I bought the Outwell Minnesota as I wanted a reasonable sized tent with decent living area for myself and 4yr old daughter but I have just had a go at putting it up and it's impossible.
I spent nearly 2 hours trying to get the hooks into the end of the tent poles and even then, when I tried to stand it up it was so heavy it kept falling over. Has anyone any advice?
Any tent I've had before has sort of put itself up when you put the poles in but this just falls over.
Thanks
Christine
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Not sure if this will help, however, with our Outwell tunnel we peg the back down, then thread the back poles through, Stand it up and peg it down going a little forward to keep it steady, then do the same with the other 4 poles. We found one at a time easier than all at once.
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Have you loosened the adjustable straps on one side of the tent.
Also just peg the tent down in the four corners. Then slide one roof bar through at the front with the door open to let the air to go in. Then slide one leg in on the side with no adjustment making sure you dont catch any fabric at the top. Then go around to the other side and put the other leg in. The pin should go in much easier if you have adjusted the strap to its longest length. Then repeat in the middle section then the back section. Then shut the door and peg out neatly.
We have a Outwell Minnesota 4, and I can well imagine that it would be tough to put up by yourself with a 4yr old.
The first time I tried to put ours up (with the help of my wife & then 4yr old) I found getting the ring and pin together was VERY hard. In fact I was worried I was going to break something - ether the tent or my fingers. Rest assured that they do get a bit looser after the first couple of uses.
My tips for pitching this tent:
1. Lay tent out and peg out the back edge at the SIG.
2. Make sure all the tension straps are loose.
3. Slide through all 3 roof frame sections and add the alloy legs, but leave lying flat.
4. With an adult on each side (a 4/5yr old won't be strong enough), gently gather the 3 frame sections together whilst they are flat, then lift as one.
5. Whilst one adult holds the 3 frames togther and upright, on one side of the tent the other inserts the ring&pin on the rear-most frame only. Make sure you do the side which does not adjust for tension first! Then peg out this frame only on both side. The pegs should be slightly forward of the frame, so that it pulls it taught from the back of the tent, thus it will stand up by itself. (Though I haven't tried this in a high wind yet !)
6. With an adult on each side, gently walk the un-pegged 2 frames forward, and then peg out the middle frame as per 5.
7. Repeat again with the front-most frame.
8. Peg out remaining guy-lines and SIG, and tension the straps.
9. Now go and re-peg each of the side guy-rope in turn so that the peg is parallel the frame leg to which it is attached.
10. Pour wine.
Whilst doing this, I continually find I leave the mallet & pegs on the other side of the tent on which I am working. This is where the 4/5yr old comes in handy!
I know exactly what you are talking about. I have the same problem trying to put the pins in. Theres just me and my 6 year old.
I have found that if you more or less follow the list of instructions above but:-
when you try to put the pole on the second pin (ie once the tension is there) i find it much easier to unclip the lowest section from the long pole, put the pole on the pin, then clip the long pole back together again.
ONce the back one is up, get you 4 year old to hold the guy lines at the front. even a little tension here will stop it falling over.
A bit of jiggling with the fabric on the top of the tent always helps - try to get as much slack as possible,
i also struggle to pull the poles apart when putting down the tent, so am gonna grease the poles before i put them together this time.
Hopefully you know what i mean by this, just shout if not, its difficult to explain, easier to show. Look on the bright side, your 4 year old will get stronger and be of more help each time. I have had lots of help from other campers - when they see you are on your own witha child no one sees you struggle. Good luck and happy camping.
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Topic: Outwell Minnesota 4 Help!
, Hope the suggestions here help you.
