This has been the subject of some comical posts over the last couple of years or so.
To my knowledge, everyone just ignores it, because it's damn near impossible to reach it. The man from Vango ignores it too (he told me in an email)
According to the guy that does the tent display in my local camping emporium, it`s vital to do the top tie up in a Diabolo up otherwise the poles can flex too far in windy weather...and as we all know, excessive flexing is one of the top three reasons poles break.
Now I`ve never put a Diabolo up in my life, but tent guy is pretty good at putting up tents so I`d be inclined to remember his opinion if I ever bought one. There has to be some sort of way. Unzip the door and stand on something? Lean it over a bit?
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 26/6/2006
According to the guy that does the tent display in my local camping emporium, it`s vital to do the top tie up in a Diabolo up otherwise the poles can flex too far in windy weather...and as we all know, excessive flexing is one of the top three reasons poles break.
Now I`ve never put a Diabolo up in my life, but tent guy is pretty good at putting up tents so I`d be inclined to remember his opinion if I ever bought one. There has to be some sort of way. Unzip the door and stand on something? Lean it over a bit?
Perhaps you can persuade said guy to come on here to tell us how he does it, because you've got to reach the very top of the dome in the gap between the outer and inner tents. Perhaps a flexible 10ft skeleton might manage it, or maybe a ferret capable of tying knots could prove valuable
The missus has just come in and suggested we might try securing the top tie BEFORE putting the main 3 poles in the pins. Might give it a try, if Peter Crouch isn't camping at the same sites we are this summer.
------------- Given the choice we would rather be camping.
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 26/6/2006
According to the guy that does the tent display in my local camping emporium, it`s vital to do the top tie up in a Diabolo up otherwise the poles can flex too far in windy weather...and as we all know, excessive flexing is one of the top three reasons poles break.
Now I`ve never put a Diabolo up in my life, but tent guy is pretty good at putting up tents so I`d be inclined to remember his opinion if I ever bought one. There has to be some sort of way. Unzip the door and stand on something? Lean it over a bit?
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We were in Wales last week where the wind was forcast at being 60mph (according to the MET office forcast posted on the notice board at the camp site). We did not tie the top tie of Diablo and did not wory about the poles in the main living area over flexing to a point where we thought they might break. We did wory about the portch which on the strong gust compressed the porch by about a foot. But no snapped poles or damage.
Quote: Originally posted by jimandali on 26/6/2006
The missus has just come in and suggested we might try securing the top tie BEFORE putting the main 3 poles in the pins. Might give it a try, if Peter Crouch isn't camping at the same sites we are this summer.
I'd have thought it pretty difficult to do that, because the ties actually tie the outer flysheet to the poles. Are you goung to try to erect both the inner tent and flysheet at the same time ?
Just a thought...can you put a seperate cross tie across the poles to brace them together before you start on the flysheet? I would have thought that would give the necessary strengthening effect without having to involve the flysheet at all. After all, it`s the poled out dome that provides the crucial internal support.