Help with WE First Arrow

[Hermione]

Hi Everyone,
First apologies if this should be posted somewhere else it's my first one; I finally decided to join. Anyway just wondering if anyone owns a WE fIrst Arrow. We bought one a couple of years ago to use as a four season tent but I've never been able to get a really decent pitch with it. Some part of it is always just a bit too floppy; almost impossible to stop the fly sagging onto the tent inner which is fairly useless in torrential rain. I've had a tunnel tent before but didn't have this problem, so if anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[Tortoise]

Sorry I can't help, but wanted to say welcome to the forum anyway.

Not sure, but i think Norts used to have one.

[vagrom]

Hermione, if you type "first arrow", in inverted commas into the search box in the top right hand corner of your screen, you'll find a collected 3 pages of previous discussion on this type of tent. Go through them and if someone else has discussed something about pitching and seems fairly knowledgeable, try sending them and/or others a personal message (PM) for any advice they might be prepared to offer.
Sometimes, just lifting and moving one side of a hoop of the tent when fully pitched, that is, re-stabbing it into the ground a bit further inwards or outwards, can help with taughtness and slackness.

[Franco]

You could post a few shots of your tent from diggerent angles...

[norts]

Yes I have a 1st Arrow. I just use the 3 pegs, 2 at the front and one at the back and then just tension it up really tight. My large pole doesnt stand vertical but leans forward toward the front. Dont be afraid to put alot of tension on the tent. Then put out the guys. Ensure that your zips are all done up while doing it.
I have never had a problem with sag, check out my avatar. Thats the 1st arrow.

You could also contact Ian Maley founder of Wilderness Equipment. I have contacted him in the past in regard to other equipment issues.


Roger

[Hermione]

Thanks everyone,

Tried to post a photo just having some technical issues with a new computer (maybe the user). Anyway I put it up in the backyard and taking Norts advice tensioned it quite firmly and I think it's not bad now. I did previously contact Ian Malley but I still couldn't seem to get it quite right. Anyway now I have another problem my husband took one look at the tent and "oh that's nice are the girls coming hiking with us? " when I replied in the negative he said " I am never sleeping in that tent again it's too small it's like being in a coffin!" Hmm... so I will be browsing the forum to see what 4 season tents you all like, surely working all of Easter would justify a new tent.

[norts]

the First Arrow, is a fairly large two man tent, it is/was sold as a 2-3 man tent. I wouldnt use it as 3. If you want to go bigger you will need to look at 3 or more person tent.

Roger

[Franco]

Hermione
Just in case you do want to post photos here, the way I do it is by uploading mine to Photobucket, then from "Image links" (at Photobucket next to the photo) I copy and paste the IMG code to here

[Happy Pirate]

I have a first Arrow too.

I pulled the inner off from the fly a while ago to dry it and I'm sure I haven't put it back together properly. It has a couple of extra elastic loops at the front that don't connect to anything. Makes it seem to sit a little different now.

I never had a problem pitching it tight previously though. However it does always seem like a tent designed by a committee. All sorts of extra dids and doodads that overly complicate its use. I mean 4 zipper heads for a door and the inner still won't roll up out of the way properly.

Steve