How Do I Set Up an American Camper Sequoia Tent?

camping image by Colin Buckland from Fotolia.com

American Camper is a popular brand in outdoor recreation, and the American Camper Sequoia tent is a popular item. This tent comes in a variety of sizes: two-person, three-person and four-person. Setting up any of these tents is roughly the same process. You'll need these to secure the tent well, especially if you are in an area with high winds or nasty precipitation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Netting and rain fly
Ground sheet
Stakes
Guyline
Poles

Step 1

Find a level spot to place the tent. Lie down on the ground where the tent will go to make sure it is comfortable and not slanted. Also look for any depressions in the ground where water could potentially collect under the tent. Check that there are no overhanging limbs or branches that could fall on the tent under high winds.

Step 2

Shake out the ground sheet, netting, and rain fly. Lay the ground sheet flat on the ground. Lay the American Camper netting over the ground sheet. Match up the corners if it is one of the larger tents (the four-person tent is not a square).

Step 3

Extend all of the poles. There are two long poles and two short poles. This is easiest to do with two people. Affix the ends of the two long poles to each corner of the tent. There are holes in the netting corners and ground sheet corners. Slide the end of the poles through both of these holes. This will create a dome shape.

Step 4

Connect the netting to the poles. Use the all the plastic hooks on the seams of the netting. This will raise the netting into the tent shape.

Step 5

Connect the two smaller poles to the top of the tent at the hub where the two long poles intersect. These two poles will radiate out like the blades of a helicopter. Place the rain fly on top of these poles and slide the ends of the poles into the pockets of the rain fly. If installed correctly, it will look like a hat on top of the tent.

Step 6

Stake out the tent. Using a hammer or rock, hammer in the stakes at all four corners. You can also attach the guyline to the tent and guy out using more stakes. This will increase ventilation in the tent and make the fabric more taut.

Article Written By DB Jenkins

DB Jenkins is a professional freelance content provider. He has been running a successful freelance business for two years, and contributes regularly to many publications. His articles have appeared in "The Portland Alliance," "Portland Monthly Magazine," "in\ur Magazine," and The Tallahassee Democrat and Chronicle. He has a bachelor's degree in English from Clark University.

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