Maintaining Adjustable Height Tent Poles

Just finished maintaining my adjustable height tent poles for winter storage. I disassembled the sections, thoroughly dried each segment, lightly sanded them with sand paper then left them in sections until next camping season. From past experience, I have learned that the sections can quickly rust together, especially after camping in a severe rainstorm. I have even had the narrowest pole section bend from the forces of wind and rain on the awning. So, it is a good idea to inspect your poles for damage and rust, so that next spring you won't be frustrated when it comes time to set up your awning. We always keep a spare pole available for parts or total replacement while camping, so we don't fret when the storms come rolling in.