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Hi all,

Newbie question alert LOL

I'm going camping for the first time in a few weeks and have bought myself a lovely tent the Vango Vail 500. The only problem is i'm having trouble getting the pins into the poles, i get the first side in and usually one on the other side but even with them slacked off and making sure the material isnt rumpled its a battle to get the rest set in! Is there a knack or am I just a feble female LOL. If all else fails do you think some other nice campers would help if offered a glass of wine?

Thankyou

Hi,

We found the poles & pins tight when we first put up our tent but it does seem to get a bit easier after a few times, I think the material must sretch a little.

In the meantime I would be over to help like a shot if there was a glass of wine in it

It will also be my first time using the pin and ring system.

If you are offering free booze for a helping hand im pretty sure you will be over run with very helpful campers - lol

Peace

First time I put up my Vail 700 the ring and pins were hard to do, its been up three times now and gets easier and easier.

Always found it quite easy to put down as well!  Hardest part is lifting up all them steel poles and pulling them forward!

Quote: Originally posted by daisybev on 05/7/2008

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Before you slide the poles in to the sleeves give them a polish with Mr sheene or any furniture polish it makes them slippier and then you can get them in faster and pull easier.

Also if you have any tension straps ensure they are all loose before you attempt to put the pin in the ring.

John, that Vango of yours is so easy the hard bit is getting it down you think im joking !!! lol

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sorry but I wouldn't agree with spraying polish on the poles. Are you certain that this won't have any effect on the tent waterproofing ?

You should always push them , not pull,when putiin in or taking out.

 if you pull them , they come apart. its easier to push them through if the end you are pushing is raised up, so you are pushing down, not flat across on the ground too.

Quote: Originally posted by Catherinej on 05/7/2008

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I thought the pin went in the end of the pole and not through the ring. I understood that the ring was used to peg to the ground.

Is this not the case.

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as most of the other replies have said, putting a new tent up the first time is always tough.  and always seems to feel tight when you're putting the other end of the poles onto the pins for the first time.  takes me and my OH a couple of goes (i tend to have to hold the already inserted end in place other wise it pops back out).  just think if it was easy it'd be loose and theres nothing worse than a sagging tent.

if you do consider lubing the tent poles use something like a made for the job lubricant (world of camping sell one).  or something with a composition that won't affect the waterproofing.

if all else fails just offer the wine around and the tent will be up before you know it.