It’s finicky. but not “hard”.. one thing I do is use these if you’re going to be using platforms a lot.. makes it easy to drop them threw the crack and sinch your guylines tight
10pcs Fishbone Tent Stakes Pegs... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SN211SD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
>In my experience I've found that tents that require being staked out >for structural reasons, tent to be more difficult to setup on tent >platforms like we often find in the Whites at the tentsights . A little >creativity can typically solve that issue.
These "platform stakes" and some cordage and you're good to go.
It's generally considered bad to drive things like nails in to an existing platform.
Some platforms will already have nails or hooks installed on the sides.
Fishbone tent stakes are designed to go between the slats of a platform.
You can also tie off the tent to objects around the platform or make an above ground version of a dead mans anchor.
Something like this (definitely take them with you): 10pcs Fishbone Tent Stakes Pegs Lengthen Deck Nail Anchor Stopper Guyline Tensioner Camping Accessories(Red) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SN211SD/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_K9EGPNHCTRHTS1BX9R9Z
Taking extra line as you mentioned is a good idea. Use some good stakes, full size groundhogs is what was carrying.
I remember passing by one campground that looked very exposed, maybe it was Grande (?). It's been several years so I don't remember that clearly. Didn't have much wind on the north part of the O, most of the wind was along the southwest portion.
The problem I had setting up in the wind is that the gusts that came every 30 seconds or so would whip the partially set up tent around and loosen the lines in the lineloc tensioners. I had to add a slippery half hitch after each adjustment to lock the line in place so I could move on to the next line. After getting the tent fully set up and tight tight tight it was fine for the night.
Enjoy! It's a great experience!
For folks who want to use a non-freestanding tent on platforms, you can get fishbone anchors pretty easily.
Zpacks ($2.25 each): https://zpacks.com/products/aluminum-tent-platform-anchor
BONANA (reviewed on SectionHiker, $1 each): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SN211SD/
> platform steaks
I use these, and they've worked great. Bring some cordage as well.
>Also, any tips for pitching a tent on a platform?
Buy some of these. While the last tent platform I stayed at had eyehooks on the side for guying out, you'll be able to use them between the boards if needed. For a cheap and generic looking as they are, turns out they were perfect. https://i.imgur.com/xOWpipS.jpg
I got these for the tent platforms on Mount Madison in the White Mountains.
I had a mixed bag of stakes I normally take plus these for the platforms BONANA 10pcs Fishbone Tent Stakes... https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07SN211SD
My mixed bag was 2x MSR Ground Hogs, 2x MSR Mini Ground Hogs, (these were upgrades to what I normally had), 4x titanium nail stakes (I love these), 2x burly titanium Shepard hooks, 2x titanium Shepard hooks.
This was overkill probably but I wanted to be able to setup on the ground or on a platform.
The bonana anchors were good for the platforms but some platforms the wood slats are very close together, maybe have swollen from water, and have dirty very tightly packed in the thin crack. For these the Bonana’s could fit, between the wood. Some platforms have chains, but I found the TT SS Li wouldn’t pitch properly with the chains (can’t get right angles and stuff, it’s fussy). I ended up going back to stakes, one I had to put in the grass off the platform. I had to extend a bunch of the factory installed guylines as they are quite short limiting your options.
The SS Li wants at least 8 stakes IMO (6 normal plus the peak guylines). You could maybe use some more on the bathtub corners to really pin it down to stop it lifting in wind to touch the outer fly. Buy tethered to the other exisiting stakes should work about as well, i need to experiment more.
DCF doesn’t stretch so if you have guylines/stakes coming off at bad angles you can end up with one side not taught but you can’t tighten guylines anymore, you need to reposition to get proper angle. This is where the chains failed as they just couldn’t be in that configuration. Plus they are noisy in the wind and they will float on the air fairly high, which can let then light weight tent float in the air and move a bit in the wind. I had it very tight and it was still had too much play for my likening.
I suspect the DD X-Mid is easier to pitch but with practice with SS it’s probably not a big deal.
I do like the vents and the non stretch of the DCF. I wish the inner was silpoly or DCF solid panels rather than nylon. I am interested to try it with a no inner and a bivy.
These are super useful, but not required, for setting up tents on wooden platforms: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SN211SD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00