Glamping in yurt tents is all about embracing luxury while immersing yourself in the beauty of nature. When you think of the luxuries of glamping, you may think of beautiful shelters, comfortable furniture, and functional on-site amenities.
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One luxury that often gets overlooked at a glampsite is the tent platform.
Just like many of the other frills of glamping, tent platforms aren’t necessities when it comes to putting together the perfect campsite. They do, however, have a myriad of benefits for the modern glamper. Read on to discover these benefits, potential drawbacks, and a step-by-step guide on how to build the perfect platform deck!
The Benefits of Building a Platform Deck for Your Bell Tent
Platform decks are more than just an aesthetic choice for the campers who undertake them. While they elevate the overall look of your glampsite, they also add a fair amount of comfort.
You’ll spend some time at a traditional campsite looking for the perfect spot to pitch your tent, hoping that you can secure a space with minimal bumps and lumps. We’ve all experienced the discomfort of sleeping on uneven land with rocks and sticks poking through the tent floor. By pitching a tent on a platform deck, campers can leave that behind and get a good night’s rest on a surface guaranteed to be flat.
When considering the other benefits, think of the platform deck as an extravagant ground tarp. Just as a traditional ground tarp acts as a barrier between the forest floor and your tent, a platform deck does too – but better. Unlike a tarp, the platform deck naturally elevates your tent a few feet off the ground. Reducing your tent’s contact with the wilderness floor helps keep it cleaner and works to minimize wear and tear over time. This elevation provided by a platform deck also helps to keep water away from your tent and protects it against the damage excess moisture can cause.
All this to say, a well-built platform deck will mean less tent cleaning, less damage, and a longer lifespan.
Potential Drawbacks To Consider
Before you invest in supplies and get to the building, it’s a good idea to consider the drawbacks of a platform deck. For those who don’t already have the tools and supplies necessary to build a custom structure, this project can be a bit pricey. Depending on the size and complexity of your design, as well as the quality of your materials a custom platform deck can run you anywhere from $500 to $3,500. If you plan to build it yourself instead of outsourcing the labor, you’ll also have to consider how long a project like this will take you. Lastly, adding another element to your camp setup will result in another item to maintain. Just like your tent, and any other camping gear you invest in, your platform deck will require careful maintenance over time to ensure a long life of functionality.
If these drawbacks don’t outweigh the numerous benefits for you, it’s time to get planning!
Steps To Building Your Platform
Constructing a deck for your tent is more than just hammering together a few pieces of wood and calling it a day. Follow this step-by-step guide to build the perfect platform for your bell tent.
1. Decide where you’ll place your campsite
First things first, decide where you’ll place your platform. Generally, you’ll want to follow the same rules when it comes to picking a campsite for a tent without a platform. That means, check your surroundings! Avoid a spot directly under dead trees and branches to avoid any unfortunate accidents. It’s also advised to scout land with even ground. The more uneven and rocky the land is, the more complex your build will be. Once your spot is chosen, take time to clear the space of branches, excess leaves, and any other natural debris that may get in your way.
2. Design the deck
With your tent in hand and your campsite chosen, you’re ready to design your deck! Just like camping tents, platform decks come in a range of styles and sizes. Since you plan to build it yourself, you get to be as creative as you wish at this step. When it comes to bell tent decks, the most common shapes you’ll find are squares, hexagons, and circular designs that follow the natural shape of the tent. Which you choose will inevitably come down to personal preference.
At this stage, it’s important to consider the dimensions of your tent, making sure that your deck design is, at minimum, slightly bigger than the tent’s circumference. If you plan on using additional tent features, like a bell tent awning, make sure you consider these measurements as well. Or, maybe you want space to set up an uncovered porch outside of your tent. Whatever you dream up, sketch it out by hand or on a computer program, making careful notes of the measurements and design details that will inform your material and supply needs.
3. Gather your materials and supplies
The exact materials, supplies, and tools you’ll need will depend heavily on your design and measurements. To start, the materials you’ll need will include wood planks cut to size, floorboard, wood posts, galvanized wood screws and nails, washers and screw hooks, joist hangers, post-top connectors, and nylon string lines. When picking out your wood, opt for treated variations that can endure a variety of weather conditions. For tools, bring out your hammer, drill, shovel, tape measure, pencil, and circular saw.
4. Put it all together
With your supplies in hand and your design blueprint in place, it’s time to put it all together. You’ll start with making and setting the leg posts of your deck. They should be evenly spaced to securely hold the weight of the platform. Next, you’ll build the perimeter, or the outside edge of your deck, and secure it to the leg posts. To add essential reinforcement, you’ll attach a center beam horizontally from one side of the perimeter to the other. With this foundation set, you can now attach the remaining wood planks vertically between the center beam and the perimeter edges. Lay the floor boards down on the structure and secure, and voila! You’ve got yourself a platform deck. If you want to make pitching your tent a breeze, go the extra mile by installing wooden posts around the perimeter of your deck. These will act as anchor points for your guy lines.
Wrapping It Up
Platform decks are one of many ways to spruce up your glampsite. Whether you’re looking to increase the comfort of your outdoor abode, make maintenance easier, or take steps to increase your bell tent’s longevity, the benefits of this project are as lavish as they are functional. Creating the perfect tent deck requires careful planning, from placement in the outdoors to the overall design. Then, it’s as easy as gathering your supplies and executing the build. While it can be a costly and time-consuming undertaking, you’ll thank yourself for the luxury a platform deck can add to a glamping experience. If you’re ready to elevate your campsite, roll up your sleeve and follow the steps outlined above to create the perfect bell tent platform deck!
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