Life Under Canvas Bell Tent Series Installation guide

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Care and Instructions
Bell Tents all sizes
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Welcome to your Life Under Canvas
Thank you for buying a Life Under Canvas Bell Tent.
Our bell tents are easy to erect and although it’s quicker with 2 people, it’s also easy to put
one up on your own.
Our bell tents are intended for regular leisure use and are classified as a Touring Tent.
They are intended for use in temperate climates for short bursts of camping. They are not
intended as permanent shelters and the longevity of the tent will be compromised if used
in this way.
Always erect the tent according to our guidelines, failure to do so may also affect the
longevity of the tent.
Please read the instructions carefully and keep them safe. If you do loose them they are
also available to download from our website. www.lifeundercanvas.co.uk.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on the number or email
below. We are always on hand for friendly advice and support.
We hope you enjoy your Life Under Canvas.
Thank you
Emma, Eileen & The Team at Life HQ
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Choosing the perfect pitch
Consider the following:
A flat pitch
There’s nothing worse than sliding along the floor of your tent and an uneven surface will
also compromise the pegs, guys and shape of the tent.
Natural shelter
Trees and hedges can be used as barriers against wind and rain, pitch close but not under
them.
Trees and woodlands
Avoid pitching under a tree as debris of all kinds may fall onto your tent and damage it.
From tree twigs and berries to bird poo and branches there are all sorts of hazards to be
avoided.
Pitching under trees and away from the sunlight can also mean your tent takes longer to
dry out after a damp night or downfall encouraging mould and mildew to form more easily.
Door opening
Ideally the door should face away from the prevailing wind. The wind will then blow over
your Bell Tent and not through it.
Groundwater flow
Rain water has to go somewhere, make sure it’s not under or around your tent. Choose
the driest spot you can find and nowhere that’s boggy.
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What’s included with your tent
Picture
Description
3m
Tent
4m
Tent
5m
Tent
6m
Tent
Carry Bag
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1
1
1
Tent and groundsheet, zipped together
ready
1
1
1
1
Central Tent Pole with Stoppers
1
1
1
1
Door A Frame with 2 Rain Caps
1
1
1
1
Straight Floor Pegs
10
13
14
16
Grooved Guy Pegs
10
13
14
16
200cm Guy Rope
400cm Guy Rope for door
9
1
12
1
13
1
15
1
Mallet
1
1
1
1
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Putting up your Life Under Canvas Bell tent
Groundsheet
Carefully unfold your bell tent, make sure the floor is zipped to the main body of the tent
and that the door is closed.
Smooth the groundsheet out flat and peg it down taut using the straight floor pegs.
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Attaching guy ropes
Attach the guy ropes to the cotton tags around the edge of the Bell Tent with a simple knot.
Do not attach the guys to the elastics.
The longest guy rope needs to be attached to the centre tag above the door. You will only
need to attach the guys the first time you put up your tent. Do not peg out the guy ropes at
this stage.
Poles
Assemble the spring loaded centre pole, open the door and walk inside with it. Line the
pole up with the centre of your tent at the top and push the pole up in the middle of the
tent. The tent will sag but the middle should feel secure.
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Take the A frame for the door inside and assemble.
Place the spike into the hole above the door and the ends of the poles into the foot holes
on either side of the door.
Pop the cap over the spike and secure the poles with the tie straps on the inside of either
side of the door. Take care when assembling the A frame not to spike the tent fabric!
Walk around the tent again and peg out tightly the elastic loops around the bottom using
the existing skirt floor pegs already in the ground.
Pegging guy ropes
With the door closed, loosely peg out the guy ropes with the grooved guy pegs starting
with the one above the door. Work your way around the tent pegging out each guy as you
go. Each guy rope should follow the seam on the tent.
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Then work your way around the tent again starting with the door and tighten each guy rope
by pulling gently on the rope and moving the metal slider up until the canvas becomes
more taut.
Repeat again if necessary or make adjustments if the tension seems uneven.
This should complete the neat even shape of the tent and your Life Under Canvas
can now begin!
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Roll up the walls
On a warm sunny day why not unzip the groundsheet and roll up the sides.
