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Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations

Topic: Vango Maritsa 500

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AndreaT

12/6/2017 at 1:33pm
Location: None Entered
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I'm looking for pitching help/ advice!
We've had our vango Maritsa for a few years now and love it once it's up but find pitching a nightmare!! It has steel poles with pins that go in the end but trying to get the pins in the end of the pike is a physical workout every time! The tapes are lossened as much as possible. The poles were badly labelled when we bought it and I wonder if they've got mixed up. Can anyone tell me the length of each pole and it's position or where I might get this info? Thanks, I'll pitch it in the garden and see if I can work it out later this week!

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Mucker1884

12/6/2017 at 4:02pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: VW+T6+HiTop

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Can't help with the specific pole details, but this could well do more good than harm once you've sorted that out...

How to get a tight ring and pin into a steel pole

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AndreaT

12/6/2017 at 4:24pm
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Thanks Mucker1884, he makes it look so easy- I'll have a go and will aim not to break the springs, bend the pole or tear the tent fabric!

RachlN76

12/6/2017 at 6:15pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Vango Maritsa 700; Isis 600 + canopy

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First time I tried that method, I got my hand caught in the pole joint.
That hurt. A lot. I may have said 'damn' or something similar!

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AndreaT

12/6/2017 at 9:03pm
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Oooh, that sounds painful. I'll add keep fingers away from joints to the list! Thanks for the warning RachlN76

AndreaT

13/6/2017 at 8:47pm
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Thanks for all the advice, I pitched it in 30mins this afternoon with the help/distractions of 3 young children!! So happy, looking forward to camping again. 😀

BRYANMITCH

15/6/2017 at 12:21am
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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Buy a multipack of elecrical tape and next time you have the tent up..colour code the poles with the tape to match the coloured tape stitched to the end of the pole-sleeve.There should be 5 different colours. I found a small coat of clear nail varnish along the end and edges of the tape helped keep the tape in place for longer.Or you could just paint the ends of the poles ..but that gets expensive if you buy 5 different aerosols!.I had to do this when my daughter and family borrowed my maritsa--it was either that--or be on standby next to the phone while they tried to pitch it

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Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!

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AndreaT

15/6/2017 at 9:14am
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Thanks for the tip, I did put coloured insulating tape on all the poles but when I struggled to put it up so many times I wondered if I'd got it wrong! It's up in the garden now and definitely all good but I will check the coloured tape again!

BRYANMITCH

19/6/2017 at 4:53am
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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When the tent was new it would probably have had little colour coded plastic sleeves on the poles.I broke or lost a few of these very quickly -hence the coloured tape.If you look on the tent review section you can get an idea of which pole goes where-ie biggest in the middle --smallest at the bed-room end.
When pitching it helps to start at the front and leave the door open so it can fill with air then roughly guy one pole at a time until you have the tent in place .Dont clip the material to the poles as this will make things difficult for you.Get your poles up and guyed --zip the doors up then clip material to poles and adjust using the ring and pin straps as needed.
This how I pitch mine and it works for me.Its a fantastic tent and very strong once its up.
Forgot to mention the pegging--I only put about 6 pegs around the bottom (depending on wind conditions)whilst pitching--this can help with the tight ring and pin problem and fully peg out once all poles are in place.
This is just a method which suits me..be careful if its a bit blowy..you will be chasing your tent across the field...all pegs in first if windy.

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Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!

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