Operation Billy Bell Tent

[Kdog1989]

Hi all,
So heres the lo down and pics of our hopefully soon to be fixed bell tent and wood burner!
What we have done so far!
Phase one: Go see tent and meet a lovely man who was living in it and the beautiful views surrounding the campsite(note to self, good local campsite for weekend outside) and hand over money!
Phase two: Cram tent, woodburner and a load of other handy camping equipment into the car, this was our first success of the operation seens as we have a micra, two of us and our little boy in the back too!
Phase 3: Drive back unload car (sorry house!) unfold groundsheet in backgarden then make a cuppa!
Cue rain/monsoon!
Phase 4: Set to work scrubbing and cleaning groundsheet in the pee down rain for roughly 2 hours (2nd note to self reproof goretex jackets or treat ourselves to new ones!)

So groundsheet sorted no damage and some top layer mold and mildew all easily cleaned off.
The partner set up the woodburner too and following evening tested it.... What a dream!

We have now laid out the canvas and inspected the what i will now call severe damages and are now trying to formulate phase 5 of the plan. Please see photos attached!
The main damage is around the crown where the kingpole(think it called that) is!

We have an industrial sewing machine at our disposal that my legend of a grandad has in his garden shed and his possibly shakey upholstery skills alongside my mum who used to make clothes so is a demon on a sewing machine plus any help and advice from you lovely lot.

So thinkin heads on whether its silly or not chuck some ideas at me and ill get writing and drawing up our ideas!

Much love
Kat and family

 

[lee]

I'm guessing from the pics the main L shape rip is the only real tear? And that is in a stitched in roof segment right? I would personally repair by fitting a large patch that not only covers the torn segment but also covers the neighbouring sections and stitch that patch to the double material band that connects the segments.
Without seeing the tent I would advise not to be drawn into a lost cause I speak from vast experience lol I for one will endever to go out of my way to save something worth saving but their is a limit to be recognised both financially and time wise unless you really do not care about either. Did the tent and burner combined price make the tent free? Or almost free? If not consider your future haggling skills lol. I would fully test the condition of the whole tent by pulling hard on every section and seam before getting involved in the repair. My only concern is the time the seller said the tent was in constant use, you said they said it was a year, but was it a year? No canvas tent can take more than a year or so of full time erection without the right and ongoing fabric treatments and even then they only last 3 years max. I've seen many a bell tent for sale after only 2 summer season pitched by a glamping pre pitched bell tent experience camp site

 

[1 shot willie]

Having looked at the pictures you have a LOT of work to do.........some quite difficult......given the age/condition of the tent and being pitched for three years I would say BIN IT!!
Salvage anything you can from it.....stove jack etc.
The time and cost involved with repairs would be considerable.......even after which you would not be confident of the integrity of the rest of the tent.

After having made the repairs you could....and more than likely would.........find more tears and seams giving way later on after all your hard work.

Maybe buy a cheapish family tent to see you through this season and save up for another Bell.
Buying second-hand canvas tents especially the bigger Bell Tents is a gamble at best.....because you can never guarantee how they have been looked after and stored.

Sorry if we are peeing on your bonfire.....just trying to save you time... money.....and disappointment

Good luck whatever you decide to do

 

[Kdog1989]

Fair one, the money we paid was primarily for the stove so its not a major downer if the tent is unrepairable and like you said it will never be bomb proof!
Enjoy a challenge and keen to have a project to do over the upcoming months to take my mind off parenthood and work!
We've set a repair budget so its not major money wasted and worst case we use the canvas to make a shelter for the back garden or a small tent for the little one to play in so either way we have got some use out of it.
Thinkin next step of goin to a cheapish trade shop we know that i think sells canvas and just seeing wat we can make patching and sewing wise!
Have a idea if making some sort of rounded tip to go at the top of the kingpole so that there is less pointiness on the top will be a bit of trial and error but gonna try!
Thanks for reply
Kat

 

[Kdog1989]

Hello all
Quick update on Operation Billy Bell Tent!
Phase 5- Have sourced and on route is some canvas material to use for the hopeful repair, 1.6m by 2m for like £25 all waterproofed and mold proofed already.
Once it’s here will start measuring and drawing out the shape needed for the top, luckily for us the partner been doing pattern development as part of his work so apart from the stress of trying to be as accurate as possible whilst leaving space for stitching shouldn’t be too horrid to work out!
Gonna work on getting something fabricated to hold the king pole in too something like the pet bowl but obvs inside the tent to hopefully spread the weight and potentially preventing other rips and tears later on!?!
Going to be seeing my grandad at the weekend and will be formulating how to stitch up/patch the other rips!
Hope everyone good
Kat and family