Picking the Site

• Take some time to pick the right site before unpacking and setting up. Level ground keeps campers from sleeping on inclines or rolling into the sidewalls during the night. Pick an area free of rocks, sticks and other debris that can rip tent floors. A layer of leaves or moss under the tent floor can add some cushion.
  
  

Attaching the Frame Poles

• Most dome tents come with two flexible frame poles, but the Ozark Trail brand comes with four to hold open the two footlockers built into the front of the tent. Unfold all four poles so that connections slide together along the shock cord. Slide each pole through the sleeves diagonally so the tent polls make an X at the top of the tent. The ends of each pole should point at one of the four corners of the tent.
  
  Hold the ends of two parallel poles and slide the metal pegs attached to the corners into the ends of the poles (each corner should be affixed with a metal peg). Gently bend the poles into an arch and--holding the arch in place--walk to the opposite diagonal corner of the same two poles and place the corner pegs into the second set of pole ends. Repeat this process for the other two parallel poles. The tent and poles should now be standing.
  
  Attach hooks or frame clips to the tent poles. These are located along the seams that run parallel to the corresponding poles.
  
  

Attaching the Fly

• This final piece of the tent keeps rain from flowing through the roof and provides extra shelter from wind. Drape the fly over the tent with the Ozark Trail insignia centered over the front door. Slide the smaller remaining shock cord pole, which serves as the roof support, through the center-line sleeve on the underside of the fly and insert each end into the grommets located in front and back of the fly. Attach all s-hooks at the bottom edge of the fly to the peg rings near the tent base.
  
  

Staking it Down

• Though most dome tents can be free-standing, fastening the corners down with tent stakes maximizes the available surface area inside and helps the shelters stay put in high winds. Unfold the tent with the roof facing up and stake in one corner. Then go to the opposite diagonal corner, pull the tent taught and stake in that corner. Do the same for the other two corners. When done properly, the floor of the tent should be taught and free of wrinkles.