This is how we beat the problem of a papilio ridge pole's not fitting in a normal sized car.
The first step is to make sure the pole fits the tent, of course. Find the center and cut in halves. Then add the biggest hinge that you can find. The one chosen below is for a garden gate. It has plastic washers built in to take up the space between the hinge socket parts (what do you call those??)
On the opposite side, we used the thinwall pipe that houses electrical wires. We beat on one end until it was flat, then bent it to form a finger grip. The brackets are the same ones you'd use to mount the pipe to the wall, but we forced them open a little with a hammer so the pipe would slide easily.
Unfold the board, put the pipe in, and it works just fine. Tested at Schulenburger Wald camp. And the 1.5 meter folded pole fits more easily into a normal sized car. I think a similar method could be used to shorten vertical poles, though it would not be very attractive to the eye, it might be useful, especially for larger tent poles.
Why not drill a hole in both halves of them, fit a iron rod in it at one side glue and insert the other insert it in the other. Other solution may be screw the to halves togeter.
( I can't remember the word for "bout en moer" in Dutch) did this for sme scouting tents years ago.
AgrimensorLVCIVS FLAVIVS SINISTER
aka Jos Cremers
member of CORBVLO
ESTE NIX PAX CRISTE NIX
@David, I don't have any trouble hauling long poles, as I drive a pickup truck. This system was developed to help my other reenactor friends who drive small cars, and had no way to carry 9 ft poles. For vertical poles, it would simply be needed to put the pipe with the flared end at the top, so gravity would help hold the pipe in its place. I have not actually used this process for vertical poles, but it should work, as the pressure exerted against the joint would not be as great as it is for a ridge pole.
@agrimensor, using a rod or a screwed-together section should be fine for a vertical. For a ridge (horizontal), I don't think it would be as strong. The weight on the pole is greatest at the center, and would put a lot of pressure on the place where the rod/threaded end connects the two together.
The great thing about this is it takes no tools to assemble, and only seconds to unfold and lock into place.
This method worked out great. We'd attempted it at Fort Parker II using sliding bolt latches, but the short length of the bolts allowed enough flex to render them useless (we staked the uprights as a workaround). These didn't flex at all, and could be assembled and disassembled within seconds. Cheaper than buying a new vehicle at any rate.
We wanted to avoid the extra vertical pole, although that is a good solution. That pole in the middle really takes up more space than a fellow would think. I've camped in tents that had one, and it seems like it's always in the way.
Anyhow, we're not making a recommendation, just showing what we did to solve one of the common problems. Cheap and effective.
To be honest I think the originals would also have been made from several pieces.
A mule or at the very best a cart would have been limited lengthwise.
Sulpicius Florus
(aka. Steve Thompson)
"What? this old Loculus? had it years dear."
"Vescere bracis meis" (eat my shorts)
Our ridge poles are round in section and are in two parts. One part has an end inserted tightly into a short section of pipe. The other section of pole simply slides into this. The two side strainer poles are made the same way. Simple and very reliable.
For our other tents (those used for presenting aspects of civilian life) we have ridge poles made the same way but use nothing but vertical poles secured with guy ropes otherwise. The stand alone frame you use seems very well made and I am sure it works well, but I really wonder if it is really necessary when the same tent could be held up simply by vertical poles. Is the inclusion of a central vertical pole really a problem? I have stood in many tents of that size and larger whose roofs were supported by a central pole and have never found the pole to be inconvenient.
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
I believe the square metal box solution was the one used for US GI ridge poles
on GP medium and GP Large tents for many years. I don't recall seeing any artifacts that have been identified as tent ridge pole connecting hardware on Roman tents but it might be an interesting exercise to review finds to see if anything looks like it would fit the purpose. The larger Roman tents ridge poles might have been a difficult carry for a mule so it is possible they used some multi section ones.
The stand alone frame you use seems very well made and I am sure it works well, but I really wonder if it is really necessary when the same tent could be held up simply by vertical poles.
@Crispvs:I made the stand alone frame after an event where I had to erect a tent and a awning without any help.
It took me 90 minutes of balancing, mathematics and a lot of sweat :roll:
The larger Roman tents ridge poles might have been a difficult carry for a mule so it is possible they used some multi section ones.
One thing needs to be said about our solution: we didn't aim for "authentic" or "historical". It was just necessary for people to be able to haul their gear to the camp without "the guy with the truck" keeping up with everything and loading/offloading/storing it. Basically, I'm that guy, and I was getting overloaded. hock: :lol:
but everyone can do this.
hock: :lol:
