I've used Army tents for over 45 years and found that the tent goes up easier if you stake down the bottom edge first, then put up the center pole, then pull out the side ropes, then put up the side poles. One thing that helps insure that you are staking the bottom edge in the right places, is to have a hexagonal tent floor with d-rings or rope loops at each corner. Then the stake holding the bottom corner of the tent goes through the rope loop on the tent, and the loop on the corner of the floor. That keeps the floor tight and gives the tent the right shape to start with. I enjoyed your video. I like your rebar stakes. Great show!
I used to set up the Arctic 10 man tent alone when I was stationed in Alaska in the late 80s. Just a bit smaller, but not by much, as I recall. When you're an E4 radio operator in the S3 section with a bunch of officers... well, officers don't pitch tents. ;) As I recall, stake out your guy lines BEFORE putting in the center pole. Then get into the tent and lengthen the pole just enough so that it stays upright, about 3-4 ft. Then alternate adjusting guy lines and raising the pole higher and higher until you get to the desired height. It's probably easier in the 10 man tent, because it's designed to sit lower to the ground, but the principle should be the same.
To one man hike simply lay the GP tent out in its own footprint, ans stake each line at about 8 feet from the tent. Crawl into it and hike the center pole after all lines are staked, then tighten each line in a criss cross pattern.
have been looking for the 17.6 model so this was helpfull for future use, impressed by this, concerned about setting it up myself but now i know i can.
It is a chore to set up but well worth the effort for a week long hunting camp or skills gathering. There is plenty of space to be comfortable for a few people.
A model video, informative and instructional. Brings back memories, though the GP-Small I remember putting up almost 40 years ago was much smaller. GP-Tiny?
Bjorn going after that tree like it owed him money. 😂 I don't recall putting up a small before, only mediums and larges. It looked like the same pain in the butt though. Stay well up there, guys. S/F
5:27 I laughed out loud at your little ninja stake throw 🤣 I guess everyone does that then hahaha At least everyone I knew in the Army liked to do that too
Drive 2 door rope stakes then 2 stakes 90 degrees from those. all you have to do is walk the center pole in and the 4 stakes will hold it up while you finish the rest.
Hello. I believe you mentioned that you wished you could set your tent up by yourself. I noticed that there is a front and a back door. I'm thinking that as long as you set your tent up between 2 trees you could first lay out the tent between the 2 trees. Then take a rope and tie it close to peak level on the first tree then run it in the front door of the tent and out the back door to the other tree. You could then wrap the rope around the tree (preferably over a branch for leverage) to pick the tent up to a height to allow you to place the center pole. You could then remove the rope and continue with the rest of the tent assembly. Just some food for thought....Strider
Dude totally! This is smart thinking. When you cant use trees you can balance the door against the cap using the stakes and guy lines. Like making the door the tree.
Hey team, I found that a solo setup can be facilitated by staking, guying, and raising one door point first and hoisting the center cap second. Requires balance (angled poles) and adjustment during setup. Hope it helps! Be safe out there
50 comments and 60 ways to do it. May as well put mine in. 1) Lay out the tent flat on the ground to orient the doors and stove jack. 2) I put all lines out using the seems as guide. 3) Drive stakes in 4 steps (my measurment) out from tent roof edge. 4) Start putting in 6 outer poles oposite each other, tighten rope just enough to hold up. 5) Should start looking like a canvas pool. Now put in center pole. If you don't have the outer poles too tight, it goes in relatively easy. you can open doors but keep snap latched. 6) Now put in door center post. 7) Start trimming lines, straighten side post as you go. 8) sometime while trimming lines, take loop at bottom of tent by each side pole and put pole through loop. (Saves stakes) 9) we've always used straw on the floor and used rubber backed throw rugs by our bunks. 10) dig shallow trench around any uphill potrion of tent to shed water away from entering tent. We don't have a liner but do use cheap tarps, cut holes in to match tabs for liner to hold in place, from floor to high as can reach. Helps keep what wind that does come through canvas off you and cuts draft. We use in winter in colorado hunting. Use 55gal barrel stove to heat tent. Just make straw or any other combustibles are clear of stove. Coldest that we've been in tent was 15 below with wind just ruffling tent and very comfy inside with sweatshirts. These GP smalls handle wind very well Funny to see the snow just about to the eaves and not against the tent. Giant ice cycles hanging off corners. Hope your not laughing at me, but that has worked for me for 20-plus years. As long as it gets up, stays up, and works for you, count it as a success.
