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Hello..I'm a newbie on these boards and last week we had our first camping trip (2 adults, 2 children & a puppy). Weather was a bit breezy when we were setting up and by night time it was very windy (& a bit scary, if I'm being honest!). We were fortunate that the tent didn't blow down, but I think it was luck rather than technique really. I have been reading lots of posts on here and have read some references to tips on pitching in high winds, but I haven't found any yet.

Would anyone be able to help by either providing me with a link, or advising me on their own experiences?

It hasn't put us off though..we are going on our 2nd trip on the 7th September!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

hi, pitch tent "bum into the wind", use every guy rope, they are not there for decoration, and use a peg for EACH one, dont double any up. The pegs that come with the tent are crap, replace them with deltas or other good pegs. if really windy, crosspeg, ie cross guy ropes over each other to give extra strength to them.

If the wind is strong, take down windbreaks, they will only blow down anyway. Look for a sheltered pitch if possible with a hedge etc, you can even position the car for shelter if its bad.

One other thing, please dont use gazebos, in a wind they can be really dangerous flying about a site.

The way I read it you want to know about getting the tent up in the wind?

If that's true, make sure you peg it down in a couple of places first, put all the poles in and only pull it off the ground at the last minute.

Get help from other people if you can.

Quote: Originally posted by MamaBear on 29/8/2007

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We were on the coast last weekend in really bad winds and those "cheapie" pegs that came with my tent never budged. It got to the point where we put our car as close as possible and the windbreak because we were worried. The pins of the windbreak poles broke off in the ground and those same cheap pegs where right where my husband hammered them into the ground.

My cheapies have yet to let me down and to me a delta purchase isn't needed.

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Quote: Originally posted by MamaBear on 29/8/2007

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Well, we're new camping here, only twice so far and that's why I said they haven't let me down.....yet.

Who knows what will happen next trip. We have rock pegs, but havent' really used them but lug them around just in case. Part of me says get the Delta's, but just going to use my cheapies as long as possible.

I didn't think you meant they wouldn't stay in the ground, but you're right when you say we have been fortunate to get soft ground. We've hit some rocks here and there, but no damage yet.

I did like your tip about pitching BUM first!

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Thanks for all the tips..this is a lovely board, I have learnt a lot from it.