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Topic: How Tight?

Deacon

15/8/2008 at 1:32pm
Location: Portsmouth
Outfit: Royal Winnipeg 4 & Brenderup 1150s

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How tight should you have guylines on a Tunnel tent? I not too sure if Im over tighting them.

force ten

15/8/2008 at 1:44pm
Location: Canol Cymru
Outfit: chinos and a polo shirt

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they should be tight but not like a piano wire, it is hard to describe and is more an experience thing

if it is deforming the side of the tent or the pole then it is to tight, if it not putting any tension on the tent or pole then it is to loose

Freebird

15/8/2008 at 3:07pm
Location: Dutch Mountains
Outfit: Sharp talons beak and a hernia!

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On a tunnel tent, it is vital not to overstretch them as it would have impact on the structural integrity of the "hoops" that form the tunnel.

Tunnels are very rigid in windy conditions, as the poles have a natural tension already, and will hold through high winds if they are allowed to "give" a little on the guylines (5" will be enough on either side). To maintain some slack on the guyropes you could incorporate strong elastic or rubber rings into it, that keeps the guyline under tension at all times while still allowing stretch to a certain limit. The roundness of the tentpoles shouldn't be under too much pulling pressure from either side of the tent as they could snap in very high winds. After all, the pole ends are tightened in the tape on the ground as well and have no where to go...

a guyline is tied well enough if you can pull it upwards for two inch with the back of your nail without bending your finger. On release, the line should "snap" back into its original position without moving to and fro enough for you to go and play skip rope...

Post last edited on 15/08/2008 15:13:57

phoennixxs11

15/8/2008 at 9:31pm
Location: Leeds
Outfit: Outwell Elmwood 5a

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Mmmmm interesting i didn't know that either, mine is a tunnel tent, i have issues with structure. All tips and advice are welcome ha ha ha.

funkydelia

16/8/2008 at 9:12am
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Vango Ventura

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On this same thread.....

I don't have a tunnel tent, I have a Vango Ventura 500. I found out (through experience camping in wettest scotland!) that the tunnel shape roof of the living area sags a bit and collects water in puddles which then drips down inside. I so far have only managed to rectify this by pulling the front guys really tight.

Does anyone have another solution to this or is it ok?

bigcrags

16/8/2008 at 9:35am
Location: Crieff Scotland
Outfit: Wild Country Homestead 5

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Tunnels are inherently pretty stable because they are pre-stressed by the action of bending the poles into the U-shape. I've had 4, from a two-person to a 5-person and unless the wind is pushing storm force, the guys are seldom needed.
However, one Vango I had needed the guys just to keep the inner and outer apart. There was only a 2" gap normally but it took really careful pitching to make sure they were not touching then fixing of the guys to hold everything in place as the tent sagged with the rain. No matter how tight I set them I usually ended up with a puddle inside. The tent was a Vango Hurricane Beta!

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Grubby

16/8/2008 at 10:51am
Location: East Yorkshire
Outfit: Outwell minnesota 6

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Thanks for the helpful information! We've had numerous problems with our last tent, Vango, so it went back! We've just put an order in for the outwell wolf lake 7 tunnel tent, and are expecting it sometime Monday or Tuesday next week. We've never had a tunnel tent before, and will find the advice above very useful i'm sure!

Many thanks!!!!

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