1
Assembly Instructions
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
TIME: One day can be sufficient; you may have to do some steps again.
PLACE: Look at the sun, watch the shade and feel the wind. Imagine a storm and think
about where the most protected place is. Level the ground and eliminate all stones and roots.
Flatten the ground as much as possible with a shovel. You need an area with the shape of a
circle. For a 4m (13,12ft) teepee draw a circle with radius 3m (9.84ft), 5m (16.4ft) teepee
circle with radius 3.5 m (11.5ft), 6 m(19.7ft) teepee circle with radius 4m(13,12ft).
MATERIAL:
for the teepee:
• 9, 11, 13 or 15 smooth, straight, thin but strong poles. They must be at least 1m longer than
the teepee. 2 light and flexible poles for the smoke flaps.
• A thick rope that is twice as Long as the teepee size: 3m (9.84ft) teepee 6m (19.69ft)rope,
4m (13.12ft) teepee 8m (26,25ft)rope, 5m (16,4ft) teepee10m (32,81ft)rope
• 25m (82ft) to 35m (115ft) thinner but strong rope for the pegs and for the smoke flaps; per
loop 1mrope(3.2ft) + 10m rope(32,80ft) for the smoke flaps
• 10 to 30 pegs, depending on the size of the teepee, count the loops on the boundary
• 5 to13 smooth wooden stick with the length of 20 cm (8in) for closing the teepee, belonging
to the buttonholes. The thickness of the sticks should be like a finger.
• a shovel to dig the water ditch around the teepee
• a hammer or an ax to knock the pegs into the ground
• At least 2 people; for a teepee with 6m (20ft) to 7m (23ft) length at least 3 people
Inner tent, liner:
• 15m (49.21ft) to 20m (65ft) long rope to hang the inner tent up
• per loop1m (3,2ft) rope
• Possibly extra pegs
2
LET`S START
1. UNFOLDING THE TEEPEE
If you've found the place, spread the teepee on the ground. Watch out for sharp rocks and
thorns.
Draw a line along the buttonholes and mark the center of the tipi.
line
center
Measure the pole-crossing-point. The thickness of the poles becomes here important. The
thicker the poles, the bigger the distance to the center must be. The distance can be up to
40cm.
center
3
2. TRIPOT, THE BASIC FRAMEWORK
Put the three strongest poles on the teepee and mark the pole-cross-point on poles.
center
Pole-cross-point
Note the distance to boundary
There are three possibilities:
1. Teepee touches the ground
2. Teepee is 15cm (6 in) above ground
3. Teepee is 30cm (11.8 in) above ground
poles
teepee
4
The knot: I special note here, that the level of the knot and the position of the poles are
fundamental for the standing shape of the teepee! It is possible that you have to change this
knot again to get a good result. When you lay the poles on the teepee watch the distance
from the center to the rear-lower end and the distance from the center along the buttonholes
line! Depending on the teepee design you will find differences.
Put the three strongest and thickest poles, as shown below, side by side. Tie the rope on the
marked crossing-point once above and once below the poles. Repeat this procedure three
times and then make a tight knot. Use aprox.1.5m (4.9ft) rope for the knot and let the other
end hang down during the setting up. To keep the knot on its place hammer a nail under the
knot and bend it up.
Marked crossing point
1.5m (60 cn)
long end of rope
When the poles are placed, the knot will be pulled tightly together.
It can squeak a bit when you move the poles. If you make the knot wet, the knot will hold
stronger.
If you use a rain catcher with rubber straps, put the straps on the poles now. They should be
just below the knob of the poles. Later, when the teepee stands you have to straighten the
straps again. Use either a ladder or a second person who stands on your shoulders. The rain
catcher attache 20cm (7.9in) below the node at the tripod.
5
Now raise the tripod and place it in a triangle on the spot where you want to have the teepee.
Notice how the three poles are placed. Each one must be above the other.
