• Using a waterproof plastic ground cloth inside the tent. This could also be a tarp that is cut to fit along the floor inside. Similar suggestions include putting this sized piece of plastic (or tarp) directly below the floor of the tent in winter to prevent freezing.
• Bring twice as many stakes, with a variety of sizes. When rain hits, the structure may need more support.
• Have some bungee cords on hand. As mentioned before and in the article, tents expand from the rain and attaching these to the tent keep it contracted.
• Bring at least one 10 by 12 square feet tarp to tie above the tent.

The article gives some other suggestions for camping, although the most significant point here – and that we’ve seen before – is that you can’t be too protected in case rain hits. Why ruin your camping trip by staying inside a tent? Be prepared with the necessary supplies, and this most often includes tarps, rope, and stakes.

The basics of setting up a camping tarp involve tying it between trees above your campsite. At least two trees should be used and have a rope tied between them. One option is to have the tarp go over this rope and be held by stakes in the ground on both ends, essentially making an oversized tent over your campsite. The other option is to use four trees and have the tarp act as a flat roof above your campsite by typing all four ends of the tarp to the trees. This method should have the tarp positioned at an angle, in case of rain, as the rain can run off the tarp and not build up on top. For one demonstration, here is a YouTube video of some campers setting up tarps on their campsite:

Some things to note in the video are that both medium and heavy duty tarps – a silver one being set up and a blue one off to the side – are on hand. The method that they appear to be doing is the oversized tent over the campsite. Both medium and heavy duty tarps can be used for a camping tarp, although medium duty is all that is really necessary, as this outdoor set up is merely temporary.

These particular tents sold by A1 Tarps are polyester structures with a fiberglass frame. When transporting the tent, the structure folds into a duffle bag, which can be slung over your shoulder and carried. The tents are easy to set up and take down in case of rain. While A1 Tarps has four different models roughly the same size, all are designed for approximately four people, with an average-height person to stand up inside. In the case of the Bear Mountain model tent, the center of the dome shaped tent is 68 inches tall, while the walls are all 57 inches high. Four people can fit inside, either standing or sleeping, and have some space to move around. To see outside, these tents all have screened windows and, in case of rain, they have rain flies, or awnings made from fiberglass poles, extending over the windows.

Aside from adult camping tents, A1 Tarps has various children’s camping tents. These tents can be put in the backyard and used for camping and come in a variety of shapes, such as bugs or castles. These kids’ tents can be used for a backyard campout but, when going on a family camping trip, one of the adult tents is a sturdier option and will keep everyone together.

Although tarps can actually be made into tents, they provide protection in case of rain. A tarp can be set above the tent to prevent rain or moisture to seep through the fabric, and one can even be put below the tent to prevent the base of the tent from becoming wet, as well. Some suggestions on setting up a tarp covering can be seen in the video below:

Some points that this video brings up, aside from another perspective on securing a tarp for camping, is that, even if you’re not going on a heavy or intense backpacking trip, a tarp is still necessary and, because it’s a versatile, waterproof material, it is often stronger than a tent. The video also shows the speaker mentioning about forming a pulley with the ropes to tighten them just right and tying various knots to secure the tarp and keep it in place in case of rain or wind. The tarp, in addition, should be even with tension, as seen in this video, in case of rain or wind. The structure set up in this video isn’t a tent but the tent can be placed under it or it can be used as a covering for an outdoor area in the campsite away from the tent.

The tarp used to protect the floor of the tent doesn’t have a specific size, although it should be slightly smaller than the base of the tent. While this tarp can be used to protect the campers inside from rocks, it can be used, as well, to prevent the bottom of the tent from being soaked with rain. When below the tent, the tarp shouldn’t have any edges sticking out. If any edge of the tarp sticks out, this could cause the water to slide between the tarp and the tent and will still cause the base of the tent to get wet.

The larger tarp, which should be 25 by 12 feet, is positioned over the tent in case of rain and to protect the tent from condensation. The tarp, however, doesn’t only go over the tent but also the area in front in case the campers need to go outside of the tent during the rain and make a fire or cook food. To attach this tarp, the edges should all be attached by rope to four surrounding trees. In addition, this tarp should be set at an angle to prevent water from building up on its surface. The runoff from the tarp shouldn’t go onto the tent, and the tarp should be angled away from the tent.

For a demonstration of how to set up above tarps for camping, these YouTube videos give step-by-step examples involving trees and stakes to tie down the ropes supporting the tarps.