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Diamantina Tent Instructions
If you have lost your instructions for your tent and need assistance, please email info@diamantina.net.au and we will do what we can to help you out.
Please see below general information on caring for your tent. We encourage all tent buyers, particularly novice campers to read this information carefully before and after purchasing a tent. There are hundreds of styles, shapes and sizes of tents to choose from on the market. They are not all the same and have different performance characteristics. Ask questions, seek advice, plan well and you will enjoy your camping trip.
General Hints and Tips
Camping can be so much fun with the right gear and the right know how. Many great family stories and experiences have been shared over the years from the camping grounds of Australia around a camp fire.
However a word of caution to all campers is know your surroundings, your products capabilities, the environment and conditions you are going to face at your campsite before you get there, and be prepared for all things that can happen. The conditions you face will not be the same each time you go camping. You are going to be setting up a temporary shelter to protect you from the elements for your holiday. Temporary shelters are just that, not meant for permanent set up, and can easily be damaged by a variety of factors and conditions that are beyond the control of the manufacturer. Become aware of the things that can occur, seek advice, adopt the practices and ideas listed below. Mother nature makes up her own mind to do as she pleases, and sometimes we are unable to control what will occur regardless of our experience or the product being used. This is part of camping. Camping holidays will occasionally mean you may get dirt between your toes, or a little water behind your ear. With greater diligence in the planning and set up phases of your trip, comes an infinite amount of enjoyment.
SET YOUR TENT UP BEFORE YOU GO AWAY - THIS IS A MUST.
Set your shelter up as a practice run before you go away so you know how things are done. Check everything you need is there. Test it, try it, camp in the back yard with the children for a practice run. All good preparation and experience for the trip ahead. For canvas tents you need to "weather" your tent before you go away (for more information on this - see caring for your canvas tent below). This process is important for your knowledge of the product capabilities and expectations.
Tents come in many shapes and sizes and materials and there are a lot of choices to consider. Choose wisely after doing your research to find the most appropriate tent or shelter for your needs. They are not all the same.
Just like building a house, the quality of the workmanship and materials of what is above the ground is irrelevant if the foundations at ground level are not built correctly. Your shelter can and will fall down if you are not diligent in the set up process, aware of the ground surface, prevailing winds and other environmental factors, and ignore the warning signs.
For example, a sloppy set up where the tent is not taught or tensioned correctly can cause ineffective water drainage and water to pool on the roof. A sloppy set up can catch winds and cause the tent to rattle and shake, damaging frame joints. Excess pressure from over tensioning peg points and the frame can place too much stress on the tent fabric in strong winds and can lead to tearing of materials. This is not a fault of the material. Look for ways to reduce stress on the pressure points of the tent by using springs on guy ropes, bungy cords, and using ALL guy ropes and peg points supplied.
If all of the peg points provided are not used, added stress may be placed onto those few that are used, not using all the guy ropes provided may add stress to the frame in strong winds, using inappropriate pegs in very soft ground may cause the pegs to pull out, setting your tent up at the bottom of a gully may cause water to flow into your campsite rather than away from it, and setting up in a totally unprotected windy area may lead to serious damage in windy conditions. These examples may lead to damage to your shelter.
We recommend campers carry different types of pegs in their camping kit at all times – sand pegs for soft ground, strong steel pegs for hard ground, extra guy ropes, guy rope springs, and seam sealer. You will then be prepared for both soft or hard surfaces as the need arises.
When you arrive at your camp site, choose your site wisely considering the direction of the front door for the morning sun and the predicted wind conditions. Before setting up any tent, check and clear the ground of any sharp objects, rocks and sticks and it is advisable to use a protective ground sheet under your tent. A ground sheet under the floor of your tent will protect the floor against wear and tear and keep it clean and dry. When its time to pack up, the floor of your shelter remains relatively clean and dry, easier to clean and maintain and faster to pack away. No matter what the style of tent or shelter you have, they all need to be anchored and secured well to the ground using EVERY peg point and not just the corners.
For canvas tents, always open a window or door to allow air to fill the tent before trying to lift the tent with the poles. Otherwise a suction effect will occur which may lead to damage. We recommend two people for setting up most tents, particularly the heavier canvas tents.
Once the tent is up, constantly check peg points, the ground surface, guy ropes and anchor points to ensure your tent holds firm, and the correct tension is on the anchor points at all times. This is particularly important if weather conditions are constantly changing, and you are set up in one spot for a number of days. Over tensioning of sections of your tent can cause excess stress and damage, be careful and seek advice from experts if you are unsure.
Always pack pegs, poles and ropes back in the bags provided and not wrapped up with the canopy, to avoid possibility of damaging the canopy.
Always use two hands when you are running zippers. Use your second hand to take the tension off the zipper slide so it can run freely without additional strain.
Always store your shelter in a cool and dry place. Not in the roof of the house, not on a cold cement or damp floor. Off the ground on a shelf or cupboard is ideal. Thoroughly clean and dry the tent before packing away. If you store your tent in a poorly ventilated area, or pack it away damp, mildew can develop which will damage your tent if left untreated for some time.
Be aware of the environment around you - conditions can change quickly - exercise extreme caution when using your tent in unprotected zones such as on a beach front, or a hilltop with no natural wind protection as damage can easily occur. Mother nature can be unpredictable at times. When you combine changing weather conditions with a lack of experience or product knowledge, what can result is an unpleasant experience for everyone.
Use a silver coated flysheet or tarp over the roof of your tent to provide added insulation - this keeps the tent cooler in the sun, providing more shade, and keeps the tent cleaner. For the best results, ensure there is an air gap between the roof of your tent and the top of the flysheet.
