How to Assemble an Ozark Trail Tent

If you are interested in getting into camping this year, an Ozark Trail dome tent is an affordable, entry-level tent that is easy to assemble and will serve you well on your backcountry adventures. The typical Ozark Trail dome tent is 9 feet long, 8 feet wide and 4 feet high at the center. This is not a family tent, but it will provide ample room for two adults and some gear.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

9-by-8 foot tarp or footprint Hammer or mallet
9-by-8 foot tarp or footprint
Hammer or mallet

Step 1

Select a site for your tent. Look for an open and level area that is free from low, overhanging branches and any brush that could come in contact with the tent, once it is erected. Clear the area of any sticks or rocks that could puncture the floor of the tent or make for an uncomfortable night's sleep.

Step 2

Layout a footprint, which is a heavy nylon sheet that matches the floor dimensions of your tent. The purpose of a footprint is to protect the floor of the tent from abrasion and punctures and act as a vapor barrier. The Ozark Trail dome tent does not come with a footprint, but you can easily make one out of an old tarp, or a sheet of heavy plastic. To keep the footprint from collecting water and channeling it under your tent, cut or fold the material to match the dimensions of the tent floor.

Step 3

Assemble the tent poles. The Ozark Trail dome tent is a three-pole design with a fourth, smaller-diameter pole to support the rain fly. Firmly slide the pole sections together, ensuring that you fully seat each section. Otherwise, the pole will have a weak spot at the mating connection that could break when you bend the pole into shape.

Step 4

Assemble the tent. One at a time, insert each of the poles into the pole sleeves in the tent body, matching the orange pole to the orange pole sleeve. The two black poles are the same length and can go into either of the other two pole sleeves in the tent body.

Step 5

Carefully flex the poles into an arch and hook the ends onto the pin rings at the base of the tent. The easiest way to do this is to position one person on each end of the pole and hook one side first, then the other. Once the poles are in place and hooked to their respective pin rings at the base of the tent, locate the nylon clips on the tent body and fasten them to the poles.

Step 6

Stake the tent. With assistance from your partner, position the tent over the footprint so that the floor of the tent completely covers it. Drive stakes through the pin rings at the base of the tent.

Step 7

Assemble the rain fly pole by firmly sliding the sections together. Insert one end of the pole into the pocket on the underside of the rain fly, then slightly bow the pole and insert the other end into the corresponding pocket on the other end of the rain fly.

Step 8

Lay the pole, front to back, across the top of the tent and drape the sides of the rain fly down each side of the tent. Along the bottom edge of the rain fly are shock cords with S-hooks that connect to the pin rings at the base of the tent. With the help of your partner, start in the middle and connect each side before moving to the next S-hook.

Tips & Warnings

Camping should be a peaceful and relaxing experience, so practice assembling your Ozark Trail dome tent several times at home, before you head into the backcountry. The Ozark Trail dome tent is very easy to assemble and after a little bit of practice, the only thing you will have to worry about is remembering to bring the marshmallows.

Resources

Ozark Trail Instruction Manuals

Article Written By Roy Scribner

Roy Scribner is based in Silicon Valley, where he writes about outdoor recreation topics for various online media outlets, while moonlighting as the business development manager for a defense aerospace firm. Roy and family are avid RV'rs and campers, averaging 5,000 miles every year in the Western United States.

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