Camping Tents Pre-Season Checklist
(News archive - January 23rd 2009)
- Check & Check Again - first and foremost, are all the components of your tent in the bag? Before you go away on your next trip, you should check that you didn't leave anything behind on your last outing. We frequently receive emergency calls from customers who have arrived on site only to find their groundsheet, inner tent and sometimes flysheet missing! One easily forgotten but essential part of a tent is the guyline. It's probably the most inconspicuous component of any tent but should you get caught in bad weather, those simple pieces of string can transform a jelly into grandma's bread pudding!
- Pack Spares - When you have checked your tent is complete, prepare for the worst and put together a pack of spares just in case. Include plenty of pegs, rubbers, guylines and guyline adjusters and try to take some spare poles. This may not be easy if the tent is made up of lots of individual pole variations but if you only have a couple of individual pole sizes it can be done. Shock cord is frequently over-looked, this is the elastic cord that runs through the middle of fibreglass poles and keeps them together. Also pack a tent repair kit and some repair tape.
- Poles - so you didn't leave your poles behind on your last trip but have you checked to see what condition they are in? Steel and alloy poles could develop splits or bends in them that could seriously limit performance when it matters most. Check the ends of fibreglass poles to see if there are any cracks. Once a fibreglass pole has started to crack it will need replacing. Pole kits are available in different diameters from our online shop.
- Wear & Tear - check for holes and tears in the fabric, paying particular attention to seams that maybe coming undone. These issues can quickly become worse when out in poor weather and if you don't check before you leave for your holiday, you may well regret it.
- Mould & Mildew - one common problem with winter storage is the presence of mould and mildew. Packing a tent away in hurry often means we forget to dry it out properly. Any mould or mildew needs to be treated as soon as possible to prevent spreading. Ideally place the tent in direct sunlight as this tends to kill of the spores, once the tent is dry check to see if the material has been damaged to such an extent that no further action can be taken. Assuming the tent is okay, treat with a Fabsil or similar aerosol to protect and reproof.
The TENT MEDIC
As of February, our new TENT MEDIC repairs and spares department will be officially opened.
After a complete overhaul we will be providing a number
of services including fibreglass pole repairs and replacements,
canvas repairs and alterations, including general stitching
and repairs to zips. We will also be advertising our
stock of complete pole sets and canvases for a selection
of the tents we have stocked over the last couple of
years.
Our entire stock of repair and replacement parts will
be available via the website and can be shipped via
mail order. We will also be providing a new "by
post" pole repair service where you can send us
your broken fibreglass poles and we will repair and
send the polework back to you.
If you have a problem with your tent, awning or trailer
tent we aim to be able to sort it out for you to keep
your tent going as long as possible to make sure you
get the best out of your investment.
Email tents@camperlands.co.uk for further information about TENT MEDIC.