We all know nylon tent canopies stretch when wet, maybe by as much as 3%. I currently have a TT Moment with a few mods. Some are to combat the effects of silnylon's stretchiness when wet, and some just to batten it down in high winds.

Storm & Safety Mods
1. Quick set-up snap attatch TripTease guy cords with small TT type line tighteners (For the two factory tie-out loops on the hoop sleeve.) Mainly for staking out in high winds.

2. Top 1/2 of the canopy coated end-to-end with 5:1 ratio (by volume) odorless mineral spirits and GE silicone caulk. Seems to have less "wet stretch" after I did this.

3. Four perimiter loops of grossgrain ribbon on the hem for staking out in high winds.

4. And finally, I ran my optional "crossing pole" INSIDE the Moment and back out each end for a lot of canopy support, especially if I might get snow. That's the only time I'd carry the extra weight. It does keep the canopy from sagging when wet.

I'd like to somehow run my end tensioning lines inside so I could re-tension it without getting out in the middle of a storm to do it. Maybe rig it around the end stake and back inside... I've already got the hole in each end for my internal crossing pole to do it. Hmmm, micro pulleys...

What are your mods or tricks for keeping your tent taught when wet? Or is your tent designed with enough hoops that you never worry?

Edited by Danepacker on 06/11/2012 21:10:26 MDT.

If you use ClamCleats on your guylinesm, and place them on the tent rather than down near the ground, it may be possible to retension from inside the tent.

If necessary (which is not often), I also might shift the end stakes at the down-wind end of my tunnels, but generally they are put in place at the start with enough tension (4 mm bungee cord loops) to obviate that.

No idea whether this of any help with a TT Moment though.

Cheers

Thanks Roger. I could make up some very short bungee cords on my stake lines. and the CamCleat idea means I could tension and re-tension the cord and the CamCleat would hold that tension.

As you know the TT Moment is essentially a tunnel tent and good in high winds IF you don't let much air get beneath it. Thus my 4 perimeter hem stake loops.

Nuttin' like "belt-and-suspenders" solutions. Or, as the Germans say, "Over engineering is never enough."

Edited by Danepacker on 06/12/2012 16:10:05 MDT.

Is 4mm bungee about the optimum diameter for adding some 'self tensioning' stretch to a guyline?

Hi Dan

> Is 4mm bungee about the optimum diameter for adding some 'self tensioning' stretch to a guyline?
Well, I think Eric's comment about over-engineering might be appropriate here!

It does depend on what sort of tent you have and where you put the bungee cord. I use it on the down-wind end (vestibule) of my tunnel tents, and it is a loop about 6" long of 4 mm bungee at each corner. Yeah, strong. On the windward end I use loops of 3 mm nylon cord: no movement allowed at that end!

But while some lengthwise tension is a good thing on a tunnel, it may not be so good on some other tents or some other places. For instance, I would not use bungee on the side guys on my tunnels. Rather, they get set to the right length for the pole arches and stay that way for the night. Any slackness in the fabric due to water or cold gets taken out lengthwise, by the bungee cord.

Cheers

Hi Eric

> 2. Top 1/2 of the canopy coated end-to-end with 5:1 ratio (by volume) odorless mineral
> spirits and GE silicone caulk. Seems to have less "wet stretch" after I did this.
Hum ... interesting idea.

Cheers