Gap between tent and groundsheet help!

[AiiShotTheDJ]

Hi all,

I've just tried to put my tent up and I'm not very happy! There's a gap at least half a foot between the groundsheet and the bottom of the tent- I've tried all 3 poles every which way and it all works out the same. In addition to that, the groundsheet is too small for the tent and has a random gap in at the end- it's a Lichfield tent, is this normal?! It's a 6 man one with separate groundsheet.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[Thearg]

Is it a new tent?

And are you saying there is no inner tent just an outer with a separate groundsheet.

Any pics?

[AiiShotTheDJ]

Is it a new tent?

And are you saying there is no inner tent just an outer with a separate groundsheet.

Any pics?

[AnnaGrant]

Have you googled images of your tent to see if that will give you any clues a about whether it isn't pitched properly, or if it hasn't got the right pieces-ground sheet and tent poles?

Have you got any instructions? There may be some on the Internet or on tent forums like uk campsites.

Sorry to hear of your problems. It is such a disappointment when stuff you have bought isn't right. And a right old pain if you have bought on the Internet. On the bright side, there should be time to sort it out before G.

[sunnyshoes]

is the gap between tent and groundsheet in the porch bit? We had a Vango where there was a bit of gap in the porch area where the tent went down and the groundsheet was - turns out the groundsheet in that bit sort of hooked onto the tent wall and went up - cant think of the name for that type of groundsheet. it sort of covered up the gap. Could it be that? The gap in the middle might be where the door is meant to be? our groundsheet was meant to hook up on all sides and then be flat for the door so it didnt quite meet the door ... if that makes sense. maybe piccies would help!

[AiiShotTheDJ]

Have you googled images of your tent to see if that will give you any clues a about whether it isn't pitched properly, or if it hasn't got the right pieces-ground sheet and tent poles?

Have you got any instructions? There may be some on the Internet or on tent forums like uk campsites.

Sorry to hear of your problems. It is such a disappointment when stuff you have bought isn't right. And a right old pain if you have bought on the Internet. On the bright side, there should be time to sort it out before G.

[AiiShotTheDJ]

is the gap between tent and groundsheet in the porch bit? We had a Vango where there was a bit of gap in the porch area where the tent went down and the groundsheet was - turns out the groundsheet in that bit sort of hooked onto the tent wall and went up - cant think of the name for that type of groundsheet. it sort of covered up the gap. Could it be that? The gap in the middle might be where the door is meant to be? our groundsheet was meant to hook up on all sides and then be flat for the door so it didnt quite meet the door ... if that makes sense. maybe piccies would help!

[Mark E. Spliff]

I can't speak for your particular tent, but here's a lesson I learned about the relative sizes of your groundsheet and your tent:

2 years ago, I tried out my nice new ultralight tent at a Cider Festival in Somerset. I'd made my own groundsheet for it, and it covered the entire tent area and even stuck out a few centimetres. I woke up the following morning, hungover and drenched in a major puddle of water. The torrential rain had ran off my flysheet, landed on the little bit of sticking-out groundsheet and run into my tent. I had to ride my motorbike 100 miles home drenched to the skin.

Based on this experience, I wouldn't be too worried about my groundsheet being too small for the tent. So long as there's enough of it for you to walk on, then job done. Plus, so long as you're not pitching your tent on mud, groundsheet's aren't really necessary - there's nothing wrong with a bit of dry grass under your feet.

[AiiShotTheDJ]

I can't speak for your particular tent, but here's a lesson I learned about the relative sizes of your groundsheet and your tent:

2 years ago, I tried out my nice new ultralight tent at a Cider Festival in Somerset. I'd made my own groundsheet for it, and it covered the entire tent area and even stuck out a few centimetres. I woke up the following morning, hungover and drenched in a major puddle of water. The torrential rain had ran off my flysheet, landed on the little bit of sticking-out groundsheet and run into my tent. I had to ride my motorbike 100 miles home drenched to the skin.

Based on this experience, I wouldn't be too worried about my groundsheet being too small for the tent. So long as there's enough of it for you to walk on, then job done. Plus, so long as you're not pitching your tent on mud, groundsheet's aren't really necessary - there's nothing wrong with a bit of dry grass under your feet.

