One Person Setting up the Tent?

[Trixie15]

I'm taking a trip with my 4 kids aged 9, almost 8, 6, and 2.5. I will be the only grown up on the trip.

I have just bought a Coleman Stockton 8-person tent but now I'm worried that I won't be able to set it up by myself, or if my older 2 might be able to help.

It's 14'x9'. Should I return it and get something smaller? I haven't taken it out to try it in the yard yet because I'm worried that they won't let me return it if I do.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I am not familiar with the exact model of tent that you have, but Coleman tents are usually pretty simple to set up.

There are a few folks here on the Boards, male and female, who have tent camped solo.

So if they can do it, so can you.

Not to mention that you have four extra sets of hands to help you.

I say get that tent out in the yard pronto, and see what happens!

I'll bet you could teach the 8 and 9 year old to set it up. Really. And, they would have fun doing it.

TCD

 

[CampingBandit]

We used to have an "L" shaped Coleman 14X14 and I used to set it up by myself. The ones with the poles that are connected with line are very easy to set up alone....but I would say your 8 and 9 year old should absolutely be put to work! They'll help you get it done faster. I agree, go give it a try in the yard....

 

[Trixie15]

Thanks for the advice.

Does anyone know if I'll need any special stakes for use at the sand pads? I'm not sure what kind of stakes come with the tent.

 

[cmmc]

You'll definitely want to practice setting up your tent. Nothing worse than trying to set up an unfamiliar tent in the dark. Not that you'll have to, but you know Murphy's Law...

I'm not familiar with your model of tent - the tricky thing might be getting the fly over the frame - if you're short and the tent is tall. The only way you'll know is by setting it up. If you're careful to fold it back up they way it came, and you have all the stakes and poles you should be able to return it or at least exchange it for a tent that you can set up.

Have you camped before? Will this be a car camping trip?

My advice would be to go with as big as tent as possible, with the most comfortable thermarest/air mattresses and put the 2.5 yr in the middle of the tent with you in front of the door.

My experience of camping with kids comes from canoe camping in Ontario and Quebec. So the following advice might be overkill for Fort Wilderness. Bring a potty, for late night pee breaks, you probably won't want to leave the other kids alone in the tent. String a rope around the site to indicate "no go zones" - this way you can tell the 2.5 yr old not to go past the rope and it's very clear. "Don't go past the big tree" never works for my friends' kids. Make sure every kid has their own flashlight or headlamp. Make sure the kids know what to do if they get separated from you - ie sit down and wait for you to find them. Give each kid a whistle to blow in case of emergency, with clear instructions that it is not to be used to drive Mom nuts. Actually, given that you'll be in an area with cell phone coverage, you could probably write your cell phone number down on an arm or leg or a shoe tag.

That's all I can think of right now. Let us know how you get on. I think it's great that you're taking your kids camping. I would have loved to go camping as a kid - I only got into it as an adult.

 

[DaveInTN]

You can probably set it up yourself, but if you find you need an extra set of adult hands you will find that folks in the campground are usually pretty friendly. I know I'd be happy to lend a hand if asked by a fellow camper. And if you feel you'd like to thank them, a cold beer is more than adequate compensation for the help!

 

[chartle]

I don't see why the older kids can't help you put it up. I looked at a pic of your tent and I just think after you stake it down you just need to have one of the kids hold the pole on one side as you spring up the tent and attach it to the other side.

I would be more worried about whos going to watch the 2.5 year old.

 

[CampingBandit]

I googled it too... that one looks fairly easy and the above advice is excellent, have the older kids hold the one side and you shouldn't have problems. Those shock-corded poles are really simple to get into place...practice putting it up a couple times and it'll be a no-brainer.

I like the advice about blocking the door...can't trust them 2yo one bit....

 

[5stljayhawks]

Being the one with money holds all kind of power....... AKA Bribing the older ones to help...

Get out in the yard or at the local park and pratice. Not just once, but a couple times. You have 3 extra sets of hands. When you are setting up, they will be needed to hold up on side while you get the poles and other side up. As for the 2.5, keep them strapped in the car seat and hand the echeo sketch and fruit snacks.

I have a large tent and tried to put together myself. Solo was next to impossible. With just a extra set of hands, it went 100 times smoother.

If you plan on showing up at night, make sure you have a good lantern, car lights will work if needed. I would imagine the site you are staying has eletric. An exstenion cord and fan may be worth while.

