New Tent Information Sheet - For Air Frame Tents
Using & Caring For Your New Air Frame Tent or Awning
Please take the time to read this sheet as it contains important information
To help you enjoy your purchase we ask you to take a few minutes to read this information sheet, together with any manufacturer’s instructions provided with your Tent or Awning.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with your new Air tent or Awning and therefore advise you to erect your tent as soon as possible. We can only accept a tent for exchange as new within 14 days of Purchase. The tent or awning must be returned in a clean, dry and unused condition in its original packaging.
As soon as possible check your tent is complete by unpacking it on a clean, dry and dust free surface. You should check that all the components are supplied and that they are undamaged. Again tents returned as damaged should be returned in a clean and dry condition.
Once you are happy the tent is complete, fully pitch your tent following the manufacturer’s instructions supplied. You should always practice pitching your tent before you 1st camping Trip. There is nothing worse than struggling to pitch an unfamiliar tent under the gaze of fellow campers.
Please Note: - Air tents or Awnings may require adjustments to the Air Pressure during use.
The Pressure in the Tubes of your Air Tent or Awning will increase or decrease with changes in atmospheric air temperature you should therefore monitor the Air Tubes to ensure the correct pressure is maintained. For Example- If you erect your Tent or Awning during the morning or on an overcast Day to the Maximum recommended pressure as advised by the manufacturer, that pressure will increase as the Air Temperature increases during the day, making the air tubes more rigid and increasing the risk of the tubes rupturing. Similarly if you inflate the tubes to the maximum pressure during a hot sunny day, the pressure will decrease in the evenings or as the temperature drops, making the air tubes less rigid.
The Manufacturers recommended pressure should therefore be seen as the maximum pressure and you should generally use a lower pressure to account for the factors highlighted above.
Once pitched for the 1st time your tent needs to be weathered. This involves wetting the flysheet of the tent. This can be by wetting the tents flysheet using a fine spray from a hosepipe or just letting nature do its work. Weathering tightens the fibres of the tents flysheet and is especially important with a Canvas or Polycotton tent. (NO Tent will become fully weather proof until it has gone through a cycle of getting wet and drying out several times).
With Polyester tents it also allows you to check there are no leaks along the seams .All seams on a polyester tent need to be sealed. This is because polyester is a manmade fabric and unlike Cotton the Fibres do not expand when wet. Therefore most seams will have been sealed by the manufacturer with a heat sealed plastic strip applied over the seams. It is often not possible for the manufacturers to seal all seams and you should apply a proprietary seam sealant over any seams not sealed (We recommend Stormsure). It is also possible for the manufacturer’s heat sealed tape to come away from the seams and again these should be repaired by applying seam sealant.
Ensure your tent is fully dried before packing it away; you are now ready to enjoy many holidays in your tent.
Polyester tents WILL experience condensation in use and this should not be confused for a leaking tent. Always ensure adequate ventilation especially overnight by using the vents incorporated into your tent. You should not use naked flames or cooking appliances in any Polyester Tents or Awnings.
NOTE: Due to nature of the product Tents are temporary structures and care should be exercised that they are erected, following the manufacturer instructions. Most damage is caused by the Weather and incorrect pitching. This damage is NOT covered by the manufacturer warranty and it is recommended you TAKE OUT INSURANCE to cover damage caused to your Tent and Camping Equipment.
Take care to pitch your tent on a soft flat surface. Do not pitch on rocky ground as this will damage the groundsheet.
- Use all the pegging points and make sure to peg out all the guy lines even in fine conditions. Use the correct pegs for the ground. Manufacturers only supply basic steel pegs. We recommend you purchase a variety of pegs to suit the different ground type you will encounter. (Hard Ground Pegs etc. Again any good camping shop will advise)
- Take care when pitching especially during windy conditions. (Peg it down!)
- Always ensure your tent is packed away Clean and dry.
Tent 1st Aid
Any Tears to a Canvas tent can easily repaired using the most rudimentary patch of canvas sewn over the tear. Proof the repaired area using a proprietary proofer. (Fabsil or Storm is recommended. Storm make water based proofer which can be applied to wet canvas, this is especially useful for emergency reproofing)
Tears to Polyester tents can be repaired using a seam sealer/adhesive (we recommend Stormsure) for smaller holes/tears. Larger holes/tears can be repaired using a piece of polyester glued in place using a seam sealer/adhesive. You can also purchase self adhesive repair patches.
Broken Fibreglass poles are by far the biggest problems reported. It is a sensible precaution to carry 1 or 2 spare poles as part of your camping equipment. Take care when dealing with a broken Fibreglass pole as the edges will be sharp and can splinter. Broken poles can be temporarily repaired by making a splint out of a tent peg (If necessary cut of the top of the tent peg to prevent it damaging the tent fabric) which is bound to the fibreglass pole using adhesive or repair tape.
It is advisable to carry a tent 1st Aid Kit consisting of:-
- Reproofer (Spray can or a small trigger spray).
- Seam Sealer/Adhesive (Stormsure or similar)
- Some canvas or polyester repair patches.
- Needle and cotton.
- Repair Tape. (Duck Tape or Electrical tape)
- Spare Fibreglass Pole(s)
- Spare Pegs and guy line
We hope that be following these few simple guidelines you will get maximum pleasure from your tent or Awning and enjoy many years of camping.
OBI Camping & Leisure