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 Topic: Advice please on Footprint
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16/7/2015 at 9:23pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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In general terms, I totally, utterly, 100%, without any doubt whatsoever, wholeheartedly, unequivocally agree with Bob.
Keep the (non-breathable) footprint, and reduce it's size* by either double folding and (Gorilla) taping (This will keep the eyelets in place around the edge), or by cutting. Aim for 3"-4" inside the perimeter of the tent base. so not only rain, but also any dew trickling down the flysheet can drip on top of the footprint.
A breathable footprint may give protection against sharps etc, but if water can drain downwards through it, I guess it could just as easily get drawn upwards. That may subsequently drain away again, but I'd imagine any mud/dirt will stay on the underside of your SIG (or ZIG), rendering the whole point of a footprint useless (apart from the aforementioned protection against sharps, so maybe not the whole point!!)
*Denotes:
Of course, if the footprint was already the right size, and the water was due to the ground actually flooding, say an inch or more of standing water, then yes, you would have ultimately been better without a footprint, or even with a breathable one, as the water could have drained away, and the tent groundsheet would have got dirty anyway... but how often do we experience such extremes? 3 years and counting for me, and not experienced it yet... touch wood!
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18/7/2015 at 7:42am
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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Quote: Originally posted by duffs54 on 17/7/2015Took awhile to understand the drawing lol, got it nowthanks again chaps 
I've seen gorilla tape in B&Q
Sorry! Yes you have to fold the "Z", then tape one side, before turning the whole thing over, then taping that side. If at all possible, to make life easier and the finish neater, get someone to pull from each end as it's folded, and walk along the fold(s) to give it a sharper crease, as it will try to spring open on itself!
Tape the full run, and rip it off a little long, then fold back under to the other side.
When both sides are done, make sure the ends are fully covered by tape, so no water can squeeze in between the "pleat".
Obviously, when the width is sorted, you can repeat the whole process across it, so as to shorten the length too, of required.
Keeping the fold/crease where you want it as you tape up, is by far the hardest part. Suggest a few short bits of tape to "tack" it in position.
Once all done, try and fold/roll the footprint (for packing away) in such a way as to not have the tape running down a fold, to avoid straining the tape. For this reason, I'd position your newly taped folds off centre. (You should get a guide of where to fold it by looking at the existing creases you already have in it, and avoiding them).
I assure you, it's a lot easier to do than it is to try and explain in writing. I managed to do our Filey footprint (c.7m x 4m) and our Frinton footprint (Folded down from a wider/longer Icarus footprint) on my own, on the lawn.
PS:
Don't forget... if, for example, you want to reduce the size by 4", that "Pleat" only wants to be 2" wide, as you lose that amount twice, so to speak!
PPS:
When the whole thing is done, before folding and packing away, walk all over the taped area, to effectively apply pressure to the tape (turnover to repeat both sides). Particularly if this has been done on bouncy grass, as opposed to a nice firm flat solid floor.
Mine has stayed 100% in place since first doing it, so around two and a half years thus far... including snow, ice, and general winter weather!
Post last edited on 18/07/2015 07:55:57
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Campervan:
Give us chance!
Tent:
July 2012-Dec 2024: 456 nights.
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