The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a US Military Pup Tent Like a Pro

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Please LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE. I try to answer all comments...

[@sarahdresler9776]

When I was in the Army in the 90’s I was assigned to a very small unit where I was the only female. I had to carry the whole pup tent set up myself as they wouldn’t let a male and a female share a tent. So I carried both shelter halves, both sets of poles, and both sets of stakes in addition to all my regular ruck equipment.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

The whole thing is about 11 pounds...I feel for ya

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Please join my new Discord channel. Link is in the description

[@michaelnasser8697]

They should, it’s fun as hell and interesting 😊

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

@@michaelnasser8697 they will lol

[@benterwellen]

I remember setting this tent up so many times, never did it as well as you…but mine worked..looking forward to the other variations…

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Right on! It can either be very easy or very hard lol

[@robertcole9391]

Don't forget the rain trench and pile the dirt along the edges to seal it. Nice thing is, with the mosquito net and only a half with extra poles or a sapling, you can make a great lean too that is weather proof. Designed originally to require a buddy that carries the other half. So careful of who your battle buddy is. LOL.. Thanks for the upload. Forgot. If you are using as a lean-to, the army issue poncho will line up with the snaps so you can actually make a simple version of a baker tent. It's cool stuff.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks!

[@Pajoge]

Thanks so much! I just got a 1961 pip tent a few days ago and this helped me set it up for the first time!

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Awesome. It is really pretty easy when you know how to do it...

[@michaelnasser8697]

Damn, that went up slicker than snot on a door knob! Well done! You beat me too it by saying making it a Baker or Whelan setup 😂. Your seamstress did a helluva job fixing that corner too!

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks!

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

That was GREAT! I've seen vids where people have used ridgeline and enough guy line to suspend The Golden Gate Bridge. Your set-up is clean and streamlined. Can't wait to see the rest of your series. 👍

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks! You dont really need much for guy lines...

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival Yep 👍

[@Ikspeelfortnite]

Thank u, i will use your tips when i travel to normandy next week.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Awesome!

[@HuntCreekBushcraft]

Really appreciate finding this video! So helpful and informative. I look forward to watching the rest of your series on the US Military Pup Tent alternate configurations. Best to you from central Indiana.

[@HuntCreekBushcraft]

P.S New subscriber.👍

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks man, I appreciate it!

[@gud2go50]

Very good information! Thanks😊

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks!

[@timothybarker3589]

You're a wizard!!!

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks!

[@billrivenbark8983]

The older section where you made your door looks to have had a repair done. Very professional looking. Wonder if it was done by the military or civilian? Great video. Had me sweating just watching you!

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

You have a sharp eye my friend. Yes, when I got it the corner was torn out. I took it to a local seamstress and she repaired it better than new....

[@miketaylor4591]

Can’t wait for the different pitches

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

I have a lot of different ideas...

[@redsorgum]

Slept under one of these in January 1980 during basic training at fort Sill Oklahoma. We didn’t have a ground sheet, and I don’t remember having any sleeping pad to put the sleeping bag on. 🥶✌️🇺🇸

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

They are great aren't they?

[@SMC84601]

Great video, thanks buddy !👍

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@patpatterson9719]

Outstanding video thank you so much for posting this.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

No problem!

[@johnstevenson9429]

I had the idea of snapping a ridgeline between the double snaps at the top and using prussick loops to stretch the top ridge while securing the ridgeline between trees. This would give extra room inside and eliminate the poles.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

You will love the next video :)

[@brianknight5840]

Really nice slow description video, I have two army pup tents, both with poles that are not in sections, so I stake out one side like you do, then fix one pole in place, then stake out the other side, then lastly the final pole, tent up and correct. Also with this way, as I do, you don’t walk all over the tent canvas and get it muddy, boots off tent, 😅 tent up and ready for inspection, from the camp field marshal 😂😂 all the best..

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks! You can do it a few different ways but for a beginner this is probably the easiest...

[@brianknight5840]

@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival yes your right, nice video…..Brian

[@brianknight5840]

@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival me again, lol, I just worked out how I can do it your way, with my one section poles…..once tent is laid out like your showing, I stake out one side as you say, the I pinch the canvas where the pole piece would go, and GUESS the pole bit length, then drag it over like your showing, same other side, then stake out side, then my full length pole up, same other side, so………..in theory it should be as your one is showing, what you think, …….Brian

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

@@brianknight5840 I think it will work great!

[@miguelboricuapatientlongsu1855]

Happy New Year 🥳🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks, you too!

[@scoot9316]

Great video , great job . Thanks ,Stay safe ..

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks, will do!

[@richardwright6796]

Another great video,i havent used a shelter half since basic training in the late 80's. I forgot how well it is constructed. Actually quite roomy if i recall. Nice piece of gear to have. The one you have is so much better shape than i think ive seen. Great job and keep up the good work. 😊

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks! More to come as soon as the weather gets better lol

[@iamsteverogersakacapamerica041]

I got a new old stock one today from an army vet friend of mine he had two original shelter half sets so each box had five stakes three poles and one shelter half the ground is currently covered in snow where I’m at in the US of A but I can’t wait till spring or may or early June possibly the 6th of June to put it up when the ground isn’t covered in snow and it would also be the 80th anniversary of d-day on the 6th so it would be even cooler to set it up then.

