lunar solo pitching?

[FLV]

Evening. I know one or two have a lunar solo on here.

I bought one the other day, pitched it in garden and couldnt get it tight round the bottom. It was sagging between the pitching points, worst place was at the beak.

It sagged enough that I tried adding an extra section of guy to pull the beak but this didnt seem like the correct solution.

I was using my 51" pole (130cm) and six moons suggest a 49" so I shoved it into the grass about an inch so I'd be surprised it it was that.

Any Tips?

Shown with the extra line out front.

[Dan_K]

You pitched it as per the recommended pegging order on the site?
Never had a problem with mine.

[FLV]

ah hah. I knew someone would be along to ask questions.

I didnt, i just went for it. then put it back down and tried again (more or less).

Could I ask, what length is your pole?

Do you peg the two forward sides first, quite tight?
then the rear,
then the pole,
Then the front,
then the two rear sides?
then tweek?

Do the two forward sides go directly outwards when finished, 90 degrees to the front and rear pegs?
Or do they pull slight forwards or backwards?

Ta

[FLV]

actually, just had another go and it was better this time. Had to circle the thing a couple of times adjusting but it went much tauter than last time with out extending the front guy.

I actually think the extended front guy raises the beak a little though so might vent better anyway?

all tips still welcome

[Fat tyre kicker]

I'm a newbie to Lunar Solo pitching,I followed the sequence as per
Smd's instructions and found it worked very well on the Forest floor,
I would say though I'm still using my trekking pole and I think this helps
As it gives a degree of height adjustment in relation to uneven surfaces,
I'm sure there are plenty on here who may disagree as they've spent
More time practicing the pitch,I was thinking of one of Stu's Carbon poles
At 49" but does that limit adjustability ? Not sure it this helps or makes things
Worse

[FLV]

It really was much better this time, not sure what i was faffing on with before. I use a carbon pole from stu. Its for my BearPaw tarp but seems to work this time.

I'm sure a few tips and some practice will see me happy first pitch in future.

[Dan_K]

I think the pole I use is 51". I got 2 to go with my tarptent stratospire 2 so just use one of them.

This may help you:

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/blog/75-l ... pitch.html

[Bearbonesnorm]

It really just does come down to a bit of practice Dave. Revisiting each pegging point and adjusting them generally makes a big difference and usually allows you to 'chase out' any flappy bits.

I would just say to everyone ... don't go sticking poles into the ground to 'shorten' them, as you stand a good chance of snapping them if the shelter does go over. Scooping out a hollow is fine but the ground doesn't want to be supporting the pole, it wants to be free to fall over.

[Zippy]

I would just say to everyone ... don't go sticking poles into the ground to 'shorten' them, as you stand a good chance of snapping them if the shelter does go over. Scooping out a hollow is fine but the ground doesn't want to be supporting the pole, it wants to be free to fall over.

I concur - those poles are designed for axial load only, no bending moments. So resting on the ground that's a lovely classical pinned connection that is being kept stable via being propped at the top - if any moment comes into play it;ll simply rotate. Don't want a pesky fixed connection and thus turning the pole into a cantilever - oh no, no, no. We've already got the possibility of potential buckling failure (massively unlikely tbh).

[RobMac]

Don’t try to raise the perimeter of the tent by using long stakes and terminating the guylines several inches off the ground. This is somewhat counter intuitive to normal logic. When you setup the tent this way, instead of the canopy and sidewall rising, they will tend to collapse instead. This will cause the corners to dip, resulting in reduced headroom and ventilation.

[FLV]

I wasn't about dig a hollow in my garden now was I....

[Fat tyre kicker]

So,with some using 49" and some 51" poles,does anybody know which is the best height ?
It's looking like my solo will be a keeper as its a great tent and I've got a more robust (heavier) winter tent too,I was gonna get a BB pole for my tarp but will probably wait and
Get one for the solo instead....p.s Stu,what's the folded pole length ?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Stu,what's the folded pole length ?

I'd generally recommend going the carbon route which will produce a folded length of 34.25cm. You could obviously have something longer or shorter if you wished.

[Fat tyre kicker]

Cheers Stu,still be-fuddled with pole height but that pole pack length
Is Bob on for my packing

[Bearbonesnorm]

The pole I've been using for the Gatewood cape is 5 section, folds up to 25cm and fits inside the small pocket on my Ocelot along with my pegs

[JohnClimber]

For the first time I pitched my Solo 100% perfect, on the flat lawn in the back garden, in the wind this afternoon and between showers.

I always found the front doors never pitched right, so after a bit of internet searching and you tub video watching of others pitching there's I set to work.

1st job (after pm'ing our Stuart ) and using an old pole before cutting the carbon new on I shortened it to 47" - 6 Moons say between 45" and 47", so I started at the higher end.






I've always ran the front guy line outside the tent in the traditional fashion, this is a no, no. it's to go inside the tent to act as a front tent pole (almost). Plus I added another guyline to the left hand door with another mini line lock for adjustments.



I extended the side guy lines to around 10ft using mini line locks for adjustment when needed.



Pitched perfect.
Yes I know the garden's a mess

[Fat tyre kicker]

Hi John,hope you are well and Happy Easter
The pole on the S.m.d website is shown as 49", I can
See from your pic that it looks Bob on,so I'm really
Confuddled now....I still haven't got one for mine off Stu
As them bloody bill things keep landing on the doormat!

[Adventurer]

Really good tarp tent.

I followed the instructions and it pitched fine. I also left the peg out points at full length initially and this helped.

The only change I made is the front cord. I put a slightly bigger plastic hook and instead of the knot to produce the hold I changed it to a mini line lock with some reflective dyneema cord. You can see this in my picture


https://flic.kr/p/FaJbTE

[JohnClimber]

The pole on the S.m.d website is shown as 49"

On this page
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/blog/75-l ... pitch.html

It says both
"Optimum height of your trekking pole should be 49 inches"
and
"Do set the height of the front pole between 45 and 47 inches"

[ScotRoutes]

A 2012 redesign raised the canopy 3" to 48" and offset the pole, the result was considerably more headroom.

it looks like "Do set the height of the front pole between 45 and 47 inches" comes from the original instructions dated 2009.

[Fat tyre kicker]

Cheers guys....still no clearer then

[Bearbonesnorm]

The older models had a lower centre, meaning a shorter pole was required ... as Colin's post indicates, 2012 onwards is the new model. I believe that any green ones are almost certainly 'new model' versions.

[Taylor]

Mines green and a mark1.
It is a very different kind of green though.

[JohnClimber]

The older models had a lower centre, meaning a shorter pole was required ... as Colin's post indicates, 2012 onwards is the new model. I believe that any green ones are almost certainly 'new model' versions.

The 47" pole had no bend in the pole, which it did before cutting it down.

I'll try and get a test ride in before the WRT to check it out in the field.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Mines green and a mark1.
It is a very different kind of green though.

I stand corrected.

The 47" pole had no bend in the pole, which it did before cutting it down.

That should be right for yours John ... the confusion arose with talk of 47" pole lengths and the fact the new models have a higher pitch. 47" is the higher pitch.