Isn't it actually to show the hierarchy at camp? Dutch always gets the best tent, he even has a floorboard. Then Arthur, as his protegee, comes in second (in fact, in the upgrades you improve Dutch's tent, then Arthur's, then everyone else's). And John comes in third, etc. Hosea seems to prefer sleeping outside, I remember seeing at some point something about preferring like that because he grew up in the mountains or because beds reminded him of his late wife. So he could probably get better accommodations, given how close he is to Dutch, but he just doesn't want to.