Place for 2.doorpole
pole
door
RIGHT
FALSE
Place for liftingpole (see page 7)
To mark the final position of the teepee put a peg in
the center of the teepee. You can find the center by
the down hanging rope of the tripod. Tie the rope
around the peg and draw a circle with it. The radius of
this circle is half the teepee - size e.g.: a 4m (13.12ft)
teepee has a base radius of 2m (6.5ft)
When adjusting the poles, lift only one pole at the
time... Otherwise it may happen that everything falls
down!
rope
center
circel
6
2. SETTING THE POLES
Select the three thinnest poles and put them on the side. You need them for the smoke flaps
and the lifting pole. Lean the other poles, as shown below, in the following order to the crow's
nest (top of the teepee): Put the poles as close as possible to the knot, because the closer
they are together, the less rain can get in. Place the lower end of the poles a bit inside of the
circle you marked before. Like this it will be easier to close the teepee fabric. Later, the poles
will be pushed back from the inside outwards to tighten the teepee more.
door
Place for lifting pole (see page 7)
It is important to keep the space for the lifting pole, which is in a line exact opposite the door.
Take the down hanging rope and go with it 4 times
around the teepee and pull it securely. At this point,
people like to make a good wish, prayer or spell,...
7
3.
LIFTING POLE and LIFTING THE TEEPEE COVER
Tie the lifting pole to the inside of the teepee and curl it. The smokeflap pockets and the
loops for the pegs are on the outside. Do not forget to tie two ropes of 5m (16.4ft) to the
bottom corners of the smoke flaps!
rope
pocket
Place the lifting pole opposite the door to the teepee and open it. Pay attention to the wind.
teepee tied on lifting pole
inside
peg
outside
loop
Close the button holes from top to bottom. Maybe
you need a ladder, a chair or a second person´s
shoulder. Notice the interior and exterior of the button
holes. Now push the poles individually and carefully
from the inside out. Do it in circles. Pull the 1m (3,2ft)
teepee long cords through the straps and tie them down on
the pegs. Place the first pegs to the left and right of
the door, then place the pegs at the very back of the
teepee. Make sure to tie the teepee on the pegs. If
you don’t do quickly and strongly, the next wind will blow it down!
8
4. SMOKE FLAP POLES
Take the two most flexible poles. The best smoke flap poles are bamboo poles, light and
flexible. Be sure they are not too heavy, otherwise they will pull the flaps down and the fabric
will tear with time. If you have pockets on the upper corners of the smoke flaps, wrap a cloth
around the tips of the smoke flaps poles, as not to hurt the pockets. When the teepee is set
up properly, measure the distance of the tripod and write the measurements on the tarp or on
the poles. The setting up will be easier next time.
5. INNER LINER
Fit on the door pole a ca.120cm (47.2 inch) above the ground one end of the 15m (49.2ft)
long rope. Wrap it around the poles.
rope
poles
Take one end of the inner tent and tie it firmly to the rope. Start at the door. Span the
beginning of the inner liner over the door (seen from the inside: from left to right edge of the
door)Tie the strings of the inner tent one by one on the 15m long rope that you warped
around the poles. Keep on doing this in a circle until you reach the beginning.
6. TIPPS AND TRICKS
Make the ditch before the first rain. Roll the lower end of the teepee up to avoid damage
during the work. Dig the ditch just below the end of the teepee.
teepee
pole
rain
trench
9
sun umbrella
strings
Smoke flap pole
In order to prevent a drop of rain in
the teepee, you can put an old sun
umbrella like a hat on top. It is
possible that the water runs down
and along the poles. Smooth poles
are of great advantage, because the
drops can trickle down and drop not
so easy on the bed.
To prevent a dripping at the rope of
the inner liner, you can either stuck
small sticks to the sides of the rope or
make a crack in the wood. When the
first drops trickle down, take your
finger and draw a line down on the
wooden pole. You give the water the
passing by direction.
When the wind blows strongly, it is necessary to
anchor the teepee. Take the rope, which you
used for tying the poles, and tie it at two crossed
wooden pegs beaten into the ground. The rope
can be either next to the firer on the side.
2 wooden pegs