Do you just buy a hillary tent with no idea how to set it up?
Are you looking for a tent design with more interior space for groups of people or families?
Hillary tents work great for this but can be tricky to set up. We help you here with our guide on how to set up a hillary tent.
Read on for more details and steps.
Table of Contents
What Is A Hillary Tent?
Hillary tents were a brand of tent that pioneered a cabin style of tent. They have some common elements which other tents may not have.
As a tent, they were first intended as large family tents. Some may have seperate rooms.
As a cabin-style tent, you can expect the tents to have straighter walls and more overall interior space.
They require a bit more work to set up and keep standing usually, although modern design has gone a long way towards helping with this.
They also don’t stand in wind as well because of their boxier shape.
However, they’ve become a favorite of groups and families and some companies have evolved their designs into some really interesting shapes.
What You’ll Need
Hillary/Cabin Tent – Naturally, you’ll need a hillary tent or cabin tent of some kind. If you haven’t gotten an actual hillary tent, you can always use a Core 9 Person Cabin Tent such as this one on Amazon.
Tent stakes – You’ll need at least 4 tent stakes if the hillary tent doesn’t already come with it (if you bought it second-hand, for example).
Any tent stake will technically do; just make sure you use it the right way.
I like the tent stakes by Spofine. This product is actually a kit that includes a hammer and guy lines.
Mallet – If you don’t already have a mallet, you should get one. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just avoid using a clawhammer.
This rubber mallet by Coleman. It’s designed for tents and includes a stake puller on the bottom for easier teardown.
Step By Step Instructions
Read these steps carefully, and you’ll be able to set up a hillary tent. These steps can seem tricky, but they’re not if you take your time.
#1 Lay Out And Stake Tent
Take out your tent and set aside all poles and stakes in groups that match each other in size. This will help you later on.
Spread out the tent (bottom down) over the area where you’re going to raise it. Make sure the tent is on flat ground as free of debris and rocks as you can.
It’s also a good idea to keep the tent of a relatively higher elevation if the area around you is at different levels.
Take four of the stakes and drive them in through the tent loops each of the four (or more in some cases) corners. Be sure you drive the poles in straight down with the “hook” facing away from the body of the tent.
Make sure the tent is pulled tight as you stake. This helps prevent collapsing later on.
#2 Assemble And Insert Ridge Pole
Take the odd-sized pole and the two matching poles and assemble them. The odd size pole should be smaller in diameter and fit each of the two matched poles on the end.
This is the ridge pole that supports the top of the roof. Find the pole sleeve at the middle of the tent and run the pole through.
#3 Place And Secure Curved Ends
Take the curved poles over the ends of the ridge pole. Once it’s over the ridge pole, take the loop that’s there and bring it over the end of the pole.
Adjust the loop so it holds the two together.
#4 Insert And Adjust The Angled Poles
Take the angled poles and insert them through the loops at the end of each of the four walls. The longer straight ends should be going toward the curved piece at the ridge pole.
Find the smaller four poles and insert it into each long end of the four angled poles. This shorter pole should then also be inserted into the curved piece by the ridge.
At this point, the poles should make a rectangle with the two curved pieces connecting them and be attached to the ridge by a loop. The angled poles should be pushing up the ridge so it sits up in the air.
#5 Insert The Long Poles And Pitch
Take two of the remaining poles from each group of four you have left. Insert the skinnier ones into the thicker ones to make two long poles.
Insert these poles in the two angled ends we just worked on in the last step.
Note: Don’t do this with the side that has the door or back. Focus on two of the angled poles on one side.
Make the angles so they cross each other sticking off the side of the tent.
Have a buddy help you (or grab in the middle and take your time by yourself) by grabbing one pole while you grab the other.
Lift the longer poles and pitch one side of the tent into the air. The ends of the longer poles should come to a point (sort of like a “V” where the “V” point meets at the ground).
The point inserts into a loop at the bottom of the tent and rests on the ground.
Repeat these steps with the other side.
Congratulations! You’ve now set up a hillary tent!
It can take some practice, but once you’ve done it, it’s pretty easy.
Tear down is much the same, but in reverse. Make sure you don’t lose the pieces as you go.
If you want to watch this in action, check out this helpful video below.
Conclusion
Now you know how to set up a hillary tent the right way.
It’s a bit more complicated than your standard dome tent, but that doesn’t mean you have to get frustrated. Just take your time and review these steps as you need.
Don’t worry! You can do it!
Now get out there and enjoy the fresh air!
Feeling handy? Try to make your own wooden tent stakes.