We have a Hi Gear Zenobia 6 which we love, but have a problem. When we fit the central pole and peg it down, the sewn in groundsheet seems to be pulled much too high. We worry that as this is right next too the door, eventually it will rip the groundsheet from the tent.
We have made sure that tension across the groundsheet isnt too tight, but it seems the problem is coming from the tension 'over' the tent, almost as if the tent is too short for the pole.
Do you think it would be ok to shorten the pole by a couple of inches (equally on either end), would this solve our problem, or does anyone have any other suggestions?
Post last edited on 05/07/2020 10:28:42
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This was a discussion on here a few years ago.
More of a common problem than you may at first imagine!
Fly sheets too small. Poles too long. Lot's of theory's!
From memory, it was 50/50 as to whether cutting the poles down was a good idea or not, although I'm pretty sure someone tried it?
To an extent, I had this problem on a previous tent, where basically the sewn in groundsheet "rounded the corner", as it headed vertically towards the door threshold. Too much pressure, too close to that corner, and I too envisaged the same as you now fear!
I felt I had to stride over the threshold, to keep clear of that bottom corner, directly below the door!
Too scared to cut any poles, I eventually took the following steps:
Set up as normal, (where the temptation is then to pull out all poles at the base, to make sure everything is tight and snug).
However, before putting pegs through the ring and pins, I then lifted each pole (an inch clear of the ground), pushed it back towards the tent a good inch or so (maybe 2"?), before plonking back down on the ground. I did this to both sides/ends of each pole although I may well have got away with doing just the pole nearest the door, as nobody goes that close to the edge of the floor anywhere else in the tent, of course!
Only then did I peg it.
It could be argued that it now looked slightly imperfect. A little loose (Flysheet and groundsheet-wise), but importantly, I could now step as close to the door as I wanted (internally/on the groundsheet) and the fear of rips and torn seams had disappeared! And having a tent carpet and door mat, it covered the "looseness" anyway.
Get the "right sort" of doormat, laid right up to the edge, and it may well help anyway, as the weight of the mat could "sharpen up" that corner, taking away any creases and/or rounded effect.
That approach worked for me, although I must stress my problem didn't seem as bad as others were reporting. There was talk of others truly struggling to get the poles locked in, and serious raising of the floor at those points. Mine seemed much less severe.
Firstly, I hope the above makes sense. It may have been quicker to come round to yours and show you! Ha ha!
Secondly, give it a try next time, and let us know how you get on.
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Topic: Tent/pole fit problem
