Message Forums

We are novice campers and after going three times with a small tent we bought a second hand Vango Vista tbs 800 dlx. We have just come back and it was awful to put up, the instructions are rubbish. The main problem is that we could not get the tent to a point were we could not get the tent to reach the floor and we had wide gaps at the bottom and there is no Sig,so poles were uneven. I have tried to find  clearer instructions as to how to erect it properly, either video or written would do,we are thinking of dumping it as it and going back to our small one

Sorry to hear you have had problems with erecting your tent.
The Vango Vista 800dlx is a tunnel tent so should be fairly quick and simple to erect.

It is a similar size to our Khyam Ontario 8 and this is how we put ours up:

1. Lay tent out and lightly peg one end down to prevent the tent from blowing away.
2. Insert poles into sleeves - make sure you have the correct pole in the correct sleeve (the longest pole in the centre)
3. Starting at one end, push the pins into the end of each pole so they form a hoop and then lay these back down.
4. Pick up the hoop furthest from the end you pegged down and then "walk" the tent out, as if pulling out a large concertina.
5. Lightly peg out the other end and guy out the 2 ends to help support the tent.
6. Now is the time to go round and check the tent is sitting squarely on all the poles - adjust if necessary.
7. Peg and guy out all the way round.
8. Fit the bathtub groundsheet and secure in place. 
9. Hang the bedroom pods.
10. Adjust pegging points and guys if necessary

Not sure if this is what you were doing already, but we always put our tents up using this method without any problems.

There are videos on YouTube for the Vango Tigris 800 which shows the basic method of erecting which may also help you. Only real difference is the Tigris has a SIG.

Hope that helps you a bit!

Thank you so much will give it a try and folow your insytructions. I think the problem was we thought it would just fall into place and we have made the great mistake of not evening out the poles , doh.

Thanks again

Have a look at this - it might give you a few tips or ideas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDdhCjqbKCo

That was very useful. They make it look so easy.

Howling gales in a North Wales wind tunnel did not make it any easier and I think we both realise that an eight berth tent is really too big for two of us.

Thank for taking the time to answer. It's nice to know you are not on your own when it comes to questions.

 Regards Margaret

You are very welcome.
That is the nice thing about this forum - we are all here to help each other!

If you are looking for a smaller tent for 2 people, I can HIGHLY recommend the Licata 400.
I own 7 tents and this is the one that gets the most use - it has withstood everything the great British weather has ever thrown at it with no snapped poles or leaks in sight.
I am a short, fat, unfit mum of 3 and I can pitch it by myself in about 10 minutes.
It has a spacious bedroom pod, good sized living area, SIG, massive windows which let in loads of light and standing height throughout.

You can buy it here for less than £90:
http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/tents-weekend-tents/easy-camp/easy-camp-licata-400-tent-pd-2199.php

Thanks for that, I will have a look, it sounds really good.

We actually have the first tent we bought which is four berth it will do for this season hopefully the weather will buck up.

Happy Camping