Quote: Originally posted by zivadog on 05/1/2014
they broke up,they were on the airbeam when i bought it in september
Thanks, zivadog. Appreciate your feedback.
Are you considering a mention to Vango/the seller, or are you putting it down to freak weather/exceptional circumstances and letting it pass?
Is it really necessary to have sliders at all? Although I have the 3 hole sliders on my guys they don't slide very easily and I rarely need to adjust the guy tensions anyway. When I first erect the tent I make the guy line taut and peg it.
I think the only time I use the sliders is if I need to make a guy rope shorter or longer at the time of pitching due to the slope of the pitch or something. Normally they always stay the same length.
Zivadog I'm with Mucker and would contact Vango and inform them of your experience. I've never heard of Line Loks exploding .....but I don't have any friends or get out much. Did a quick google but could not find anything.
Bob61 I'm with you on are they "necessary" ... However they do make it easier to adjust and are less likely to lose tension (unless they explode).
My thoughts are that it is much easier to knock your peg in, then attach your guyline to it, before adjusting accordingly, than to wrap your ("fixed length")guyline around the peg then attempting to keep the correct tautness (Is that a word?) whilst whacking the peg in!!
That aside, however, the main reason for having the ability to adjust mid-camp is that your tent is a different size when cold and wet, than it is when dry, light, and fluffy!!
My line loks are purported to remain in the same position, so I'm under the impression (rightly or wrongly) that they don't inadvertently slide (and slacken off the guys), even in windy conditions. Yet, I have found, on occasion, that my lines have slackened, to varying degrees, at various times. If the weather stays constant, then less so, admittedly. But if it goes from warm/sunny/calm to cooler/wetter/windier, (or vice versa?), those guys may well need adjusting. From what little info I've picked up on these forums (on this subject), it seems contraction/expansion (of the tent) is the culprit. I can only believe what I have read (as I always do... without fail!!), but have no desire to believe otherwise! Also, I'd guess the bigger the tent, the bigger these differences?
So yes, I'd say it is necessary to have sliders... or at the very least, have some ability to adjust the guy lines, as and when deemed necessary. At present, the best option I am aware of, imo, are the Clam Cleat Line-Loks... although I am, as always, open to persuasion!
For the above reasons, when it comes to sliders on your guy lines, I'M IN!!
Zivadog emailed clamcleat about your "exploding" problem (probably too many brussel sprouts over Christmas) and advised them of this post. Assuming they are the Line Lok cleats supplied by them they may look into this for you....?
Blimey Mucker you could just have typed "I believe in Line Loks" ....
Blimey that was quick....email reply from Clamcleat:
Hi Andy
Thank you, Vango use a different cleat to the one we sell on our website you will be fine with the cleats bought directly from us, they are a toughened material suitable for low temperatures, they will not fail in the way described in the post.
Robins Tents are currently using a copy cleat, we are in negotiations with them at present.
I will arrange a meeting with our team and let them know about the post, so we that can keep an eye on it
Please let me know your address and I will arrange to send you the cleats.
Best Regards,
So there you go, buy genuine parts and you should be ok.
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 06/1/2014
My thoughts are that it is much easier to knock your peg in, then attach your guyline to it, before adjusting accordingly, than to wrap your ("fixed length")guyline around the peg then attempting to keep the correct tautness (Is that a word?) whilst whacking the peg in!!
That aside, however, the main reason for having the ability to adjust mid-camp is that your tent is a different size when cold and wet, than it is when dry, light, and fluffy!!
If you are using the wire type tent pegs which have to be hammered right into the ground otherwise they will spin round and discharge the guy rope, you will not be able to attach the guy afterwards. In fact, most pegs need to be hammered right into the ground so unless you have rubber slip rings on the guy where it joins the peg you will have great difficulty in adjusting it anyway.
It is true that tents will 'sag' when wet and the older they are, if the outer silicon has worn off and the material is retaining moisture, the more they will sag. However, trying to prevent that by adjusting the guys will put immense strain on guys and guy points I would imagine. Although it is suggested that guys are adjusted regularly I very much doubt that anyone does more than check that the pegs are still in place occasionally and the guys are as taut as they like them to be.
Bob,
I couldn't be bothered to write "part knock peg in.... attach guy line... then fully knock in etc, etc..... I took that as a given! :-)
I think mine (polycotton) do retain water when wet, and do sag... at which point, (following advice gleaned from this very forum) I adjust (rightly or wrongly) the sliders.... albeit, it's usually minimal adjustment.
The trouble with this camping malarkey, if there is any "trouble", is that there seems to be a very fine line between right, wrong, and personal preference.
I'm the first to admit that in the short 18 months I have been a campist, and thus a member on here, I have quite literally learned something new each day... but I sometimes wonder "who to believe"!
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 06/1/2014
Bob,
I couldn't be bothered to write "part knock peg in.... attach guy line... then fully knock in etc, etc..... I took that as a given! :-)
I think mine (polycotton) do retain water when wet, and do sag... at which point, (following advice gleaned from this very forum) I adjust (rightly or wrongly) the sliders.... albeit, it's usually minimal adjustment.
The trouble with this camping malarkey, if there is any "trouble", is that there seems to be a very fine line between right, wrong, and personal preference.
I'm the first to admit that in the short 18 months I have been a campist, and thus a member on here, I have quite literally learned something new each day... but I sometimes wonder "who to believe"!
Ok...well my only other comment re knocking the peg in before you attach the guy line is that the guy line connecting points...usually triangular in shape, are sewn in at a specific angle and the guyline should follow that angle. In which case, how do you judge where to position the peg if the guy line isn't attached to it?
I think you have hit the nail on the head when you say there is a fine line between right and wrong and personal preference. After camping for a number of years you develop your own way of doing things based on experience and whatever advice you may read on this forum and other places. If the methods you use have worked successfully, you are unlikely to change those methods just because somebody else suggests doing it a different way.
On the other side of the coin, one can only pass on ones personal experiences and if it helps somebody then all well and good.
Quote: Originally posted by Frog on 06/1/2014
I always wrap the guys around the exposed poles on my tent, it reduces the fly sheet flapping around seems to make the whole thing more stable.
Thanks - With the poles so close to the flysheet (meaning that the guylines will wrap around the poles in the same alignment as the angled tab - which is therefore not a concern), I am certainly going to try it next time we pitch the relevant tents.
In terms of the other discussion in this thread, I've never had a problem with the standard Vango sliders (2009-2010 vintage)(not the new line-lok versions). In fact they've proven very good and hold firm more than others. We also use the extend out, peg and adjust method of guying, so value their presence.
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Topic: Wrap guylines around poles before pegging