Unhook the elastic loops from the pegs around the edge of your tent but leave the pegs in
the ground. Then unzip the floor from the walls and tie back the entrance doors.
Roll up the canvas of the tent and attach into place using the black pegs and loops
positioned at intervals around the inside of the tent.
Sit back, relax and enjoy!
Reverse the process to roll the walls back down.
Fitting a flashing kit and stove to your bell tent
We recommend only fitting a flashing kit and stove inside your bell tent if it is Fire
Retardant treated.
Please see our website for details of how to correctly install a flashing kit and stove.
https://lifeundercanvas.co.uk/instructions/
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Packing up and putting away
You must ensure that your Life Under Canvas bell tent is completely dry before you
put it away. If you need to leave your campsite and it is damp please ensure that you put it
up again to dry out within 24 hours. The tent needs air to circulate round it to dry
completely and the only way to ensure this happens is to pitch it.
If you put your tent away damp it may develop mould patches which are very difficult to
remove.
Remove all your bits and bobs from inside the tent. Close all the windows and ensure that
the floor is completely zipped into the tent.
It’s also a good idea to give it a sweep, if not debris from the floor can stick to the canvas
when it’s packed up and cause marks on the canvas. If the floor or debris left inside is
damp mould and mildew can also be caused.
Remove the A frame from the door, collapse and put away for next time. Store the rain cap
safely!
Remove the central pole, again collapse and put away. Zip the door closed.
Unhook all of the guy ropes and pull the sliders to the end of the guy rope, then
wrap up and tie with the elastic toggles on the sides of the tent. Throwing the guy ropes
onto the tent instead may cause dirt to be thrown onto the canvas marking it.
Pull out all of the guy pegs, remove any dirt and store safely in the peg bag.
Pull out all of the skirt and floor pegs, remove any dirt and store safely in the peg bag.
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Folding your Bell tent
Fold the tent in half, brush off any mud and allow to dry for 10 to 15 mins while you pack
up your other belongings. Turn over and repeat the cleaning and drying process.
Keep the tent folded in half and then fold into half again so that you have a long, narrow
shape. Make sure the total width of the folded tent at this stage is the is the same length
as the canvas bag. You may need to fold it slightly differently depending on the size of the
tent. Always check with the length of the bag before you fold.
Roll the tent up carefully sweeping off any mud and dirt as you roll.
Fasten the tent in place with the straps, tighten them and place into the tent bag. Make
sure the poles and pegs are stored in their bags too. Do not put them in loose with the tent
as they may damage the canvas.
Storing your Life Under Canvas bell tent
You must ensure that your Life Under Canvas bell tent is completely dry before you put it
away. If you need to leave your campsite and it is damp please ensure that you put it up
again to dry out within 24 hours. The tent needs air to circulate round it to dry completely
and the only way to ensure this happens is to pitch it.
Failure to do so could result in mould and mildew forming and this is very difficult to
remove.
Do not hang your tent to dry as mould and mildew could still form in folds and creases.
Store in a dry place away from damp, ideally at room temperature and not on a damp floor!
Keep safe from rodents and insects.
Do not store anything on top of your bell tent.
Pitch your bell tent at least once a year in order to check it and to help keep its shape.
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Fire Precautions
Do not remove the safety label from the inside of your tent.
It is recommended that you have a small fire extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm in
your tent to ensure your safety at all times.
This tent can burn, please observe the following safety rules.
Do not smoke in the tent.
Do not block the window/vents around the edge.
Do not use naked flames for cooking.
Do not place cooking equipment or heating devices near the tent walls.
Use cooking and heating equipment according to manufacturers instructions.
Keep all exits clear of belongings.
Know the safety procedures for the site.
For additional information about your Life Under Canvas Bell Tent plus troubleshooting and
repairs advice please see the additional info on our website at lifeundercanvas.co.uk
Weathering you bell tent
Some new 100% cotton canvas tents will drip or leak slightly for their first few uses even
when they have undergone a water repellent treatment.
As the canvas wets and dries out the fibres swell sealing it against future downpours.
This is completely normal and an inherent quality of the 100% cotton canvas fabric used in
the manufacture of bell tents.
