When you are ATV camping in the back country one very important necessity is having a comfortable dry place to sleep. This is where your tent comes in to play. Having a good lightweight camping tent for your ATV camping adventure is not going to do you any good if you don’t set it up properly. So here are some tips to help you setup your back country bedroom.
Pitching a
Camping Tent
Know Your Camping Tent – This is probably the most important step in setting up your tent properly. It does not matter if you have a $500 tent or a $30 tent, the back country is not the place to learn how to set it up. Always practice setting up your tent at home. This ensures that you have all the parts and understand how they go together, especially if it is dark. It also gives you a chance to waterproof the seams if needed with waterproof sealant for tents.
Prepare The Area – Once you find your back country campsite you will need to prepare the area where you plan to set up the tent. Make sure not to set up your tent in a low area where water could drain into. Also make sure your campsite is not in a flood plain. The area for the tent should be fairly flat and free of any large rocks, branches or twigs (twigs can poke a hole in your ground cloth and tent floor). Leaves and pine needles make good bedding for a tent. Avoid setting up your tent directly under a tree.
Prepare the Ground Cloth – Unroll your tent and position your ground cloth or foot print. If on a hill position the ground cloth so that your head will be at the highest point. Lay down on the ground cloth to test the area for comfort. Use leaves and pine needles to put under the ground cloth to adjust for your comfort.
Prepare the Tent – Most new tents come with shock-corded poles made out of aluminum or fiberglass. Unfold the poles and slip the sections together, ensure each section is properly slipped together with the mating section. Some tents have sleeves for the poles to go in and other tent have clips. Once your tent is assembled with the poles, position the tent over the ground cloth and set your stakes.
Extra Precautions– Having an extra tarp or poncho, some rope and extra stakes come in handy if you are ATV camping in the rain. Set the tarp or poncho over the tent and secure it with the rope and stakes. This will help keep you and your sleeping gear dry through the storm.By utilizing these simple tips will help ensure you get your lightweight camping tent setup and you have a comfortable dry place to sleep on your ATV camping adventure.
You must be logged in to post a comment.