Hello, Just bought a Relum Bungalow 4 Frame Tent - around 10 years old. There are no instructions with it and I do not have a clue how to do this! Is anyone able to help with instructions please? Many thanks in anticipation ..... We are going camping on Friday ... I hope!
------------- Ellie
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Is it like one of these?.
This will help in getting it sorted.
Can you sort out the legs from the other poles? you will see the poles are spring linked.
Is it the frame the problem?
Hi Carole, Thanks for replying. The link which you posted, is seems to have an error and just takes me back to the messages! I also posted help under Relum 4 Bungalow 4 help needed, to be specific, but no-one seems to have instructions!
have you put up a frame tent before ? or there a specific thing about this tent that needs guidance ?
I am guessing quite a bit of pitching is generic and other bits might be specific. Our Cabanon is logical enough without need for instructions - this is our sequence
empty pole bag and build up the frame BUT leave what will be the wall poles incomplete so you end up with a half height tent
generally speaking the front, back and midlde of the tent frame have some obvious differences -in ours the rear is all smooth while the front has little sticky out bits
once you figure the front of the frame then go to the back with the canvas and unroll/spread out so you get it roughly right - if it is windy peg some upwind guys to keep it in control
now you have to lift one side of the tent and insert the leg poles to get to full height - almost certainly do side walls not front/back or you risk bending the frame. Common sense will help
we then peg corner rubbers and guys, then canvas seam rubbers then finish. If you have any fiddly kitchen poles they go in once the frame is up and before rubbers
take your time and have a couple of helpers and it should make sense
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Thanks Carole and Littleskink. The link works now Carole and that will be helpful. Littleskink ..... I have never owned nor assembled a frame tent before, so all new to me. Your guide will be useful and I will print it out. I have only just got home and so not tried yet. Tuesday morning I will be trying and anyhow have to air the tent out and whilst that is happening, I will be fiddling with the frame. It looks daunting to me .... but hey I'll try.
Where do you live Ellie? There are many frame tent owners on this site who would love to help you out with it.
I'm in cheddar so if you are anywhere near me I'll happily help you put it together. I can then get my canvas fix without having to go away.
I love puzzling out old frame tent structures.
Emma
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
I bet you get it sorted tomorrow Ellie, just needs some time and a glass of wine perhaps. Have you got some coloured tapes to mark the poles if needed? I got a pack of different colours from Poundland a while ago for this purpose.
Good luck and hope to see some pics!
------------- (Quechua popup addict!)
Planned for next year, hopefully!
Summer Solstice wild camp.
Chilled in a Field, July.
Crantock, August. Fouth year with the fantastic Quechua Base Seconds 4.2!
..... and the odd night wild camping in my Argos 1 man tent...
Okay, thanks for your confidence Finnboy. I like your optimism! I see that you live in Kent. We are going to the Hop Farm,close to Paddock Wood, for our annual Home Education Camp - HESFES. Thanks also for your reminder about the coloured tape and the suggestion of the Pound Shop - that is where I will head firs then. Do you really have a Peace Tepee?
Hiya, I know the hop farm, fairly local to me. I live in Rochester.
Yes, I bought the teepee in the sales last year. I'm afraid to say I have around 7 tents at the moment. Most are 1 or 2 man though. The teepee is a fun weekender tent for myself and my lad.
Will be using the Quechua 4.2 for this years main holiday in Cornwall though.
------------- (Quechua popup addict!)
Planned for next year, hopefully!
Summer Solstice wild camp.
Chilled in a Field, July.
Crantock, August. Fouth year with the fantastic Quechua Base Seconds 4.2!
..... and the odd night wild camping in my Argos 1 man tent...
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
I like that Quechua 4.2. I took a look and it is a doddle to put up. My 16 year old son has the small one with the porch and now that he has got the knack of how to fold it, he can do it very easily. If I cannot get to grips with the Relum, then I will try to sell it on ebay - paid £50 for it - and buy a Quechua 4.2. Don't the bugs get in though, with no fixed groundsheet? I love Teepees and we usually have a few at our camp. They are like tardis and some I have seen even have wood burning stoves in them. Very nice to camp in, but not to put up!
Can't say much about bugs in the 4.2 yet, as its yet to be "pitched in anger".... however the bathtub groundsheet velcro's to the living area and the bedrooms are sealed off.... so I reckon it will be not much different to a tent with a sig.
However it has the benifit of not needing a footprint groundsheet or anything. Plus the bathtub groundsheet makes the pitching much easier as it marks out on the ground exactly where everything goes. Superb compromise, giving you almost the best of all worlds.
Yes, I do love the 4.2 I must confess, I love simple, elegant design and this is such a good example!
