Zipper troubleshooting

We understand how frustrating zipper issues can be. While worn or exhausted zippers aren’t covered under warranty, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try that may help improve performance before moving forward before looking into a full replacement of the zipper.

1.    Take a pair of pliers and lightly crimp the outside edge of the zipper guide (the metal zipper itself, where it grabs onto the teeth). We have found that overtime, as the

zippers are used, they begin to expand and not hold the teeth together as tightly.

This may not hold forever, but if it works for a little bit, let us know and we can send you a new zipper guide to fix the problem.

2.    When opening and closing the tent be sure to pull both the inside and the outside zipper ropes. Pulling both of them at the same time, allows for an even zip and one side will not be pulling in the opposite direction as the other, thus working to separate the teeth.

3.    Be sure your tent is not staked too tight. This can create unnecessary added tension around the doors and windows, making zippers more difficult.

If none of these methods resolve the issue, it may be time to replace the zipper. We recommend taking the tent to a local canvas repair shop, such as one that works on boat covers or similar materials, as they are typically well equipped for this type of repair. For reference, the zipper used is a #10 YKK brand zipper.

We can also ship you a replacement zipper head/guide if needed. Contact customer service for this.