We just received our Alta 6DX tent. I used to camp with my family when i was a kid. Setting up a tent seemed easy (probably because my parents did it...)
We seem to have a problem securing the poles. They go through ok, but there are no hooks or rings to secure the flysheet to the poles. The instructions are very brief and seem to be aimed at experienced campers.
I really want my son to enjoy camping as much as i did, and once we get the hang of putting up the tent we will make as much use of the Welsh countryside.
So, is there anyone out there who can give us a clue as to how to secure the poles to the flysheet? Thank you very much in advance!!
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We might contact Tentastic to ask whether our tent is faulty. My husband pitched it in the garden yesterday, but the bottom looks all floppy and wrong.
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Firstly, there are tubes of material sown over the tent from side to side for the poles. The poles need feeding through these. You should also have 4 straps running side to side across the tent. When erect, these go across the floor, and help determine the width of the tent, and therefore the correct curvature of the poles. These straps are fitted already. You should have rings attached where the strap fixes to the tent, with a pin fitted, which goes into the end of the pole. This holds the pole, and you peg through the ring to hold the lot on the floor.
The ends of the tent poles would be unsecured without these, and so able to move about. If these are missing, you need to get them.
Due to the design of the tent, as with all tunnel tents, the guy ropes provide the stability, and all need to be pegged out.
I'm writing up my own guide to getting this tent up and down, and will post them here when I'm done.
Having just returned from a great weekend camp in the tent, for the money I have spent, I am very happy.
Here we go. Please bear in mind THIS IS WHAT I DO WITH MY OWN TENT. RAGE RECOMMEND 3 PEOPLE ERECT THE TENT. FOLLOW MY PERSONAL GUIDE (BELOW) AT YOUR OWN RISK. I have put this up twice now, and this works for me.
Rage Alta 6DX Tunnel Tent
Tent Erection
1.Lay out and lightly peg the groundsheet first, to protect the flysheet.
2.Lay out flysheet, with straps underneath, noting which end is front.
3.Lightly peg out 4 corner pole points to secure in position.
4.Pull front top of flysheet forward, to accept the first pole.
5.Remove the 2 front pegs, pegging the 2nd pole points if it's breezy, and assemble 1st 4 sections of first pole & start to feed through front pole loop.
6.Assemble pole while feeding through, until about a pole and a half shows through the other side.
7.Ensure that the pole now curves so that the top mid point is in front of the rest of the tent.
8.Feed all other poles through, and lay each completed section on top of the last, unpegging as required to ease the tension. Re-Peg sections already completed if it's breezy.
9.Starting at the front, locate the pins from the ring and pin into the ends of the first pole. This may be a tight fit. Lightly peg in place to secure.
10.Complete all other poles in the same way, laying each section on top of the last. There is no need to peg each one out, unless it is breezy.
11.Ensure that the top centre guy ropes at the front and back are untied, and ready to be used. Ensure you have several pegs in your pocket.
12.Move the tent into it's final position, and lightly peg out the front poles. Move the base of each other set of poles, so that they are in roughly the position you want them to be when the tent is up, and lightly peg out the rear set of poles.
13.Using the top centre rear guy line, with assistance when possible, pull the guy rope towards you. Do not attempt this alone if there is any possibility of wind, as the poles will simply snap.
14.Using a steady pressure on the guy rope, pull the rear poles up into position and peg this guy rope down, to stop the tent dropping again.
15.Quickly do the same at the front of the tent, and the tent should now be fairly stable, but unsecured. Peg a few more guys down if needed. Final tensions can be adjusted later.
16.Peg the pole base areas down first, do both sides of each pole before moving to the next. Ensure that base straps inside the tent are not loose or tight as you go, and that the sections form a straight line from the front to the rear. Ensure the front door section is not over tensioned, and peg the flysheet at the edges of the door before the guys are pegged to allow the door to open and close freely.
17. Start to peg the guy ropes from the rear first. Where possible and practical, run the guys from both sides of the pole, to provide support for that pole from both directions.
18.Ensure that the natural curve of the poles is maintained, and not over pulled in any direction by the guys. Do not over tension them, but ensure there is some pull on the poles.
19.The bedroom pods attach by toggles, and corner base pegs. Ensure that the material will not touch the outer tent when in use. Adjust guys and/or pods to accomplish this.
20.Peg out the flysheet between the poles if required. Roll and tie up exterior storm flaps when the weather allows, as this helps to reduce condensation inside. Raise window and vent covers whenever possible too.
21.In bad weather, tuck the storm flaps under the groundsheet, to reduce drafts and leaks.
