Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 19/8/2014Quite often it only takes a slight slope of the pitch or a dip in the ground to completely throw out the neatness of a tent. I am quite obsessive about getting the tent all square and neat with no wrinkles but occasionally it doesn't matter what I do it just doesn't look right.
My ex used to bring a metal tape measure when we went camping. As soon as the outer was up, he'd measure both diagonals and only when they were exactly equal was the tent pronounced square. It could then be fully pegged out and the sleeping pod put in.
I am not that obsessed
Here's one of Muckerette checking all the hooped poles of my Filey are in line....
------------- 2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
Quote: Originally posted by HarryBear on 20/8/2014
Dan-w - my daughter & I have used the Cross Camping method for pitching our Oxwich 6 which has fibreglass poles - I think there's a youtube video of a Vango Icarus being pitched this way, I can't link to it as I'm on my phone at the moment. If your own method works, keep doing it!
Thanks HarryBear, I had a quick look and they make it look so easy, I may give it ago on Friday as we are away again this weekend.
I've watched the video with the bendy poles to get an idea of what the cross camping method is and I'm still confused as to exactly what it is?!?!?!... Is it that all four corners of the groundsheet are pegged before lifting up the poles, mine are metal poles and I struggled badly to pitch it when I pegged the two back corners, when I had eventually lifted it up and pegged out it looked like kids had done it :-(
------------- Enjoyed tenting,
Enjoyed trailer-tenting,
Now loving caravanning 😊😊
I don't like the idea of pegging corners because it seems to me that by doing that, when you raise the poles you are straining against an immovable groundsheet. I feel that a tent goes up easier and feels lighter if the corners are not pegged and can therefore move slightly if required.
Having said that, I have recently started pegging the front corners only, so that the tent is positioned in the right place on the footprint when I raise the front pole. I leave the rear corners unpegged so that as I raise the pole there is some flexibility in the groundsheet. Once the front pole is raised I then go round to the back of the tent, stretch it all taut, and peg.
I do not agree with pinning the corners either. On our monty 6 we put the front and rear poles in and pin them, then lift the rear one up using the guy ropes, peg that up with the guys then use the same method at the front. Then when it's standing we thread though the next rear section, attach the legs and pin then do the next one. Once it's up we then just pull all the legs out and forward until it's nice and taught and peg it all down. It means one person can do the pitch or two makes it easier. It's important all the doors are open when lifting too but done back up before pegging properly . When we got our first montana we tried lifting it with all legs at once and it was just too heavy. Our new method is so easy and gets it looking fab.