How to make cheap pup tent for camping

Planning a camping trip but short on dollars to buy a tent? Don't want to pay a lot of bucks for a tent larger than you need? Want to save as much as you can? How about a making a Pup Tent cheaply with most of the things you are already familiar with. Get your sketch pad and pencil and let’s get started!

Things You'll Need:

• Blue Poly tarps, 8x8 and 12x12
• Wood closet rods 48”
• Heavy duty cable ties 16” long
• 16d galv nails
• Camp hatchet
• Plastic or metal stakes from Coleman
• Nylon rope 50 ft, 3/16”
• Camp shovel
• Duct tape roll
• Metal grommet kit.

Step 2 Lay out your tarps and check for metal grommet. The grommet are at each corner and may also be at mid points of tarps. They are what you loop tie downs through. If you lack grommet at any locations, use a metal grommet kit to install a grommet as needed. You should have a grommet at each corner and at mid points of tarps. The Author’s sketch should help you see where the grommet go.

Step 3 Hammer a 16d nail on one end of each of two closet rod pieces. These will be the center posts at each end of your cheap pup tent. Hammer nails in so that about ¾ of nail length protrudes above end of closet rod. Set aside.

Step 4 Use cable ties and make double loops at each grommet of tarps. One loop is to provide a loop for the second cable tie loop. Second tie loop will be where the ropes are tied for support of the tent and the staking.

Step 5 Make from 2 to 6 pieces of nylon rope supports. 2-6 depends on how secure you want your cheap pup tent. If you are not in windy areas or expecting any bad weather only two ropes should be necessary. See Author’s sketch which illustrates the two ropes necessary to stretch pup tent.

Step 6 Practice pitching cheap pup tent before you leave on camping trip. Lay 8x8 tarp down so that each corner at each end is about 4 feet apart with remainder of tarp tent laying in center. Stake each side of tarp three stakes on a side (each stake should go through the second cable tie loop you made. Drive stake part way in should you have to adjust stake. Now loop ropes through the center cable loops and over the nail head on each closet rod. Eyeball where the outward rod support rope and stake should go and hammer in stake with loop on rope, pulling rope taut. Do same for other open end of cheap pup tent. Adjust all stakes and ropes as needed until support ropes and tent ground stakes are stretching tarp. You may have to do this a couple of times to get the hang of it. Try to get someone to hold the other rod support while you work on the first. You will get the hang of it.

Step 7 Make a fly cover with the 12x12 tarp. Let the larger tarp overlap the smaller cheap pup tent. It does not need to have any front and rear rods and ropes. You use the ones on the smaller tarp pup tent. Play with it so you can roll part of it up and unroll as a rain fly if you need to. Use bungee cords to wrap around excess large tarp at front and back of open pup tent. It is not shown in Author’s picture.

Step 8 Use large tarp to roll up your cheap pup tent. Place all ropes and stakes and extra cable ties and duct tape inside small pup tent. Roll up large folded tarp over smaller tarp tent. Use bungee cords to wrap around larger tarp, making as compact a package as possible. Practice rolling up and then unrolling and erecting complete tarp tent combination several times to make sure your first field experience with the cheap pup tent goes smoothly. Use the camp shovel to dig a small trench around your pup tent in case in rains in middle of night! See Author’s sketch that shows trench. Have a great time!

Tips & Warnings:

• Do practice pitching the entire tent before you go!
• Consult a Boy Scout knot guide for the type of slip knots and other rope knots before you go. Copy pages to take with you and practice knots.
• Take plenty of cable ties with you in case something happens!
• Make a nice sketch of what you want your tent assembly to look like and take it with you should you forget something.
• Make sure the tarps are waterproof!
• Cable ties may slip in high winds, use duct tape to secure extended tie ends back to loops.
• Take a ground cover tarp too!

See also Author's articles:

How to Make Firewood Fast

How to Make Camp Cook Stand

How to Make Yard Decorations for Halloween

How to Decorate Yard at Thanksgiving

How to Decorate Yard at Christmas Time