I recently purchased a Panther Primitive 10x12 wall tent with an 8.5’ tall peak. I’m planning a 2-3 week trapping excursion (camp) and am trying to figure out how to set the tent up by myself. Would anyone have any tips on setting up the ridge beam and associated two support poles solo (when I set the tent up with the seller, the corners and door flaps were staked and then the ridge beam was lifted -one person on each end- and then the ridge poles were staked…note tent was placed over ridge beam before erecting). The camp site doesn’t have any trees near by to use for temporary holding ridge pole up.

Thanks for any tips!

Dino

I often lash the back of the tent pole to a tree, then attach the tent to the pole as it sits there on an angle.

Then lay your crosses out in front of the tent and lash them to the pole in the correct spot. If you do it right, you then can just lift the ridge pole and the crosser poles will walk up into place.


Real tough to describe, easier to show.

X2......or if there are no trees I use a tripod on each end to support the ridge

^^^ This works good.

If you have trees you can ditch the ridge pole and it’s support legs. Run a chain or heavy strap between a couple tree and use a come along to lift and tighten things up. Then stake down the bottom and pull the eve edges tight.



Owl

I've done this

Yup. A third pole and a slight backward lean on the other two back poles. Remember that this is less stable, so either a third pole at the front, or better yet guylines off each end pulling opposite each other. Either to stakes, or a buried Deadman anchor in deep snow. Or tripods and guy lines! It's nice to be able to sleep soundly without worrying about the tent coming down, especially with a stove going

I figured it out and was able to set it up by myself! Thanks for all of the suggestions! I connected the poles to the ridge beam and “walked “ the poles to vertical. Having the tent draped over the ridge beam helped. The ridge beam for the fly was a bit trickier and I’m worried about how I’ll get it down solo without bending the pins at the RO of the poles.