Tarptent Rainbow Setup
Setup is very easy. It will take 2 to 3 minutes once you get the hang of it. To
watch the setup video visit: https://www.tarptent.com/videos/
Your Rainbow order includes: tent body with carbon fiber cross strut, stuffsack,
six blue bag, and an arch pole (carbon or aluminum).
I. Layout and Positioning
1. Once you have found a place to pitch your Rainbow, spread out the tent
body with the black bathtub floor facing the ground. If using a ground
sheet, lay it down first.
2. Remove six stakes from the stake bag and have them ready to place in the
guyline loops (1 stake at each corner, 1 for the vestibule door, and one for
the back wall).
3. Check to make sure that the floor corners are clipped above the
corresponding fly line tightener, to ensure the bathtub floor is correctly
tensioned (Image 1).
4. Insert assembled arch pole into the yellow arch pole sleeve. Point the pole
tip downwards as you slide it through the sleeve--there should be almost
no resistance from the fabric. Do NOT use force when inserting the arch
pole as the pole may break or fabric may tear.
5. Place pole tips into the black end pockets. Once the pole is inserted, tighten
the pockets so the arch pole is well secured in the sleeve.
II. Pitching the Rainbow
1. After you have the arch pole secured, stake out the adjacent tent corners
by placing the stakes through the O-rings. Stake out the corners as far as
possible from the center of the tent (Image 2).
2. Walk to the other end of the tent and ensure that the arch pole is centered
before staking out the corners as you did previously (Image 2).
3. Pull out the vestibule and back wall and stake.
4. Bathtub end walls can be lifted from the interior using the clip above the
head and foot ends of the shelter.
III. Free Standing Set Up
1. You can use trekking poles OR vertical support poles ordered from Tarptent
to make the Rainbow free standing.
2. Adjust the poles to a minimum height of 51 in (130 cm). Position the poles
parallel to each end of the tent (Image 3).
3. Snap the clip on to the pole shaft and rotate under the arch pole tip (Image
3C).
Image 2: Stake placement and tensioning
Stake out each corner as
if you were pulling as
far as possible from the
“center” of the tent. This
ensures even tensioning.
The backwall cording
loops around the stake.
Slip O-ring over
pole tip
Form a “noose” and
slip over pole handle
Clip for center of pole
Image 3: Free standing set-up
(B)
(A)
(C)
Clip to pole
Wrap under grommet
pole 51in/130cm
Image 1: Clipping floor to fly
Clip floor corners to the corresponding
fly corner, directly above the line tight-
ener, to ensure bathtub floor is correctly
tensioned
floor corner clip
fly corner line tightener
4. The tent corners have O-rings to fit over the tip and handle (Image 3A and
3B).
5. Repeat above steps for the other end of the tent. Tension vestibule doors
with guylines as needed. The shelter should now be free standing.
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