How to Stake Down a Tent on Concrete
Are you living in a tent? Have you ever wondered how to stake down a tent on concrete?
Tents are an essential part of camping as they allow you to enjoy the outdoors in a comfortable and safe environment. But if you have never tried to set up a tent on concrete, you might find that it’s a bit tricky.
If you don’t set up a tent on concrete properly, you risk getting it damaged when you set it up. And once it’s damaged, you’ll have to repair it, which is both time-consuming and expensive. So you might think twice before taking a chance with this one.
In this article, I’m going to teach you how to set up a tent on concrete. It’s really easy to do and requires no special skills.
So, get yourself a copy of this guide today and be safe when you camp your tent on cement.
Can you set up a Tent on Concrete?
If you are thinking of setting up a tent on concrete, you may want to know if it is possible.
Yes, it is certainly possible.
Concrete is a hard surface that is not very forgiving. However, pitching a tent on concrete is not that tough. It’s just like when you do it on soft ground, except that you need to make sure that the tent is anchored to the concrete to secure the guylines.
Besides, it is not recommended to set up a tent on concrete if it is wet. So, make sure it is dry enough so that you can use the concrete as a foundation for your tent.
How to Stake Down a Tent on Concrete
If you are going to secure a tent on concrete, you should first prepare it. To demonstrate, I have set up a tent on a concrete slab which includes the following steps.
Step 1: Make sure the concrete is dry
First, you need to make sure that the concrete is dry. If the concrete is wet, it’s not going to be easy to anchor the tent. You can use a hose to spray water on the concrete or you can use a garden hose.
Additionally, you should also remove any weeds that may be growing on the concrete. To do it you can use a garden hoe or use a weed killer.
Step 2: Clear the debris
After you have dried out the concrete, you need to remove any debris. If you have any rocks or other materials lying around, you need to pick them up and throw them away.
If you don’t, you may have a hard time setting up the tent. You can use a broom to sweep the dirt and debris away.
Step 3: Put A Tarp Under the Tent
Next, you need to put a tarp under the tent. This is to prevent the tent from being damaged when you set it up.
Additionally, you can also put some padding under the tent to prevent it from being damaged. Make sure that it is large enough to cover the concrete.
Step 4: Unfold the tent
Now that you have prepared the concrete, you can unfold the tent. You can use the tent’s instructions to do this if you are unsure of how to do it. In case the tent has been folded in from the last time it was put away, pick it up and shake off any debris and then extend to all corners again.
Step 5: Straighten out the corners
Ensure that all poles are tied into the loops crossing the top of the tent. Start erecting the tent by slipping the pole ends into the loops or hooks at the bottom of each corner when you are finished. It may be necessary to seek the assistance of someone else if you don’t have enough experience. Once the setup is complete, straighten all the corners one at a time.
Step 6: Securing the corners
Lastly, when placing a tent on concrete, make sure the corners are secured. The best way to do that is with rocks.
Placing a medium-sized rock under the tent’s four corners will help prevent it from being blown over by strong winds. Do not force it as your tent may crack from the bottom if you do. Under the rock, add a cloth for extra support to be on the safe side.
Anchoring a Tent on Concrete with Weights
Weights can be used in both types of tent whether it is a freestanding or non-freestanding tent. However, the weights come in handy when your tent is non-freestanding as you need to hold down the anchor with weights for strong support.
One can use any type of weight such as rocks, heavy metal, sandbags, or wood logs which you can find around the camping area. The people who do camping with a car can simply put these anchors in the car and carry them out to the camping destination.
Freestanding tents
They are the most popular kind of tent and are generally purchased often because of their portability. These tents are usually lightweight and can be set up in a matter of minutes.
The advantage of setting up a tent on a concrete surface is that there is no need for guylines. Thus, tent poles and some weights at each corner do most of your work.
Non-Freestanding tents
They are more stable and are more difficult to set up. This is because they have poles, tent stakes, and guylines that are attached to the tent for a better structure.
Now, setting up a tent on concrete is trickier than it sounds. The only thing that you need to remember is that you need to make sure that the tent is anchored to the concrete to secure the guylines.
Since tent stakes are ineffective at securing the guylines on the concrete level so you can use alternative solutions such as heavyweights.
Anchor the tent with two rocks on each corner, a 10-15 lb heavy rock for holding it down and a small 5 lb rock for tying it off to a guyline that’s behind the rock.
FAQs
How to secure a tent on concrete?
To secure a tent on concrete, you should use tent weights as anchor points. You can easily do it by making your own tent weights like rocks, sandbags, or wood logs. However, don’t put overweight to anchor your tent as it may lead to tearing down. The right kind of weight will hold your tent strong enough and protect you from harsh wind.
Do you need to stake your tent?
Camping can be quite a challenge. You need to set up your tent properly before going into the wilderness. So, it is always a wise choice to anchor your tent using tent stakes. Otherwise, you might find that it collapses when you least expect it.
How Heavy Do The Rocks Need To Be?
If you’re planning to pitch your tent on a concrete surface, you’ll probably want to put down rocks within the 10-15 lbs range as the tent stakes can hold that much pressure only. This will make sure that the ground underneath your tent is stable.
Should I sleep directly on the hard ground?
No, you shouldn’t sleep directly on the hard ground as it will be uncomfortable and your back may get sore. Rather you can get a sleeping pad, camping mattress, or a camping cot for your tent. In this way, you can sleep and experience a more comfortable night of rest.
Will Concrete Damage My Tent Bottom?
Undeniably, yes. Concrete is a hard surface and if you are sleeping on it, it will damage your tent bottom. To protect it you can use a tent tarp to cover the area while setting up the tent. However, you should avoid using a tarp that is too big or too small. A tarp that is too big will not fit properly and will leave a gap. On the other hand, a tarp that is too small will not provide adequate protection.
How many pounds of rocks do you need to hold down a tent?
This depends on the size of the tent and the type of rocks you use. For instance, if you’re using large rocks such as boulders, you can use more than 10 lbs. However, if you’re using small rocks such as pebbles, you can use less than 10 lbs.
Conclusion
Now that you have an idea of how to stake down a tent on concrete, you can now start camping. Concrete is a very stable surface and you can use it to set up a tent without any trouble. However, you should be careful while setting up your tent on concrete. Follow the steps which I mentioned in the article and you’re good to go.
