Tee Pee Setup Instructions

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There are many ways to set up a Tepee. These directions are meant to only set you in the right direction. Develop your own way. Proceed with reckless abandonment.

LOCATE THE FOOT PRINT OF THE TIPI (TP02) Establish the location for the tipi on flat ground but with good drainage away from the site. Using stakes and a tape measure, mark the three points of an isosceles triangle, with the two equal lengths pointing to the front door. Traditionally this should be east. This point will be called “E”. The back points of the triangle will be called “N”, for north, and “S”, for south. Refer to the measurement chart for the lengths between these points. Put two more stakes in the ground locating the south side and the north side of the door. These points will be called “DN” (for door north), and “DS” (for door south).

           ROLL OUT THE TIPI Roll the tipi canvas out some were behind points S & N, “INSIDE UP”. The inside seams are less finished than the outside seams, also the leather squares are on the outside. When you lay the canvas out you will see the tipi is shaped in a half circle. The door is half located on each end of the straight edge. In the center, between the smoke flaps is the tongue, were you will attach the canvas to a riser pole later.  From this point we will obtain two measurements, to the front and to the back of the canvas, they will tell us were to tie the tripod poles. The first three poles get erected together, this is the tripod. All other poles lay on the tripod.

           CALCULATE THE TIE POINT” FOR THE TRIPOD (TP 03) I have supplied a measurement chart for the tripod tie but I felt it important to show you how I determine these measurements. The exact size of the tipi canvas varies a few inches, and in the future the canvas could shrink so comparing the measurements of the canvas to the measurements on the chart is a good idea.

The front pole of the tripod is longer than the back poles. Measure from the tongue to the outside edge of the canvas just to the side of the door opening, do not add the loop, but add 3% (a toe length) to the measurement. This is the tie point for the door pole. Or the front pole of the tripod. For the rear two poles (S & N) measure to the back of the canvas, do not add the loop, but add 7% (a foot length) to the measurement.

           MEASURE AND MARK THE TRIPOD Chose three fat poles and mark lines on poles N, S, & D. Remember the rear poles “N & S” tie point is lower than “D” pole tie point. This is because the tipi leans to the rear.

          

 PLACE & TIE THE TRIPOD (TP 04) Place the butt end of “pole S” on point S on the triangle, lay the top between point N & E. Tie a 6' rope around the tie point of pole S leaving two 3' rope ends to each side. Place pole N on top of S and tie a second not at the tie mark. Place the butt end of pole “D” at point “D south”, and cross over tie point of N & S, with tie point of pole “D south”. Tie and rap remaining cord snug.

Tie a loop in the end of the long rap cord and loop it over one of the tripod poles. Leave the loose end ready to help stand the tripod.

       

    RAISE THE TRIPOD (TP 05) (TP 06) Lift pole “N” just below the tie point and pivot the butt end around to the back of the triangle. Push up the tripod with pole “N” while another person pulls the rap cord rope. Place the butt end of pole “N” on “point N”. Place the butt end of “pole S” on “point S”. Place the butt end of “door pole” pole “D” on “point DS”.

           TIE THE RISER POLE (TP 07) Before the canvas blows away let's bundle it up and get it ready to set it on the frame. First you should have two 25' ropes. Tie them to each loop located at the bottom of the smoke flaps.

With the canvas facing inside up, place a pole on top of the canvas between the back and the tongue. With the butt end of the pole 6” beyond the edge of the canvas, stretch the canvas and tie the tongue to the pole.

BUNDLE THE TIPI

Squatting at the butt end of the riser pole start drawing from each side the canvas and pile it to each side of the riser pole. When all the canvas is bunched to the sides of the riser pole tie the canvas to the pole using the ropes off the smoke flaps. The tipi and the final pole are now ready to be placed on the tipi frame. The riser pole will be placed in the center rear and will not be tied with the other poles.

MAKE IT A QUAD POD (TP 10) Attending back to the tripod place the butt end of a forth pole on “point D north”. Lay it on top of “door pole S” and rap it tight into the cruets of the tripod. In fact it is good to independently wrap each pole

          

 FILL IN THE NORTH SIDE(TP 11) (TP 12) The amount of poles to each side of the door now will depend on the size of the tipi. The pattern in which they are laid remains the same. Place each pole on top of the last pole and rap each tightly into the cruets; this will keep weight off the front pole. Space the butt ends evenly filling in the north side between the “north door pole” and the “north tripod pole”.

FILL IN THE SOUTH SIDE using the above sequence fill in the south side

FILL IN THE BACK (TP 15) On sizes 10 – 12 one pole fills in the back. This makes the center of the canvas off to the side of the riser pole. This is ok, just make sure you know were the true rear center is.  On sizes 14 – 22 two poles will nicely center the riser pole. On 24 – 30 two poles on each side of rear center leaves space for the riser pole. Lay the tops of the rear poles in the best location at the top of the cruets. The rear poles do not need to be raped individually. Once they are placed wrap the remaining cord several times and tie it to a pole. If you are concerned of high winds, or you plan to leave the poles without canvas for any amount of time than stake the rope tightly to the ground in the center of the tipi.

 THE RISER POLE AND CANVAS (TP 16) Last but not least put the riser pole in place with the canvas bundled on it. Make sure the butt of the riser pole is directly center rear of the door opening. If not possible make sure the center rear loop gets staked center rear of the door.

