Hi, we are considering buying an Outwell Bear Lake 6 or a Wolf Lake 5. Could anyone give us an idea of how long it has taken them to erect these models please. We have a 2 year old and if they take 2 hrs! Like it was suggested in one review, it would put us off! Shame as they look FAB and would suit all our needs but with no-one spare watching the toddler - could be tricky!
Thanks! Debbie & Mark
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We have a BL6 and after some practise I think it takes us about 3/4 hour to get the tent up, ZIG in and bedroom pods fitted. Then it depends on how much other stuff you have as to how long it takes to amke the tent ready to live in. It will take the 2 of you to erect the tent, but the ZIG etc could be done by one person, although will take longer.
Could you leave the little one strapped into carseat with a portable dvd player?
Hope that helps and welcome to the site
Pauline
------------- Campers: Nature's way of feeding midges!
2010
Easter - cancelled 8-(
April - Hawkshead
May - Riverside Cononley
May - Keswick Mountain Festival
May - High Yedmandale Farm
June - York Cycle show
August - Hartlepool
August - Riverside, Cononley
September - Pillaton "The Return"
Hi, thanks Pauline. Mark was wondering what all these people who said it takes them 2hrs were doing for all that time! That's great. And you are right - once we get the main frame up we can play with our 2yr old inside whilst we put up the sleeping sec etc... and he likes to help anyway!
Have you ever had problems with pitch sizes? Do you pay for 2? Or pay extra?
Quote: Originally posted by Former Scout on 22/2/2009
I have neither but think I would greatly prefer the extension that comes with the Wolf Lake rather than the canopy that comes with the Bear Lake.
I have to agree with former scout, the extension that comes down to the floor means you are protected from side winds when in the porch, but not in the Bear lake. having a canopy on our tent (not a wolf lake) has been the greatest thing we have bought to improve our camping trips in years.
Claud
No never had a problem with the BL6 and pitch sizes and I should think the WL5 shouldn't cause any problems either. Sites do differ, but I think if your tent is less than 5m wide generally you should be OK. You might have more problems if you went for WL7 as this is 5.1m
We bought our BL before the WL came out and when we saw them we liked the idea of the full length canopy, but it was too late. We now erect a tarp over the front which extends the front quite some way under cover and with a windbreak it is virtually enclosed.
Have you seen both tents up? Do you just have the one child. If so then the WL5 should be big enough.
Whichever you go for I'm sure you will be happy, the lake range are excellent tents, expensive and heavy (do you have space in your car, they are big when packed up) but they are in a different class to nylon/polyester and you can really tell the difference when you camp in one.
Would def recommend getting the footprint and carpet to protect the tent and add a bit more comfort.
Pauline
------------- Campers: Nature's way of feeding midges!
2010
Easter - cancelled 8-(
April - Hawkshead
May - Riverside Cononley
May - Keswick Mountain Festival
May - High Yedmandale Farm
June - York Cycle show
August - Hartlepool
August - Riverside, Cononley
September - Pillaton "The Return"
We love our Bear Lake 6 and we bought it after the wl5 came out. We loved the idea of the full sides on the canopy but couldn't justify the price difference. Plus, the bl6 sleeps 6, there were 4 of us and now 5. As mentioned, if you only have one child the wl5 should be large enough. I do have to ad that when we put our airbed in it, we have less space as it is a queen size.
I'm not sure how long it takes us to erect it, but it's quite light compared to our old Vermont steel poles. It does take both of us to get it up but once that is done, I head inside to get the zig in and the bedrooms and start setting up while my husband finishes staking it out. We have the side extension for it with full sides and this is our cooking space.
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we have a bear lake 4 and I must admit I wish we had the full side extentions that the wolf lake has. I am thinking of making some clip on sides to do this - anyone have any thoughts on this?
mr shankley - have a search through past post as there are a couple on what you are looking to do. Failing that Rex would give you some advice (or just search by author Rexgrant in tents or under canvas).
Megsngeorge
Welcome to UKCS
It shouldn't take you 2 hours to pitch a BL6. As you say, once you have the poles threaded and back pegged out and tent lifted it's then just a matter of pegging out. It took us less than 15 mins to get the BL4 'on it's feet' a couple of weeks back (in the snow). Thread all the 'arches' poles then lift the back pole up, peg out the back guys just to hold it in place whilst you lift and position the others then peg out front guys. Peg tent out and then the guys. You can repeg the back guys if need be.
If you do a FAO valbarley she will give you the low-down on the BL6 as she manages to pitch on her own with the 'help' of her 4 legged friends. If you son likes to help it may be good to start him off this young on being the peg holder that follows mum or dad round passing the pegs as needed.
Quote: Originally posted by dadsbeaniemad on 23/2/2009
If you do a FAO valbarley she will give you the low-down on the BL6 as she manages to pitch on her own with the 'help' of her 4 legged friends.
Wow I am impressed !!!
------------- "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett
Quote: Originally posted by mr shankley on 23/2/2009
we have a bear lake 4 and I must admit I wish we had the full side extentions that the wolf lake has. I am thinking of making some clip on sides to do this - anyone have any thoughts on this?
I thought about this too. You could get some suitable coloured fabric and sew on some velcro tabs to wrap around the poles to get a full length canopy / front extension effect. As long as your fabric match was good, a canvas type texture, it would look fine.
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Hi, thanks for all your replies! I think we have actually decided on the Bear Lake 6. We like it's size & space (as we have only just started our family and have a big dog!). We have considered the canopie, We will buy a windbraker for out front and I'm working on hubby to buy the side ext with it to cook in! But this may have cost implications for the pitch.
So we'll have to have a few dummy runs on the in-laws lawn!