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The last thing you want to face as you are camping and sleeping in your tent is that it collapses at night because it is windy. Why did the tent collapse, and what can you do to prevent it from happening the next time? You need to learn how to stake a tent correctly when you are camping because if you don’t, you will end up with the tent falling on you when the weather gets rough. A little bit of rain and wind will be enough to knock out a tent that you did not stake well. Let’s go over how to stake a tent the right way.
Find The Perfect Site To Put Up A Tent
Before putting up your tent upon arrival, you need to walk around the entire site when you get to the campsite. You will want to ensure that the area is clear of large trees or too many rocks. If you put up a tent near too many trees, then you will have acorns falling on the tent. You will also be at risk of trees falling on you in the tent if it is incredibly windy. You do not want to take such a risk. Instead, walk around the campsite, and find a flat area that is not near trees. Pick up twigs, branches, and rocks, and anything else in the area before staking your tent.
Stake Off The Base Of The Tent And Tie Guy Lines
Once you choose the area where you will stake your tent, start by staking off the tent’s base. Don’t erect the tent without staking it. If the winds are calm, you may not think it is necessary to do that, but you must. Unfortunately, the winds will not stay calm later in the day or overnight. After staking off the base, you must tie the guylines, which will provide extra space in your tent and give it structure. Of course, if you are camping with a few friends or your family, you will want to have as much space as possible. Or, if you are claustrophobic, the same applies!
Stake The Guylines In The Corner At An Angle
You will want to place the stakes at a 45-degree angle from the corner because it will allow you to get the extra room in the tent that you need. Additionally, if you do that, it will help waterproof the tent if it gets windy and starts raining. Therefore, staking your tent this way will provide you with two needed benefits when camping. It helps to give you a lot of room in your tent, and it also helps to keep you dry. You will also want to take extra stakes with you if the winds begin to pick up.
Hammer In The Stake Into The Ground
Unless you have the strength of the Incredible Hulk, you will need to take a hammer with you so you can drive the stake into the ground. If you have the stake deep down into the soil, it will help provide you with the best penetration and resistance against winds that become fierce. In addition, driving the stake into the ground keeps the tent intact during bad storms. What if you forget to bring your hammer? Don’t fear. You can use a large rock which you will find somewhere on the campsite. You can also use the back of an axe or a tire iron.
If you are car camping, you will want to bring a rubber mallet as it will drive in your stakes effortlessly without ruining them. And if you are backpacking, you can get a hatchet as it will be just as effective at moving the stakes into the ground.
Never Attempt To Drive The Stakes In With Your Hands Or Feet
Even if you have the strength of the Incredible Hulk, you still do not want to drive the stakes into the ground with your hands and feet. If you do, the pressure won’t be even and will cause the stake not to give you the best hold. It does not matter how strong you are physically. Your feet and hands will wiggle as you drive the stakes in, which will cause it to be uneven. You cannot possibly maintain balance as you put the stakes into the ground. Use a hammer, a rock, or anything hard and will help you keep your balance as you drive the stakes into the ground.
Make Sure You Use The Correct Stakes
When using the correct stakes, you need to use them based on the surface area and the length. There are aluminum and steel stakes, and if you are unsure of the campsite’s soil type, you will want to have different kinds of stakes with you, so you end up using the correct ones. Of course, you can always call the campsite and find out what stakes you need to use for its soil type, but you will not always be able to do that. So prepare yourself by bringing different kinds of stakes, so you don’t end up having to face the unpleasant surprise of the tent not being set correctly. You can also use more stakes if you are unsure if the stakes will hold well based on the soil type.
Use Hooks And Be Careful With The Ropes
There are small hooks at the ends of the stakes. They add tension to the guy rope by adding resistance to the soil. You want the hooks to face away from the tent because the ground reinforces them. They are an extra layer of help for keeping your tent erect. On the other hand, you don’t want the hooks to face toward the tent, or else the chances of the rope slipping away are higher. However, there is something else to keep in mind. Ropes down to the stakes can cause you to trip. What if you have to get up in the night to go to the bathroom, and you leave your tent tripping on the rope? That would not be good. Therefore, the solution is to ensure that you put your stakes 45 degrees away from the tent’s entrance so you don’t trip on the rope.
Conclusion
If you do not use stakes to erect your tent, it will not stick around and collapse on you. That is why you need to drive them in to put up your tent, so it sticks around. First, you need to go to the campsite and ensure that you stake your tent in a particular area. Then use a hard object to drive the stake into the tent, such as a hammer. You do not want to use your hands and feet because of balance. The installation will not be secure and remember one thing. The easier it is to drive in your stake, the easier to remove when you finish camping!
