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5. Camping Tents
·
Set up a new tent at home before your trip. This lets you check its condition, and learn how
to set it up without the pressure of darkness, rain or onlookers at camp.
·
The seams on all nylon tents must be sealed before using the tent, and periodically
thereafter. Seam sealer is sold in applicator bottles which you rub along the inside of all
waterproof seams. Apply the seam sealer at home when you first set up the tent.
·
Try and avoid setting up camp next to stagnant water, which is home to biting insects.
·
Don't set up the tent on a sandbar or in a dry wash. The water will probably rise if it rains.
Dry washes can flash flood due to a rain storm many miles away.
·
Don't set up the tent in a depression. Rain water will collect under the tent.
·
Put a plastic sheet on the ground under the tent. It should match the "footprint" of the tent,
but not extend out beyond the tent's sides so that it doesn't gather rainwater. This
groundsheet protects the floor of your tent from stones, sticks, and general wear and tear.
·
You can get special stake-driving mallets, or use a plain old household hammer, to pound
tents stakes into the ground.
·
Get the sturdiest aluminum or steel tent stakes possible. Most campgrounds build sites with
gravel, and this hard ground will bend or break most lightweight and plastic stakes.
·
The rain fly is a special tarp that fits over the top of the tent to make it waterproof. Most
tents come with a matching rain fly included. The rain fly should allow the tent windows to
remain open for ventilation while protecting the seams from potential leaks.
·
Use a stake puller to help pull tent stakes out of the ground, or just loop a short rope under
the stake's hook and pull on the rope to pull up on the stake.
·
Keep a whiskbroom in the tent for sweeping out dirt and leaves.
·
Use an old towel or small piece of carpet as a door matt for wiping off feet before entering
the tent.
