Managed to buy one of these cheaply but the pitching instructions consist of about 5 lines! As I haven't camped since a teenager.. some years ago I am somewhat confused on how to pitch it. Managed to pitch it OK but may be an easier way and which way should g ropes generally go? What is general rule with all those hoops for tunnel tent- middle/largest first? E mailed Gelert- no response..I know you lot will be more helpful I don't want to look a total idiot on our first trip with other campers rolling in the grass!!
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Oh dear they make it look so easy. We pitched it ok ish the first time, the second time the wind was blowing a bit harder and it was a nightmare. I threw a paddy and decided I wanted to go home and was never going to camp again! Eventually we got it up but as fast as we were getting it up the wind was blowing it down. We found the biggest problem was putting in those ring pin things. Although watching this video again, I don't think we did it exactly like that so next week, we'll try it that way. Apart from that, the tent's great (we have the 6). Plenty of room for just us two in fact, I wish we'd got the bigger one but then we really would have trouble getting it back in the bag!
It looks on the video that they temporarily pegged it down until they had all the ring pin things in and then pegged it out properly. Is that right?
Yes its better to peg the corners down, specially if its windy.
Try to pitch it so that the wind is hitting the back end of the tent too. Then it shouldn't blow into the tent when the door is open.
It puts less strain on the tent too, if it's blowing at the side, its a bigger expanse of tent and causes the poles to bend more.
I pitchstarting from back to front, guying the back end out to hold the first hoop upright.
The guylines should be pegged out in line with the hoops, at about 45 degree angle from the tent.
The ring and pin system is always a bit tight, it gives tension to hold the hoops in shape. I find its easier if you lift the poles up to get the pins in rather than trying to get them done on the ground level, and push the tent fabric along the poles to help. This is easier if its not pegged to the ground, So when its not windy, I just peg the 2 back corners down to begin with.
------------- Debbie
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Thanks for that. So am I getting this right then, we temporarily peg the 4 corners, put the poles through and then lift the first back pole and stick in the ring things and then peg that down? Do we then peg the others that follow as we go or pull it all out as they did on the video and then peg it down?
I do think we were a bit topsy turvy last time because we were trying to pull it out into the wind. Maybe we should have pegged the windside and then pulled it out in the direction of the wind. It's sort of spoiling my next trip really because I have a bad shoulder and can't lift my arm over a certain height, I feel a bit useless when he's doing all the work! I just wish we could 'click' and that would be it. After driving for quite a few hours, being stuck in traffic, four restless dogs and a headache ....
Quote: Originally posted by Christina1 on 13/6/2008
Hi Beefysmum,
Thanks for that. So am I getting this right then, we temporarily peg the 4 corners, put the poles through and then lift the first back pole and stick in the ring things and then peg that down? No, don't peg the rings down, just guy the back end of the tent out. The pins won't pop out, and wait until all poles are upright before pegging any down.
Do we then peg the others that follow as we go, No, pull it all out as they did on the video,
Close all the doors, guy the front end out and check that you are happy that its all straight.
then do the side guylines and then peg it down.
I do think we were a bit topsy turvy last time because we were trying to pull it out into the wind. Maybe we should have pegged the windside and then pulled it out in the direction of the wind. It's sort of spoiling my next trip really because I have a bad shoulder and can't lift my arm over a certain height, I feel a bit useless when he's doing all the work! I just wish we could 'click' and that would be it. After driving for quite a few hours, being stuck in traffic, four restless dogs and a headache ....
Next time it will be easier, choose a site closer to home, practise putting it up again before you go, on a less windy day. worrying about it will only make it worse, and don't be shy to ask other campers to lend a hand if your shoulder is bad, we are usually a helpful bunch.
Thanks for all that. We were trying to peg down then put up centre hoop first. Looks far simpler to put all hoops in then peg end without door, then front end then the rest. Thanks again.
Exactly! Bah!! we tried putting in the center pole, then spreading out, and the first attempt in high winds. WHAT A DRAMA. Still - easier than i had expected of a large tent.....
This tent rocks for a family solution -mix and match tents, and practicing putting it up just solves all hassles. One end pegged, then spread it out across the pitch to put the rest up. Guy line it down, and buy extra pegs (some strong ones) for windy occasions - altho unlikely you would hit anything strong enough to blow this over.
I have the alask 8 (the 2007 model) but he horizon 8 is better as has teh SIG. not much difference in it tho. We got ours for 90£ which is 100gbp less than the cheapest horizon 8, but will upgrade if we do more than 1 or 2 trips a year.
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Topic: gelert horizon 8
I am somewhat confused on how to pitch it. Managed to pitch it OK but may be an easier way and which way should g ropes generally go? What is general rule with all those hoops for tunnel tent- middle/largest first? E mailed Gelert- no response..I know you lot will be more helpful
I don't want to look a total idiot on our first trip with other campers rolling in the grass!!
