Tent Arcs: Species and Tips for Choosing

In order for the tent to retain its functionality for a long time, it must have a solid, robust frame. Therefore, the choice of design is always associated with the quality of the material from which the arcs are made. Understanding what is best is also important if the part is broken and there is a repair.

The main characteristics required for the construction of the tent - lightness, flexibility, the ability to withstand heavy loads. If the structure will be used in winter, for example, for fishing, the material must be resistant to sub-zero temperatures. Additional parameters during selection:

• feature connections of parts;
• possibility of long-term use;
• product price.

Arcs for the tent can be made of metal, but there are some nuances. Lightweight titanium parts have maximum strength and flexibility, however, this is an extremely expensive material, which is why it is not used for the frame. If you take the steel rack, despite their strength, they are heavy and do not differ in plasticity.

For modern mobile structures, aluminum alloy arcs are considered to be the most suitable - such a framework is elastic, durable, and can be repaired. The material is durable, and even after 5-7 years of operation, the pipes remain straight and flexible. Particularly preferred aluminum-magnesium alloy, which has many useful qualities:

• aluminum poles withstand negative temperatures;
• they are not subject to deformation;
• alloy resistant to UV rays;
• has a small weight.

For composite materials for the manufacture of tent racks include the following.

• Fiberglass - a combination of polymer and fiberglass, has the durability and strength of the metal, at the same time is not subject to rotting, fragility. Its hardness and safety factor is 3-4 times higher than that of aluminum alloy, and 8-9 times more than that of polyvinyl chloride. Damage and deformation are excluded due to thermal contraction and expansion of the glass. Also fiberglass racks are resistant to alkalis and acids, corrosion, high humidity, have dielectric and thermal insulation properties, weigh little.

• Carbon arc made of carbon fiber, and they are based on fiber formed from the thinnest carbon filaments not more than 0.11 mm in diameter. Since the formed web is created by overlapping and glued together with epoxy resins, the material has high rigidity. Moreover, such components have low weight.

• Innovative view of the composite composition - multidirectional glass fiber S-Glass used in aerospace engineering. Such arcs are able to maintain their strength characteristics even at wind speeds of 120-130 km / h.

When comparing fiberglass with aluminum and its alloys:

• he loses in weight about one and a half times;
• has a shorter service life - 2-5 years;
• in case of damage, for example, breakage, racks will have to be replaced with new ones.

If we take for comparison aluminum, fiberglass accessories and S-Glass fiberglass, the arcs made of the latter composition have greater elasticity, which is a great advantage in winter conditions. However, fiberglass materials are still the most popular, budget option, and if we are not talking about extreme living conditions, it is quite suitable as a frame for a portable tent.

Racks and their knees tend to break if you put a tent on an uneven surface, how to fold or fall (jump) on the structure. In all these cases, there is a high probability that one or more collapsible parts can be broken. Of course, there is an option to replace these segments with new ones from fiberglass or other material, but you can independently optimize the racks.

If the components of the tent break down, if these are tubular arches with rubber, some craftsmen manage to repair them by adding fiberglass plastic parts from the reinforcement. To do this, remove the size of the old supports and prepare the appropriate pieces. Pre-damaged parts are removed tips, which are recorded on spare parts by cold welding.

Of course, a folding set is preferable, because the tent takes up less space in the trunk, however, as an alternative, this is a valid solution. And for the future, choosing the frame material, you need to build on the expected number of nature trips and weather conditions in which the tent is supposed to be used. This will be the determining factor for which arc to give preference.

How to change the arc for the tent, see the following video.