Some Contrail Help, Please

At first listen it sounds like you're not staking the front pegs far enough apart. Try extending the front pegs as far as possible both forward and APART that tightens both the front and side surfaces. BTW, my avitar shows what is possible if you intentionally don't spread the front tightly apart… the ability to form a beak with a forward guyline.

It took me a few times before I got it right. In addition to making sure you have the fronts far enough apart, play around with the pole. I extend more and move over AFTER I set it up. You'll be fine. Keep trying.

The same here! First set-up was pretty sorry looking and saggy but after of couple of more pitchings it was taut enough to be featured in a sales promo. Keep at it-you'll get it and it will pitch tighter and faster.

Glad to know I'm not the only one…I was embarrased for the non-hiker nosey neighbors to see my saggy silnylon getup in the backyard! :) I hate not at least LOOKING like I know what I'm doing!

I'll keep trying tonight, and thanks for the suggestions.

I believe that site selection is the key in setting up the Contrail. Level and Flat. It's a piece of cake pitching the Contrail after that. This Spring, the only place left on Cheoah Bald that was level, was actually on the AT trail. So there I slept. Perfectly pitched…however.

So, I finally got this tent reasonably taut last weekend and seam sealed it. Thanks folks, you guessed it, I didn't have the front staked out wide enough. All the corners get pretty tangly, too, so I've learned to check all the lines before beginning to stake out the tent.

Next up, yes, I definitely think the front beak needs a guyline, and I admit being a little perturbed that it isn't already there. (While I'm at it, I'll add a short one to the rear as well, as I see that the tent may pool water there on the roof).

I have some extra guyline from one of my MSR tents…yeah, it's red, but, so what, I already have it. :)

How are y'all attaching the guyline to your beak…using the small elastic loop, or the buckle near the roofline? What's the elastic loop for, if there's a buckle? I'm a little confused on that one. Suggestions for an appropriate knot for that cord? Thanks again for the help.

I used the loop in the bottom center of the beak to extend it. Entry is still easy through the left (velcro) side by laying that side over the extended right side.

For the rear: unless you raise the center rear there isn't much of an advantage in guying it out since it actually just distorts the "V". See photo below. I attached both the 22" pole and the guyline to the elastic at the center rear.

>how are y'all attaching the guyline to your beak…using the small elastic loop, or the buckle near the roofline? What's the elastic loop for, if there's a buckle? I'm a little confused on that one.

There's an apex pullout/line tightener right in front of the grommet (up under the vent). Thread some cord through it just the way the cord threads through the other line tigheners (or just tie off to it if your cord is too thick). That pullout is designed to tighten up the body and ridgelines if needed for wind and/or if you have one of our flexible front poles. The beak also has a pullout along the hem.