Packing Away
Reverse of erection. Close doors and tuck edges of sleeping pods in.
Fold into thirds width wise, then length wise, roll and tie up.
Fold the sleeping area of the flysheet in, then the porch area.
Fold and roll and tie up.
Fold ground sheet, lay out ready for rolling.
Place poles, bedroom pods and flysheet on the ground sheet and roll and tie as one.
if no one else tells you this thank you very much for taking the time to type all that out. a newbie has emailed me and asked about the same tent as yours.All i could put were basic pitching instructions ,but it sound like some parts are missing.this is just what they needed. some tent manufacturers are to sure we are all experienced campers.
Regards Carole
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Quote: Originally posted by Angu2you on 10/6/2007
Here we go. Please bear in mind THIS IS WHAT I DO WITH MY OWN TENT. RAGE RECOMMEND 3 PEOPLE ERECT THE TENT. FOLLOW MY PERSONAL GUIDE (BELOW) AT YOUR OWN RISK. I have put this up twice now, and this works for me.
Rage Alta 6DX Tunnel Tent
Tent Erection
1.Lay out and lightly peg the groundsheet first, to protect the flysheet.
2.Lay out flysheet, with straps underneath, noting which end is front.
3.Lightly peg out 4 corner pole points to secure in position.
4.Pull front top of flysheet forward, to accept the first pole.
5.Remove the 2 front pegs, pegging the 2nd pole points if it's breezy, and assemble 1st 4 sections of first pole & start to feed through front pole loop.
6.Assemble pole while feeding through, until about a pole and a half shows through the other side.
7.Ensure that the pole now curves so that the top mid point is in front of the rest of the tent.
8.Feed all other poles through, and lay each completed section on top of the last, unpegging as required to ease the tension. Re-Peg sections already completed if it's breezy.
9.Starting at the front, locate the pins from the ring and pin into the ends of the first pole. This may be a tight fit. Lightly peg in place to secure.
10.Complete all other poles in the same way, laying each section on top of the last. There is no need to peg each one out, unless it is breezy.
11.Ensure that the top centre guy ropes at the front and back are untied, and ready to be used. Ensure you have several pegs in your pocket.
12.Move the tent into it's final position, and lightly peg out the front poles. Move the base of each other set of poles, so that they are in roughly the position you want them to be when the tent is up, and lightly peg out the rear set of poles.
13.Using the top centre rear guy line, with assistance when possible, pull the guy rope towards you. Do not attempt this alone if there is any possibility of wind, as the poles will simply snap.
14.Using a steady pressure on the guy rope, pull the rear poles up into position and peg this guy rope down, to stop the tent dropping again.
15.Quickly do the same at the front of the tent, and the tent should now be fairly stable, but unsecured. Peg a few more guys down if needed. Final tensions can be adjusted later.
16.Peg the pole base areas down first, do both sides of each pole before moving to the next. Ensure that base straps inside the tent are not loose or tight as you go, and that the sections form a straight line from the front to the rear. Ensure the front door section is not over tensioned, and peg the flysheet at the edges of the door before the guys are pegged to allow the door to open and close freely.
17. Start to peg the guy ropes from the rear first. Where possible and practical, run the guys from both sides of the pole, to provide support for that pole from both directions.
18.Ensure that the natural curve of the poles is maintained, and not over pulled in any direction by the guys. Do not over tension them, but ensure there is some pull on the poles.
19.The bedroom pods attach by toggles, and corner base pegs. Ensure that the material will not touch the outer tent when in use. Adjust guys and/or pods to accomplish this.
20.Peg out the flysheet between the poles if required. Roll and tie up exterior storm flaps when the weather allows, as this helps to reduce condensation inside. Raise window and vent covers whenever possible too.
21.In bad weather, tuck the storm flaps under the groundsheet, to reduce drafts and leaks.
Packing Away
Reverse of erection. Close doors and tuck edges of sleeping pods in.
Fold into thirds width wise, then length wise, roll and tie up.
Fold the sleeping area of the flysheet in, then the porch area.
Fold and roll and tie up.
Fold ground sheet, lay out ready for rolling.
Place poles, bedroom pods and flysheet on the ground sheet and roll and tie as one.
Thank you so much! We now know for definate that the tent we have is wrong, ad we do not have the ring/pin bits, or even the straps that go across.
Hopefully we will get this changed swiftly, as i want to do a few practice runs before we go out camping.
Tentastic mailed my one missing guy rope, plus some spares, and some spare pegs (because I asked nicely if they would!)
and they arrived within 2 days.
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: Rage Outdoor Alta 4DX tent
