Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

[NYCgrrl]

I forgot to send my Kelty Sunshade's fiberglass pole back to the manufacturer earlier this season and now I plan to use it in 4 days:neutral:.

I'm thinking duct tape is the short time answer but am welcome to any other ideas!
Help me not appear to be the lazee lima bean I :he:.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

can you post a pic? I know some places sell replacement poles or pole sleeves for the damaged area. But you could also use some of that colored duct tape to blend.

[terasec]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

if you plan on returning it to the manufacturer
I would just duct tape it,
if you do too much to it, and they cant see original damage, they may not be so eager to replace it
pictures would help

[Mike]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Duct tape will not work.

Best bet is to Check thrift stores and craigslist for old tents. Use the poles. Just use the whole pole set and don't worry about fitting replacement segments into the old pole set. If the pole set is too long, it is easy to cut off excess.

You could use bamboo splints or an old fishing rod as splints and tape to your old pole, but it will be a compromise and if the weather gets bad, you could be in for a mess.

[MacGyver]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Just about any decent hardware store will sell aluminum tubing. Measure the width of the ferrules on the poles and buy the smallest size tubing that will go over them. Then it's just a matter of cutting the tube into 5-8" slices.

Edited to add:
Of course you'll need to find tubing that has a fairly thick wall. In this day and age of things being made more cheaply, I've seen tubing (and other metal components) looking more like foil than actual structural elements.

[Irate Mormon]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

I know it is too late for you to receive a replacement in time for your trip, but oftentimes you don't need to send in the broken part. Just send a pic to their customer service email, and they will usually just send another part right away.

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

can you post a pic? I know some places sell replacement poles or pole sleeves for the damaged area. But you could also use some of that colored duct tape to blend.

Sowwy no pics. Errrrrrr I lost my smartphone last camping trip and am using a stupid phone replacement until my AT+T anniversary on August 15th. Sigh.

It's a weally long pole and one approx. 12" section, the one closest to to the ground, is split in about 4 places up to 6" down:aww:. This was apparent the last time I used the shelter which was during a diluted weather storm known as Hurricane Arthur. Kept hearing the pole slap the ground in the comfiness of the sleeping tent and to paraphrase Scarlett O'Hara decided I'd worry about it tomorrow. Yeah well been a lot of tomorrows since then, LOL.

Youse have given me some ideas.......think I'll check the awning poles from the Eureka tent and see if they are the same diameter as the Kelty. I never use the awning poles so can just snip and replace the section.

Hey Mike, I suspect finding donated tents on my end would be difficult. NYCers are not known for tenting.

MacGyver..................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm re reading and your idea sounds like the fastet easiest fix as long as i can find the right tubing. Will check with a few contractor friends.


Thanks peeps!:cool:

[Irate Mormon]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Bass Pro and WM both sell repair kits.

[Force10JC]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Bass Pro and WM both sell repair kits.

Amazon also sells them. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Well since this is just a temporary repair I opted for Crazy Glue and duct tape. Memory is a funny thing; the pole section wasn't splintered in several places. It was split almost in half so I just matched up the edges, held it together until the glue dried and then added the duct tape. Hopefully it'll hold for this short trip.

[Force10JC]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Well since this is just a temporary repair I opted for Crazy Glue and duct tape. Memory is a funny thing; the pole section wasn't splintered in several places. It was split almost in half so I just matched up the edges, held it together until the glue dried and then added the duct tape. Hopefully it'll hold for this short trip.

Seems like that should work though I can't see the actual damage to the pole like you obviously can. I probably would have duct taped it right after gluing so it could act as a clamp to help hold the pole in together while the glue cured.

[Mike]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Taping, glueing, etc a broken fiberglass tent pole is folly. You can try in the field out of desperation, but to make this repair at home when you have better options is foolish. If your shelter is not reliable, then it is not shelter. Consider rigging a cheap tarp Instead OR make repairs like I mentioned above OR by a temporary cheap tent.

See my suggestions above for better options.

[Irate Mormon]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Strapping tape is not quite as much of a folly as duct tape. And if you use epoxy instead of Krazy Glue, perhaps less so. Let us know how it works out. Me, I'm off to see the Ice Follies.

[Bigdog57]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

I have a fiberglass tentpole that split several years ago. I used JB Weld to glue the split, then wrapped steel wire around the split and layer on more JB Weld. Still works fine after all these years. Yes, Virginia, pole repairs DO work, if done properly. Doubt I would use duck tape, except as a necessary field expedient. And I LOVE my duck tape....... ;-)

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Fiberglass Tentpole Quick Fixes?

Taping, glueing, etc a broken fiberglass tent pole is folly. You can try in the field out of desperation, but to make this repair at home when you have better options is foolish. If your shelter is not reliable, then it is not shelter. Consider rigging a cheap tarp Instead OR make repairs like I mentioned above OR by a temporary cheap tent.

See my suggestions above for better options.

Well it did hold for the 4 nights needed but keep in mind this was not my sleeping tent poles but the sun shade's thus making it an accessory. I won't need it for my next trip so it's finished for the season. Think I'll try replacing the tent pole section with new this winter and let Kelty off the repair hook.