Getting To Know Your Tent!

Happy Camper Rules! Heidi Hi!

• Read & understand the tent instructions before use.
• If you have any queries please contact Winfields Megastore who will be more than happy to advise you.
• Please be aware that it is potentially dangerous to use naked flames in or near tents.
• Nylon/polyester Tents need particular attention around the seams & hanging points. Although they may have taped seams they may still require sealing (depending on the design) on inner tent hanging points etc. Seal on the inside of the tent & allow to cure for 48 hours before wrapping the tent up.
• Inner Tent floors in Dome or Ridge Tents are usually made from Nylon or Polyester. These materials can be porous, therefore it is important to put a sheet between the ground & the underside of the inner tent. This will protect from leakage, sharp objects & mud. Some manufacturers supply purpose made protection sheets as an optional extra. A groundsheet cut slightly smaller than the outline of your tent is adequate.
• Check the weather forecast before departure. Avoid extreme or bad weather if at all possible. Your tent is a temporary lightweight shelter, not a gale proof submarine. If you have the right equipment & are experienced enough it is possible to survive all but the very worst weather.
• Always carry spares including: a selection of tent pegs to cope with different terrain. E.g. sand, soft or hard ground, plus any spares particular to your tent. Extra tent guyline, tent pegging rubbers, tent seam sealant, patch kits should all be part of your survival kit.
• Enjoy your adventure & don't forget to read our check list to make sure you have got everything you need for your trip.

   

  Useful points to remember about your Tent

• Don't leave your tent wrapped up damp or wet for most than 12 hours. You run the risk of the canvas shrinking in the case of cotton tents. If the damp tent is either cotton or nylon it will become mildewed & if left it will rot. To dry the tent out it is advisable to peg the tent out properly to prevent shrinkage & mildew.
• Never over tension mud flaps or inner tent pegging points. They add nothing to the structural integrity of the tent & are easily ripped.
• Don't pull on the mud flaps when pegging out your tent as PVC has a low tear resistance when sewn onto other materials.
• If you are a relatively inexperienced camper it is inadvisable to attempt to pitch or take down a tent in windy conditions. The risk of structural damage to an unsecured tent in windy conditions is greatly increased.
• Dirt, stains & birdlime can be removed by either brushing or by the application of a wind specialist tent clean solution. NEVER use detergents, you will remove the tent waterproofing & severely effect the strength of the tent material. Small aerosols of waterproofing fluid are useful for reproofing any areas that have been cleaned.
• Zips: Never attempt to close the zips without first pulling both sides of the material together. This is particularly important when the material is wet or damp & temporarily releasing a tent peg to remove tension is preferable to damaging the zip teeth or runner. Zips give lengthy service if treated properly & are not subjected to undue strain. When pegging out zips always get into the habit of cross pegging the peg points at the bottom of the zip. This helps to relieve the tension on the zip NB ALL ZIPS LEAK.
• In prolonged rain it is important that the tent is pitched ensuring the chaffing bands of the canvas are correctly sited on the framework & that no objects are in contact with the inside of the material otherwise a capillary action may occur resulting in a leak.

   

  Fibre Glass Tent Poles

  If Fibre Glass Tent Polework is over tensioned it will split. Winfields Megastore advise you to purchase spare sections, should you split a tent pole and have no spares it is possible to make a splint with electrical or gaffer tape & a length of tubing, cane or wood etc. Remember your tent poles are what supports your tent, always treat them with care.

   

  Tent Condensation

  This is caused by moisture in the atmosphere, respiration & perspiration by the occupants. The moisture in the air comes into contact with the colder fabric & framework & condenses into water droplets. This is not to be confused with the tent leaking. On the contrary the problem is caused by water trying to get out of the tent rather than trying to leak in. Taking the following precautions can reduce tent condensation.

   

• Adequate tent ventilation.
• If possible (weather permitting) avoid cooking in the tent.
• Where possible avoid storing wet/damp clothing or equipment in the tent.
• Use a groundsheet in the living area of the tent, this reduces the amount of moisture rising out of the ground.
• Always take the opportunity to air sleeping bags when the sun is out. Sleeping bags tend to store moisture from their owners.
• Avoid activities which raise the levels of respiration & perspiration in the tent!!!

   

  Tent Waterproofing

  No tent made to date has been completely waterproofed. Tents are made from breathable synthetic or natural fibres & as such have certain, varied limitations. E.g. if a material is designed to withstand a water pressure of 2000mm (by Hydrostatic Head Test), In a heavy down pour the pressure may exceed the design pressure of the material. You may find that droplets appears on the framework or in particularly heavy rain a fine misting effect appears on the underside of the roof material. That said, most materials will cope with most of the conditions most of the time. A tent (providing the weather process has been properly done) should not need reproofing for the first couple of seasons. Considering it's an inexpensive operation to reproof a tent, a few pounds would purchase enough Nikwax, Fabsil or Mesowax to reproof a 6-berth frame tent, we would recommend you reproof your tent every two or three seasons. Reproofing also helps slow down the UV degradation & can slow down mildew forming on your tent.

   

  How to weather a storm in your Tent

• Always go well prepared. Make sure your tent is in sound condition. Pay particular attention to tent pegging & guying points.
• Always carry plenty of spare pegging rubbers & a selection of different types of tent pegs for varied ground conditions. You can never have too many, the bigger the better.
• Always watch the weather, you're about to commit yourself to the great outdoors. Pay particular attention to wind speed & direction. Always take a compass so you can establish the likely direction the wind will blow from. Point the back of the dome tent or the back corner of a frame tent into the wind & use any natural shelter to your own advantage.
• When setting up camp always choose firm ground where available. This gives the tent pegs plenty of grounding & reduces the risk of the tent coming adrift.
• Where possible use the lie of the land to your advantage, look for natural windbreaks i.e. trees, dry stone walls or even park your car at the back of your tent. If you are in a situation where there is no natural shelter or the wind swings round to hit the front of the tent, remove any sun canopies, double peg the front & make sure the door is zipped & cross pegged at the bottom.

   

  The object of this Tent Information Guide is to bring your attention to the mistakes people make when they are new campers. In most cases equipment is damaged due to a human error & not the fault of the equipment. Stick to the rules & you will get years of good service out of your tent equipment. Thank you