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Hi - I'm an absolute newby to camping & have bought a Khyam XXL as it was going for what seemed a decent price. Got the video & 2 sets of instructions but I'm afraid it's still not totally clear to me how many, where & indeed how to peg, I would really appreciate it if someone could show me pictures indicating which guys to use & which peg they go to - I'm sure that some must use the same peg and possibly some may not even be used. Should the mud flaps(?) be pegged inside or out & where should the large pegs & the smaller metal ones be used, in which direction should you pull the guys away from the tent (ie at 90 degrees, in line with seam/pole?). Any other tips, reccomenations gratefully received. Thanks in advance.........Maybe it's easier if I sell the tent on!!

Posted this in the wrong section initially - boy do I need help.

Golden Rule No 1.....peg everything, every single time.

Golden rule No 2....one peg per pegging point or guyline.

NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!! You don`t achieve the maximum structural strength of your tent if you skimp. Yup, it may seem a totally pointless PITA to do it all on a calm sunny day, but when the wind gets up at 2am you`ll be glad you did.

As to angle etc, generally guylines are pulled out in line with the seam or pole they originate from and hit the ground at an angle of 45` to the ground. The tent pegs then get hammered in at an angle of 45` towards the tent, giving a 90` angle to the guyline. Exceptions and tweaking are possible here, depending on the design of the tent and terrain, so thiese are not Rules, more good practice guidelines.

As to specifics for the Khyams, no idea, sorry. Never owned one. You should have a dry run before you go on your first outing though and doubtless much will become clearer.  

I totally agree with Valk Scott we have a XL classic (slightly smaller than yours) and we always peg all our guys ropes even in completely calm weather because you never know when it's going to change. For example last spring BH a friend decided to not fully peg out his guys as the day despite being wet was calm! We all went out for dinner during which a 'hurricane' sprang up - we hurried back to the tents but it was already to late for his. The wind had lifted the front of the tent, ripped open the zips and everything inside was all over the place and soaking wet!!

Specific to Khyams - we use the 'black' pegs for the guy ropes and the lighter metal pegs to peg down the mudflaps. We have always pegged our mudflaps inside and then put the ground sheet on top, but I do know that some people peg them outside (personal preference I suppose).

We also use 4 Delta Anchors on the 'tri-guys' for added security. Hope that helps!!

I used to have a XL also.

You must peg out the guys on each corner while the tent is on its knees. This will hold the tent until you can get the pegs into the feet holes, Once you get the pegs in the feet holes then tighten the guys, You can then peg down any guys that remain.

Take the tent down in reverse, loosening the corner guys only, do not unpeg the guys until the tent is fully collapsed.

All this is to prevent the tent from flying across the campsite and possibly the moors, depending where you are of course.

If the tent is blown onto its side it may damage the knuckle joints that lock the main poles.

I speak from experience. I thought my Wife had hold of the ropes firmly, not true.

I had to run 50 yds to catch the damn thing, very embarassing, campsite was packed. tent sustained damage to joints, luckily Khyam supply a spare when you buy it new.

Once the thing is erected and pegged its very solid, the only negative is the lack of windows, no fun if you are rained in.

John H

Practice in the garden and get used to it.  Always use triguys first whilst still on it's knees, same when taking it down. I have been lifted off the ground and I'm not into paragliding.  Use all the pegging points one peg per point  they are there for a reason.  Mine is  1999 model and still going strong look after it right and it will look after you.

expect to see you on the floppy annex link shortly

Click on chicken to see mine

Thanks for all of your replies. Tried in the garden & took me a tad longer than the 15 min quoted (about 2 1/2 hrs!!) to pitch - I'm sure this will improve with practise......I shall be persevering with this until I am under the hour before I unleash myself on the world.

As for the tent it must be an old model but not often used, colour is mainly Purple & there are no bedroom corner adjusters or inner bedroom tent poles. There are no rips/tears & all poles are fine. Should I be doing any routine care or maintenence? I still have an option to return the tent & wonder if the £150 asked for is about right?

Caught me unawares with the floppy annex but know what you mean now

Actually Turbin, if the tent is few years old, whilst it may lack some of the refinements you have listed, on the plus side it may date from the era when Khyam used a heavier guage of material than most other makers, so it could be better in that regard. Khyams tend to hold their value on the market so if it really is without any damage etc then £150 may be a reasonable price. And it is still a LOT less than buying new!

Just go and get that practice in putting it up& down now - and I would recommend that you get Delta ground anchors for the tri-guys on your tent - that Khyam design of anchoring three bits of the tent down onto a single guy rope means that the peg holding that rope is under a lot of strain - and Deltas have significantly higher tolerance than any other kind of pegging system.

Have no fear you will soon be throwing it up in no time, we all started with 2hrs + and being gentle.  Then you go to tent up in no time and kitting it out takes 2hrs. 

Agree with the timings.  i bought a khyam because I camp on my own and wanted a large tent I could pitch on my own.  First time took me 2 hours, now I have a routine and can get it up and pegged out in about 20 minutes.

Get in touch with Khyam direct, they are good at providing instructions and probably still have them for old tents