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Hiya all,

okay, let me confess initially, I'm a very inexperienced camper who's last trip was about 15 years ago with the Venture Scouts in a Force Ten tent...AND IT RAINED CONSTANTLY THE WHOLE 4 DAYS, so you could say I've only seen camping from the rough and muddy viewpoint!

But for my birthday, and loving the outdoor life generally, I'm now the proud owner of a Outwell Tent with a SIG.  But it also comes with a detachable GS for the front area of the tent.  We're hoping to go away in a couple of weeks or so, me, the hubby and my dog. 

As per camping shop's advice, we've already put tent up once to check it over etc.  All seemed ok, but was a struggle getting the pins at the base of the tent into the upright poles.

Most Outwell tents have this arrangement, so any advice you can give me for easier "putting up" would be fantastic.  Also, someone told me to put down another groundsheet before I erect the tent?  Any need to do this as I've already blown my birthday budget (& more) buying aforementioned tent and various accessories?

Any comments most appreciated - ta

Do you know the model of tent ???    We have the outwell hartford xxl and we find that after threading the 3 flexi poles through their sleeves Mrs Dripping Wet goes into the middle of the tent and lifts up to take the weight of the poles to her head height.  I then go round the tent putting the flexi poles into their pins before she shouts at me that it is getting too heavy !  

The other groundsheet that you are talking about is a "footprint" groundsheet.  The idea of this is that when you pack up you tent the base is dry and can go straight into the tent bag without making anything else dirty or wet. It is not a necessity  but a helpful addition. 

A tip i got from a tenter on site( when he saw me struggling to get the pin to go into the strap),was to get a peg extractor, put it into the loop while holding the pole and pull them together . As regards to the groundsheet ( or footprint) you ll need one under your SIG to stop you having to clean the grime off the bottom of your SIG before you pack your tent away. A builders merchant will have a membrane cut to your size and is cheap.Take a bin linner with you to but your dirty groundsheet home in, then clean and dry it ready for your next camp

Hello folks,

Thanks for all the advice, def going to get a tarp or something to act as a footprint groundsheet.  We've got a Outwell Vermont 6 man, so must be similar to the Indi 6 with the vertical pole arrangement - geat tip on releasing the bottom part of the pole - ta.  When the weather finally (!) improves We'll have another "tester" go at putting up the tent before we go, so hopefully we shouldn't have too many probs when we get to site.

I'll also go on the Outwell webpage for further tips etc.

Thanks again, much appreciated from a rookie!

I also found getting the pins in difficult (outwell minnesota 4) until i noticed that the straps loosen.  Problem was that I put the pins in on the side that had the adjustable straps and then went round the other side to help with the others.  twas a struggle.  It was only when i took it down that i went back to the other side and found the straps.  Made a big difference. hehe

Mike

Hiya folks,

THANK YOU THANKYOU THANKYOU FOR ALL THE GREAT ADVICE!!!

I watched the outwell video which was great, showed the loose straps before putting in the pins to the poles, and then tightening them up after. (feel a bit of a plonker now not realising this in back garden when first putting up, but hey, thats a new learn for me!)

We did our first pitching with the doors open and getting air into the tent first, which did help loosen off the tent ready for raising.

Just want this 'orrible weather to abate a bit now, so at least I can have one day with dry camping!  getting impatient, tent is packed up in our utility mocking me every time I look at it ("....come on, you know you want to use me....but you can't...cos its raining cats and dogs...every day")

perhaps I have the early onset of some mental disorder with my eagerness to get going....!

perhaps I have the early onset of some mental disorder with my eagerness to get going....!

This is totally noramal on this site.Im sorry ther is no cure

Hi, we bought the outwell vermont l earlier this year and used it over the last bank holiday, I also thought getting the pins in the end of the poles was quite difficult, even though we loosened the straps and opened the doors. Maybe this was because it was new, and yes we watched the video also.

colin