Hi andrew we have a Colorado 8 tunnel tent and 4 days into our stay near weymouth last year, during fairly heavy winds and rain,the tent was blown to one side and it tore right across the back.The tent was well pegged down and we dont understand how such a strong material could give way so easily.We had to pack up and load the trailer in the pouring rain and were thoughouly peed off.
Contacted Outwell last year and we were told that we could purchase a new fly sheet for half the cost of a complete tent.The fact its a tunnel tent still worries me though!
I have also had a tunnel tent disaster in Wales 18 months ago.
Although I must say that the front end of the storm that hit us flipped a trailer tent and picked up a camper on the nearby causeway. So really my Sunncamp Haven 6 came off quite lightly with 2 broken poles and a small tear.
I am very pleased to be getting the new poles, but there is still a bit of me that suspects the longer the tunnel, the more susceptible it may be to sideways forces. When the wind blows on the end of the tent the fabric itself acts in the same way as a guy rope, and the poles forming the end arch experience compression. But when wind blows sideways the fabric does not contribute to the structural stability, and one is relying on the guy rope, and the strength of the arch itself. And the poles are being stressed laterally, rather than being compressed.
As we sat in the tent we noticed that the wind was forcing the arch sideways, and when it eventually gave way it was the middle pole, as one might have predicted. Stronger poles will obviously help, but when the wind blows very hard I suspect they will still be the weak point.
I will still buy a wind break if we do try again! Once bitten, twice shy.
I have, by the way, been back to the campsite to pick up the tent with my father, and when the new poles arrive will erect it in the garden to dry.
I wonder if this is actually a flaw with the Montana design?
Outwell use a rigid frame system where the poles are not designed to flex. Most tunnel tents use a more flexible design and I guess the tent moves along with the guys taking the strain. I assume in contrast the Outwell poles have to give way before the guys really have a part to play. Perhaps tighter guys on this design would take the strain earlier?
Of course I could be totally wrongs as this is just theory as whilst being the proud owner of 2 Montanas (a 12 and a 4) I have yet to christen them.
The Montanas will move in the wind. The poles dont flex, but there is enough movement in the design to handle the strongest of winds. With the modified poles ( or the 2006 poles ), you are talking about a wind that has to be extremely strong to break one ( not impossible though ). I used to have the fibreglass poles before, and although they do flex, they very easily break. I have got through numerous fibreglass poles in my time, I have even had them break just by erecting the tent ( my fault, but very easily done ). There was a flaw in some of the early Montana poles and they did split easily. The new poles are not far off double the weight of the original poles and a lot stronger. I heard from somewhere that the new poles are concrete reinforced.
It doesn't matter what the make of tent, you will find someone somewhere that has had one come down, especially given enough wind. The bigger the tent the more prone it will be to trapping the wind. I have had a mixture of domes and tunnels and have never found a strength advantage in one or the other, except when I bought the Montana. I bought it late season ( 2005 Model ) and have used it in nothing but strong winds and bad weather so far. Get yourself some Delta Ground Anchors and you should not have any problems. There are always exceptions to the rule though.
I think you are right, and I already have some Deltas ready to go. I still wonder whether the reduced flex means that slightly more tension on the guys than usual is a good idea.
I'm sure the is no major problem with the Montana - it's just that design is always a compromise exercise.
I've just received some of both - I planned to hold my gazebo down with the stainless ones and use the plastic on the main tent guys, but as yet they are unused so I can't really comment.
I went for the steel ones on every Guy Rope. I havn't had chance to really experiement with them for real yet and I only got them a couple of weeks ago. I have tested them out in the garden and with 2 of us pulling on them, there was no way it was going to come out, no matter how much we tried.
Camped in Galway Bay end of August last year and were warned that serious adverse gale force weather was due within 48 hours (tail end of US hurricanes). Had planned to pack up the following morning but the storm in fact hit us that very night. Bit of a sleepless night but we didn't dare venture to look outside!! When morning broke, we woke to find that we were the ONLY tent left standing in a field of approx 20, no damage just a very wet living area due to no SIG. Not all were completely flattened but by far the majority were and all owners had taken refuge in the camp house. At the time we were using a Sunncamp Festive 12, a large dome, and can only put it down to the fact that we were fully pegged out with DELTA pegs as, due the swirling gale, we were not particularly well positioned as regards wind direct as it seemed to change from day to day over the week we were there. I can not praise then enough!
Hi Andrew, has your wet tent been packed up in its bag since the fateful night of the collapse? It might be a good idea in the meantime to get it out and at least dump it in the (empty) bath so that the air can get at it. MT
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
You are right of course. But I'm afraid my lovely wife was slightly traumatised by our experience and might not appreciate the sight of the tent just yet, especially in our bath. I hope to erect it soon, before the mildew sets in!
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Topic: Outwell Montana 12 collapse
