Look at all component of the tent and make sure there are no holes and that all parts look in good shape. Find the center masts. They have two sections each that need to be assembled by sliding the trimmed smaller wood end into the metal sheath of the second part. The masts are basically round or eight sided.
 

Next find the three sections of the square ridge beam. When assembled and bolted together, it is 15' long. Take the long section 1, attach section 2 and bolt, then attach section 3 to section 2 and bolt. The rounded side of each beam section should be on the same side and will eventually support the tent canvas.
 

At this point several team members will now prepare the tent for the side poles by folding the walls up over onto the top of the tent. It should fold at the line of pole spike holes in the tent. Go to the other side and fold the entire half of the tent over so that the metal plates are exposed where the ridge mast will be inserted. This plate looks like the following:
 

Now you will need to unfold the tent, leaving the walls folded over the tent pole holes. Find 14 tent pole holes and place appropriate pole spike through the holes. Four poles are longer at 6' 2" and will go either side of the door on both ends. Once placed into the tent holes the poles are left on the ground with the bottom ends left pointing away from the tent.
 

The stakes are then measured off from the butt end of the pole. Go one foot further out and then perpendicular to the pole line (left and right) one foot, placing the two stakes which will support the pole ropes. Drive the stakes into the ground at about a 45 degree angle. Place them deep to the bottom of the rope notch. Attach rope loop around the stake and into the notch, leaving the rope loose.
Now place one person on each of the 14 poles. At the same time, raise all poles into a vertical orientation. Additional members need to start tightening the ropes taking most, but not all of the slack out, so that when the ridge pole is raised there is enough slack to allow it to do so easily. Once done the poles will stand on their own.

After you have exposed the plates, lay the ridge beam next to the plate and align the holes in the end of the beam with each of the two plates. Once aligned, insert the mast pole spike through the plate and through the hole provided in the canvas. One end will be no trouble, but experience has shown that the last mast so inserted is often difficult. You will no doubt have to stretch the canvas by pulling on it to make it fit. Once the two masts are in place, use a rope to tie the beam and mast to the plate so that it does not separate should winds lift the canvas.

The ridge beam is next raised by four people, two on each mast, into position. Both masts must be raised at the same time! Now that the ridge beam is in place, tighten all ropes and straighten side poles.

Some teams leave the mast poles at a slight angle to allow a better center isle to be formed.

After the tents have been raised, team members need to pull out their trenchers, each taking a small section of tent side.
 

You can now trench about 8 inches into the ground and 8 inches wide, creating several run off fingers down hill. Some teams suggest that the trench go directly under the pole line and the poles and side canvas be placed in them. This would cause the side to be lower by 8 inches which may require some modification of the ground under the center poles also.  This is not a standard recomended way of installation.
 

 

Folding the Tent

Taking down the tent requires that you reverse the procedures you have completed to raise the tent. Fold all four walls over on top of the tent with the fold at the pole holes. Place a group on each of the two sides of the tent. The teams should fold their sides over the tent to the center seam of the tent. The final action folds one side edge completely over the center seam to the other side edge leaving a 30 foot long, 3 1/2 foot wide canvas.

Now a small team of two to three at each of the long ends starts to fold, not roll, the ends toward the center line. Start with a fold of about 2 1/2 feet wide. The folds should end with the folds laying at the center line. The final fold takes one canvass section over the other making a square about 3 1/2 feet wide by 1 1/2 feet tall..
 

Storing the Tent

You may have to strike and fold a wet canvas. Avoid this if at all possible as you will need to unfold and air out any wet canvas later to prevent mildew and rotting. A wet canvas can also add another 50 pounds or so to the normal weight of 300 pounds.
 

Buying Tents

Please see the the training section on field living for information on purchasing tents of various types.