Have just abandoned first attempt at putting up our ebay Outwell Hartford XL in the garden. I should have come on here first to look for hints and tips - our second go will no doubt be more successful! I've just searched for help and found that its best to peg the loops out between the pods before trying to get the poles onto the little metal pins... but the instructions that came with the tent are minimal! I also just watched the vid on the Outwell site (which looks like a different tent to the one I've been fighting with!) and they peg out first too. Why can't they make the book of words more specific?? Or do they expect you to start with a 2-man ridge tent and work up rather than try a big family tent straight away, so you've got some experience?
Needless to say, after struggling to get hubby to agree in the first place to trying out camping at all, he ain't impressed.
Also, I haven't even got a rubber mallet (pillock!).
In our defence we are both tired and fractious after a wet week in a static in N Devon and I'm hormonal (recipe for disaster) and have been fighting a migraine since yesterday, so it praps was not the best time to pick to have a first go with it.
Bum... wonder if I can have wine with my head meds...?
might i suggest going to your nearesr campsite and putting it up there. you won't find it any easier to put it up. but you will entertain the other campers and after an hour or two someone might take pity. some of most enjoyable time camping have been watching first timers putting their tents up.
Don't worry about it. Have as many goes as it takes and you'll find the right way for you to do it.
We have the L and first time up footprint and tent were doing different things and had to take pegs out and turn tent around. It was soooooooo windy too. Managed up and down in an hour and a half but would it get back in it's bag - no way. Second time - the next day - set up in half an hour and down again in slightly less and managed to get in bag, just. (all the time telling ourselves it can't be complicated as we have managed awnings on the caravan) Remember to leave all the zips open so that you can get all the air out when folding and it makes it easier to get back in bag.
When we got to the camp site it was like starting again but managed it well - thankfully the rest of the site seemed to be out for the day so didn't see us (or hear us).
OH insists on pegging down (not properly) the corners of the pods before putting the poles in (this causes arguments!!) and we do the pod poles first (this too!!!!), then the dome and he get's in and pushes up whilst I fit them on the pins. Children go round clipping the poles in and OH then pegs out with youngest helping with pegs.
Once it's up I tell him it doesn't look right (so it kicks off again usually being my fault!).
Everyone does it differently tough and the more you practice you'll find a way that suits you. Looks so easy from the web video doesn't it - seems to skip a bit I found.
Now saying all this OH now decides that we needed an easy up tent for weekends/shorter stays so are now having to practice pitch again with it.
Keely - I have been crying with laughter at your reply - thanks, I really needed it!
I read the funnier bits out to OH and he has said he's going to teach himself how to use ebay and out the darned thing back on!
Tomorrow I'll get a mallet and we'll try again, and if the worst comes to the worst, I'll hit HIM on the head with it!
I do hope we can get the hang, especially as he suggested camping for the Shrewsbury Flower Show next year, which would be great, but that was before we tried to erect the tent! I've not given up yet... what is they say about the top most stressful thigns - divorce, bereavement, family christmas, losing job, putting a tent up??
Quote: Originally posted by ANGELAS on 26/8/2008
Go on utube, you'll see them putting them up on there.....really helpful i found.
I have thought of that but I'd be grateful for a clue as to exactly what to search for... don't want to put 'erection' in the search field and frighten meself with what comes up!
I stopped just short of hitting him with the mallet - only just!!
Just think, this time next year you'll be the ones getting the free entertainment from the first timers.
If all else fails make sure you pack the wine, glasses, corkscrew,and your chair right at the top of the boot so you can retire to a nice glass of red (or white) whilst you watch him trying to put the tent up - after all they know best. That really winds them up.
The utube videos are better. The guys at Ambleside Yeomans told us to look at them - think it's some of their guys that put it up.
Good luck, don't stress about it and you'll be fine
I stopped just short of hitting him with the mallet - only just!!
Just think, this time next year you'll be the ones getting the free entertainment from the first timers.
If all else fails make sure you pack the wine, glasses, corkscrew,and your chair right at the top of the boot so you can retire to a nice glass of red (or white) whilst you watch him trying to put the tent up - after all they know best. That really winds them up.
The utube videos are better. The guys at Ambleside Yeomans told us to look at them - think it's some of their guys that put it up.
Good luck, don't stress about it and you'll be fine
Oh Keely, that thread is brillinat! More tears of laughter! So, its completely normal for at least one of 2 people trying to erect a tent to be grumpy or lose their temper! Right then, once I've got a mallet we'll have another go.
Its more likely to be me stressing as I am something of a control freak, he didn't want to camp in the first place and has caved under pressure from me and the kids! He is normally v laid back and I can count the times he has raised his voice or sworn in temper on one hand.
If I can get him to practise with me and we get it right in a decent length of time, we're in with a chance of actually using the thing at least once. My suggestion was that we get second hand gear, camp at least one week, and the kit will have paid for itself. If he hates it we sell the stuff on, if he can tolerate it, we get some extra R&R with maybe a few long weekends rather than just single week away in a cottage/static at £600+ a throw!
OH now informs me it's a search for Yeoman Outdoors or yeoman outdoor on utube.
It really is great fun once you get sorted and get the first holiday over and done with, The children will really love it and if like ours you will only ever see them when hungry, thirsty or after money and then usually accompanied by half the rest of the rest of the children on the site.
Quote: Originally posted by dadsbeaniemad on 26/8/2008
OH now informs me it's a search for Yeoman Outdoors or yeoman outdoor on utube.
It really is great fun once you get sorted and get the first holiday over and done with, The children will really love it and if like ours you will only ever see them when hungry, thirsty or after money and then usually accompanied by half the rest of the rest of the children on the site.
I looked but they don't have one for our model. There's a Outwell Georgia on there but its not the Yeoman guys. I watched them put up a tunnel tent, brilliant! (Show-offs??)
Take your tent to a campsite, look out for a couple of old crusties in a well used and faded tent, (that would probably be us) and ask for a hand. We have helped put up all kinds of tents over the years, never minded once. It's one reason we still have our very,very and old faithfull Khyam, easy to put up.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Abortive first attempt to put up tent!
I should have come on here first to look for hints and tips - our second go will no doubt be more successful! I've just searched for help and found that its best to peg the loops out between the pods before trying to get the poles onto the little metal pins... but the instructions that came with the tent are minimal! I also just watched the vid on the Outwell site (which looks like a different tent to the one I've been fighting with!) and they peg out first too. 
Why can't they make the book of words more specific?? Or do they expect you to start with a 2-man ridge tent and work up rather than try a big family tent straight away, so you've got some experience?
