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Hi Val

Sorry to bother you but you have been so helpful over the past few weeks giving me advice and I was wondering if I could pick your brains again!

As you know, I'm looking to buy a weekend tent so that I can get away with my 3 boys (13, 6 and 1) when hubby is working.
You very kindly recommended that the Vango Idaho 600 may well be a suitable tent, which we're now looking at.

Would I be able to pitch this tent on my own or with help from my 13 year old? (biggest problem we have is that we're both only 5' 1" tall)
How long does it take to pitch (remebering that you are way more experienced than me!)?
Any pitching tips to make life easier/quicker?
What sort of price should I be looking to pay?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!!
Many Thanks
Helen xx

You`re sure I didn`t say the Vango Oregon 600? That`s the one I seem to recommend to everyone, lol.

But whatever...I had a look at the Idaho pitching instructions. Yup, I`m sure you could put the 600 up, given a reasonably obedient 13 year old. I`d have no hesitation in trying it alone, but better with my nearly eleven year old. It`s only got three main poles, after all. The only place I could see you having any sort of difficulty at all ...and not that much....is fixing in the two dome poles while you get your eldest to hold up the inside.. Would be best to have a little practice in the back garden first. Mostly, it`s a matter of coordination between the two people putting up the tent.

As for the Oregon 600, yup, you could pitch that easily as well. I wrote out a whole page of pitching tips for this tent.

http://northerncampsite.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-put-up-vango-oregon.html

Either of them would take 30-ish minutes or so, once you got the hang of it. It would be quicker with a tall bloke on the other end, yup, but it`s a pretty good time for a single mum + kid  with two smaller kids to look after.

 (And I`m only 5`4" tall, btw, with son a little shorter but quite strong. We`ve been putting up tents together since he was seven though.)

PS. Tent prices are just about to go through the floor now it`s September, so you shouldn`t have to pay full price for either.

Thank you so much for that Val - that is really helpful.

And you're right - it was the Oregon you recommended!!!

Quote: Originally posted by sapper696 on 03/9/2007

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Would a small tunnel not be a better option?

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The Oregon 600 is a small tunnel, yup. The 2007 version has a SIG, the 2006 (hard to find now) has a riser groundsheet.

Val recommended the oregon to me as well for an easy to pitch overnight tent. I bought it and she was right ! I put it up on my own in 30 - 40 mins and once you have got the knack it is dead easy.

Quote: Originally posted by HEJC72 on 03/9/2007

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Hi Val

 

As you know, I'm looking to buy a weekend tent so that I can get away with my 3 boys (13, 6 and 1) when hubby is working.
You very kindly recommended that the Vango Idaho 600 may well be a suitable tent, which we're now looking at.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!!
Many Thanks

Hi, sorry to butt in, but I took my 3 boys camping without hubby last week. We all fitted in ( nice and snug) in my Campus Sherpa 4 - a 3 x pole tunnel tent which I can stand up in, I am 5'2". The sleeping area had 1 x double airbed and 2 x single readybeds in it. The living area was plenty big enough for a table/chair and to store all the food and clothing. Take a look at my profile, I think there is a piccy of my lovely tent on there .

My tent is so easy to put up, 3 x identical poles = less to get wrong it was up and pegged down in no time at all. (I told the boys no swimming until the tent is up, we did the airbeds later)    Bribery works wonders!

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I too second Val's recommendation, we have a 2007 Oregon 600 and can't recommend it highly enough - we love it.  So quick and easy to pitch and roomy enough should the weather be rubbish to sit inside and play games etc etc.  Also, Vango are bringing out a canopy for it next year which will really enhance it.

HTH

Clare

Quote: Originally posted by Psyklon on 05/9/2007

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Hi Chinagirl, what's the name of the camp/site in the middle pic in your gallery. Water looks so inviting and there's a caravan in the background?
Thanks!

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Hello Psyklon, The campsite in with the swimming pool in my profile is Manor Farm, at Grafham, Cambs. Just near Grafham Water. A lovely site, its just been bought out by the Caravan Club, so alas, we haven't been back this year as we only have a tent. I have been going there regularly, 2 or 3 times a year with my cousins, and would thoroughly recommend it. Showers/toilets are superb, and small play area for children, although our children  love to make dens and bases  in the woods that surround the site. Pool open during summer months, and as you can see, is very hard to resist !  Check it out on the campsite search.