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With this guide, you’ll be able to unpack, pack, and store your White Duck Outdoors cotton canvas bell tent quickly and with ease.
You might be surprised, but despite their impressive durability and spacious interiors, our canvas bell tents aren’t difficult or time-consuming to put up and takedown. Once you’re experienced with setting up and taking down bell tents, the entire process probably won’t take longer than 15 minutes! Your first time setting up your tent, however, will probably take a little extra effort, so be patient and give yourself some leeway as you learn the ropes. In this post, we’ll dive into the preparation for setting up your bell tent, then cover how to set up, take down, and store your bell tent.Preparing to Set Up Your Bell Tent
Before you begin the setup process, it’s important to first make sure you’ve chosen a viable site for your tent. Look for a flat, dry surface, free of rocks, sticks, and other debris. Grass or fallen leaves can make for a softer sleeping surface but ensure there aren’t hidden obstructions underneath, like rocks. If there are just a few sticks or rocks on the ground, that’s okay, but be sure to clear them away before laying out your tent. You also want to be a fair distance away from streams or other water sources, which may rise and flood your campsite in case of rain. Nothing’s worse than waking up in a puddle! Try to remain on a higher plane of elevation from any water sources if at all possible, as well. You should also look for gullies and other drainages coming from uphill, which could run water down into your site. In addition, aim to pitch your tent away from overhanging trees and other foliage, as sap and bird droppings can fall onto your tent and dirty the canvas outer. No matter which size or model of our cotton canvas bell tents you’ve purchased, all the tools you need to set up your tent are included. So let’s get started!How to Set Up Your Bell Tent
1. Lay Out the Tent
Once you’ve found a viable flat, dry, and clear site, the first step is to lay your tent out on the ground. While some tents require the use of a “footprint,” or waterproof floor to keep out moisture, both our Regatta and Avalon cotton canvas bell tents feature a built-in waterproof PE floor, eliminating the need for a footprint. In the case of the Avalon, you can zip this flooring out for easier cleaning and storage. As a result, all you need to do is remove the tent from the storage bag and spread it out, with the floor to the ground. Ensure you’re positioning the door in the direction you prefer (and that it’s zipped closed) and lay all the other tent components out on the ground next to the tent where you can easily access them.
2. Stake the Tent Down
Using the tent pins (the smaller of the two sets of stakes provided), stake down the edges of the bell tent using the included hammer, driving them into the elastic cords attached to the cotton loops around the rim of the tent. Angle the stakes inwards, at a 45-degree angle towards the center of the tent. The best way to ensure adequate tension as you stake the tent out is to stake the tent down in a star pattern. Once you stake one side, cross to the other side of the tent and insert a stake on that side, then cross and insert again on the opposite side, repeating this pattern until you’ve inserted all the stakes. When finished, the tent should be secure, but not taut.
3. Set Up the Center Pole and Raise the Roof
Now it’s time to raise the roof! Assemble the center pole, checking that the rubber stoppers are inside both the top and bottom ends. Now, unzip the tent door and insert the center pole, walking the pole gradually into the tent body, letting it hold the tent open for you as you move inside. Be sure you have the side with the D-ring positioned as the top of the pole (this D-ring is useful for hanging lanterns, string lights, or other decor in your tent). Slide the tip of the pole along the inside wall, pushing it towards the circular center piece at the apex of the tent body. Once the top of the center pole is in position on the centerpiece, move the bottom of the pole perpendicular to the ground, at the center of the groundsheet. Note: If you’re using an Avalon tent, you’ll have an A-frame pole for your door. If you have a Regatta model, then you’ll have a door pole, which is smaller, features a painted spike on top, and lacks the D-ring that is near the top of the center pole. Be sure to use the center pole, not the door pole for this step.
4. Set Up the Door Entrance Pole
One of the ways to distinguish the Avalon and the Regatta is that the Avalon features an A-frame door, while the Regatta has a door pole in the middle of the doorway to prop up the vestibule. If you’re setting up a Regatta tent, you’ll also need to set up this door entrance pole. You’ll recognize this pole because it has a painted spike on the top, and is smaller than the center pole. Assemble the door pole and run the spike through the grommet on the top of the tent door. Once the pole is in place, screw on the rain cap from the top side. In the case of the Avalon, you’d assemble the A-frame pole and follow similar steps. Position the spike at the top of the pole through the grommet at the top of the entrance of the tent, and ensure that both ends of the A-frame pole sit snuggly inside the sleeves on the floor on either side of the entrance.
