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Well, it's been a while since I last posted here but here's the thing...... Hubby's decided camping just isn't his idea of a relaxing holiday - so I am going alone! (with the kids).

Our tent, Vango Colorado 800 DLX is just too big for me to put up alone (I'm not very big and not at all strong!) So I have decided to get a smaller one for when I just want to get up and go without hassling hubby to come and put the tent up for me.

It's only myself and the two small kiddies so I don't want anything too big.  I do like a bit of height though so I'm not walking like the hunchback of Notre Dame at the end of it all.

So far I have found two that look quite appealing:-

VANGO VENTURE 500 which is a dome tent and

VANGO OREGON 400 TBS which is a tunnel tent.

Both are lightweight in comparison to my other tent, and both have a decent height and pitch flysheet first.

Does anyone have any experience of pitching these alone?  I want something fairly quick and simple to put up - I don't want to be worrying all the time about pitching it.

I just want to show hubby that I can still do the camping that me and the kids love with or without him!

If anyone has any better tent suggestions or advice on these I would be really grateful. 

Thanks,

Julie

Cannot praise Vango highly enough as a make. Lots of people on here successfully handle the Venture solo - even pixie ones!

My personal preference would be for the Oregon though, because it has the new riser groundsheet which should cut out draughts etc, and I think the layout may give you a fraction more living space than the Ventuer too. The TBS system successfully combats the lower stability you tend to get with a tunnel shape. We have Vango Quest with TBS and it was rock solid in seriously heavy weather last year in the Lakes. Also I find tunnel designs to be the easiest to manage alone, there is not the awkward "raising the dome" moment" (but as I have said a lot of folks on here have mastered that.)

Good luck what ever you decide - shame your hubby can't see the appeal though; he does not know what he is missing!

Hi

We have the montana 4 its fab fully sewn ground sheet windows 2 doors and you can stand up everywhere.

Best quality time ever, Hubbies actually missing out!

von+jon

Hmmm tough choice - now I'm normally a diehard VV500 fan but I have to say I was looking at the Oregon the other day when I thought I had an excuse to buy a new tent!!

They are both good sized tents for you and have good head height, I think the 2006 VV500 also has a riser groundsheet so I think there is very little between them. 

Looking at the two pictures on Wildday - the Oregon has a slightly shorter sleeping area and a slightly longer living area (220cm in the VV 250 in the Oregon) but the Oregon has sloping ends at the back and the front so you'd lose a little of your bedroom to a sloping back wall whereas the VV has a very flat back wall, the front of the Oregon seems to be lower than the front of the VV.   

I can put the VV500 up on my own (5ft 3in girlie!), the bit I struggle with is clipping in the poles as I don't have much enough strength in my hands and I doubt there's much difference with this on the two models.   I've never put up a tunnel tent but there is a suggestion that they are easier to put up as there is no need to lift the dome of the tent.  Lifting the dome on the VV500 isn't very tricky but it may well be that the tunnel of the Oregon makes it easier. 

I don't think you'd go far wrong with either of them -any chance you can get somewhere to see them up which might help you chose?

Thanks so much for all the advice!  There is plenty there for me to think about!  They both have their plus points!

I will let you know when I decide which one I'm going for!

Kind regards,

Julie

Wear a pair of skimpy shorts and you'll have about 20 blokes offering help within seconds.

Are men really so shallow?

Yes we are......!!

On a more serious (and less sexist) note, as you have camped before you will know that you only have to ask your camping neighbour on whatever site you find yourself at for assistance, even if it is just holding poles and your fellow campers will be pleased to help.

Oh, and well done for your independant attitude - very commendable.

I've pitched a Vango Venture 500 on my own without any trouble and I'm a small woman of only 4' 11" in height who couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag so you should find pitching one a doddle.

They have reasonable height and plenty of space inside so the Venture would be my choice for your situation.

I have a venture 500 bought at the end of last year after hubby decided he didnt like camping (or living with us for that matter!) I managed to put it up on my own with minimal help from a 5 and 7 yr old in about 30 mins - it wasnt perfect but will be better with practice. The other thing I like is the overall weight of the tent - easy to carry from car to pitch - don't know how heavy the oregon is - the Khyam we used to use weighs a ton and I struggled getting it in and out of the car boot! Don't know what the riser groundsheet is - sounds a bit technical to me!  I'm just waiting for the warmer weather then we're off