Base rails or not?

[heggied]

Hi there

My lovely wife has just informed me that I've to spec a polytunnel and she'll get me it for my 40th birthday, which is in September. I'm obviously over the moon at this, as I've been banging on about getting one since, oh, at least my 30th...

I've got a a question though, that I'd be grateful if any experienced polytunnelers could answer. Should I get the ones with base rails or not? I know that you can do something with trenches and the like and these aren't essential, although the videos I've seen of polytunnel installations on First Tunnels' website all seem to use them and it looks reasonably straightforward. If I didn't get these, do I still need the anchor plates or whatever they're called? Is trenching of the cover an acceptable thing to do - I could get a bigger tunnel for the price of those rails...

Cheers for any insights ...

David

[Alison]

You can trench the sides and many people do but we (well me really!) decided to opt for side rails as they are easier to tension, less digging and it should be easier to recover when needed. Haven't ever put up a trenched one so can't comment much on that but the skinning was probably the easiest bit of ours, the frame and leveling the ground took much longer. We have wooden base rails and base plates on each stantion which are buried about 450mm (I think) below ground level. You can concrete the posts in but we didn't really want to do that or bolt them at ground level to a solid surface - again not applicable to us.

[CaroltheCarrot]

If I was doing it again I would go for side rails.Mine is trenched and trying to get the right tension on the cover is a nightmare,and I dread having to recover it.

[poly]

I've got got base rails on both of mine and to my mind they make construction much simpler and as above easier to achieve good tension all around. Comparing mine to a previous trenched polytunnel I had (from the same company) achieving good tension helps in prolonging the life of the cover and the tunnels resistance to strong winds. I think changing covers with base rails should be a doddle compared to trenched.

Personally I'd go for baseplates and extra bracing, but we catch the wind here and I've seen what can happen

I'd go for base rails every time, however diging trenches is not my strong point so perhaps this makes me a little biased. Also they are not very easy to adjust once everything is up and running. I don't know if it is the same for all types, mine are from first tunnels but otherwise and I'm very pleased with them, good company great product.

[heggied]

Thanks for the words of wisdom folks. I'm still not sure which to go for. I could get a much bigger tunnel for the cost of the base rails, and everyone always says to get the biggest one you can afford. Would you go for the base rails over a bigger trenched tunnel? Are they that much better?

[winstonwobble]

I have base rails on mine and it was so easy to erect even for my OH who is an absolute novice when it comes to any sort of diy eg garden tunnel 2 days greenhouse 6 weeks!! pm me if you would like to know the brand dont think i can say on here but it was really easy

[SMT]

I too specified base rails for my polytunnel. It certainly makes light work of putting the polythene on. Also a very neat job and as previously mentioned, a taught cover is suppose to lengthen the life of the polythene.

As I grow pumpkins in the poly I find I can keep the main plant inside the ideal growing conditions and allow the vines to grow out underneath the base rails increasing the growing area. Not sure you’re into growing grapes either but I found planting my 2 grapevines under the base rails so the roots are outside a very successful way of doing it without ripping or cutting any polythene.

I appreciate they are a more expensive option but If I ever get the opportunity again to buy a polytunnel I would certainly specify them again.

[sewer rat]

I have a large (24' x 60') tunnel with base rails and would not buy another tunnel with them. My tunnel is on a very exposed site and the cover requires tightening each spring after the winter gales have had a go at it. This entails digging a ditch all the way round, beneath the base rails, undoing lots of U bolts, and then forcing them down to tighten the cover. I guess the answer, is base rails or not, make sure you can tighten the cover by raising the hoops instead of droppping the cover.

[heggied]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Although most of you recommend the base rails, I've paid no heed to the advice I asked for and I've gone for a trenched one, which I'm just off the phone ordering from First Tunnels.

Now to plan what I'm going to grow

[SMT]

I have a large (24' x 60') tunnel with base rails and would not buy another tunnel with them. My tunnel is on a very exposed site and the cover requires tightening each spring after the winter gales have had a go at it. This entails digging a ditch all the way round, beneath the base rails, undoing lots of U bolts, and then forcing them down to tighten the cover. I guess the answer, is base rails or not, make sure you can tighten the cover by raising the hoops instead of droppping the cover.

Sewer rat did you specify base plates, crops bars or wind bracing with your polytunnel?