Message Forums

1) It's easier to repeg a guyline than restitch a guying point. But really, you don't want either of them to fail.

2) Guylines should be taut but not drum tight. They should be checked frequently though in windly weather as the tent jerking around can loosen them a little and the more play there is, the more the jerking will affect the line. On a normal non-stormy day it's good practice to walk round the tent morning and night checking the guylines are snug and the pegs secure. Takes about a minute. Also run an eye over the canvas for lumpy poles (bent), unclipped anything and bird poo, which is better off sooner than later.

3) Straps should be snug under any circumstances. I usually pull mine half way, peg out and adjust from there. Under storm conditions? If a pole is loose then snug it up by all means, but if you got it right first time then straps are less important. Honerable exceptions though are the four big corner straps at the outer edges of the fly sheet on a tunnel tent, the ones on big D-rings normally. Tight as you can. You don't want the whole flysheet shimmying off.

4) Pitch the tent bum into the wind but otherwise, life's too short to repitch tents unless there's an emergency. Make good use of shelter though...if you can, nestle into the hedge or wall or if that's not possible, make it so your car sits on the windward side of the tent. Use your alternative doors if you have them too...don't leave them open during gusty weather. There's few things as bad on a windy day as the big main door open and acting as a wind scoop. Use a leeward side door if possible, and position your windbreak to protect it.

Other handy hints.

If a section of tent is looking dubious ie the same pole keeps flexing alarmingly, run out some extra guylines to support it, not just double peg the existing guyline. (What do you mean, no extra guylines? Get some, plus thread on the sliders, and have the extra pegs all ready.) Yes the extra guyline is going onto the same guying point but as you run it out in a slightly different direction usually there's less direct stress on the point. If you have one of these tents where the pole guying points are brass eyelets in the pole sleeve, then make sure the guylines are behind and under the poles when you thread the pole.

Remember poles do need to flex a little, but it's allowing them to overflex that breaks them. Keep this in mind when adding extra guylines. If you can add any sort of internal support during bad weather do so. Toggle eyelets are not exactly robust but if they're in under a main pole bearing seam, you can add the equivelent of TBS (tension band system) . Once you get to this point though you're only one step away from jumping ship, lol, so don't feel it's something you have to do every day.

If a pole cracks or breaks while putting the tent up, be bothered to fix it, no matter how late or tired you are. This is when having a spare pole is handy, for speed. One weak pole means the others are carrying more stress. Etc. If a pole breaks in situ and you don't have any spares and can reach the section, use duct tape. One layer spiral, one layer up and down, one layer spiral.

Err...what else? (School run imminant....) Any questions? There's other things like double pegging and what pegs to use where, but I expect you know all of that by now.