Together with the Base Seconds I will dock to it when needed, it is really versatile.
Don't give up on the Relum though, fabric tents will be much nicer in a heatwave amongst other positives... and I just feel it in my bones that we are going to have a proper Summer this year!
------------- (Quechua popup addict!)
Planned for next year, hopefully!
Summer Solstice wild camp.
Chilled in a Field, July.
Crantock, August. Fouth year with the fantastic Quechua Base Seconds 4.2!
..... and the odd night wild camping in my Argos 1 man tent...
well, I'll say one thing the tent poles on the Bungalow are sturdy - but I am not finding the puzzle easy and so far have made a note of all the poles and their shape! Tried putting some pieces together, but it just doesn't look right. Some poles are marked with "front" - too many of them for my liking and some have numbers on them. But this is no help to me. I think that I will need to take it apart and start again! Oy vey! some pieces are obvious, like the ones with rubber feet at the end must stand on the ground. Likewise the ones with spikes at the end, must be for the front porch, so I can eliminate them. This is what I have:
1 x central spindle with holes
2 x long poles with pin and A fraame at the end
2 x long straight poles hinged and one with a T at the end
2 x A shaped poles with a short piece at the back
1 x small T with a spindle at the back and 3 holes in each piece
2 x long hinged poles with short metal bit sticking out of the elbow
2 x short poles with clip on one end and paddle shape with hole at the other end
1 x longer pole with paddle shape at both ends and a hole
6 long poles with rubber feet
2 x long hinged poles with rubber feet one end and spike at the other
Sorry to be so dumb! Does all this mean anything to anyone?
Hi, We have aRelum Canaria 4. don't know what the Bungalow looks like but going by the description of the poles you have I don't think it's too disimilar. Here is hhow I do it:
Put frame together, but only so it is on its “knees”. This should be relatively straightforward even the first time. If confused, start with the back corners these are the “rounded” ones. Then identify the front ones these are the ones with three holes to assist with tensioning the canvas after the tent is up. (Good idea then to colour code the poles with some coloured tape for future ref) Put the canvas onto the centre of the frame and unfurl, making sure the front is at the front and the kitchen extension is on the left as you look at the tent from the front. When taking the tent down, lower frame to "kneeling" position then best way is to fold front and back of canvas to centre then one side to centre followed by the other and then fold again into centre so whole of canvas is sitting along centre pole. Lift off and fold/roll up. This will help you when you next pitch the tent, simply reverse procedure. Put the short canopy poles into place at the front of the tent remembering to slip the plastic coated ends into the sleeves on the canvas. Then raise tent to full height by inserting bottom of legs. Suggest doing back 2 first followed by front 2. Guy the four corners loosely now. The wind can get up very quickly and a tent canvas can make a very effective kite! Assemble the kitchen extension. Easier than it looks and sounds here. You have five poles 2 with spikes, 2 bent ones with a flat at one end and a clip at the other and 1 which is extendable with flats at each end. Start by putting a spiked pole through the hole in the flat at one end of the extendable pole. Next add a bent pole by putting the spike through its hole (the bent pole should curve upwards towards the tent frame) Put the spike through the hole in the canvas at the corner of the kitchen and fasten the clip to the main tent pole above your head. Repeat the procedure at the other end and adjust the tension with the extendable pole and the pop out studs on the bent poles. Adjust the canvas by using the pop out studs at the front at roof height. (canvas should fit snugly at corner both ends) Peg down the outer tent (make sure the tent door is closed as may not zip shut afterwards if you don’t) Lay groundsheet if you are using one (recommend sheet of some description under sleeping pod to protect sewn in ground sheet from muck and moisture. This will make packing away much easier. A cheap £7-8 tarp will suffice) Clip sleeping pod to frame ( goes front to back on right hand side facing the kitchen extension) Fit those truly remarkable curtains. Put the kettle on you deserve a cuppa.
Hope this makes sense just remember it's for a Canaria so might vary a bit from yours. BTW Relums are great tents. We use ours for weekends and just love it.
Happy Camping
Bert.
------------- If you think you can, or you think you can't.......you're probably right!
I've been puzzling over this for a while, i'd say the 6 long poles with rubber feet will be the legs & front porch poles. The 2x short poles with clip on one end and paddle shape with hole at other end will fasten onto the side roof pole to help form the push out kitchen area, the 1x longer pole with paddle shape at both ends and a hole will go across these, supported by the 2x long hinged poles with rubber feet one end and spike at the other.
I hope that makes sense. I'm struggling to picture some of the other poles from your description, i'm assuming by hinged you mean the springs that hold them together? Is there any chance you could put them together laid on the ground and post a picture, i'm sure it would be easy to explain it then.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Frame Tent Help Needed please!!!