           WRAP THE CANVAS (TP 17) Untie the canvas and drag each side to the front. Do not let the smoke flaps fold inside the tipi canvas. Bring the canvas between the door poles and lace together using 12” X ½” peeled willow branches. Center the tipi canvas on the frame making sure the door opening is centered between the door poles and the rear of the tipi canvas is centered on the riser pole. Adjust all the poles to evenly support the outer edge of the tipi canvas. The bottom edge should be about 6” to 12” from the ground. Space the butt ends evenly apart from each other. Do not completely extend the poles outward till the canvas is fully staked to the ground. If you are erecting the tipi on a deck, screw the loops down to the wood.

      PUT IN THE SMOKE FLAP POLES (TP 18) Sometimes having the smoke flap poles in place will help make the canvas easier to move. The butt ends of the smoke flap poles should cross over each other about 5' behind the tipi. Cutting one a few inches shorter than the other one will help this action. Cut down the smoke flap poles from the top little at a time to get them to the proper length.

 STEAK DOWN THE CANVAS (TP 19) Start in the back. Make sure you are directly across from the front of the tipi. Stake the rear center loop to the ground. To each side stake 3 or 4 loops also. Go to the front and stake the loops on each side of the door opening. Make sure the door opening is centered between the door poles.  You will soon notice that all the poles except for the three tripod poles are moveable. If the door tripod pole seems to long, digging turf from beneath it is the only way to shorten it.  Stake each side evenly from the door to the rear of the tipi. I sometimes use a pry rod to stretch the canvas. Put the rod through the loop, point it to the ground, and stand on the loop. Pry the canvas to the ground, and steak the adjacent loop.

           ADJUST OUT THE POLES Once all the loops are staked you can even out the poles. Use your foot to lift the base of the pole and than pull the pole down. This will tighten up the canvas. In time the poles will bow to the inside. When you see this, you can turn them out to keep them straight.

THE DOOR(TP 20) Attach the top of the door to the inside of the tipi on the second lacing pin from the door opening. Shingle the door to the outside. Slip 33” wood dowels into the batten sleeves of the door to stiffen it and tie to the outside of the tipi.

 THE SMOKE FLAPS (TP 21) Get a feel how the smoke flaps work. To completely close them, tuck one inside the other and loose one pole, now rap the other flap over. This will place the but end of the remaining smoke flap pole to the front of the tipi and tie the rope to the ground in the direction of the raped smoke flap. To open the flaps, cross the butt ends of the smoke flap poles behind the tipi and tie the ropes half way to the back as well.

           THE FLOOR Lay the floor down centered inside the tipi. There is a front and a rear to the floor.

 THE LINER (TP 22) Understand where the edge of the floor lies, even mark it. This is were the bottom of the liner gets staked to the ground, or screwed to the deck. Fold the floors edge to the inside and steak down the bottom loops of the liner were the floor edge would be. Start in the rear center of the tipi with the center of the liner and work each side to the door. Fold the floor back to the base of the liner. The sod cloth of the liner will lay under the edge of the floor. At each pole pull the liner up and mark on the pole were approximately the middle and top liner ropes need to be tied. The liner does not get tied directly to the poles but gets tied to a mid and top liner rope that is tied from pole to pole around the inside of the tipi. The mid and top liner ropes are tied to the poles approximately were the middle and top ties are located on the liner.  The placement of the liner ropes may need to be adjusted up or down to properly stretch the liner. At the door of the tipi the liner gets tucked behind the door poles. 

           PROPER VENTING MAKES SMOKE DRAW OUT THE TOP Make sure you do not steak the canvas to close to the ground. Air must be able to draw under the canvas. The liner keeps the draft from going across the floor but directs the air up, thus drawing smoke out the flaps.

           MILDEW Even if you do not need ground venting, make sure the canvas stays above the wet ground so mildew does not become a problem. Never lay hay or sand bags against the outside of the canvas. If mildew starts terminate it by scrubbing with a very mild bleach and water solution, and let it dry in the sun.

           PAINTING Decorating your tipi is fun. Use water based acrylic house paint. Make it bold and opaque or water the paint down for a more traditional look.

Deck set up is best because water run off is more manageable. Make sure to build the deck over sized but not so over sized that snow will stay on the deck. If the deck is low to the ground the smoke flap poles can stay on the ground, but if the deck is up a ways off the ground the deck must at least be large enough to keep the base of the smoke flap poles on the deck. A deck about 4' larger should be sufficient, and snow removal is advised. Make the deck using 2X6 construction just like a house deck so water runs through the cracks. Screw the loops of the Tepee to the deck with deck screws, nothing to it.

Ground set up can be just as comfortable in fact even more because the ground will stay warmer. Preparing the land though is important, flat is good but water should be diverted around the Lodge. Building a deck inside the Tepee serves no purpose and seems very difficult to do but I have seen very nice flag stone used to accomplish a beautiful living space.

Fire Pit is the best thing about a Tepee and if you can stand the inconvenient over a wood stove adds to the ultimate attractive force of being in a Tepee. If there is a way to vent the pit from outside the Tepee, go for it, you will love how it makes the fire rage even when there is little fuel burning. The fire pit should be put in the center and just little to the front of the floor. A metal basket is nice to build the pit with and a washing machine basket works great. A wood stove is very covenant and best of all can be taken out in the summer months. Make the stove pipe go through the smoke flaps to the outside or keep it low inside the Tepee. Make sure the stove pipe is not hot enough to burn the canvas, if so make some type of thimble so the pipe doesn't touch the canvas. I have seen ceramic patio fire ovens work nice also.      

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