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Create A Bell Tent Platform Deck

5 min read 0 Comments

A Life inTents bell tent looks elegant on its own, but placing the tent on wooden platform makes it shine like no other.  But it is not only about the appearance, it’s also about function.  Building a platform for your bell tent is the #1 recommendation to keep your investment in great condition for many years.

A waterproof canvas bell tent can be set-up for a couple of consecutive weeks without requiring much maintenance. But if you plan on keeping your bell tent up for several weeks/months then you will want to take precautions to make sure that it is well protected from standing and running water.  One of the best ways to accomplish this is build a bell tent platform.  

bell tent on a platform deck

PROS & CONS OF A TENT DECK:

PROS

CONS

Your tent will last much longer!

Obviously more expensive.

Allows water to escape, rather than puddle under tent.

The deck itself will need to be maintained.

Guy lines won't need to be re-tightened as much.

Tent requires precision to set-up properly (especially at points a stress points.

Prevents mud dirtying side walls when raining.

Tent will be less will experience less "give" during extreme weather.

Discourages insects and animals from living under your tent.

A bit more time consuming to put up and take down tent.

Reduces tracking debris into tent.

May require a permit.

Oh, and it they look great!

 

 

A tent platform keeps your tent off of damp ground, speeding up the drying process of the canvas - discouraging the growth of mold in locations where the sun has difficulties reaching.  The platform also helps to encourage air circulation around the lower walls and the floor to help dry out damp canvas.

This insurance does come at an added cost, but it is well worth the extra time and investment. 

 

SHOP LIFE INTENTS BELL TENTS:

Selecting a Tent Platform Design

Platforms can come many shapes and sizes, and no one design is particularly more advantageous than the other.  The most popular shapes for a 16-foot (5-meter) bell tent platform are that of 20’x'20’ square, 20’x30’ rectangle, hexagon, hendegon (11-gon), or dodegon (12-sided) - each with or without decks. 

timberline tampa canvas tent on deck

The design decision for you will be determined based upon your desired function, form, and finances.  The three main drivers behind the cost of a platform are: materials, labor and design.

  • The larger the platform, the higher the material cost.

  • Hiring a carpenter requires a higher cost vs. a DIY approach.

  • The more ellaborate your design, the more time it will take to build (see bullet #2).

You may also need to add footings to your platform if your site is not level, possibly even requiring the addition of a stairway to get to the front door. 

yurt tent on deck in woods


Creating the Deck Design Plans

Once you have your design in mind, it's time to draw sketch out the plans.  If one of your many skills isn't designing with CAD, then your contractor should be able to help render the blueprints for you.  Once the plans on complete, you will know exactly how much lumber and hardware that will be required for your project.

Some great plans are available to download by our friends at Hazy Woods Design.  Below is a small example of some plans that are available for purchase and instant download:

bell tent deck plans for sale

Tent Deck Material Considerations 

Your platform will be exposed to extreme weather conditions that will vary by your location.  Sun, rain, snow, and humidity can each erode the condition of your platform over time.  It is recommended to use treated lumber and fasteners that are fabricated to withstand changing weather conditions.

Cedar and redwood are two of the better wood choices for bell tent decks, followed by the more economical option of pressure treated wood.

diy tent deck in california

Anticipated Costs

Depending on the size of your platform, quality of the wood, and your location, you can expect that materials could cost between $2,500-$5,000 (depending on what the current market is demanding).  Labor will also be variable depending on several factors, but this could range between $1,500-$3,500.

 

yurt on a platform

Securing Your Tent Properly

Setting up your tent on the platform generally follows the same process as when putting it up directly on the ground.  However, you will want to strategically decide how you will secure the guy lines and the floor of the tent directly to the platform itself.

Securing the floor:

Once you place your tent on the platform, your next step will be to securely fasten the floor to the deck at each of the corners – making sure that the floor is tights and free of wrinkles.  Instead of using ground pegs, you will want to use a bolt or screw to anchor each corner of the tent.  To ensure that each corner does not slip over the screw or bolt, we would recommend using a washer to hold down the D-ring of each corner of the groundsheet. Another option is to consider a heavy-duty screw hook.

Securing guy lines:

suggested deck pole location for guy lines

Approximate suggested deck pole location for guy lines

Having a plan to properly secure your guy lines is very important to help maintain the integrity and functionality of your bell tent.  We have seen people simply extend their guy lines from the tent and secure them directly into the ground just off of the platform.  We caution against taking this approach.  Bell tent guy lines are designed to be extended at a very specific angle off of the roof seams when they are set-up on solid ground.  The added elevation created with a platform can create unnatural extension of the guy lines, which then may create incorrect pressure on the seams and poles, that could result in damaging your tent. 

camping tent on a platform

We suggest tying off the guy lines to posts added to the deck.  These posts can be 1-2 feet from the wall of the tent, standing about 2 feet tall.  This will allow you to extend the guy lines at their intended angle, and also eliminates a potential tripping hazard.  For the guy line attached to the door, you could install a taller post, or add a second guy line above the door and tie each off to the posts directly to the left and right of the door.

Bell Tent Platform Design Plans by Life inTents

We have developed some fairly extravagant bell tent plans that you could consider using for your deck.  Our tent deck plans are shaped perfectly to the design of a 5-meter (16-foot) and/or a 6-meter bell tent and include a porch off the front door for an awning, stairs, and strong footings.  We’re happy to share these for free with purchase of a Life inTents bell tent.  

life intents 5M Bell tent platform plan rendering

Life intents Bell tent platform plan rendering

Alternatives to a Glamping Tent Platform

If you can’t afford to physically build-out a platform, or would like a quick protective ground barrier, then you could create a raised and flat rock bed to erect your bell tent on top of.  We’d suggest using finely ground rock such as decomposed granite or ¼ minus gravel.  Frame it in with edging that is about 2 feet off the outside walls of the tent.  Then lay down about 1.5”-2” of the material, periodically packing the rock down with every 0.5” layer.  This option could be done affordably, with only between $300-$600 worth of material.

Feel free to share your ideas and feedback with us!

Photo credit:  Vashon Adventures

Photo credit: Vashon Adventures

Brandy Lamb
Brandy Lamb

Father of two aspiring glampers, husband to one inspirational wife, and Co-Founder of Life inTents. Continuiously striving to help make camping more comfortable.



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