OK it comes tomorrow evening. I just thought I have never pitched a frame tent before. how do you do it. Any tips or instructions anyone. Is the kitchen thingy difficult and whats this roof liner malarky.
Any tips could turn a 3 hour job into a 40 minute one
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We just pitched a similar size Cabanon at the weekend and it wasn't too bad. Hopefully, unlike ours, the previous owner may have colour coded the poles for you, that makes life a lot easier.
Basically, open out the poles and lay them out on the ground, it will soon become apparent what goes where. It will probably have 3 vertical frame poles and then the roof supports, the hardest bit is getting the verticals up and the roof supports joining them. Once that's done, make sure it's only half height, so you can pull the canvas over. Pull the canvas over making sure that the front canopy poles are inserted at the front, so as not to tear the canvas and you're done.
It looks a nightmare when you tip the poles out the bag, but it's honestly not that bad. Maybe someone else can explain it better than me though!
I must admit that we struggled to work out the kitchen poles etc, hopefully someone else who owns that model can help. The roof liner goes on last, after you have hung the inners, it just clips onto the poles, dead easy.
Lay out the poles - the ones with the little white spiky bits are the legs - there will be 8 of them and then 2 shorter ones for the kitchen area. Assemble the roof first - small 'stub' poles at the front for the little stub canopy. Insert legs but only 'on it's knees' - ie half height. Then place canvas onto frame - this is where you'll need some help as it's heavy and easy to buckle the frame under the weight if you try to do it solo. Check out first where the front is as it's hard to turn it round on the frame (I've done this soooo many times!!) Then up with the legs and she's standing - all that's left is to peg out. I usually start either at the front making sure the door is zipped closed and getting the tension nice and taut then work backwards or from the back working forwards. 'Tweak' the legs as you go to make sure she's standing square. Finally assemble the kitchen area - the legs should have several adjusting points to get it nice and tight. Guy out and you're done. Here are some pics to help -
NB the kitchen area on yours is probably on the opposite side.
The roof liner goes in last - it is simply a piece of cotton fabric which is clipped to the middle roof poles and side poles - it can be quite tight to fit and beware as the clips can do you serious injury!! Looks good when in place and helps with warmth/cool and condensation.
Good luck - any more help needed just shout.
------------- Anne - mad mum to one - foster mum to many - adoptatent to you guys!
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ok I have just pitched it in the garden. So now a couple of questions. I'm not sure I have got the legs at the correct angle, The bottom bit, is a bit flappy. I dont know how to put photo's on here so thats the best description I can give. I have got a green carpety thingy with it, well its not really a carpet more like fine mesh, and the grass pokes through it. I have a couple of big tarps which I could put underneath, no problem there, but I want to make it draught proof, any ideas?
2 bit of a problem. I have a pole left over. Its roughly a metre long with a bit of string going through the middle. I think its to do with the kitchen. any ideas? It does feel nice inside though
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The pole with the bit of string going through the middle is the wardrobe hanging pole thingy - hang it in between the bedroom pods as a hanging rail for clothes.
Sounds like you have breathable groundsheet. Great in France but not too brilliant on a wet, muddy campsite in the uk! I'd buy either a cheap tarpaulin and a tent carpet to fit or a heavy duty groundsheet. If the groundsheet/tarp is about 20 cms bigger than the floor aea you can lay it on top of the mudflaps so that it goes up the walls a little and this will create a fairly draught free tent. Put a carpet on top in the living area and you have instant luxury! Of course you could use the breathable groundsheet as a carpet - it's soft & comfortable underfoot and on top of a tarp it will be waterproof and draught free.
About the legs, it's hard to explain but jiggle them around a bit - pull them out or lift & push them further in until it seems the right angle for them. Sorry, can't be more helpful - I just 'tweak' until the canvas is taut. If it's the canvas thats loose around the bottom, you need to pull the legs outwards a little. You'll improve as you get used to pitching it.
------------- Anne - mad mum to one - foster mum to many - adoptatent to you guys!
ok so I got it pitched but now a few more qusetions. Where the roof liner mets the front of the tent on the pelmet there seems to be some dangly rubber bands. What are these for.
Secondly at the bottom of the secret room, as my kids call it, more commonly known as the wardrobe bit, where the cover pulls over to hide it, there is a black ring, what does it attach to?
Third, how do you keep the curtains up. I slid them across the plastic rail but you only have to yawn (or something else)nearby and they fall off.
I will get the hang of this I promise
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It sounds to me that you have the roof liner on back to front.... The elastic things should have a "C" clip on the end of each one and they hook onto the leg poles next- to the bedroom pod to make the valance nice and fitted.
The valance itself covers the tops of the bedroom pods and does not go over the door.....
I'm pretty sure that the black ring should have an elastic attached to it to peg the bottom of the flap section to the ground... don't hold me to it though LOL
The plastic curtain clips should slide on to the end of the runner one at a time IYSWIM? and then you fasten the strings at each end to stop them sliding off again, Are your clips intact as they do tend to break easily?! (easy to repair though just stitch new ones back on.
Quote: Originally posted by rochford6 on 22/6/2011
Hopefully Fostermum will find some time to answer your questions, But i know she is going camping this weekend(helping me pitch my Aruba)
If she does not reply then i will check your queries with her and reply over the weekend unless someone else comes back with answers
Brian, you won't have time to reply as you'll be too busy cooking MY tea!!!! See ya tomorrow
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Topic: pitching a Cabanon Aruba
- hang it in between the bedroom pods as a hanging rail for clothes.
