rope is difficult to be knotted.
So the bottom line is:
You got to have the handiest material in your backpack to make the most sturdy and weather-resistant camp in between woods and forests. Down below is the list of the most basic and essential equipment that would help you in this regard:
- A waterproof tarp.
- Wooden sticks or poles.
- A long rope.
And that is all! Make sure to have all of these in your backpack. You have the option of collecting wooden sticks from the surroundings but the rest of the two things are a must. So make sure you have them in your backpack while leaving for camping.
What next?
Now it is time to discuss the application of these things that how to assemble them in such a way that it ends up in the shape of a comfy, spacious camping tent.
So without any further ado, let’s get down to it:
What Steps to Follow to Make a Camping Tent from Scratch
It is obvious that you have to choose a destination for your camping adventure. And it needs to be clean, comfortable, and above all safe. So in order to make you completely aware of everything, which you need to check before setting the camp, here we begin with the first and foremost thing:
Choose the Location Wisely:
Picking up a location for camping can be really easy if you just ignore all the precautionary measures, leave behind the common sense, and place your camp wherever you want. Does that make sense to you?
Of course not! You have to look for a place that will suit different circumstances while camping, because no one wants to rest their body after a long hike, on a crooked floor. Right?
So with that being said, we have made the selection of a perfect location for camping easier for you. Here is a compact and brief list of all the essentials that are important not to ignore:
- Choose the place under a tree for natural shade. So if you are sitting in your camp under a hot sunny sky, then the tree branches and leaves give you enough shade to avoid any inconvenience.
- Secondly, make sure that the ground is not slopy, elevated, or crooked. Besides, you must clean the camping area before setting up your camp, so that the little gravels and pebbles are wiped away.
- It is better that you opt for a place that is between two trees. This would help you to tie the knot of the ropes with the tree trunks, that will act as ultimate support for your camp.
- Make sure that you don’t set your camp under an old tree with rotten branches. This is because if in case the wind blows brutally, then the branches might fall on your camp, resulting in huge destruction. So no need to take such a risk!
- Set your camp in a damp place, so that the sand doesn’t blow unnecessarily. Moreover, avoid setting up your camp in a steep place because that would bring water inside your camp when it rains.
Now let’s just wrap it up on this note, because all of the above-mentioned detail was just a tip of an iceberg. There are plenty of aspects that play an important role in choosing the best camping site. And that would take up the whole article if we start to list down each and every one of them.
So now you are done with the selection of a camping site, your next logical step should be to place all the gears down, and get to work.
That said, let’s move further with our discussion, and take into account the next important step that deals with how to build a tent from scratch. Here we go:
Get the Tarp Ready:
So now you have finally selected a place to set up your tent, the next thing that you should do is to prepare your tarp. Lay it down on the ground, and start making holes in the upright corners and on the downsides.
This is to make proper enclosures for tying the ropes and attaching the poles so that your camping tent holds on tight against the sturdy and aggressive winds.
Besides, the piece of the tarp which you are going to lay down on the ground needs to be a little thick, so that it doesn’t get wet from the ground. Also, it is important to protect the tent from anything that might jab holes in the tarp.
So you better have a little knowledge about how to make a tent out of tarp in order to avoid any inconvenience.
But wait – there’s something more to do in this step:
Now you gotta fix the wooden sticks or poles (whatever is available) across the corners of the tarp. Dig the holes in the ground and put the poles in it for strong support. It requires a hammer to do so, but in case you don’t have it, you can make use of stones as well.
Build Strong Walls:
Right after doing that, just get the tarp straightened, pull it up, and make the walls of the tarp ready to be the walls of a homemade camping tent. Make sure to keep it strong and sturdy.
Secure the Tent:
The last thing you have to do is to tighten the ropes with the tree-trunks or any other durable and powerful source. This is to ensure heavy-duty support to the tent so that it doesn’t fall apart with even a minor stroke.
With that being said, you have to do it the right way. I mean, if you tie the knot in an upward position, then the upper tarp will remain hanging in the air. And if you put the knot even slightly down the same level as that of the tent, then it might fall with even a slight jerk.
So keep in mind this thing, and try to fasten the rope at a medium level – not too low, not too high!
And you are good to go!
This is how awfully easy it is! You have to spend your money on almost nothing to get built a home-like camping tent on your own. All you gotta learn is how to make your tent with the least possible equipment you have, and that’s where you hit the point.
<<< Also Read Best Tent for Hot Weather >>>
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Are bell tents easy to put up?
Yes, the bell or tipi tents are comparatively easy to put up because they just need one central pole to be balanced carefully. The rest of the camp is balanced by guying the rope with a static object. So this method turns out to be more convenient than the others.
What is the most suitable place to pitch a tent?
One of the most important things that you need to take care of is the most suitable location to set up your camping tent. It really influences your whole experience of camping.
So the basic things, which you have to look for is that the ground must be a little damp – to avoid the dust blowing – also, your camping site must be near a tree or two, so that you can have strong support for your tent to hold on to.
Why is it recommended to put a tarp under a tent?
The main purpose of a tarp under a tent is to prevent rainwater from entering the living space of the tent. Also, in order to have a clean place to lay down, you have to have something that covers the bare ground. So that is why it is recommended to put a tarp under a tent.
How can we keep the moisture out of our tent?
The homemade camping tents often lack the built-in ventilation openings, which the other high-end, ready-made camping tents have. So this doesn’t really help in keeping the moisture out of the tent.
In such a situation, all you can do is take into account certain precautionary measures, for instance, keeping the wet shoes and clothes out of the tent. Or else leaving the entrance of the tent open for some time, so that the air passes through it to moderate the humidity.
How can we stay warm in a tent?
The easiest and most widely used hack to keep oneself warm at night, in a camping tent, is that you can simply switch to thermal clothing. Other than that, you can use sleeping bags that are comfortable and warm at the same time.
Conclusion
So that was all about the discussion on how to make a camping tent from scratch. If you are new to camping, then the most recommended thing is that you better go for the ready-made tents available on the market – because building your own tent and knowing not a single thing about camping, doesn’t mix well! Right?
With that said, if you have been to woods and forests, camping days over there, then making a tent on your own would be fun. And what else you need when you get to have a detailed guide to do so?
<<< Click to Read About Best Extra Large Family Camping Tents >>>
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