By Seth C. Burgess
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Brian
A four-man tent is often the first tent for a family or individual camper. Knowing how to care for and set up a tent properly is an important part of camping.
Site Selection
When choosing a spot to place your four-man tent, look for an area of your campsite that is relatively flat and at the highest location.
Components
Regular components of a four-man tent include the tent body, rain fly, tent poles, tent stakes, tent bag and setup instructions.
Assembly and Disassembly
Lay out a plastic ground cloth. Lay the tent floor on the ground cloth and assemble the tent poles. Push the poles though the sleeve or hooks on the tent body and secure them in place. Attach the rain fly on top of the tent and finish the setup by installing stakes on the tent corners and guy-lines. To take down the tent, reverse the steps.
Maintenance and Repair
If your tent is wet when you are done camping, dry it out at home. If there is a tear in the fabric, repair it as soon as possible with duct tape or a tent repair kit so the tear doesn't become larger.
Storage
Store your four man tent in a cool, dry place. Do not store it folded, as the material will weaken along lines of frequent wear. Store tents in bags by "stuffing" them.
About The Author
Seth C. Burgess has been an outdoor writer for Trails.com since May 2009. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology and a Master of Business Administration degree, both from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y.
