I'm considering the Icarus 500 (I prefer the headroom than the 400 doesn't have). My only concern is that I will have trouble pitching it by myself. On some occasions I will have my 8 year old to lend a hand but I can't always rely on that!
I've contacted Vango for their opinion and they say that the 400 can be pitched alone whilst they don't recommend the same for the 500.
Can anyone shed any light on the difficulty or ease in pitching the 500 alone?
Many thanks for any assistance!
PS, I'm a pretty fit 6ft bloke!
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I've done it I don't think you'd have any problems. I'm 5'4.
You just install all the poles, ring and pin them, and have them layed out flat on the ground, like a folded up accordion. Then peg back two corners. Stand it up and walk forward unfolding the accordion and have a couple of pegs in your back pocket to temporarily guy out the two front guys. Adjust, square off, and peg everything else.
I am a ugly unfit bloke and I can pitch it alone in 15 minutes. Worse case stand there looking pretty and some helpful lady campy will come and assist you. well its never happened to me but you never know.
Here is how I do it
lay it all out and push the poles up into the arches as its still flat on the ground as above.
Bash in a few spikes at each end ready, pull up one end dont worry too much about its position and hook a rope over the peg you just bashed in. This will hold up one end now pull the tent out and hook a rope on the a peg at the other end.
Then you can position it properly and simply peg it all down
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I managed to do mine (for the first time) on my own the other day. It was windy as well. It took me about 20 minutes, which I didn't consider too bad with it being the first time I'd taken it out of the bag!
I'd be happy to put this uo solo and I'm a 5'4" middle aged woman with a back problem atm. It's a tunnel tent and there's only three hoops...you can't really get easier for a tent that size!
Suggestions though...have your mallet and pegs placed ready to grab as you get the tent upright, peg the two underneath corners of your stack down before you pull them upright, to give you something to pull against and try to lay it out so that you're not pulling the tent out into any wind, but with the wind behind the stack of poles so that it pushes them up towards you. In practice of course this means working from the rear of the tent forwards when putting in the poles, pegging the back two corners, lifting then walking the tent out to the front. Peg out a couple of guyropes for support then get the two corner base pegs in. Get round the back asap and run out the two rear guylines. Then you can fiddle around to your hearts content getting everything lined up on the footprint.
If it's very windy though and there's someone around, get them to help you stand and walk the poles out. Only takes two minutes of their time and it saves possible damage to the tent.
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Quote: Originally posted by chaddys76 on 11/5/2010
I am so glad you asked this question!
I have been looking for a smaller tent for myself and my 2 girls to use when Hubby is working as I can't put the Monty up on my own!
I quite like the look of the Icarus 500 but did wonder if I could pitch it alone (with a little help for DD's who are 6 and 9).
Will watch this thread with interest.
I can put up a five pole 8-man tunnel tent with the help of a 7 year old. You really only need that extra pair of hands when walking the poles out, and your 9-year old should be fine helping with that. The younger one can be the peg girl.
Just have a practice first, with another adult around if necessary. And if you are on site and it's windy, don't put your own safety and that of the tent above your pride...if there's someone handy offering help, say yes with a smile!
1 - lay the tent out, peg the four corners with good long pegs make sure any adjustable straps are slack.
2 - open the front door and inner doors.
3 - slide the front pole in and place the pin in the end of the pole then walk around to the other side of the tent and push and lift the pole until you can put the second pin in this end of the pole.
4 - close the inner doors and the main tent door and repeat number 3 for the middle pole then the same again for the rear pole.
5 - adjust all pegs and guy out.
By pegging the front and rear first (doors closed at this point) its like having an extra person at the front and rear holding the tent. Any other way on a day with a bit of wind is asking for trouble on your own.
Gary Cross
Retailer.
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Great, thanks guys for your help with this.
It all sounds straight forward. I'm just about to place an order.
And, floggitt, don't do yourself down about being ugly. I feel something may happen on your 5 day naturist meet next month!
regards, Mike.
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Topic: Vango Icarus 500-can one person erect?
via mobile 01/7/2022 at 1:44pm
