We got our Montana 6 yesterday so up went our new toy today. No problems erected it BUT took us ages to pack away. We just couldn't fold it, roll it small enough to get into bag. Of course we did eventually but what a load of bother. I rolled on it and we just kept folding. Watched the Outwell video, it all seemed too easy for them two. We copied it and it didn't happen.
In these new trolley bags, they are a tight fit. The main thing is getting all the air out. If you fold it as in the video, but when you roll it up, roll it up as tight as possible getting someone else in front of you to force the air out as you go. When it is fully rolled then sit on it. Then unroll it and roll it again.
It soon becomes natural to do it all and doesn't take very long. When I got my Monty 12 2006 I spent ages trying to get it back in the bag whilst being rushed to leave the campsite ( well over the time I should have left ). In the end I threw it all in the trailer and did it at home. It has got easier now after doing it a few times. You will never get it exactly how it was packed at the factory.
You might be amazed BUT we also got our new Monty 6 up at the weekend no problems. We were worried about getting it down cause everyone seems to have had a problem. There were 3 monty's at the site on Mon and all of us got it down first time, in the bag AND all the poles fitted in the same bag.
The trick is (if there is one) to try to make sure that once it is flat all the flysheet is kinda flat and even over the ground sheet. Then with an adult at the corners of one end flip it over so that you have halved it. It now resembles a kinda square. Then half it again the same direction and again. In essence you have now got an eighth of the tent in a long sausage. As you make each fold, brush the grass etc of with a brush or old towel - this helps to expel the air.
Final stage is now to go to an end and tightly, tightly start rolling it up expelling the air as you go. You will end up with a swiss roll effect (hopefully). Once you have done this we found it easier to put the bag on top, squeeze in as best you can then flip the whole thing over and push the rest in. Using the compression straps inside the bag makes it even smaller. Door mat on top, then the poles and Bobs your uncle.
How did you manage to get the poles in the same bag as the tent. They have their own bag. Even factory packed I would have stood a chance of getting the poles in as well. My poles in their bag are about half the width of the tent. Or do you mean the aluminium porch pole.
Get husband to lie face down on top of semi folded tent - spreadeagled (in garden in full view of neighbours, general public, random passers and especially people on the double decker number 41 to Chester)
Lie on top of hubby in same position, also face down.
Rock backwards and forwards from head to toe feeling foolish for around 15 minutes.
Hey thanks for the information. We had a couple of goes at getting it sorted, but will be trying it out again in our back garden this weekend (very adventurous!!). We will work on removing more of the air and look at the re folding again.
The kids seem to like the tent, so this weekend will be a good little try out.
Quote: Originally posted by kim wilson on 07/6/2006
Get husband to lie face down on top of semi folded tent - spreadeagled (in garden in full view of neighbours, general public, random passers and especially people on the double decker number 41 to Chester)
Lie on top of hubby in same position, also face down.
Rock backwards and forwards from head to toe feeling foolish for around 15 minutes.
Thanks for the tips. Not sure about the spreadeagled one on a campsite though, may get a few complaints!!
Yep we are pretty impressed with our Monty, lots of research went into this tent as we have downsized from a Folding Camper. Big step if you ask me but hey it'll be fun fun fun all the way
weve just got our monty 6 been away once then put up again at home as had to have a replacement cos of some damage BIRTLEY CARAVANSwere brill changed tent no probs well recommended for after sales. anyway we took home put up to check for damage nothing to report so decided to experiment for taking down we left bedroom doors unzipped and left front door open aswell. next we folded back to the middle then front to middle. next fold first fold ovr to front fold (hope this makes sense) then folded again now we had a long flat sausage shape we then took the end and folded over a third and repeated slowly forcing the air out which was pretty easy we opened it back out to the sausage shape then just rolled it up and it went straight into the bag no problems and it was down and back in the bag in about 10 to 15 mins with us hardly getting out of breath hope this helps
Hi, we found the key to it all is getting the air out. If you do this at every fold you will have no problems getting it in the bag. Also, just when you think its about right, fold it in half again. This allows for 'side squish' (a new technical term right up there with 'Thingy' meaning - it all falls out of the side!). When I put it in the bag I lay the mat and rain-saver ground sheet on top of it then put the bag on to it rather than putting the tent into the bag. I also made sure that the mat and separate GS were covering the bag rivets and thus protecting the tent from the rivets. I hope this helps
------------- Abe: I used to be `with it.' But then they changed what `it' was. Now
what I'm `with' isn't `it' and what's `it' seems weird and scary
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Get husband to lie face down on top of semi folded tent - spreadeagled (in garden in full view of neighbours, general public, random passers and especially people on the double decker number 41 to Chester)
Lie on top of hubby in same position, also face down.
Rock backwards and forwards from head to toe feeling foolish for around 15 minutes.
You sure you just trying to flatten the tent and not hubby? lol
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Topic: Montana 6 packing up
