Message Forums

Hi lawrie09

We have the 900 and it takes us about 1 hour to get it pitched.  The first time took nearly 2 hours!!  We've pitched it 4 times now so things have improved (including my language).

Dave

Quote: Originally posted by lawrie09 on 23/1/2006

---

we chose the 400 on advise form towshores where got it from they had the 600 on display and said took ages to put it up.Barieng in mind were beginners and children are young will build up in size as kids get older.

---

To be honest there will be little difference in pitching time between a 400 and a 600...it`s the same number of poles etc . Bigger pods would give you room to keep kit like clothes in the pods, while at the moment you`re going to be able to get a double or two single airbeds in each one and that`s it..  there will be no room to stand up beside the airbed in the pod.

Yup...two hours for the first time you pitch your tent, dropping down to an hour or so with practice. For the 400 or the 600. Then remember to add on another hour to set up the inside...unpack, blow up airbeds, that sort of thing. You do get quicker at this bit too, but not that much quicker. Two hours from arriving on the pitch to getting the last item out the boot of the car into the right space is about the time it takes for two competent adults with younger kids to get set up., with practice.

Ground plan and dimensions of the 400...

http://www.qksrv.net/click-1428744-10297635?URL=http://www.qksrv.net/click-1428744-10297635?URL=http://www.wildday.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=2171

and the 600...

http://www.outdoorfocus.co.uk/tall_fibreglass_steel_tents/Vango/Diablo/Vango_Diablo600_info.htm

I love the side door on the 600 porch, btw. Great for wet weather!

I would swap it if the price difference isn`t too great. I`ve got two kids and a 12-man Vango Colorado and we seem to need every inch on long trips! We got a 7-man tent for weekend trips.

I would agree, always go for bigger than you think you need.  There are 4 of us and we go every where in our 12 man tent.  Normally we use a fair proportion of the space in it ( including an additional day tent as well ).

If its just the 2 of us going then I take our 5 man tent.

I know the staff in camping shops are experienced in putting up many sorts of tents, because they`re always moving the display tents around at ours and putting the new models up. So they know which ones go up fast etc.

But on the other hand I also wonder how many of them go camping with two/three kids? You not only have to fit all the kit inside, you sometimes actually have to live for several days completely inside the tent if the weather is bad. This is when an extra half hour on the pitching time just to get a bigger tent is totally worthwhile. If you can`t fit clothes holdalls in the inner pods they have to stay out in the main living space, along with the four camp chairs, a table, food and cooking equipment, toys, wellies and everything else. You come into the tent wet then...if you`re not careful...everything starts to get muddled up, the wet spreads...yuch .

At least if you have a little extra space in the pods you can leave clothes in there (keeps them drier), kids have a bit of floor space in the pods to play on (and you can zip them up into it too!) and personal possessions like books, cameras, knitting, sponge bags etc can live in the bedrooms. They can be used as rooms, not just bed areas.

I would go for the 600, I really would. Sure it may look big up in the tent showroom but it will be much, much smaller once you get four of you and all the kit in there...trust me on this! I`ve got two kids and I`ve camped all their lives. And that porch arrangement on the 2006 model is just brilliant. First time I`ve seen it, and I`m so impressed. Very versatile. I wish I had it in the Colorado. It`s worth buying the 600 just for the porch.

Hi all

I totally agree with what everyone has stated, we were unsure weather to get the 400 or 600. BUT soooo glad we chose the 600, plenty of space & with practice put-up times do become quicker.

If you can swap it for the 600, you will be so glad you did.

Best of luck.

 We've got the 600 and it took us nearly 2hrs to put up the 1st time , reading the instructions as we went along! Have got quicker with practice. Dont forget that weather conditions particularly the wind will hamper you. If you get chance try to put it up a few times before you go away, practice makes perfect so they say.