Also if you got out the main entrance headed east, under(?) 4, you will run into 537 or 529 that n/s. THere is a wal-mart about 4-5 miles south on the right side in case you find you need something

Have fun and enjoy, you can do it, just plan a little in advance and your trip will be smooth. If you would like additional info send me a PM

 

[Trixie15]

Thanks again for all the advice. I think we'll get it out this weekend and try setting it up a few times.

 

[djblu883]

I strongly advise you to also seal the tent with a silicone spray that WalMart sells as well as sealing the seams with a sealant they also sell....that way you don't come back from the parks to tired kids and wet bedding!!! and take LOTS of quarters for laundry emergencies and ice!!! make sure you have something under each air mattress to keep the cool air from making for a miserable night's sleep...even in hot weather you can be too cool (cold ground temps seep through the airmattress)

 

[Trixie15]

Do you spray the sealant onto the outside only or the inside, too? I've always wondered this!

 

[FlaFortCampster]

I seem to always be the first one to the site when tent camping and solo tent assembling was perfected. With a 8 and 9 year old to help, it'll be a piece of cake. DEFINITELY assembled it prior to trip so you are comfortable with all the parts and pieces. You want a stake, plastic or metal that is a least 8 inches long. Some tents come with weenie 4 or 6 inch stakes. Don't forget a hammer. The pad is called a sand pad, but's it's coquina, which is a shellrock material. Excellent holding power for stakes. (Be sure to pound them in at an angle, holds better).

A recent trip to the Fort found a lady arriving late, about 1/2 hour before sunset, 5 kids and a monster tent, never used, no instructions. Several of us galanced her way for about 15 minutes, then as campers do, we headed over to help. Put all 5 kids to work and within 20 minutes, their home was up.

So don't worry, if you run into some problems, ask a fellow camper, they are the best.

Enjoy your trip and be safe.

 

[Trixie15]

Thanks! Do you find that a rubber mallet works best or a regular metal claw hammer?

 

[chartle]

Thanks! Do you find that a rubber mallet works best or a regular metal claw hammer?

Regular claw hammer, it also helps to remove later.

 

[FlaFortCampster]

Thanks! Do you find that a rubber mallet works best or a regular metal claw hammer?

I prefer the rubber mallet with the hook on the end for pulling the stakes out. It seems to be a little easier on the plastic stakes.

Don't forget to take some pics of your setup for your trip report.

 

[shafke]

Do you spray the sealant onto the outside only or the inside, too? I've always wondered this!

You only need to spray the outside.
I remember the first time we camped with a new tent it rained the first night. We woke up to water dripping on our head. So definitely seal the tent and pay special attention to the seams.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thanks for the advice.

Does anyone know if I'll need any special stakes for use at the sand pads? I'm not sure what kind of stakes come with the tent.

As some folks have already stated, calling the sand pad a sand pad is a bit of a misnomer. This "sand" is not like any sand that you have likely encountered before. It is very course, and also very tightly packed. I have broken many a plastic tent peg trying to drive a peg into it.

I recommend these tent pegs from Coleman:

I have seen them for sale in the camping departments of K-Mart and Target, so they are readily available. I think a four pack will cost you around $5. I use a regular claw hammer to drive these into the FW sand pads, and have never had a problem. A very good investment.

TCD

 

[Trixie15]

Thank you again so much. Believe it or not, I have been camping lots of times. Even lived in a tent for a while. But it was a long time ago and never with my own kids, kwim? I'm a little nervous about doing it all right.

Part of our trip will involve camping on Hatteras Island in NC - that's why I was asking about the sand. I did find some metal stakes specifically made for sand today at Meijers. Everything is coming together nicely and I'm really excited!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thank you again so much. Believe it or not, I have been camping lots of times. Even lived in a tent for a while. But it was a long time ago and never with my own kids, kwim? I'm a little nervous about doing it all right.

Part of our trip will involve camping on Hatteras Island in NC - that's why I was asking about the sand. I did find some metal stakes specifically made for sand today at Meijers. Everything is coming together nicely and I'm really excited!

Setting up a tent on soft, loose sand at a beach, is not the same as the "sand" pads you will find at the Fort. I have some tent pegs designed for use in soft sand (or snow!) that look like this:

There is no way, in a million years, that I would ever be able to drive these into the "sand" pads at FW. The ground is way too hard, and these things would bend. So, if you are buying special sand tent pegs, don't count on using them at FW.

TCD