Bit the bullet and bought a six man tent from Tesco today, had it on a special.
Been putting up my first tent so have some questions that hopefully you can help with.
When making it what is the best order, here's how's I have been doing it.
Put the fiber glass poles in the three main channels.
Raised the tent up from the front end to get all the poles parallel.with the ends in all three poles from the ground.
Put pegs in the front left and right corners then slowly tie the front guide lines.
Pull the tent towards the back to make sure shape is okay, then tie the rear guidelines, then lastly the sides.
Place the pegs into the base of the poles around the ground sheet, then slowly tighten all the guide lines.
Few things I have noted,
The middle pole hangs lower than the other two, as well as the shape is not square of the tent.
Should I put the ground pegs in the end when all the guidelines have been tightened as it seems that the poles where they run down to the ground from the sides are bowing out not running flush with the side of the tent.
On the guide lines, the sides are okay but the front and back ones should they go directly in front of the tent out towards the sides.
Lastly, the front and the back guidelines, have a shape line,i.e. two parallel lines going around the peg isn't it better to keep just one single line with a tensioner going from corner to peg.
Hope this newbie didn't confuse you too much in my attempt at trying to show you I mildy know what I am doing our not doing.
Thanks in advance
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Welcome to the forum dinsey.
First off, I'm not familiar with this tent, but just had a very quick google. The roof is lower at the rear of the bed pod, so the shorter pole should go there. It sounds like you put it in the middle sleeve, hence your roof hanging lower there. That would almost certainly be the cause of the "bowing" pole(s) too, I suspect. In future, either lay out your poles first, so you can identify the shorter one for the rear sleeve, or look out for some sort of colour coding on the poles and corresponding sleeve(s).
As for pitching, if it's stood up with poles in, and no pegs, it may take off in the "right" conditions!
I would say lay out flat, (but not too tight) then peg the four corners of the ground sheet. Unzip the front door, put in front pole, and stand it up, connecting the ring & pins where pole meets ground. As your door is unzipped, the tent will fill with air and take shape easier. If it's really windy, zip it up again at this stage. Then fit middle pole, and connect ring and pins. Repeat with the shorter rear pole. Because the four corners are pegged, a) it won't blow away, and b) if you have the tension right, it will not fall down.
At this stage, you can then adjust the whole thing to square it off and tighten the floor shape. (If it is trying to fall down, peg the front and rear guylines). Remove and replace corner pegs if necessary. Peg all round.
Guy front and rear (if not already done so, and finally the sides guys.
That's the basics, but you will pick up your own "favoured methods".
But it sounds like you definitely had the rear pole in the middle sleeve.
Peg out ground sheet, thread all poles (smaller one should have a different colour pole along it and goes at the back) and put pins in ends so they are hooped, unzip front door and raise first pole, guy to the front of the tent (around 1.5m away from tent & peg at 45 degree angle), raise rear pole and guy out as front, middle pole is now up ready to be guyed out and all done
Mucker and Tynxuk many thanks for your quick reply.
I am using the grey shorter pole at the back, the other 2 poles are the same size, they are put one at the front and other in the middle.
I think the bit where i am going wrong may be where I am putting the guide lines. Will try and do the guide line in the front directlty infront of the tent as opposed to what i have been doing now, 45 degrees ie with the corner.
I also found that when the whole thing is up and I am tightening the guide lines, if the door is left open, with the added tension, when you try and close the door, its a nightmare. almost as if the seams will rip, might to the guides first then open her up.
Any additonal help much appreciated.
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 07/10/2013
All door/window zips need to be closed up fully before final guyline adjustments... for that very reason.
A zipped door gives the tent it's correct shape.
Absolutly. Cant stress this point enough. Mainly because we didn't do it on our 1st pitch and almost broke the zip trying to do the door up.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: gelert six man corona tent, first timer
