My friend Patti has done a lot of research on living in a tent. I asked her if she would be willing to share her knowledge with us.
Thanks Patti!!!
By: By: Patti Ault pattiperfect12@msn.com
Some years ago my husband and I purchased an Army tent and had some alterations done to it. We wanted two openings in the tent roof for two stoves, one in the area of the tent that would serve the Kitchen and one where we would sleep. We also added “zip on rooms” for a “bathroom” one for a closet and extra entrance for winter so the cold would not blast into the tent every time we entered or exited, not to mention a place to leave dirty boots!
I got to thinking what else I needed to know about living in a tent as opposed to camping in a tent for just a week or less. I got on the computer and in a search engine I put in “Living in a tent.” I started to learn and then the learning continued for two years off and on. I found blogs and tent companies and just quotes and stories from magazines, newspapers and journals from the pioneers. It encompassed amazing information about “living in a tent.”
There are movies with tents in the story and notice how the set designer has made the interior comfortable. You will be surprised at what you learn from many sources. Slow down the movie and try to pick up any details that would be interesting that you might not have thought about or noticed when the film was at normal speed.
I have tried to learn about tents even though I am not crazy about actually living in a tent, but when I need to, I want to be prepared and thrive especially in the winter!!! I never, ever, want to be cold or freezing so I have tried to glean much about that time of the year and how to live, and live well! I would like to impart some information for you to consider for when you need to live in a tent, hopefully it will help you and your family.
The first step is to purchase a tent!
I know it sounds like a Duh, but many people discuss that fact, but they think the tent they own will do. Not all tents are created equal!!! If you cannot “stand up” in your tent as you do in your home, you will want to purchase a tent that you can stand up in!!! Keep the tent you have, they come in handy in so many ways, but in order to “live” in a tent you must be able to live life from day to day, and that includes walking up right. You will no doubt live in this tent for over a year perhaps more, so you need to wrap your mind around that thought too.
Just like a home it has to have a foundation
A family I read a little blurb about that was already living in a tent, taught me, that if my family were ever going to live comfortably in one we needed to have a foundation under the tent floor. That surprised me until they mentioned this brief information; snakes, rats and all rodents and other pests like the protection of your tent floor. They will burrow under to live there as long as you are living there too! So that led me on another thread of “living in a tent.” You need a wood floor under your fabric tent floor. The reason being is it will keep the pests from burrowing; also your canvas floor will not disappear thread by thread. They too are looking for materials to build a warm nest.
The wood decking floor needs to be the width and length of the entire tent and then if you want to make it wider like a porch for the tent door, you can extend it so you can wipe your feet or even have the tent awning come out, thus avoiding dirty shoes coming in and soiling the inside. Tip: The foundation needs to be ground level so you can still use the stakes for the tent, unless you drive large nails into the wood to replace the stakes. This is also where you can put a tarp or an insulation blanket under the tent for extra warmth. Trim off any extra so it does not stick out since it too will become nest material. Covering the floor inside One way to keep the tent clean is to have throw rugs. One over lapping the other, It’s not only easier to pickup and shake the rug but it will keep the canvas from wearing out and will keep the tent cleaner. A carpet sweeper is nice to have here too.
The roof of the Tent
Just like a house a tent has to have a space for ventilation, like an attic. A tarp over your roof so there is a space for air circulation seems to keep the tent cooler in summer and warmer in winter. If you have seen some of the new camping tents, they come with this feature already built above the ceiling of the tent. This of course is not often built into a tent you live in long term, but are a new feature on camping tents. This feature you will either pay extra for or you can figure out what will work for you and your family. Our family added this extra feature. Snow in winter and the heat in summer can drastically change the ceiling in a tent and the temperature inside too and in the temperament of its occupants!
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Just like your home a tent needs “A place for everything and everything in its place.” In order to live you have to have order! Think how you will set up your kitchen, sleeping quarters, closets for clothes, food, bathroom privacy and all the items you need to get ready for the day or at night. Men and women have different needs and this must be thought through. All the items needed for babies. Books, games, table ware. Draw up your plans ahead of time and get everything for “living.” Sometimes provisions cost as much as food does and it take time to plan and save for just the right item for your family, that will add to the peace of this future home.
Warmth
This is an area that you must think about because the cool to cold weather can set in early and stay well into spring and early summer. You need a way to heat your tent, cook, and see your way around in the dark. Candles are good if they are not bumped, or there hasn’t been an an earthquake or aftershocks. A fire in a tent is not only totally complete in its destruction; it can wipe out your shelter in mere moments. So there has to be forethought as to how you will give light and warmth. Having specialized clothing will help with temperatures in a tent, so again plan ahead as this will give comfort and aid in having peace. A few blankets and a sleeping bag that does not cover all temperature ranges will not help if you cannot be up and able to walk around doing what you need to be doing and feel warm.
Think about your stove. Do you plan on having a stove inside to cook on? Maybe one that heats up your tent but also heats up water for a bath or shower and dishes. There are many types of stoves, make sure you do not scrimp on this. This is the furnace of your home and its function will either make you grateful you purchased one that cooks bread, heats pots, heats water and has a large chamber for wood. Or you might like living a more Spartan life by cooking outside. Please do your homework on this! Please pray over this decision. When you have made this most important choice don’t forget to have the opening made in the roof of your tent for however many stoves you are having. They have to insulate the roof against your chimney and hot embers so your tent will not burn!
Your Tent
When you do your homework and finally find the shelter that suits your family, find out if it need water proofing? Most tents do need to be waterproofed. Please check with the manufacture to see what they recommend and how often it needs it. How many windows would make you happy for air circulation and the placement of them for that circulation? How many doors do you want/need? The square footage to live and thrive for all living within those walls. Remember the bigger the tent the heavier it is and the more stakes and poles you will need. Most families do not own a semi-truck so think how you will get everything in to your truck & trailer, car and car top carrier. Planning ahead is the key for peace.
Tools
You will need: Hammers, shovels, rope, gloves, flash lights, patience, sense of humor, and willingness to live in tight quarters and still love each other. Go camping in this tent when you get it and see what you brought and forgot. Live in it during storms and different weather…even if it’s in the backyard, you will be grateful you did!!! This is where the plans either get cemented or thrown out and re-drawn. It is so worth it to do a “run-through” because after a week or two you just might put it up on ksl.com under “tents” in the classifieds.
In Conclusion
Do your homework, make a decision and do not forget to ask the Lord in faithful prayer if this is what He desires for you and if this will work for your family. Heavenly Father loves questions, so ask away only after you have decided what you need and want. He loves you and will help you with knowledge, finances if you are striving to do what is right. Make a list and try to be obedient.
Please read the following address by President Hinckley it will help you understand why you need to be prepared. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/if-ye-are-prepared-ye-shall-not-fear?lang=eng
May our Heavenly Father’s sweetest blessing come to you as you endeavor to be obedient and strive to be prepared, so you will not feel any fear. Through any trial or challenge it depends upon your attitude and faithfulness to the Lord. If you are willing and patient, kind and loving and exceedingly slow to anger, you will make it!!!
“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30.)
