Make replacement tent poles

Step 5 More cutting, then finishing up.

Now cut the poles between the holes you just drilled for the sleeve. In my case, I cut mine in half. File those newly-cut edges!

Next, slip the sleeve back over the cut you made and line up the holes you drilled in the last step. Unless you used a drill press or are incredibly lucky - I didn't and I'm not - only one set of holes should match. Slip the bolt back through the holes, put a washer and nut on the other side, and tighten it snugly.

Now insert the other half of the pole into the sleeve. Line up these holes, slide the clevis pin through them, then insert the hitch pin into the clevis pin.

Congratulations! You're finished and you just saved yourself about $25 per pole.

Suggestions for improvements:

- Trim the bolts and clevis pins to get rid of any excess length.

- Install smooth caps over the end of the bolts to prevent snags.

- Paint your new poles gray to match or to look cool or to make your kids cringe. Be creative!

Comments

[pbates123]

Here is the URL of the site I found the Fiberglass rods on:
www.mgs4u.com/fiberg.htm

[pbates123]

Great idea and I'll bet those poles will withstand Godzilla standing on them... Very creative and I really like Keya Tetsu's idea of painting the hardware - awesome!

I found a site with fiberglass rods that telescope or "Sleeve" as the manufacture puts it. It maybe a little lighter if weight is more of a concern.

Great work!
Size Weight(lbs.) Wall thick Length Color Part Cost
1/2"OD (1/4" ID) 0.837 1/8" 8 ft. Black RT-12-8 $ 6.50
3/4" 1.50 1/8" 8 ft. Black or Gray * RT-34-8 $ 9.00

[Kaya Tetsu]

Paints the nuts, bolts, pins, etc bright colors like neon orange or yellow for easy location in the event you do drop them. Interesting instuctable. eventually looking into some sort of DIYish ultralight tent/ tarp ten setup. This could come in handy. Are the poles heavy?

[kstrauser]

Painting the hardware is a great idea! My poles weren't very heavy, although perhaps a little heavier than the originals. I didn't shop for weight when I bought the raw materials, though, and I'd bet you could find something much lighter than the steel conduit I used.