About this item

Troubleshooting Guide 

 here was water inside my tent or my sleeping bag/clothes on the edges are damp, is my tent leaking/defective? Your tent is not leaking- what you are experiencing is condensation forming on the inside of the tent due to a lack of ventilation and high humidity inside the tent and difference in temperature between the outside and inside of the tent. This can happen in any tent, even if it's not raining. The warm water vapor from one's breath and body heat can condense and form water droplets as it comes into contact with the cool tent fabric. Additionally, wet clothes or gear inside the tent create such warm water vapor. Try cracking a window, opening peak vents, removing wet items and checking to make sure rain fly guy lines and ground vents are properly secured to keep air flowing through the tent so that condensation is minimized. Tent Care and Cleaning Tips • Do not snap poles together. Expend poles section by sections. Using care here will greatly extend the life of your poles, aiding in splintering protection and keeping the structure of your tent sturdy. When collapsing your sock-corded poles, collapse them near the center first to ease the stress on the cord. Try to avoid pulling the poles as this can tear the shock-cord or the tent body. Often it is easier to push the pole through the pole sleeve. • If your tent will be set up for a week or longer, it may be wise to place the tent where it may get an ideal amount of shade from the surrounding area. In order to extend the life of your tent, avoid extended UV exposure. UV rays can damage all fabrics over time. If there is no shade available, your rainfly will help protect the body of your tent from damage by the elements. • Sweep out your tent. Make sure that rocks, leaves, dirt and branches are all out of the tent before packing it. • If at all possible, only take down your tent when it is completely dry after a rainstorm or morning dew. Wait until it dries, so you will not have to worry about drying the tent at a later time. • You can use a sponge and mild soap to wipe off a dirty tent. Do not use a washing machine to clean your tent. And always let it air dry before re-packing. • Your tent must be stored dry. If you must close camp in the rain, open your tent and set it up as soon as possible to avoid mildew and odors. When your tent is stored between camping trips, a cool, dry place is ideal. • Depending upon the temperature and climate, your tent may gather some moisture on the inside. This can usually be avoided by opening the tent to allow ventilation. The easiest way to ventilate is to open all nylon windows and allow the screen to protect you when possible. Please note that if you are in inclement weather, condensation is not leakage. • Under hard ground conditions, stakes may bend. Tent stake replacements are available, but not always handy at a campsite. A tent may also be tied using guylines, to rocks or other stable objects as a temporary fix. • Do not pull up stakes with the tent body or stake loop. Use a stake puller or the end of a mallet to remove stubborn stakes. Ripped stake loops can be sewn into the tent again, but be sure to seam seal the stitching. • Coleman zippers are self-repairing. Fit the coils into the zipper slider and slide it to fit. Additional Tent Care Tips Give Air an Escape Route Open doors and windows in order to allow air to escape as the tent is collapsed. Letting the air escape as the tent is collapsed will make rolling and storing it easier. Rolling the tent toward the open doors and windows will help too. Fold Your Tent It may be easier to fold the tent along original fold lines. However, after a few years, this becomes more difficult as the lines fade. A good rule of thumb is to fold the tent about the same length as the tent poles before you roll it up. Store Your Tent Roll your tent lightly and neatly with poles and stakes (in their bags) rolled into the tent body. This technique uses the tent poles as a structure to help roll the tent. A slow, tight roll of the tent is one of the easiest ways to compact the tent for an easy fit into the storage bag.