Fastening your tent – Every camper has probably experienced this: it’s getting dark and cold, the wind is coming up and you still have to pitch your entire tent.
Pretty much the worst time ever to forget the instructions.
Before you go camping, you should know how to pitch the tent to avoid unpleasant and time-consuming efforts at the campsite.
If you want to learn how and where to pitch a tent, then you’ve come to the right place.
Whether it’s an awning, roof tent or tent trailer – with these tips, your camping trip will be a complete success without a lot of swearing!
Camping Ratgeber:
What do I need for pitching the tent?
– Material & tools
Would you like to buy a folding caravan or a roof tent?
Proper tent pitching requires more than just a hammer and a tent.
Setting up can sometimes seem complex, but with a little practice you can put up any tent.
Before we get started, it’s important to know what materials and tools you need.
The most necessary materials for pitching a tent:
- Tent fastening
- Tent pegs
- Soil nail
- Fiberglass rods
- Support bar
- Bracing material
- All-purpose leash
- Tent poles
- Tent floor
How do I pitch a tent correctly?
– Tips & tricks
It can be difficult to pitch a tent, especially for camping beginners.
That’s why many people turn to the internet for help when the instructions are no longer helpful.
Here you can learn how to pitch your tent in just a few steps.
- Unfold the tent pad
- Sorting the materials
- Adjust the windows and doors as required
- Connect the tent poles
- Pitch a tent
- Erecting the tent
Still feeling insecure as a camping beginner?
Read more about packing list, route and costs with helpful tips from professionals: Camping Beginners!
Unfolding the tent pad
Before you pitch your tent, you should lay a tarpaulin/tent pad on the chosen pitch.
This is important to create a barrier between the ground and the tent floor.
This protects it from moisture.
Plastic or vinyl tarpaulins are best suited for this.
Fold the tarpaulin a little smaller than the shape of your tent.
This is important so that no water collects underneath if it rains.
Fold up the longer edges and stow them under the tent.
Sorting the materials
Lay out all the components of your tent.
Most modern tents are made from lightweight nylon, all-in-one poles and stakes, while older army-style tents often have more complicated poles and fabric covers.
The one thing they have in common is that you need the complete tent and poles to pitch it, which are generally always used in the same way.
Adjust the windows and doors as required
Place your tent on the tarpaulin.
Find the bottom side of the tent and place this side on the tarpaulin.
Align the windows and door of the tent in the direction you want them to face.
Lay it out flat and focus your attention on the poles. 
Connect your tent poles
Depending on the tent, they are connected with bungee cords or are numbered and require you to connect them yourself.
Assemble the tent poles and lay them across the flat tent.
Insert the tent poles into the corresponding flaps in the tent.
Most basic tents have two tent poles that cross over each other to form an X, which is the base of the tent.
To install them into the tent, you usually insert the end of the pole into an eyelet at each corner and either slide the pole through small flaps at the top of the tent or attach plastic clips to the pole at the top of the tent.
Pitch a tent
This will take some coordination, so it’s usually helpful to have a partner for this part.
After you’ve put both poles through the connection points, they should probably bend themselves accordingly, straightening and erecting the tent so that it basically looks like something you can sleep in.
Pull the corners apart so that they are square and make sure the poles are secure and untangled.
Depending on the tent you are using, there may be plastic hooks attached to small straps that are part of the construction.
Hook these to the appropriate place on the poles of the tent after you have raised the tent slightly.
Attach all other necessary structural components to the tent so that it stands upright.
Erecting the tent
Erect the tent on the ground.
If you have the tent area on the tarp, use the metal tent stakes that fit through the ground-level flaps at the corners and push them into the ground.
If you’re in rocky or particularly hard ground, you may need a tiny hammer or other blunt object to hammer them in a little.
Some tent stakes are quite easy to bend, so be careful when doing this.
Reading tips! Cleaning products, heating & lighting
Now you’ve pitched your tent, but the fun isn’t over yet.
In the following articles, you will learn how to survive the cold and dark nights and how to clean your tent and all the accessories afterwards.
Camping may be a little more strenuous than the usual hotel stay, but with these simple tips and tricks, you’ll save yourself a lot of work.
Lighting: headlamps, camping lights & co.
Passionate campers know that camping involves spending a lot of time in nature and that it’s easy to forget the time, so it gets dark quicker than planned.
While you can simply switch on the light at home, this is a little more difficult at the campsite.
That’s why different models are recommended for your stay.
- Floor lamp
- Hanging lamp
- Awning lamp
- Ceiling lamp
- Flashlight
- Headlamp
Read more here to find out about the benefits and compare the different lighting options!
Heating: gas or electricity in the caravan
Although you usually opt for summer or very warm regions for a camping vacation, it can still get quite chilly at the campsite on some days or at night.
A relaxed campfire with your loved ones will at least bring a little warmth, but it is also advisable to have a heating option for very cold temperatures.
There is a selection of different heaters to choose from, depending on the route, duration, means of transportation and region.
- Gas heating
- Electric heating
Read more about the advantages of each heating variant here.
Cleaning when camping: practical products for camping
Even if you are on a relaxed vacation while camping, you still have to tidy up, clean and wash from time to time.
Especially if you are on longer, multi-week trips, you may of course have to wash dishes and do laundry frequently.
That’s why you should definitely think about appropriate cleaning products and helpful household appliances so that you can enjoy a carefree vacation in the great outdoors.
- Foldable bucket
- Sponge and cloth
- Washing up liquid
- Disinfectant
Read more about top cleaning products for your camping trip here! 
