We're going for first camp of the year, it's going to be cold and windy and raining - argh! And the campsite is quite exposed. Our Vango Icarus has tension band system for windy weather, but when we did a practise pitch I couldn't really figure out how it worked. Does anyone else have it? What do we do and when?
And what's the best way to peg a tent in windy weather when we haven't bought delta ground anchors and wouldn't receive them in time before our camp doh - should have bought them! Should we put lots of pegs in at each point facing in different directions???
I've only ever camped in the south of France, where I used to live, and it's the first camp ever for my husband and 3 yo son and it's starting to sound a bit scarey on the weather forecast...
Check the weather forecast for the wind direction and likely changes, attempting to pitch so the likely wind direction is into the end away from the door. Look for any additional windbreaking you can achieve, e.g. with your car.
The TBS is quite straightforward - the triangles formed by the tension bands make the arch of the pole more rigid, especially if the wind changes and hits the tunnel at the side. It's just a matter of clipping the TBS straps to the buckles at the top of the tent and adjusting like you would a rucksack strap. They should not be so tight that they deform the poles - only just tensioned. Unless they are in the way, there's no harm in always connecting the TBS.
For pegging, it depends also on the ground. If it's relatively soft, T-section plastic pegs will do a good job. If you are forced to use rock pegs, double pegging is a good idea on the main guys. Instead of inserting the peg at 45* to the ground and pointing at the pole, you use two pegs, 45* to the ground but crossed over - making an X as you knock them in.
Don't overtighten guys. You want support - just taut - rather than the whole thing being too tight. Try and get everything on the tent nice and square and tidy when you pitch. Guys at 45* to the ground, in line with their seams or poles.
If the worst comes to the worst, the most likely failures are snapped pole sections and snapped guys, so it's good to be prepared with spares and know how to reassemble a pole.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine. My Tigris deals reasonably well with windy conditions if it's pitched well.
Our Orchy doesn't have Vango's TBS, but my understanding of the system is that the 2 straps (when needed) are connected from the roof to clips at each side, internally, thereby adding extra rigidity in adverse conditions.
If you've no instructions, Vango's site might help, or another Vango/TBS user. Apologies if my understanding isn't right.
In the absence of delta's, cross pegging at each point will help. Certainly use every guyline/pegging point, and if you can, pitch bum end to the prevailing wind.
If you're really concerned, sometimes it's best to not risk it. It's disappointing I know, but as it's your first camp it might be best to fight another day.
The wind is going to spin around according to the forecast, so that will be tricky. We'll be pitching Sat afternoon when the wind will still be southerly and not as strong. Then the forecast is for the wind to change 180 degrees to a Nor'northeasterly gusting up to 43mph. I'm really hoping the forecast is wrong... Of course if it all goes disastrously wrong, we'll only be an hour's drive from the in-laws who would take us in. My husband is really keen to go and stick it out. But then he's never camped before!
So ... a dilemma! (Or should that be a trilemma) Door to the south, north or east?
No shame in calling it off if you don't feel comfortable. Windspeeds of 30mph and gusts above 40mph are about the limit of what most people would recommend for a family tent.
If you are going to brave it, there's also the option of taking extra guylines and increasing the support on the poles. It's difficult to say how without seeing the tent, but sometimes you can double up if there are suitable points on the flysheet. In that case, you'd peg the two guys in a V equidistant from the seam/pole.
Forecast wind speeds are generalised and dependent on local topography so they are only "should I, shouldn't I" guide. It may end up relatively calm, or it may turn out blustery. Certainly a lot of the time the wind drops at night. But nothing is certain.
There's a danger it might put him off for life - if it's possible go and have a weekend with the inlaws and if they have room in their garden, and you're really determined to camp - pitch there instead
We took our Icarus 400 to Wensleydale last August, and caught the end of the tornado that had previously hit the West Indies. To say it was windy would be an understatemnt.
We pitched with a dry stone wall behind us, and used the car in front of the tent as a windbreaker. That said, the tent did take an enormous buffeting and I was seriously worried it would collapse at one point.
It didnt. We had the TBS tensioned, and I regularly checked the guys etc, but they never needed repegging. However what was most worrying was the sheer movement and flex of the tent and poles and the associated noise.
Where are you going? Could you find a more sheltered site, or a pitch on the site that is more sheltered?
Don't worry too much, our Icarus did withstand significant winds, although it wasn't a very pleasant experience!
I camped up on a very exposed hill in Buxton a few years back - it was very windy with some bad gusts! My Vango tunnel tent (with TBS) held out fantastically! We saw some other tents damaged, even trashed by the wind (pays to buy a good quality tent). The tent was wobbling a fair bit, so we strapped the TBS and it held the poles much firmer/tighter and reduced the amount of movement on the tent from the wind it was reassuring and i relaxed more - definately works!
Just my opinion, but unless the forecast was atrocious, with weather warnings etc - i would go... half the time they get it wrong and with the amount of wet/windy/cool days we have, if you let the weather stop you each time - your going to have more disappointments than fun memories - in Buxton, we were cold and it rained alot, tent got quite muddy - a few times i thought i wanted to come home, but stuck it out and im so glad i did now - it was a very good learning curve too. Coming home is always an option if you are not enjoying it - but the TBS (and vango tents generally) Are very reliable in wind/rain.
We've packed the car. We're going tomorrow morning. And if it all goes belly-up we're going to head for the out-laws! But the forecast is actually improving every time I check it. Maybe we'll get lucky...
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Topic: Tent in the wind and vango TBS?
doh - should have bought them! Should we put lots of pegs in at each point facing in different directions??? 
Door to the south, north or east?
