Message Forums

Hi, can anyone tell me the correct way to peg down the guy ropes.

We have just been wrapping the ropes any old how around the pegs but this does not seem right.

Any help would be useful.

thanks

I normally pull them tightish with the adjusters, then just hook the end over a peg and hit it quite close to the ground - just enough showing to get it out again.

pull the adjuster up the line to form a loop of any size at loose end, this is the loop that you hook under the peg, i understand you should pull out the guy line in line with the triangle of material its attached to so it doesnt pull against the seam, if that makes sense, go to local camp shop and ask or have a nose around at the weekend, lol. good luck.

Quote: Originally posted by anniemac on 02/6/2008

---

pegging out the guys is really important, angle of guy lines as well as pegs, so get it right, check your tent instructions, if not check with manufacturer.

bryan-k - werent you a novice at one time or were you born an expert camper?

---

Hi anniemac, - yes I was a born camper, my parents always took us camping as kids & my wifes parents are also campers.

As you said yourself the angle of guys is important especialy if the weather cuts up rough like it did last week which is why I made the suggestion of seeking the advice of a seasoned camper, correct pitching of guys is a very hard thing to describe but is a very simple thing to do once shown & getting it wrong can spell disaster & spoil a holiday.

OP - if you are ever confused or worried about anything never be afraid to ask the advice of someone on a campsite, campers are one big happy family.

 

Hi - if you are not seeing a loop at then end of the guy rope, here is what the problem may be;

If you have a new tent, there should be a plastic adjuster threaded onto the end of each guy rope, and secured with a knot on one side of the bottom hole, and the guy rope goes through the middle hole and back out of the other one at the top, a bit like running stitch?   If this gadget is right at the end of the rope then you need to pull the lower "stitch" outwards (the one with the guy rope's knotted end as one end of it) in order to pull it into a loop. This is the loop that you use for pegging it to the ground, and the plastic adjuster can be fed upwards or downwards to adjust the length and tension of the guy rope, without it slipping loose again. I do hope that makes sense!

The guyrope needs to come away from your tent in line with the pole/seam it is attached to. It needs to meet the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees, and be at least a couple of feet away from the tent (longer is better as it increases the stability). The peg needs to go into the gound at an angle of 90 degrees to the guyrope (i.e. leaning away from the guyrope). This prevents the guy rope from simply pulling the peg back out of the ground when the first gust of wind causes the tent to flex a little. The head of the peg needs to be near to flush with the ground.

The guyropes need to come out from the tent in such a way that it is evenly tensioned all round ,and not pulled or twisted out of shape. It can be helpful to imagine an aerial view and mentally check if they are all evenly spread around the circumference of the tent.

Guyropes should be tensioned to be tight but still twangy rather than zero give. You need to check them every day. You may need to tighten them if wet weather makes the fabric and ropes stretch, but remember to loosen them again in the dry as they will shrink again and can even end up tearing a tent. 

Hi MAGIC,

Don't worry, we all had to start somewhere. Found this:

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs315085.pdf

On page 6 it shows clearly how a peg and guy should look, but the whole article is really interesting - took me back to damp and dismal scout camping events (won't even start talking about the toilets!).

Good luck.

Quote: Originally posted by foggers on 02/6/2008

---

Hi - if you are not seeing a loop at then end of the guy rope, here is what the problem may be;

If you have a new tent, there should be a plastic adjuster threaded onto the end of each guy rope, and secured with a knot on one side of the bottom hole, and the guy rope goes through the middle hole and back out of the other one at the top, a bit like running stitch?   If this gadget is right at the end of the rope then you need to pull the lower "stitch" outwards (the one with the guy rope's knotted end as one end of it) in order to pull it into a loop. This is the loop that you use for pegging it to the ground, and the plastic adjuster can be fed upwards or downwards to adjust the length and tension of the guy rope, without it slipping loose again. I do hope that makes sense!

 

---

Unless you have a tent with the older 2-hole metal or plastic adjusters, of course....

I think I have as many adjuster types as I have tents anmd often there's more than one adjuster style per tent, because I've replaced something. Simple rule of thumb for pegging through adjuster loops? One loop will hold tight, all the rest will not. Choose the first loop!

Thank you all for your help and Hairywol that diagram was perfect, it all makes sense now.

thanks