Message Forums

Hi,
Until the recent purchase of an Outwell Carolina 3 been used to old canvas tent with a skirt and no SIG. I pegged out footprint and pitched tent over the top but it seems although I have to pitch out 6" or so bigger than the footprint to get rid of creases etc. Should the ring and pin poles be just off the edge of the footprint or just be in a position to keep things taught? Any help on the finer art of pegging out without creases would be really helpful.

I don't have the footprint but you do have to stretch the Carolina 3 flysheet as taut as possible because with only two poles it's stability relies to a great extent on the flysheet being stretched, guyed, and pegged firmly. Also, the large windows get very creased when it is packed and these need to be stretched taut to straighten them out and give clear visibility.

However there is no need to overdo it. It is heavy material and especially when windy, almost impossible to get it really taut. Just pull it reasonably tight, there will always be creases in it.

With regards to the poles, once I have the tent erected and pegged, I have found the steel poles can be slightly bent and under some pressure. I lift the end of each pole so that it relieves the strain and allows them to sit where they want to go before I peg them down. 

I've just got a new tent and bought the footprint groundsheet to go with it.  Upon pitching it last weekend for the first time, I noticed that the pegs that came with the footprint had a 'ring' instead of the usual hook. 

I wondered why this was, and after we'd finished pitching the tent, it occurred to me that maybe the tent pegs are meant to actually go through the 'ring' top of the footprint tent hooks to provide a perfect fit on top of the footprint. Is this the case? Thanks!