Please be patient with your tent. Allow it to get wet and dry out a few times. You could
even speed up this process by pitching your tent in the garden and misting it with a light
spray from a hose pipe.
Water may collect around the seams and labels but again this is completely normal and
will cease with a few weatherings.
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Troubleshooting
If you care for your Life Under Canvas bell tent well then it will last for years and years.
Of course packing up and putting away, plus the storage are important and should be
carried out properly but there are other elements to take into consideration too.
Pegs - Make sure they are securely fixed into the ground to keep the tent in place. It’s
worth checking them regularly while your tent is pitched. Knock them back in if they have
become loose.
Poles - The guy ropes should be taut at all times to ensure that the pole is straight and
secure. Again it is worth checking these regularly while your tent is pitched. Make sure the
ends of the door pole are always in the webbed feet securely too.
Sliders - The sliders will need altering depending on the weather conditions. In wet
weather the tent canvas will loosen so the sliders will need tightening. Conversely the
sliders will need releasing in drier weather. Pay attention to the weather conditions and the
shape of your tent so that you will know when to tension the guys.
Doors and windows - Always ensure that the windows and doors are closed before
adjusting pegs, poles, guys and sliders.
Inside the tent - Do not hang anything from the hooks around the inside wall of the tent as
this will strain the canvas. Also make sure that you do not leave any of your belongings
touching the canvas as this will cause them to get damp if it rains.
Never leave your tent unattended for long periods of time - Be on hand to regularly
check your tent. If you’re camping and popping out for the day then run a quick check
before you leave. If you will be away from your tent overnight ask someone to check it for
you. In order for the tent to stay waterproof and not suffer from any damage it must keep
its shape, pegs be banged in securely and guy ropes tight.
Snow - Life Under Canvas bell tents are not intended for use in snow. If it happens to
snow when the tent is pitched please clear the snow from it regularly, take it down as soon
as possible and dry it out thoroughly afterwards.
Zips - The zips on your bell tent can become strained if the tent is not pitched properly or if
it is particularly windy. Take care with zips at all times. Do not force them open or closed, if
it’s not easy to move them adjust the tension on the guys before trying again.
It’s a good idea to regularly lubricate the zips to keep them in good working order.
Debris - Ensure that any debris is cleaned from your tent immediately to prolong
the life of the tent. This includes bird droppings, water, salt, sand, cooking spills or
splashes, mud, grass etc.
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Mildew - Mildew is a common problem but is easily preventable. It is usually caused by
excess moisture in the canvas so you should always ensure that your tent is completely
dry when put away. It is also a sign that your tent may need re-proofing (see below).
Mildew can also arise when the tent is pitched if the climate is particularly humid. If this
does occur clean the mildew off immediately using a specialist canvas cleaning product
and then re-proof the cleaned areas.
UV Damage - UV light can cause fading of your bell tent. If it becomes very pale (in
contrast to the bag it came in) it may need re-proofing. UV damage can cause a reduction
in the effectiveness of the natural waterproofing qualities of the fabric and the anti fungal
protection.
Cleaning - You should check the condition of your Life Under Canvas bell tent regularly
and clean more frequently if it has been used many times. It needs to be cleaned with a
specialist cleaning product and then re-proofed afterwards. If it is left too long before being
cleaned mildew and fungus can spread over the tent and then be difficult or impossible to
remove.
Re-proofing - You will know that it is time to reproof your Life Under Canvas bell tent
when you notice that the fabric no longer beads the water after a downpour, but absorbs
some of the moisture into the canvas and takes longer to dry out.
Repairs - Of course accidents do happen and you should repair your tent as quickly as
possible should any problems occur. Canvas tears can be repaired by sewing with a
traditional needle and thread and holes with patching. Groundsheets can also be repaired
with tape and patching designed with the material in mind.
Please see our website for recommendations of cleaning and re-proofing products.
For more serious repairs please contact us and we can recommend a number of
companies that will take delivery of your tent and repair it for you.
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Warranty
Please see our website for warranty details.
lifeundercanvas.co.uk/warranty/
Returns & Faulty Goods
Please see our website for details of how to return your tent or if your tent is faulty.
lifeundercanvas.co.uk/returns-policy/
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