I almost feel a bit embarrassed asking this but we are newbies to camping and used our Karma Canvas 5m Bell Tent for the first time last night. We managed to attach the guy lines but am pretty sure we didn't do it correctly so would love some tips.
What's the best knot to use to tie the ropes to the tent?
How exactly do you use the wooden sliders?
Do you pass the ropes through the eye in the metal pegs?
The way we did it, we had to move the knot up and down to adjust tension (think it was a bowline) but I'm assuming the sliders should be used for the tension? Where did we go wrong?
Quote: Originally posted by CrazyEyes on 13/7/2014
How exactly do you use the wooden sliders?
Do you pass the ropes through the eye in the metal pegs?
The way we did it, we had to move the knot up and down to adjust tension (think it was a bowline) but I'm assuming the sliders should be used for the tension? Where did we go wrong?
Sliders (and how to thread them!) have been discussed in this thread.
Use a bowline to tie the guy to the tent to thread a wooden tensioner the line from the ten should go through one hole around the
peg in the ground and then be threaded through the other hole and knotted
Thanks both. That sliders thread is exactly what we needed. It's all so clear now. I'd been searching for guy lines rather than sliders so must have missed it.
We were also doing the bowline knot incorrectly so it should all work a lot better next time!
As an aside, does anyone know of a good camping reference book with basic knots, best practice for pitching a tent, safety etc?
Not much about knots, I'm afraid (I think one or two sources have been recommended in previous threads, if you want to do a Search) but safety advice, and indeed information on many other camping subjects, can be found on the Camping and Carvanning Club website.
Knots website suggestion thanks to hillbillie (posted 07/01/2013).
Uses: The Buntline Hitch was originally employed to secure the buntlines to the foot of the square sails. Repeated shaking and jerking by a flapping sail tended to tighten this knot - hence its value.
I use a buntline hitch for the guys which are left attached to the tent when it is taken down. These are the guys which came with the tent. For extra "storm" guys that I only use in more windy conditions I use a running bowline.