[@simonweber415]

greetings from germany

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Greetings!

[@Yaaqov777]

I was in The Israel Defense Force in the 80's, we were issued those super heavy tent halves. You and your buddy had to carryhalf to make up the thing correctly. Try this folks, be told you have to carry this heavy thing through the Negev Deset in summer, where the temperatures in the shade hit 145°F Enjoyed the walking down memory lane with this video. However, next time try setting it up in a sandy desert environment. Oh, our stakes were made of wood

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Wow, that would be tough in the heat. This one comes in right at about 11lbs with the poles and stakes...

[@Yaaqov777]

I was with the Totchanim unit. This is and was the unit training in the Negev in the Artillery unit. Our job was to protect the borders along with the infantry units. Today, they use drones . Back in the 80's we had no drones. Sleeping next to hot armor vehicles was tough in those days. Now, these kids have portable a/C units. Oh, in your setup, keep in mind, especially desert conditions. We kept both sides of the flaps open. Two of us and our gear had to fit inside. A full pack, ( The Large Alice pack, same as the US Marine Corp was using at that time) usually had about 75lbs of gear. Not including the "C-Rations" Ya, the stuff in the cans. While the USA was switching to K-Rations, we still used the old C-rations. Only good thing out if them, was the cans of peanut butter. We opened them up, best fire starter in the desert during cold nights. Top it off with some camel Dung. You had a pretty good heat source for about 6 hours. Especially inside those little pup tents. Yes they were small for two men and about 150lbs of gear between the two of us. The Negev is pure sandy desert. Nothing grows out there. No bushes, no trees. Hope your next videos on this pup tent is just as good as this one. Just remember, two of us had to live inside for months.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

@@Yaaqov777 I hope that I never have to use this in the desert lol

[@michaelbrunner6654]

Slick way to do it

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks! Works great the first time, every time...

[@iamsteverogersakacapamerica041]

I got a new old stock one today from an army vet friend of mine he had two original shelter half sets so each box had five stakes three poles and one shelter half so I can make a pup tent for reenacting ww2 the ground is currently covered in snow where I’m at in the US of A but I can’t wait till spring or may or early June possibly the 6th of June to put it up when the ground isn’t covered in snow it would also be the 80th anniversary of d-day on the 6th of June so it would be even cooler to set it up then and I can wear my 101st airborne paratrooper uniform while setting it up.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

That is awesome! I will have to remember that and set mine up on that day also...

[@stanleygurski7733]

Somewhere the story went around that during cold weather you could heat the pup tent by lighting a can of Sterno in the tent.Monoxide used to kill 2 soldiers at Ft almost every winter.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

That is not a good idea...

[@stephengalindo6340]

Looks like it's doesnt allow anh light out. Assuming you dam up the bottom and dig a rain trench around it, it would make a nice little radio signal tent

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

You can work it differently to allow more things. Watch for the next videos...

[@JohnH-rd3xy]

Stake out one side....have your buddy hold one pole in place upright. You stake the other corner. Hold second pole upright, stake that corner. Stretch the ends out and stake them. It goes up in literally two mins with a second person. Remember, it's a two man tent. The funky measuring tricks work fine if you're just playing. In actual use, you do it by the book as I said. Stake one side, hold the poles, stake the other side. It should take you two mins.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Yeah but what happens when you are by yourself like I am most of the time lol. If I wasn't filming this I can set it up in two min also...

[@jamesmcgee2447]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Thanks!

[@Rajul_Jamil]

Each soldier gets 1 half, that's why it's called a "Shelter Half" and you build it with a buddy, it's a 2-man tent.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Exactly right. It is a little heavy when you carry both halves...

[@simonweber415]

why the tent pegs orange?

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

They are like that from the factory...

[@kennethwilson8633]

You are missing two stakes and they are for the end ropes…I was issued them so I know…if you are gonna carry two don’t take them apart …I always had a vehicle so I didn’t need to pack them in. Have fun stay safe.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

You are right, I am. But I am going to use different stakes with it so I am not concerned

[@kennethwilson8633]

@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival The reason I said that it makes the poles more secure when the rope is out farther and easier to open the doors…something you will want in hot weather is to open both ends. Have fun stay safe.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

@@kennethwilson8633 I totally agree. I replaced the cotton ropes with longer black paracord and it works so much better...

[@rquest3059]

I was in the army in the early 80s. The tent always had condensation inside and would leak on anything that touched it. Squad tents were much better.

[@gijr2003]

I used a Uco candle lantern to fix that problem.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

It is not waterproof and will definitely leak.

[@billrivenbark8983]

I water proofed mine. Yes, they do condensate but if yo leave the top snaps on each end undone and insert a stick on each opening to j keep it open in non rainy weather it’ll it be as bad.

[@billrivenbark8983]

It won’t be as bad.

[@BarToutdoors3303]

Hey Matt, update on my handle Bar T outdoors 3303, formally rickeytimms outdoors 3303.

[@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival]

Got ya. Re subbed