Camping in the sand can be frustrating. Some people have tried and failed, and others avoid it. It’s more difficult if you are pitching a tent in the sand. But if you have the right tools, you will make it happen.
Ideally, tents get their support from lines tied to stakes driven into the ground. These stakes (tent pegs) come loose easily when camping on sand since sand soil has less grip than clay or loamy soils. To go around this problem when camping on a sandy patch, you have to employ some extra tricks and techniques instead of just hammering in the tent pegs and hoping for the best.
It all starts with the right tent spikes.
There are different types of tent pegs that work best in the sand. Though the choice of the design depends on one’s preference. For sand pegs, use the thicker ones than the generic tent pegs, which have the following;
- A thread
- A corkscrew shape
- A set of ridges
These stakes provide extra surface area to boost friction in the loose sediment, making it harder to pull it out. To use, bang the pegs into the ground at about 45 degrees angle away from the canopy. For additional support, use two ropes away from the canopy leg.
Use Tent Spikes Designed for Sandy Soils
Deploying suitable pegs for the sandy soil is the best option for ensuring tent security. The stakes should be strong enough to ensure they don’t break due to excess pressure. The pegs should also be broad for more stability.
Use Longer Stakes
The holding power is equivalent to the length and surface area. The surface area has a significant impact on how the stakes will stay in the ground. Choose a stake that is long and a bit wide for it to remain firmly in the sand.
Use More Stakes
Using more stakes can give your tent ropes more power since the tension will be distributed across different pikes instead of just one. Double up on your stakes or even triple up for better holding power.
Don’t clump up the stakes into one spot, though. After driving in the normal number of tent spikes for your tent at the recommended spacing, add one or two more stakes between the spaces the normal spacing leaves.
You can then tie equal lengths of rope from the two (or three) spikes together before attaching the tent rope to them. The idea is to form a letter ‘Y’ that distributes the tent’s force to the two spikes.
Use Sand Bags
The sandbags will help weigh the tent down to prevent it from flying away. These sandbags help keep the tent stable. Use the sand on the beach and fill the bags. Use the proper materials which are strong enough to hold the sand without tearing.
Consider securing the bags to prevent them from pouring sand into the tent. Later, place the sandbags at each corner of the tent from the inside. It’s most beneficial too to bury the sandbags underneath the tent. Cover the sandbags with sand to create a flat surface.
Use Guy Lines
A guy line is an essential tool to help stabilize your tent. You loop the lines through the fabric or metal rods of a pop-up tent and then secure them to the ground. You can use the sand anchor to keep the guy lines in check. A guy line should be taut as loose lines can risk the wind ripping them out of the ground.
Dig Holes for the Poles
To help secure your tent, dig about 1 feet holes for each tent pole. You need a smaller hole for smaller tents, and for large ones, you require deep holes. The holes will keep the tent more stable in the sand. You can consider packing some sand against the pegs for extra enforcement.
Use Wet Sand
Wet sand is heavier than dry sand. To ensure your sand is wet, carry a pail of water to moisten the sand. You can use the damp sand as reinforcers when burying the tent rods. Wet sand will also make sandbags heavier, giving them a better force to hold down your tent.
Rock Staking
You can use large and heavy rocks to help anchor tent stakes. You require large flat rocks to help improve stability. Run the guy line over the foundation rock and push the tent into the ground. Later stack the rocks on top of the stake and the foundation rock; this will hold your tent in place more securely.
Pick the Right Ground
Since it’s tricky to set a tent in the sand, to make it secure, ensure the field is a little stiff and features a solid structure underneath the sand. Sand alone can make the tent more prone to winds and later destroyed. If the hard ground is out of reach, tie the tent around a rock or tree.
How to DIY Sand Tent Stakes
You can make your tent stakes as follows;
Wood Anchor
Make four small round or square pieces of plywood. Use the size of around 6-8 inches in diameter, drill a small hole in the mid-section and run the rope through the hole. Secure the string with a knot to prevent it from pulling through. Bury the wood a foot or more into the ground.
Check this too: Can You Use an RV Park as a Permanent Address?
Use What You Have
You can use various containers for your disposals like plastic utility tabs, cooler boxes, buckets, and more. Ensure the containers are heavy, or add sand for extra stability.
To ensure your tent is secure in the sand, set it early before dark, so you have enough time. Also, check for camping ground with solid structure, use the appropriate stakes, sandbags, wet sand, and more. Again, you can use DIY stakes for more enforcement if you don’t have stakes.