[Divein]

What model of Lichfield is it? As is mentioned it's better to have a gap between the edge of the tent and ground sheet so water runs down on to the grass and not your ground sheet

[festivalnurse]

Can you re sell it, saying its too big or something?? I would always recommend a sown in groundsheet and some tarp underneath the actual whole tent floor (pitch the tent on it) Just for extra warmth etc.

We to had the 'waking' up to puddles, where the groundsheet wasn't built in....we then went to a built in groundsheet, and it was sooo much better! Have now gone up again, and now got folding camper!

If you cant sell it, like the others said, google it, or you tube it...(we did that for a mahoosive one we had!). If not where did you buy it...best place I think is go outdoors...you can see them,go in it etc....and cheap!

xxx

[AiiShotTheDJ]

What model of Lichfield is it? As is mentioned it's better to have a gap between the edge of the tent and ground sheet so water runs down on to the grass and not your ground sheet

[AnnaGrant]

A couple of years ago Halfords were selling Lichfield Tirawas. If you have a local branch maybe they might still sell them, have some instructions, maybe one pitched or perhaps one of the sales assistants might be able to offer help?

vango has a system of separate ground sheets that are clipped in on some tents. On other. Tents the fly reaches down to the ground, but without an 'apron' to sit the ground sheet on.

Ps I have a vintage Lichfield which was ace, but now leaks. Mind you it is 21 years old-one of the made in Walsall products.

[guypjfreak]

if you have ANY DOUBTS take it back old son get another last thing you need is tent grief

[AiiShotTheDJ]

if you have ANY DOUBTS take it back old son get another last thing you need is tent grief

[AiiShotTheDJ]

A couple of years ago Halfords were selling Lichfield Tirawas. If you have a local branch maybe they might still sell them, have some instructions, maybe one pitched or perhaps one of the sales assistants might be able to offer help?

vango has a system of separate ground sheets that are clipped in on some tents. On other. Tents the fly reaches down to the ground, but without an 'apron' to sit the ground sheet on.

Ps I have a vintage Lichfield which was ace, but now leaks. Mind you it is 21 years old-one of the made in Walsall products.

[pie_and_a_pint]

Bought it from Sportsdirect for 50 quid on special sale- I've already tried that but I've got more chance of flying to the moon than getting any sort of decent response off them! Hopefully Lichfield can help me a little bit and if worst comes to abbsolute worst I'll drive out of site to a Tesco and buy a £20 one for the week

[pie_and_a_pint]

[AiiShotTheDJ]

Bloody phone app!

Just because you bought it in a 'special sale' doesn't mean the Sale of Goods Act doesn't apply. If it's not fit for purpose', i.e. if it's a tent and it's not capable of keeping you dry, then you're entitled to a refund or a replacement. It's your statutory right, so don't let them tell you otherwise.

[sunnyshoes]

when the groundsheet is down and the middle of the prong bit is facing the doorway outside does it mean there's loads of grass/ground showing inside the tent?

[AiiShotTheDJ]

when the groundsheet is down and the middle of the prong bit is facing the doorway outside does it mean there's loads of grass/ground showing inside the tent?

[pie_and_a_pint]

Thank you It's contacting them that's the problem- I've written on facebook 4 times and been ignored, sent PM's and been ignored, made phonecalls that haven't been returned and sent emails that are ignored! If Lichfield and Halfords can't help me I'm going to take it higher- I need to have 1 more go at pitching it I think when they come back to me with the right advice (hopefully!). I don't think the groundsheet is right though, I'm sure that's not a normal shape!

[Divein]

From what I can see having googled the tent the ground sheet should fold up to connect to the fly sheet, not sure how though

[AiiShotTheDJ]

From what I can see having googled the tent the ground sheet should fold up to connect to the fly sheet, not sure how though

[AiiShotTheDJ]

Well, after a grand total of 5 HOURS, I now know how to pitch it- thank God. The groundsheet only covers 3/4 of the tent and then one internal section has a really thick and deep groundsheet to make up the rest. Sigh of relief!