Hello, I noticed you don't have the white cotton liner, nor the Vestibule. and I strongly recommend you buy a USMC Tentage Repair Kit...I own that tent and I Love it..Also I bought mine All Canvas NOS (new old stock) also have the liner and vestibule and Tentage repair kit....tentage repair kit is a must for these types of tents. All are only suggestive...Great Set up though
Hello I was wondering i have been looking at different types of tents or shelters and came across the tent used mostly by Australians called a swag and that made me wonder if there are other types of tent or shelter specific to their region that maybe not many people know about like the swag...anywho i appreciate your time
I've used Army tents for over 45 years and found that the tent goes up easier if you stake down the bottom edge first, then put up the center pole, then pull out the side ropes, then put up the side poles. One thing that helps insure that you are staking the bottom edge in the right places, is to have a hexagonal tent floor with d-rings or rope loops at each corner. Then the stake holding the bottom corner of the tent goes through the rope loop on the tent, and the loop on the corner of the floor. That keeps the floor tight and gives the tent the right shape to start with. I enjoyed your video. I like your rebar stakes. Great show!
21 years in the Army never seen anyone put one of these up alone. WOW amazing. Also i never knew these had a footprint,
I used to set up the Arctic 10 man tent alone when I was stationed in Alaska in the late 80s. Just a bit smaller, but not by much, as I recall. When you're an E4 radio operator in the S3 section with a bunch of officers... well, officers don't pitch tents. ;)
As I recall, stake out your guy lines BEFORE putting in the center pole. Then get into the tent and lengthen the pole just enough so that it stays upright, about 3-4 ft. Then alternate adjusting guy lines and raising the pole higher and higher until you get to the desired height. It's probably easier in the 10 man tent, because it's designed to sit lower to the ground, but the principle should be the same.
To one man hike simply lay the GP tent out in its own footprint, ans stake each line at about 8 feet from the tent. Crawl into it and hike the center pole after all lines are staked, then tighten each line in a criss cross pattern.
nice shelter,good to have a buddy.Good boy Bjorn
I have seen those from time to time and if I can find one for near that price will get it for sure. Thanks for the video.
They are a great tent IMHO, if you can get a deal on one.
I remember those aluminum pins...especially trying to drive them in dry red clay dirt
My first setup was near Sedona, you are right thats tough stuff
Very cool. What a deal on that. Looks to be in great condition!
Yea it way a good deal and almost brand new. Just missing the pins but that was an easy fix.
have been looking for the 17.6 model so this was helpfull for future use, impressed by this, concerned about setting it up myself but now i know i can.
Awesome.
Nice, that looks like a very roomy tent. It needs some Christmas lights and a disco ball. :)
That would be a great addition. 👍
Lol
Very well organized video and technique for setting up that tent Mr. Dave A+ again Sir
Thank you my friend
JUST KEEP MOVING. JUST KEEP MOVING.
Lol! Your dog was helping you remove that stump!
That looked like a chore setting up 😅
It is a chore to set up but well worth the effort for a week long hunting camp or skills gathering. There is plenty of space to be comfortable for a few people.
@@MakersMovementDIY it reminded me of M.A.S.H!
@@BreakingFreeOffGrid haha I'll bet, but this one isn't canvas. This is the new heavy duty poly version.
That tent is really cool!
Thanks, I really Ike it. Hopefully I'll be able to get it out on an elk hunt this year.
Man I miss these types of videos
We just video whatever we are up to so that is a good piece of information for us to know. Thank you.
A model video, informative and instructional. Brings back memories, though the GP-Small I remember putting up almost 40 years ago was much smaller. GP-Tiny?
They were called GP tiny or hex tents. I remember gp smalls in the heavy canvas and the poles were wood with metal tips.
