TEHCC Rental Equipment:
HT-26, 27 - "6" Person Base Camp Tents

HT-26 and 27 are brown (not green like the picture) Eureka! Base Camp Outfitter 6 tents purchased around 2002-03 (current cost is $300).  At 18-19 pounds each, these tents can serve as a base or car camp for hiking in an area, but are not suitable for a backpacking tent.  These tents are a reasonable fit if two are parents with small children, but would be tight for six adults – especially in this age of supersizing.  Note the 8.5' x 10' floor layout shows sleeping bags only.  The best fit would be four sleeping bags in a row with some space for small gear along one side of the tent.  Six scouts with all their overnight gear would be very crowded.

The design is a classic freestanding A-frame on steroids, which can be set up by two people.  (Possible, but really difficult for one, but where are the others?)  Make sure that you have 14 stakes before leaving Building 310 – and check the assembly instructions, which are now being linked to the rental equipment webpage for on-line reference.

Both tents are in great shape, although during the 2005 annual inspection, HT-26 was observed to have been turned in with lots of leaf litter.  Please take the time to make sure the tent is dry, cleaned out, and zippers closed before folding.  Pack a small whisk broom, if necessary.  Finally, remember tents are for sleeping and not an all-day playroom – especially on hot days.

Click on photo or here for a diagram of tent set-up.

Outfitter Timberline Basecamp

 1. Unroll the tent and unfold it.  Remove the fly and open the tent's doors to admit air.  In windy conditions, stake down the corner which faces into the wind.

2. Each frame consists of four shock-corded corner sections (tapered at one end), one shock-corded spanner section (tapered at both ends), two junction tubes, and two single rods (fly rods).  Assemble all of the shock-corded frame sections.

3. Place the tapered end of a corner section through the angled hole in one of the junction tubes.  Note: the junction tube is marked "TOP RIGHT" so the corner section is at the correct angle.  Place the ring and pin assembly at the corner of the tent into the bottom of the corner section. 

4. Insert a second corner section into the remaining angled hole in the same junction tube, forming an A-frame.  Place the corner ring and pin assembly into the bottom of the second corner section. 

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 at the opposite end of the tent, forming a second A-frame from the remaining junction tube and corner sections.

7. Spring the spanner section back together by pulling down on the disconnected rods until the tapered end seats into the adjoining rod.  This forms the self-supporting frame.

8. Connect the tent to the frame by pulling the shock-cord rings at peaks of the tent up and over the junction tubes.  Snap the brass hooks onto the corner sections.  The junction tubes can be attached to the tent with the 12" strings provided.  Tie one end to a shock-cord ring.  Pass the other end through the 1/8" hole in the junction tube and tie a double knot.

9. Place the two single fly rods over the tips of the spanner section which protrude from the junction tubes.  Place the fly on top of the tent so the s-hooks on the underside of the fly line up with the fly rods.  Insert the s-books into the ends of the fly rods.

10. Connect the snaps on underside of the fly to the pullout rings on the tent's sides.  Attach the s-hooks on the fly's corner shock-cords to the tent's ring and pin assemblies.  Move the tent to the desired location and stake down the ring and pin assemblies, the web beckets, and the pullouts.  In windy conditions, guy out the tent from the storm rings on the fly.

Take down tip: after removing the fly, disconnect the tent hooks and the peak shock-cord rings.  Remove the ring and pin assemblies from the corner sections (releasing the tension on the frame) and remove the corner sections from the junction tubes.