What is the point of having a tarp under a tent?l would think its to protect the bottom of the tent for sticks ...rocks and stuff like that.But l check and clear the land before setting up my tent.

Humm just wonderingif you have a tarp underneath the tent..does it help the bottom from getting dew on it?

It is mainly to keep you from getting wet.

you answered your own question lol its all about the sticks rocks and dew

You r correct on both reasons.

As a moisture barrier/ground cloth. Cut/fold the tarp to the same size as the bottom of ur tent. You do not want water running off ur tent is fly cover & onto the ground cloth. The moisture will get trapped between the ground cloth & the bottom of ur tent, u do not want that.

It also helps protect the bottom of ur tent from any pointy/sharp stuff laying on the ground. And helps protect ur tent from abrasion (from tossing & turning bodies) from the ground.

All the r correct - basically to protect the tent.

But the trick is to not make the tarp under the tent any larger than the actual foot print of the tent. If u just lay out a huge blue tarp to put ur tent on then it rains, all the water that lands on the tarp will run under the tent.not a good thing. If u do not buy the actual tent footprint which r usually available for most good quality tents, u can set it up on a tarp & trace the base then cut the piece out & you're all set.

keeps any frost or anything that forms overnight from coming through the bottom of the tent. Also is it rains it will help water go under the tent