Centre Pole Tents In Wind

My centre pole tent has a built in shock absorber for windy weather. The wife and I got caught in a heck of a stormin Geraldton years ago and it was fine.

I've had two centre poles & both have been fine & great tents, & have been through some great storms without a problem. However the new one had a PVC fitting with wing nut that would not hold tension on the centre pole went back to a steel nut with tension bolt & have had no problems.

it's called cold weather and old age (wink, wink...)

Or Willems "rope".

it could be worse, I once helped a friend chase her dome tent down the track.

cackles

Hi all
Have a 6m x 4m PVC tarp heavy duty with 20 perimeter poles & 2 centre poles with a tire down flap on centre poles to fit rope to ground peg supports all with plastic base plates, have no problem on beach camps ,I use the yellow plastic sand pegs.
Note ( I also clip tarp to rear of truck )

We have an older centre pole 'touring' tent. Had some s/steel rings sewn in at each corner at the top of the sides. If big winds around- we use guy ropes down to the corner pegs. Stops the rocking and movement. OK in the Tassie westerlies.

G'Day,

Most touring type tents these days come with a side pole option. I have used both and find the side pole much better for both high winds and for keeping floor space. Check the size of your tent, you may find a side pole kit available to suit
Regards
Rolande

Yep had your probem and have occasionally used a second pole alongside first. I have rings sewn into top external corners but rarely use them. The tent came with the spring loaded type centre pole but it did not allow the tent to be fully raised and allowed too much sag. Two poles sounds odd but it works really well and allows quick 'middle of the night' first response to storm.

Cheers
Chris

Thanks for all the replies! I switched the centre pole with another pole I had on hand and the pole didn't slip much / lose its height. I also do have the side-pole kit, so will try that as well.

Regards,

garbage

Hi garbage

centre pole tents usually siffer from another problem - the pole comes out of the hole in the centre and make another in the roof - dont know if it has happend to you.

Solution - half a tennis ball with a hole in it for the pole and a split pin through a hole in the pole tip to stop it coming off. Also helps to stop the rain coming down the centre pole.

Another problem is the spring loded and rigid poles either dont put enough tension on the roof and walls or they slip overnight.

Solution - drill a hole through the centre pole in a couple of places (different tension) and put a split pin or a nail through the inner and outer - halves dont slide any more.

As others have suggested tethers on the roof rim can be an asset as well - without it they fly pretty well.

Hope this helps

smort

Hi,

Short answer "Yes" we had/have the same problem with our 20 odd year old Boots Great Outdoors centre post "witch hat " tent. Easy to fix.... There are 2 parts to the pole one bigger, one lesser in diametre. Set the tent up in your garden and mark a spot on the less er diameter section where the bigger diametre slides across when locked.

Take the post out and the sections apart and drill a 2mm hole through both walls of the lesser diametre one.. Reassemble the post and extent until the holes are just visible and slide a long shanked pop rivet or a nailthrough both holes. PS add extra holes 25mm above or below to allow for times when the tent is wet and doesn't seem to want to go up as far as when it was dry.

Our locking mechanism went togod after about 10 years and the nail has worked ever since. How we rejoice that our "old witches hat" dances all night in a wind with never any damage whilst the new light weight fabric tents fare less well.

Regards
SKI'er