Look out for the lay of the land and the direction of water drainage and flow on the ground if heavy rains occur. Have a folding shovel in your kit to dig a drainage trench around your tent to guide the water away if necessary.
Do not cook inside your tent, or have any source of flame close to your tent. Camp fires should be set up a distance away from your tent to avoid hot embers blowing on to your tent.
Consider extending your insurance to cover your camping gear in the event of accidental damage or storm damage.
CARING FOR YOUR CANVAS TENT
Your new Diamantina or Campmor Canvas tent has been made using the best materials available. Each tent has been carefully designed and made to provide exceptional service to you, using only the best possible materials, techniques, machinery and workmanship available. Follow these care instructions and your tent will give you many years of great service.
WARNING
All tents need to be firmly secured to the ground to reduce tent damage from winds. Ensure all available peg points are used and firmly secured. Use all guy rope attachment points provided. In wet weather, close or peg down the window flaps and angle the side awning poles lower to create effective water drainage on the awning to avoid water pools forming. Water pools can stretch the materials and if allowed to continue may collapse and damage the tent. Keep all flame and heat sources away from this tent fabric. The fabric is resistant to flame however is not fireproof and will burn if in continuous contact with flame. It is not recommended to use open flame or gas cookers inside your tent, and ensure all campfires are lit well away from the tent.
AT HOME
Set up your new tent at home before your camping trip to check it is complete. The Diamantina and Campmor range of canvas tents are made from very heavy duty materials. For materials of this grade, it is common they make leak through the seams when they are new, particularly where the canvas material is sewn to PVC or webbing peg points. So it is important to "Weather" these tents before use.
This involves soaking your tent with water. This process allows the water to soak in and the seams and canvas will swell and tighten. Allow the tent to dry thoroughly. It is the drying process that tightens the seams. Once dry repeat the weathering process again to test if there are any leaks. If leaks are still occurring, allow the tent to dry thoroughly again and then use the wax stick provided with the tent to coat over the seams on the inside of the tent where the leaks are occurring. For the best results do not apply the wax sealer or seam sealer treatments on the seams until the seams are totally dry. This process is particularly important for heavy duty canvas tents like the Campmor range, as the thicker the material, the more time is required to allow the canvas to dry and seal thoroughly. Once this process is complete and the tent is totally dry, your tent can be packed away and is ready for use.
All tents can leak through stitching holes and no tent can be guaranteed 100% waterproof. Quality treatments have been used to waterproof the canvas of your tent, however all fabrics reach a level of saturation at some point. Certain conditions such as strong winds and driving rains can sometimes cause unavoidable leakage. To reduce the chances of leaks, avoid prolonged contact of any object against your tent. Never overstretch your tent, as too much tension may cause the seams to open.
CONDENSATION
Under certain conditions such as cold weather and high humidity, condensation may form on the inside surfaces of your tent. It is caused by water vapour that cannot escape from the tent. Sources are your breath, perspiration, wet clothing inside the tent, excessive moisture in the air, high humidity, it is NOT LEAKAGE through the tent fabric. To reduce condensation, provide as much ventilation through the tent as possible and remove the sources of moisture from the tent.
PEG REMOVAL
NEVER pull the tent pegs from the ground by pulling on the tent material or peg loops. YOU WILL TEAR YOUR TENT. Use another tent peg to lift the peg out of the ground.
FABRIC CARE
Tents are not designed or warranted for semi or permanent accommodation. They are intended for short holiday use only. Prolonged exposure in direct sunlight will shorten the life of the material. Avoid spraying your tent with insecticides, as some sprays contain chemicals, which destroy your tents waterproof coatings. Keep your tent clean using water and a mild soap if necessary. Never use washing detergents or bleach.
Canvas tents are made differently and coated differently to synthetic tents. The nature of canvas raw material weaving requires thread joins from time to time to appear on fabric rolls, as the canvas is a blend of natural and synthetic raw materials. These thread joins may appear from time to time as a visual blemish in the finished materials. They are not a fabric fault but part of the normal raw material weaving process for canvas, and will not impact the performance of the tent.
PACKING YOUR TENT AWAY
Pack your tent away in the exact reverse order to setting it up. The poles of the tent are removed before pegs are taken out and gradually the tent is lowered down to ground level. Close zippers to windows and doors.Remove the pegs and fold the tent neatly to fit into the carry bag. Roll the tent up and wipe off any dirt to keep your tent clean and dry. Avoid packing pegs or poles with the tent as this may cause damage to the fabric. Never leave a wet tent packed in its bag for any longer than 24 hours. Mildew can develop in wet tents if they are stored wet. Symptoms of mildew are a musty smell and black spot stains. Should mildew occur, address it immediately by airing the tent, and cleaning it with water and soap. If this does not remove the mildew, contact your camping store immediately for advice. Always store your tent in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated location to avoid moisture getting in to your tent.
ZIPPERS
All zippers are self-repairing zippers. For minor separations, run the zip past the trouble spot and re-run the zip again to repair itself. To reduce strain on the zipper, always use two hands when pulling on the zip slide. Zippers may be damaged if they are placed under excess stress. Metal zippers may also corrode if exposed to salty air conditions, therefore regular cleaning and maintenance is required. At times wind driven rain could force water under the flaps and through zippers as zippers are not waterproof.
FLOOR
The floor of your tent has the greatest exposure to wear and tear. It is important to clear the area of rocks and sticks before pitching your tent. Placing a groundsheet under the floor will also protect your tent and extend its life.
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