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We have just got in from a trial pitch of our new Montana 6. While it did only take us about 40 minutes to pitch it we had a few problems trying to raise the first set of poles. We did as suggested on the Outwell video ie. fit all the roof and leg poles then lift the first set and peg out that end. We found it very difficult to lift the first set to get the pins in. In the end we opened all the doors completely and removed the leg poles from the other three sections. When we finally got the first set up we noticed that the roof poles had twisted slightly leaving the roof poles "leaning in" a llitle.

Is this beacuse this was the first time out of the bag or were we doing something wrong.

Hi

We've just had our Montana 4 up for the second time.  We did as you did the first time and struggled but, as advised by staff at the local Yeomans tent show, this time we did it differently -

Put all the curved poles through the sleeves at the top but only attach the front upright ones.  Once you have the pins in use the guide ropes to pull the front end upright.  Then attach the middle ones and finally the back ones and peg out.

Seemed much easier, but I'm sure there are others on here with way more experience and better tips than me!

Dino

I am fairly new to the Monty, having only just got ours; however, found it easier to thread all the poles at once (including pinning them) and then raise them vertical together as a group; finally, then stretch out the tent like a concertina and peg it out.

Might be completely wrong, but it worked for us – and that is just me and my 10 year old daughter.

I found it too hard just to raise the back set first and peg - the weight kept twisting the frame as you described.

Lots of people have this problem ( including my self last season when I got the 2005 version ).  Basically, you are raising the poles up in the wrong direction.

You need to lay the tent out, then at the end without the front door, pull all the loose material down that end.  Put ALL the poles in and make sure that the side poles are facing towards the opposite end to the end you pulled all the material ( i.e. pointing towards the end with the front door ).  Now lift the first set of poles ( the end without the door ) from the outside in.  This means there is no weight pulling the poles up and the weight of the other 3 pole sets helps you lift.  It should be effortless ( e.g. just like picking the poles up off the floor without them being in the tent ). Now put the ring and pin system into that pole set ( first on the side without the tensioner and then the side with the tensioner making sure that the tensioner is completely open ).  When you get them vertical and ring and pin in, bang the 2 end guy ropes in to hold them.  The Guy ropes will stop them falling inwards, and the weight of the other poles will stop them falling outwards.

Now you can go along and do the other 3 pole sets exactly the same way.  Each one should be effortless.  If you find there is an awfull lot of weight when lifting the poles, it is usually that either you havn't opened the doors to let air in, or that you are lifting them the wrong way thus pulling against the weight of the other poles.

How to get yer Monty up: -

1. Lay down a cheap tarpaulin in the position you want your tent in. Pull it tight and peg each corner. (This will keep your groundsheet nice and clean for packing away)

2. Spread out your Montana 6. Ensure the floor straps along the porch side are fully out. Unzip one of the side doors & the end door. Peg out just the 2 corners at the rear (non-door) end.

3. Assemble all of your poles. Lay them out along each side of the tent with all the roof poles also on one side.

3. Insert one roof pole, at the non-door end, into the roof sleeve & attach the side poles to the roof pole.

4. Raise the poles to an upright position. (This is where having the doors open helps as it draws air into the tent as you lift)  Allow the poles to lean forwards so that they are held up by the pegged out rear corners. Loosely peg the non-door end guys to hold up the end poles if necessary.

5. Insert the next roof pole with its sides, then raise into position. Again allow it to rest forwards held up by the pegged rear end. Repeat until you have all of the poles upright.

6. Then insert the pins into the bottom of the poles, it helps if you grasp the cord strap and place your index finger through the ring to keep the pin pointing upwards.

7. Holding the main door-end poles pull the tent to space the poles out, then pull the corners of the main door-end out and peg. then peg out the corner guys at the main door-end.

8. Clip the pole clips to the poles and peg out the rest of the guys.

9. Erect the porch. This is probably the hardest part...!!!

10. Have a cup of tea.