Me, my wife and two children are new to this camping lark. We put up our Diablo 600 today for the first time as a 'dry run' so we don't get laughed at when we reach the site. We actually managed it in 50 minutes (not bad for a pair of 'virgins'). The hardest bit however was getting the thing back in the bag it came in. It eventually went in, but not nearly as neatly as it was packed at Vango and with a few zips unzipped.
Any tips out there? Do people bother putting it back in the bag? Do you just stuff it in the boot and wait until you get home? I don't have enough room at home to fold it in the back garden...
i have the diablo 900 not sure if the bags are the same but with the main tent i dont bother folding it i just lay it out then stuff it all in i think they use a vaucum in a factory
Sounds like you did well for your first attempt! We have the 600 and managed to get it in it's 'proper' bag once. It took us forever and there was a lot of grunts and swear words between us both but we did it. On our trip home we were discussing how long and how hard a task it was and decided to buy 2 large inexpensive(bout a fiver each) holdalls. It defiantely took away the dread of packing the thing away and we found it much better by splitting it into two....sorry, forgot to mention that we also have a smaller bag just for the poles as well.
Stuff the lot in and get the kids to sit on it while you inch the zips closed.
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"Those are hares, not silly old rabbits. Lovely March hares!"
Thanks for the reassurance. Thought it was just us being 'new'. Might go for the two large bag option. They are great tents thought aren't they. Well impressed. The wife wasn't interested in camping at all, 'til she saw the Diablo at Millet's tent show (great idea). Big living area and draught/insect free...Brilliant. Can't wait for tuesday for first night under the flysheet.
yes they are fantastic tents! loads of room and its just so comfortable! I am saving up for the 900 so we can have a bedroom each. Not even looking at any other tent :-)
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"Those are hares, not silly old rabbits. Lovely March hares!"
Just got a Coleman Sahara 8 which is supposed to be in two bags..One for the poles and one for the inner and fly sheet. The fly sheet is in a bag of it's own which is supposed to go in the bag with the inner. Can't see the point in that so it's now outside the bag and the whole thing is in three manageable bags. I'm a big strong geezer and even I would be struggling with both the components in the same bag. Don't struggle to pack the bag...get a stuffsack and have an extra bag.
Weve just done it this weekend and got everything in ok. Got to do it again after drying so wouldn't worry too much.
Take the top of the dome area fly sheet and walk backwards folding the back part underneath. Fold in the sides and then the porch area on top ( so it'll be the 1st thing out next time ) Keep folding normally in thirds and try to get it as square-ish as poss and lie on it to flatten and take all the air out, stuff in the bag then sit on the bag whilst partner does up the zip. then pound the bag to get it into shape. Do the same for the inner tent which we fold in half ( bedroom to bedroom ) so all the mud is on the outside. Then put porch ground sheet in then the poles and peg bag. Strap it up and sit on it again!!
We found that it will fit if you keep squashing and sitting on it!! That last pounding makes it look perfect!!
Welcome to the Vango owners club, I have gotten my Diablo 600 in the bag every time apart from once, couple of weekends ago, it still lays in the gararge, it was drying out.....
They are superb tents, great quality and great space.