How do you keep the groundsheet pegged down at either side of the entrance? I've used the tent loads of times over the past couple of years, but never once have I managed to keep those two pegs in the ground! I've tried all sorts of pegs and pitched on all types of ground, I've attached the elastic loops at the bottom of the tent, I've forgotten to attach the loops; it makes no difference - out they pop every time!
Went camping again at the weekend and, yup, they were out again, and that was the rockiest ground I've ever tried to peg into.
I suspect that it's something to do with having a wide doorway with no pegs across it. The wind gets underneath the groundsheet and starts lifting it up and down as if it's playing parachute games. From inside I can watch the floor rippling and play Jump the Waves. I think this just works the pegs loose eventually. (All the other groundsheet pegs are fine.) I've been tempted to sew on some kind of tab and eyelet halfway along and peg down the centre of the doorway, only I'm afraid I might just end up with a leaky groundsheet.
Any advice would be welcome!
------------- Sarah
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Sarah, from memory I seem to remember you having a zipped in groundsheet? If thats the case, does the canvas wall have a separate pegging loop from the groundsheet pegging points? I think if you do a trial pitch with the groundsheet unzipped and pegged independently, then that will show where the wind forces are having an effect?
My 3m bell is not sewn in and I have never had pegs pop out but I do have a problem with the door flaps sometimes not reaching far enough to the ground. I was trying to pitch it with the pole vertical on sloping ground when I should have been pitching at right angles to the slope. Maybe that is something to consider as well?
Cant think of much else that would cause that apart from maybe having the guys too tight or not having the tension equally spread between them.
You could try using Delta pegs, as they have a better resistance to vertical lifting. I believe Rob also does another peg for pegging down side walls, but I never contacted him about them. He contacted me when I posted that I used Deltas to peg down the side walls on my frame tents.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
we had a zig bell tent and never had any problems with the pegs coming out, I did think at the time that it could have done with a pegging point in the middle of doorway to keep it flat to the floor, can't think what to suggest
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
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Thanks for the ideas. I might try pegging the walls and groundsheet separately for the front two pegs, Jim. I've always had problems getting the front of the tent low enough but this time I was pleased with the way I'd pitched. Everything was pulled and pegged at the front before the rest of the guys were done and the base of the doorway was at the right level, for once. I noticed I had to bend more than usual to get in the doorway, so the A frame was probably leaning forwards a little. I think there was a very slight upward slope to the ground at the front, which probably helped too.
raf48 - It was actually Rob's delta groundsheet pegs which popped out! No, that's an exaggeration; they lifted an inch out of the ground, goodness knows how as the force was coming from the wrong direction. Perhaps I'll try attaching a loop to the wall loops and peg them with nylon Deltas. That'll sort them!
I agree, Diane. I think the doorway is too wide to be left unpegged. It's odd though because even with the tent hanging loose and no guys pegged out I still can't pull the front pegs down far enough and certainly the loops at the bottom of the doors are way too high to be used. There just seems to be a huge amount of strain at the sides of the door, so I'll have to rethink the pegging at those points.
We have a DuskyDeer bell and they recommend always pegging the elastic loops separately.
Their instructions (here) say this on the issue:
"8) Peg the elastic loops. The elastic loops should be pegged separately using the 3rd set of serrated pegs provided. Pull the elastic loop out away from the ground sheet so that you get a clear overlap and peg down. It is not a good idea to save time by hooking the elastic loop under the same peg you have used to peg down the groundsheet. This causes two problems 1) In soft and/or windy conditions it makes the ground sheet pegs more likely to work themselves loose. 2) It doesnt provide an effective overlap which can cause leaking through the zip."
They do state on their sales pitch that not many bell tent companies sell the third set of pegs as standard with the tent, although looking round that may have changed now.
Also, we do have a groundsheet pegging point in the middle of the doorway. I'm still waiting for the day I exit the tent barefoot and stand on that peg...
*apologies for reviving a really old thread - was browsing the latest posts in one window and looking at bell tent stuff in the other and got confused which was which!
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Quote: Originally posted by NdBuk on 25/6/2018
*apologies for reviving a really old thread - was browsing the latest posts in one window and looking at bell tent stuff in the other and got confused which was which!