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The Coleman 8-by-11 Vagabond is a springbar tent, not to be confused with the Vagabond I and II dome tents. According the Springbar factory's website, the procedure for pitching a springbar tent hasn't changed much in 30 years. While the Coleman website doesn't offer an instruction manual for any of the Vagabond tents, the Springbar website offers detailed set-up and care instructions for the Vagabond. Practice pitching the Vagabond tent before your trip and you'll approach tent set-up with confidence when you're out camping.
Tips & Warnings
Carry a tent repair kit--sporting goods stores carry them.
Check the site for safety before pitching the tent. Look for potential rockslides, tree limbs that could come down, flooding hazards, animal burrows, anthills and wasp nests.
Coleman has discontinued Vagabond tent poles. The site offers universal tent pole kits for those needing replacement parts.
Allow the tent to dry before storing. If it had dew or rain on it when you took it down, pitch the tent at home to dry it out before putting it away.
Don't store food in your tent or leave food wrappers or anything with a food odor in the tent. Animals can tear a tent up to get at food. Use a food locker at a campsite or hang the food over a high tree branch at a distance from the tent.
The Coleman website warns against using the wrong replacement parts for a tent. Contact customer service at Coleman if you need replacement parts.
Don't use any source of flame inside a tent.
Keep knives, scissors and other sharp objects in sheaths or packed away.
Article Written By Gryphon Adams
Gryphon Adams began publishing in 1985. He contributed to the "San Francisco Chronicle" and "Dark Voices." Adams writes about a variety of topics, including teaching, floral design, landscaping and home furnishings. Adams is a certified health educator and a massage practitioner. He received his Master of Fine Arts at San Francisco State University.
