Not sure if it’s you who’s messaged me on FB but let’s use the top pic as referenceNeed some help with pitching my trailstar. No matter what I try the side panels are floppy. I tried different pole heights from 120 - 135cm, and various peg positions (always in line with the corresponding seam) but it always ends up like this
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Any tips on getting a taut pitch?
I'll give that a try, thanksRon Bell told me this way to get used to the shape, so using your above picture with points numbered 1 - 6.
Peg out no.1 - 4 pulling the fabric taut with each peg, after no.1 move to no.3 & pull the hem tight against no.1, then no.2 puling the hem tight against no.1 & 3 and the same at no.4. You should have enough space to fit a pole at 115cm in the inside, then peg down no.5 & 6.
This will give you a very low shelter but may help you understand the process of getting the shape by doing it a few times before moving onto a higher pole setting.
I did something similar, but ended up with a really narrow and tall door I'll just keep tryingIt's been a while since I used mine but this is how I do it ..
Loosely peg it out, put the pole inside, find the rear centre tieout and cinch down, then move to the side tieouts moving any slack towards the door, repeat on the other side then put your door pole in with all that slack fabric at the front.
There used to be a nice visual guide on Steven Horners blog but I think that site is dead now
My preference for the Bearpaw nest was back/ righthand side so that I when I normally slept head towards the door I could lay on my left side for messing with the stove easily while in bed.Thanks @Whiteburn I just had a quick look off of the phone I'll take a better look tonight on the PC, question though please, do you then pitch your inner to the back or offset to one side?
Wow, I'm doing it completely 'wrong' then, I pitch mine so as if looking at the drawing 4 5 and 6 are my back and 1 the entrance, I'll have to try this way. Of course this is fair weather, haven't tried in bad weather, probably been lucky.
You still aren't pulling the hems tight enough horizontally between corners?View attachment 35096
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Thank you everyone for all the good tips & suggestions. Working with a lower pitch to start with at 110cm. I still have some slack in the side panels, finding it difficult to pitch the hems really low without increasing the slack.
But we're getting there
Very good point, I'll try spreading it out a bit more. What I noticed was by doing that I would end up with longer guylines and hems higher off the ground. But I'll give it another go today.You still aren't pulling the hems tight enough horizontally between corners?
These hems need to be taut.
And your corners are narrower than those on the diagram you posted above?
( I use the same sequence)
From your first pitch it looks like corner angles are too small (almost square? 90°).
Remember, the shelter is based on a Pentagon ( with one slightly shorter side - the door). If it was a regular pentagon(no door), the inside corners would be 108°. To get the slack on one side for a door, it needs to be slightly less than 108° on each corner. But still a lot more than 90°.
Obviously you don't use a protractor to precisely measure but you can "eye" the approximate angles. You only really need to really think about the first rear corner. Anyone can tell if it's too near square (90°). The rest is pulling hems tight from corner to corner as you peg it.
This is mine and a friend's pitched at home before I sold one for him last year.
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Very good point, I'll try spreading it out a bit more. What I noticed was by doing that I would end up with longer guylines and hems higher off the ground. But I'll give it another go today.
What pole height have you got in those pictures? I'll work towards getting a taut pitch like yoursTry and keep them all the same length and only adjust them to tighten once the pole is in and the general pitch sorted.
You should be able to keep at least the first 3 all the same length.
In those pitches, by the look of the door width, probably somewhere around 120-125? I don't know because I tend to put the pole to how I've pegged it.What pole height have you got in those pictures? I'll work towards getting a taut pitch like yours
You still aren't pulling the hems tight enough horizontally between corners?
These hems need to be taut.
And your corners are narrower than those on the diagram you posted above?
( I use the same sequence)
From your first pitch it looks like corner angles are too small (almost square? 90°).
Remember, the shelter is based on a Pentagon ( with one slightly shorter side - the door). If it was a regular pentagon(no door), the inside corners would be 108°. To get the slack on one side for a door, it needs to be slightly less than 108° on each corner. But still a lot more than 90°.
Obviously you don't use a protractor to precisely measure but you can "eye" the approximate angles. You only really need to really think about the first rear corner. Anyone can tell if it's too near square (90°). The rest is pulling hems tight from corner to corner as you peg it.
This is mine and a friend's pitched at home before I sold one for him last year.
View attachment 35156