Bjorn going after that tree like it owed him money. 😂 I don't recall putting up a small before, only mediums and larges. It looked like the same pain in the butt though. Stay well up there, guys. S/F
Hi we set army tents through my Army career from gp tiny to go large and octagon Buble tents you did ok not perfect but close enough
5:27 I laughed out loud at your little ninja stake throw 🤣 I guess everyone does that then hahaha
At least everyone I knew in the Army liked to do that too
All need to do is to put the liner in and u can stand the coldest weather 👍
Drive 2 door rope stakes then 2 stakes 90 degrees from those. all you have to do is walk the center pole in and the 4 stakes will hold it up while you finish the rest.
Hello. I believe you mentioned that you wished you could set your tent up by yourself. I noticed that there is a front and a back door. I'm thinking that as long as you set your tent up between 2 trees you could first lay out the tent between the 2 trees. Then take a rope and tie it close to peak level on the first tree then run it in the front door of the tent and out the back door to the other tree. You could then wrap the rope around the tree (preferably over a branch for leverage) to pick the tent up to a height to allow you to place the center pole. You could then remove the rope and continue with the rest of the tent assembly. Just some food for thought....Strider
Dude totally! This is smart thinking. When you cant use trees you can balance the door against the cap using the stakes and guy lines. Like making the door the tree.
That’s a cool tent. I thought our dogs were the only ones that attacked trees.
Bjorn loves chewing on logs. The more rotten the better.
Hey team, I found that a solo setup can be facilitated by staking, guying, and raising one door point first and hoisting the center cap second. Requires balance (angled poles) and adjustment during setup. Hope it helps! Be safe out there
Beautiful chocolate lab ... .old dogs don't bark anymore .........we just get it done
50 comments and 60 ways to do it. May as well put mine in.
1) Lay out the tent flat on the ground to orient the doors and stove jack.
2) I put all lines out using the seems as guide.
3) Drive stakes in 4 steps (my measurment) out from tent roof edge.
4) Start putting in 6 outer poles oposite each other, tighten rope just enough to hold up.
5) Should start looking like a canvas pool. Now put in center pole. If you don't have the outer poles too tight, it goes in relatively easy. you can open doors but keep snap latched.
6) Now put in door center post.
7) Start trimming lines, straighten side post as you go.
8) sometime while trimming lines, take loop at bottom of tent by each side pole and put pole through loop. (Saves stakes)
9) we've always used straw on the floor and used rubber backed throw rugs by our bunks.
10) dig shallow trench around any uphill potrion of tent to shed water away from entering tent.
We don't have a liner but do use cheap tarps, cut holes in to match tabs for liner to hold in place, from floor to high as can reach. Helps keep what wind that does come through canvas off you and cuts draft.
We use in winter in colorado hunting. Use 55gal barrel stove to heat tent. Just make straw or any other combustibles are clear of stove. Coldest that we've been in tent was 15 below with wind just ruffling tent and very comfy inside with sweatshirts. These GP smalls handle wind very well
Funny to see the snow just about to the eaves and not against the tent. Giant ice cycles hanging off corners.
Hope your not laughing at me, but that has worked for me for 20-plus years. As long as it gets up, stays up, and works for you, count it as a success.
Hello, I noticed you don't have the white cotton liner, nor the Vestibule. and I strongly recommend you buy a USMC Tentage Repair Kit...I own that tent and I Love it..Also I bought mine All Canvas NOS (new old stock) also have the liner and vestibule and Tentage repair kit....tentage repair kit is a must for these types of tents. All are only suggestive...Great Set up though
I got this one used on the local Craigslist. I'll keep an eye out for the other components, thanks for the tip.
Where can I get one of these tents
Hello I was wondering i have been looking at different types of tents or shelters and came across the tent used mostly by Australians called a swag and that made me wonder if there are other types of tent or shelter specific to their region that maybe not many people know about like the swag...anywho i appreciate your time
I dont know much about the Australian shelter technology but I will have to look up the swag.
cool
one man can set these up... ask me how i know :)
Think I’d just use ratchet straps instead of that rope but that’s just me.