pyramid tent reinforcing ridge

[Jerry Adams]

On some thread I wondered if reinforcing the ridge of a pyramid tent would help wind worthiness

Normally, the ridges of a mid are on the bias.  Putting them along the grain has its own problems – see tent on bias thread

So, I took a 3 inch strip of fabric (membrane silpoly) and folded it over six times and sewed it to make a 1/2 inch strip.  I sewed that to one of the ridges.  Tried it in the wind

The edge on the left is reinforced.  The wind is blowing from the right.

You can see that it blows in the ridge.  Then, there’s a flap of fabric on either side of the ridge that blows in.

In this picture the wind is blowing the other direction, from the left.  Now the fabric on either side of the right ridge blows out.

On the left ridge (reinforced) the fabric stays more straight to the ridge, doesn’t flap in and out.

When I push on the left (reinforced) ridge it’s a lot more stiff – I have to push a lot to deflect it.

Maybe the advantage of the reinforced ridge is just aesthetic.  It makes less noise.  There’s less loss of headroom inside.

Maybe with the reinforced ridge, the panels are more flat to the ridge, so it’s more aerodynamic so it puts less force on the center pole and tent stakes so they’d be less likely to fail.

Or the fabric would be less likely to rip, but that’s never seemed to be a risk.

I think I’ll reinforced the other ridge and call it good.

 

[Dave @ Oware]

Cool

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