Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Camping It Up => Topic started by: Wobbly John on 29 May, 2020, 01:44:31 pm

Title: Tent pole bent ferrules
Post by: Wobbly John on 29 May, 2020, 01:44:31 pm
After camping out in the garden for the last couple of nights, I found my cheapo Aldi tent had split a pole. I decided to replace the GRP ones with alloy ones (as I have a stock of scrap ones.

However, the alloy poles turned out to be stiffer than GRP ones and the steel 'bent tube' ferrules deformed (they bent much more than they ought).

Has anybody come up with a better replacement for these, ofr a way of manufacturing stronger ones?
Title: Re: Tent pole bent ferrules
Post by: Wobbly John on 30 June, 2020, 02:48:01 pm
Thanks for all the helpful advice. I think I have remedied the problem this morning.

I found a couple of M6 bolts with about 50mm of thread, bent them to the approximate angle, cut the head off and cleaned the thread up. I then took the ferrules out of a few scrap tent poles and tapped them M6 (they are only just under 6mm ID, so the thread isn't full depth). I screwed a ferrule onto each end of the bent bits of M6 bolt and tweaked the angle. A couple ferrule-less bits of tube were cut from scrap tent poles, and I had a quick try out with the inner - All seems okay.  :D

I just need to find a bit of plastic tube to cover the few mm of bent threaded rod, and act as a stop for the poles, Then I can epoxy elastic in the new, bent, internal-ferrules to complete the job.

Pictures hopefully when I am able to complete and try it out properly.  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Tent pole bent ferrules
Post by: Canardly on 30 June, 2020, 03:21:48 pm
Pics please. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Tent pole bent ferrules
Post by: Wobbly John on 05 July, 2020, 10:19:50 am
Pics please. :thumbsup:

Well, as it was gusty winds last night, I decided to try it out. I still haven't done the elastic in the poles, and I'm not completely happy with the PVC tube covers on the ferrules...

But here's a quick review of the Aldi one-man tent

A few years ago, Aldi had some one-man tents at £19.99. I was tempted, and when they reduced them to £12.99, I gave in and bought one. Some people got them at £7.99!  :o

The tent is a one-pole,  coffin shaped, side entry, inner first tent. The inner is mostly mesh. it's just about high enough to sit up in, and lying flat, feet and head will almost touch the ends if you're 6' 2":

(https://i.ibb.co/PrgFXQW/P1100662.jpg)

This makes it somewhere between tent, tarp and bivvy camping.

The flysheet ties on the pole (and here's a close-up of the new ferrule)

(https://i.ibb.co/bg2x1tg/P1100661.jpg)
...and pegs out wider to give room for stowing gear/panniers underneath.

(https://i.ibb.co/Zhf30zs/P1100656.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/VNs1pSs/P1100657.jpg)

I have added an extra pole and guy-rope to the kit so that I can have an open porch to sit/cook/faff under:
(https://i.ibb.co/Mnfjzn7/P1100658.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/mF1gfnb/P1100659.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/3NnfpF0/P1100660.jpg)

The tent is quite light:

My adapted poles (including porch pole): 265g
Inner & fly                                            : 1000g
Pegs                                                    : 206g

About 1.5kg inc bag!  :D

Packed it's 400mm x 130 x 130mm  :thumbsup:
(https://i.ibb.co/FsT7Zvq/P1100664.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/QjtJPcy/P1100666.jpg)

Drawbacks are:
The elastic tie-outs are crap and have been replaced.
It is almost impossible to get taut.
The mesh hangs in your face (yes, I have done the peg-out adaption to improve this).
I have swapped out the original poles and pegs.

On the plus side:
It was cheap
It isn't a garish colour.  :thumbsup:

I've used this tent on one YACF campout, at Wing, and it stayed completly dry inside after the torrential downpour/storm we got caught in during the ride.  ::-)

I slept well in it last night, but only after getting up to take windchimes down.  >:(

BTW, I reckon the tent, with the down sleeping bag, silk liner (I actually slept on top from 3am, rather than in!), air mat and inflateable pillow (the secret of a good nights sleep is getting the right amout of air in this), gives me a sub 3kg camp set which will fit in a Carradice saddlebag!  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Tent pole bent ferrules
Post by: Wobbly John on 07 May, 2022, 11:54:53 am
Looking at the latest Aldi catalogue, it looks as if they will have similar tents (colour is a darker, bluer green) in their 'Get Outdoors' event on 19th May '22 (online from15th).   :D
Title: Re: Tent pole bent ferrules
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 14 May, 2022, 08:51:24 pm
Looking at the latest Aldi catalogue, it looks as if they will have similar tents (colour is a darker, bluer green) in their 'Get Outdoors' event on 19th May '22 (online from15th).   :D

£49.99 now (https://www.aldi.co.uk/adventuridge-2-man-tent/p/718971580104800), though!