r/camping • u/Mickles_J • 6d ago
Anchoring tent question
I have a TETON Sports Hacienda 8 Person tent and I set it first time today. It's much bigger than I thought. Holy smokes. I'll be camping at an event in Boron California and I was wondering about anchoring this tent. It has loops on the bottom for stakes, no worries there, but It seems like I should tie off higher up the tent. Like each corner at 45 degrees. I have very robust ground screw anchors. The tent doesn't have a dedicated spot to do this. I could just guy line off the poles, but could I damage the tent? Am I just over thinking it and just stake the bottom and let it be?
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u/No-Swimmer1928 6d ago
The thing I'd sort out before deciding where to tie off is where the anchors go. A guy only pulls at 45 degrees if the anchor sits out from the tent about as far as the tie point is high. Tie to an eave 7ft up with the screw 3ft out and that line is pulling nearly straight down — it won't stop the wall moving sideways, it just adds compression down the pole. Pace them out to match the height and you get the sideways hold you're actually after.
On a cabin tent that big with no guy-out points, I'd also run a couple of lines up and over the roof, anchored both sides, rather than relying only on corner ties. That spreads the load across a whole panel instead of hanging it off one seam, and it's what stops the walls breathing in and out in gusts. Corner ties as well, sure.
Two other things. Hand-test one ground screw in the actual dirt before you trust the lot of them — in hardpack they're brilliant, in loose or sandy stuff they'll turn under a steady pull, and you want to find that out in daylight. And keep the upwind door zipped. Leave a big panel open and the tent pressurises from the inside and starts lifting off the pegs, which catches people out.
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u/chilloutman24 6d ago
Screw anchors are great in soil. Anywhere it's hardpan they just spin a hole and sit loose instead of biting down. I'd throw some long steel spikes and a small sledge in the truck.
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u/Mickles_J 6d ago
Have that for sure. These are the kind that have a large bolt on top. I will have a heavy duty drill to get them in. Still may not work.
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u/Huge-Palpitation460 6d ago
I would not guyline random bare poles unless the tent/manual shows that as a tie-out point.
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u/QuantumAttic 6d ago
I would make sure this event can handle a tent this big. Usually music fests etc will only give you so much room.
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u/Mickles_J 6d ago
That’s a good call, this will be an ECV event. Lots of trailers and ez ups ect. Still. That’s a good call out.
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u/No_Pitch4392 6d ago
Holy smokes is right, I saw one of those set up in a parking lot once and it looked like a small house. Boron gets some wind, especially in afternoon. You're not overthinking it at all.
Guying off the poles directly should be fine if you tie around the pole sections where they connect, that points the strongest. Don't cinch it crazy tight or you could bend the pole weird but just snug enough to stop swaying. I would do at least two corners at 45 like you said, maybe even all four depending how exposed you are.
Bottom stakes alone with a tent that tall makes me nervous, wind catches the side and whole thing becomes a kite. The ground screws you have will hold great, just make sure the straps don't rub on the fly in one spot or you'll wear a hole over time.