Earlier this year (thanks to this site) I became the proud owner of a Raclet Iris/Sprinter.
Now, having finally got round to doing a test pitch it looks like my camping will never be the same again (sadly, I had a little kip on the mattress from it, in the house - lovely stuff!). Only thing that stood out was the legs, they're looking a bit tired and all bar one is missing the feet. I know that in the past Jam Jar lids screwed to a bit of wood have been suggested as replacement stands but I have no jam and it's unlikely that I can eat sufficient to furnish me with 4 x Lids in the 3 weeks before Glastonbury! Is there an alternative, can you buy replacements or approximations thereof?
Second question, I'm planning the first proper full pitching this weekend, I know I've left it very late so, with that in mind I am looking for awning tips! Seems pretty straight forward from the instructions, though they've seen better days (I did go on the owners club webiste but the page for instructions was down/had gone). I'm rambling now, but assuming it's basically putting up a giant gazebo, then zipping it to the tent in some way? Is that right?
Thanks all, apologies for rambling, I just star typing and can' stop:-)
Two bits of wood, one with circular hole sawn out, screwed together. Basically it's just to stop the leg skittering off the lower piece when you roll over in bed. You can buy leg pads in the camping shops for a fiver or so for four. But a cheaper alternative is to go to Tesco and buy four jars of something like their Value curry sauce at 8p a jar and pour the sauce down the drain. Or go raking in your neighbour's recycling box?
Have not tried it yet but I have been told that the easiest way to put the awning up is to zip it to the TT then throw it over the roof, then assemble the awning poles and pull the cover out over the poles, adjusting the height etc as you go. I will be trying this in a few weeks on our test pitch.
The manual tells you to do as Stuart33 suggests, zip it on and throw it over the TT, and that's definitely much easier than trying to pull the canvas up&over and zip it on while the poles are in place, as we did on our first outing without the benefit of a manual.
Put the awning frame up with the legs down, then just slide the canvas back across the TT, pull it down over the frame, then lift and adjust, ensuring the poles line up witrh the reinforced sections of canvas.
Sounds easy doesn't it? It probably is if most of the springs aren't broken or stretched like ours are....
Anyway, I will offer one word of warning. I assume yours has steel poles with adjustable aluminium slides? When taking the tent down, be very careful. The simple thing to do is just slacken the legs off and let the awning go down under it's own weight. But the legs are aplayed out, so it doesn't go far before stopping as the canvas goes tight around the poles. The temptation is to go "oh, of course the legs want to come in", and grab the bit nearest the ground to pull it in.
DONT.
Grab the bit above the slider otherwise the steel pole will drop like a stone with and grab that delicate piece of skin twixt thumb and index finger. It hurts. I've managed to do this on both occasions we've had ours out this year, I'll learn someday...
So, the test pitch went pretty well. Took about 1 hour to get the tent and awning up. Did hit one problem that I hope a Raclet owning forum member may be able to assist with.
The Kitchen bit. There's a "sticky-out" bit at the side. I'm calling this the kitchen. Initially I thought it was a doddle to put up. There was a hole with a brass eyelet in each corner of the "roof". I had two poles with a spike on top and a pole to connect them. That went well, after that I had no idea how to proceed? There were short poles with a clip on either end that looked like they belonged, a few longer poles and an "elbow".
If anyone has any idea how it goes together I'd love to her from you! Outside of that I'm still trying to work out where all the linings and curtains go, but feel they are less important than the kitchen at present!
the short poles are to connect the outer part of the kitchen to the main part the elbow pole is for the hanging rail is clips in the same place as the short poles.and do the longer ones have a c hook on one end?if so they are legs.
Ah, yes, just went through the same thing myself this weekend. Decided the 3 shorter slide poles go from ridge pole ( the one between the spiked poles) to the main frame. One goes each end of the area and the other runs beside the kitchen roof plastic skylight - if that makes sense. This is because when you hang the lining (much easier than I expected) a bit goes along that 'middle' pole to section off an area to use either as a loo cubicle or wardrobe. The bent thingy is a wardrobe hanging rail and goes in the wardrobe area, hanging from the kitchen ridge pole to the main frame pole. Hope that helps!
This particular diagram is not relevant to our particular tent because our's doesn't have the protruding kitchen section but we used to have a Sprinter and this is the way I remember it fitting together so I think it might be what you need. Sorry the labels are all in French.
From the diagram, I'm pretty sure that the short poles with clips on each end support the roof of the kitchen section and attach between it and the main awning frame poles.
I think the elbow pole is an optional thing you can use if you decide to use the wardrobe section (if you have one) to hang clothes from instead of using it to place a chemical toilet in.
Hope this helps.
Added later... I see someone else beat me to it with a much more concise reply lol!
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Topic: Feet, test pitching and awmings
