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Hello people,

I'm a bit of a newbie,but just love this site!

So far,we've been borrowing tents from various friends/family members,but I'm trying to choose a tent for us to own...so exciting!

I really like the montana 4,(although lots of people seem to have had leaky ones)....my main concern is whether or not I'd manage to put it up by myself,as I often go camping with my 4year old girl.She's extremely helpful,but not actually a great help,if you know what I mean..!

Thanks

I only have the Montana 6 (which is a great tent), but I am sure my comments would be the same for a 4, if I had one - that is that I would find it very hard to do the tent single handed.

Some of more seasoned pros might say they can (and I would not doubt them), but personally, and I am well versed in tent pitching and all things technical, I would not buy one if I was to be on my own (and I am fairly large male).

I have a 10 year old daughter (and a 6 year son, but he is b*gger all help) and the two of us can do our Montana 6 - but would not like to be on my own. There is jsut too much need for one to hold and the other to act.

.. sorry.

Thanks for the replies already!

I've managed an outwell oregon 5 on my own without much difficulty,but I'm just not sure how similar putting up the monty 4 would be..

its really easy to erect alone ,except for the ring and pins !!! they are a real nightmare ,you really got to put your back into it !

Oh and dont bother with the front canopy if you going to be recting alone ,im pretty strong and I cant do it

Quote: Originally posted by hartles on 30/7/2006

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A friend of mine has a Monty 4 and a three year old daughter and she can pitch it on her own just fine.

BigBunny - I know what you mean but the M4 is smaller than the M6 all round and a lot more manageable than the M6

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 ... thanks for the saving words Hartles!  My masculinity is safe (just)!

.. the challenge is now thrown down... single handed Monty 6, it just has to be done...

I've just bought a Montana 4 and camped in it for the first time. Although I tried a trial pitch somewhere close I still wasn't sure whether I woould manage it alone or not but in the end I did.

The trick/secret seems to be start at the back end, open the zips on the front door, don't try to fit all the poles just the back ones first. Raise the back of the tent and peg the guys, then fit the middle poles and the appropriate guys then the front poles - fit the pins into the base of the poles as you go and then when you have the poles up and the tent taut, peg the groundsheet down.

Took me about 45 minutes all told but I expect this to come down with practice - whilst I have camped before with a small frame tent, I wouldn't say I'm an expert. Have a look at the video on the Outwell site - that makes more sense than the printed instructions!!

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

The stubborn streak in me tells me to go for it...I think I could really get to love this tent if I had one,so long as it doesn't leak..

(wow,by the way! A montana12 - that must be a big tent!)