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Hi all,

I'm not a complete novice at camping or caravanning... However, I have either had very bad luck or I am just hopeless... (So the wife claims).

Ever walked past a similar tent that you have got, and it looks like it has just been ironed? I look at mine, and it looks like that it has been in a crease fight and lost. I then make some modifications and start pulling on guide ropes, and get them so taught that I could start my own orchestra. Or is it just me?

I had the same problem when I had my Caravan with the awning... Ha! Awning is that what you call it... Trust me I had several favourite names for my awning especially the ones I used whilst I was putting the thing up.

Anyway, diverting from the point here and want to make sure that you peeps haven't yet drifted off to sleep.

So to the point!

Kids are no longer kids, so I mentioned to the wife about camping and she made some provisos,

1/ No more swearing at a piece of cloth

2/ No more SWEARING AT A PIECE OF CLOTH

3/ all of the above

I Agreed... So I thought ahh, I will do some homework to find that perfect tent. So with the keyboard at hand I searched and took in what other people claim that is a good all-rounder and looked at a Gelert Meridian 8 birth (yes 8 birth) for the 2 of us, it was in a sale and was cheaper than some others I looked at.

Before I hit the pay me now button... I wanted to make sure that I will not have any problems and I searched the internet and found on YouTube had a video on how to put a Meridian 10. Well, I was so excited (I suppose its an age thing, but it might just be me) watched the video and within 5 mins a fully grown tent! WOW...
Then is struck me, I better not tell anyone that I watched actually a 5 min video on someone putting up a tent, I felt quite nerdish (apologies for any nerds out there, but I think you know what I mean).

So I bit the bullet, brought it, and as the weekend was scorchio! I put it up. And to my suprise,  it looked like... Well, a ripe old peach that has been sunbathing in Barbados, next to a burning building for 10 weeks would have fewer wrinkles in it, so I just made up my mind and claim that I have just brought another duff tent that has one side longer than the other.  The wife still thinks I am hopeless, but this is another storey!

Can anyone give me any advice what should be done first?

Sorry to go on... But this is my first post...

Thanks

James

we have always had the HiGear Kalahari 10 which is the same tent(ish), would hate it to sound like i am teaching you to suck eggs, but try going back to basics, a couple of ideas, make sure all the sections are pulled out taught from the base,  ensure the guys go inline with the seams they are sewn onto.