Finally put the tent up in the garden yesterday before our 1st camping trip next weekend.Watched the dvd beforehand but got to admit had a bit of trouble getting the tent to 'sit on its knees' it seemed to collapse flat on the floor.Struggled for a while had to admit defeat and get help of the other half!!Any tips?
Also the black square band that goes around the base with the metal holes in (on the dvd it says make sure this band is nice and square)are these meant as a pegging guide ??Ie does the skirt tent pegs go into these holes? Finally in the tent peg bag theres a big bag of elastic bands just wondered what they could be used for ?? Sorry for sounding a bit thick that bloke on the dvd has got a lot to answer for !!!
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Putting up the main poles of your tent can be quite tricky. It's much easier with two people as long as you both know what you are trying to do! You must get thie main dome nice and square with the poles all pulled outwards until the black band is nice and taut and and flat to the ground. You can peg it down once the dome is in position.
The other main function of this band is to give you something to trip over regularly! So cover it up with a mat or a spare piece of groundsheet at the entrances.
The part we used to have trouble with was the bedroom area, no matter how we try to tension the guys at the back, this area is always floppy, as if it has not been cut accurately so don't worry if this happens.
As for the elastic bands - sorry, I haven't a clue?!
Hi Greggo, I have a few Khyams and have the one like yours the XL but mine is the excelsior. At first it seemed crazy but when you have erected the tent two or three times it is just as easy as the DVD shows. I use my XL when just myself and the two kids (3&7) are camping and have to erect it on my own. If no wind then I just erect the tent and then peg it out, when there is a wind I peg out the tri-guys first as suggested on the DVD and it works a treat.
Don't worry about it falling onto the floor, just get the first knee set up and then move back to the middle, pick up the hub and push out the knee opposite the first one and you should be ok from then on.
Having had khyam tents for a while now I have never yet had a bag of elastic bands included so no idea what they are for sorry.
John
sorry, can't help you with the laccy bands either :(
how old is your XL ?? what colour is it ???
if it all goes horribly wrong the best thing you can do (we find) is to fold if back together and start again.
we reckon the DVD is a fix
andypandy666 is the khyam expert that i rely on and i'll see if i can dig out the intructions he posted for me.
we tend to camp on uneven ground and have never got the trippy over thing square but thanks to a footprint groundsheet we are getting a bit more in line with the bedroom.
when the legs won't unfold it is usually because the tent fabric is in the wrong place, so you move it along the pole a bit.
Although we can't erect a pop up gazebo without a domestic we do find it is better if there are two putting up the XL, one to hold the hub at waist height whilr the other one does the poles.
good luck. It is a lovely tent :)
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Hi all
Sounds like its not just me who's struggled with the tent at first!
Its a 2007 one in the blue colour got it a few months back but only tried to put it up yesterday.
Do feel a bit more confident now having had a go and read your replies I think I was treating it with kid gloves anyway the acid test will be here next friday when we actually use it.(hope this weather lasts )
Everyone treats them with kid gloves at first once you've done it a few times piece of cake.
As for leg collapsing while on its knees don't worry it happens as there is nothing at that point to keep it square. Once you have all four roof poles clicked in to place it has its shape and will sit on its knees .... as it should.
The straps are to keep it square the holes are for mushroom pegs so you can peg it down and not trip over them
3 inch ones are fine. These are not supplied so good excuse for a trip to the camping shop
The bag of bands are a mystery are they like elastic bands for tying up guy-ropes or like the rubber bands round the skirt.
my son is borrowing my khyam XL and there isn't time for a trial run and i haven't seen the instructions since i clutched them in a soggy field in dorset about a month ago!
oops
hopefully i can find my photos of all the stages!
btw.. i am tempted to cut off the trippy up thingies in the annexe as my dodgy hip is ever more dodgy since i tripped up several times last week! I didn't pack the doormat which i have used in the past to cover it up where we walk in. :(
but thank goodness i packed the duck tape as our brolly took off and landed on the annexe
but i still it, even if it is a bit scruffy looking now.
Quote: Originally posted by sianie2204 on 12/8/2008
Holding the middle hub up is the key thing when pitching or taking down or it just ends up in a heap!
That's my job!
i did try to impress on my son, about holding up the hub. I found the unstructions and the video so hopefully he will be ok :) Unless he goes, as planned to cornwall where i think it may be a bit too windy right now, even for the khyam xl!
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Hi all trip was ok we went to pay on the friday for 2 nights the girl said "we are only taking bookings for 1 night due to the wind people cant get their tents up" my heart sank.Found a spot attempted to get it erected but it was too windy.Eventually found a more sheltered spot and luckily the wind had died off a little.Got the tent up took 3 of us to do it ok.Woke up Sunday morning and 2 windbreak poles had snapped but the tent had survived.Initially I thought it was a huge living area (in the garden with nothing in it!)But in practice with a table, stove, bags,chairs kids games and usual bits and bobs it was soon filled to bursting.All in all a good camping baptism.Thanks for all your advice it really helped.
, stove, bags,chairs kids games and usual bits and bobs it was soon filled to bursting.
get an annexe!
my husband was a bit grumpy about more camping expense but with a nudge from our daughter i got it as a birthday present and now he wouldn't go without it.
even if it is a bit battle scarred after our last outing.
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: Khyam xl classic
