So Help!!!! Just come back from out 1st "proper" holiday with our tent. Weather awful, a bog under our footprint, pitch and campsite nightmare (im sure I can feel another thread coming!)...however our major problem was that we could not pitch our tent correctly! It took us over 3 hours (dont laugh I was in tears) every time we put it up the inside was too stretched, either the bedroom door zips would not zip up or the door (the canopy 1) zip was tight. We are new at all this but even our friend who was with us could not work out what we were doing wrong. In the end we piched and was extra careful with the doors but surely this cant be right? Even the OH said maybe we need a pitching lesson as this has happened twice!! I dont want to give up on my tent but I am dreading getting the tent out again!!!!
------------- Budemeadows, Bude,Cornwall Aug
Devon Aug
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Just posted similar topic this very second as I have the same issue with my Vango Venture, hoping some of the seasoned campers on here can assist us in our hour of need!
Only two thoughts, neither of which are likely. You did close all the outer doors fully before pitching the tent, yes? And you didn't pull the tension straps on the ring and pin system fully tight by any chance? This last can cause the pole arch to barrel out and make the pods a tight fit.
Also, when toggling in pods there is a right way and then there is a slightly better way. If you have two rows of toggles, insert the toggles in the rear row from front to back ie poke the toggle through the loop going away from you. On the front row nearest the living space, toggle by inserting the toggles from behind the loop to the front ie poking them through towards you. This stops the elastic straps from twisting or having to go the long way round, and it keeps the edge of the pod nice and straight. It doesn't much matter most times but if a zip is straining it does gain you a few crucial millimeters of slack.
If all else fails, btw, undo a couple of pod toggles rather than rip the stitching. Tents do expand and contract as it gets hotter and colder and stitching on synthetic tents is a pitb to repair.
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The doors were def closed and we checked and checked again the tension straps but thanks for the tip on the pods will def do that next time.....unless youre free Val and can help us?!!!!!
------------- Budemeadows, Bude,Cornwall Aug
Devon Aug
Can't guarantee but this might help, it's the official Vango pitching video for the Tigris and it's free to watch on You Tube! I discovered these video's about 4 weeks ago and it made a heck of a difference to me and my husband putting our Aspen up, it seemed so much easier! Hope it helps, good luck!
One of the important things I found with the Tigris (and similar) is to avoid using the tension straps on the poles to try and stretch the groundsheet flat lengthways. The straps should come out at right angles from the tent wall in line with the pole and seam. The end pegging points should be the ones that are secured first to flatten and square the groundsheet and the poles are best pegged where they settle. The fly is quite floppy until the clips are on the poles and the guys are pegged out.
Note how they don't pull the tent too tight at 2:40-2:50 and the alignment of the strap at 3:20 on the video. Whether they actually managed a good pitch with the doors open is another question though.
------------- Richard
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