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 Topic: Finally pitching our BL tomorrow....
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18/6/2013 at 10:25pm
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Joined: 13/5/2009 Diamond Member 
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...weather permitting 
In between operations 1 and 2, in 2011, we bought our dream tent, a BL6. Price match with G.O., £630. Bargain. We took it out of the bag for a cursory look over, and it seemed fine.
At that point we were renting our home. We'd decided that in view of the curved balls life could throw, we didn't want the worry of owning any more. Great, but no garden. So the tent lived on happily in its bag.
Last year we booked it for the Vendee, but I was post-op, so switched the booking to a static. FF two more operations later, and I'm finally back to normal, more or less. Renting wasn't quite the trouble free experience we wanted, so we've now bought a little house on a new development. It has a back garden but we've now got a shed and there isn't the room to pitch the tent too.
So, off to a friends garden tomorrow, with tent, carpets (so we can measure one to cut down to make two bedroom carpets), plus aerobed (so we can figure out the best orientation). Flat on the floor will probably be best 
Unpack, put up, take down, pack up, back home. Phew 
We've just run out of time to get a w/e away before France, so at least can give it a good once over, in the one good evening before the rains are back. I'll be a lot more settled knowing we can put it up and everything's OK.
Wish us luck. Will take pics if I can (that's to say, assuming it doesn't have a 6' tear along the side). I can dole out the mickey-taking, and normally take it, but we've been waiting for this since 2011, so I'm a bit hyper
Dearie me though, heavy b*ggers these polycotton tents, aren't they!
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Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Prague May/Jun 2017
Lake Annecy Aug 2017
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19/6/2013 at 5:58am
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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Good luck, mom ami... and take it easy. This is no time for a relapse!!
Remember, nice and slack with the four corners, doors/windows open, middle pole first, stood up, to take some of that weight, then work your way outwards, standing each pole as you put it in. Tighten up and straighten it out once all the poles are up, then close the doors/windows before guying.
That's the basics for Gary's method, and it works perfectly for these big heavy tents. Even to the point of being able to do it alone (although it's obviously more comfortable with two, particularly with that first pole!).
No idea how the BL comes packed, but separate as much as you can for packing/carrying. Even taking bed pod(s) out of the main tent back will help.
As for the poles, I'm tempted to agree with you... once they are in and up, all seems to be held in place with the ring & pins, so it's just the buggeration factor of them coming apart when it's all loose. Just make sure all joints are fully in before tightening up the R&P adjuster.
Don't forget the pics.... and have a lovely, satisfying, and successful evening.
Mucker
xxx
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19/6/2013 at 12:46pm
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Mucker, peace of mind indeed. I lie awake at night thinking about this stuff.
I wish I could do a pre-soak, on the basis that it can't do any harm, should swell up the fibres before our main hol, and show up any abnormal problems UK side. But I don't think I can for a quick pitch/decamp. It won't be guaranteed to dry, and if we pack it wet we'll need to drape it over half the house.
That may well be required later - in fact, is virtually guaranteed - but domestically we just can't cater for that right now. So I'm going to have to leave the garden tap off tonight, unless we get some weird weather condition involving late evening sun and a breeze straight from the Sahara 
My mate's son is a wizz with video and may do a FB/YT jobbie in quick-mo, with a Benny Hill soundtrack. Should be a laugh. Not
Anyhoo, found me mallet, and a gazillion other bits I'd forgotten we had. This will be our first tent pitch since Wales in 2010. Getting excited now.
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Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Prague May/Jun 2017
Lake Annecy Aug 2017
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20/6/2013 at 9:16am
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Joined: 13/5/2009 Diamond Member
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It's our friends who started us camping. When their lads were small they got a Vango tunnel, vis-a-vis style, beds either end, no SIG/ZIG in the middle, back to nature stuff. We took a barby over, the sun shone, it was fabulous. We went straight out and bought a frame tent. It had "georgian" style windows. They called it the Barratt House tent.
We were subsequently married on that same site, well, the house anyway. Had it p*ssed it down, it could have been so different.
They've moved along a bit since that Vango, and camp in this now:
I told Lynne she had the best site we'd been to and that I'd given her address a good review on Trip Advisor 
Alex, it's the OEM BL6 footprint. As well as the extra protection for the ZIG on flinty/muddy ground, I like it because it gives you a template for pitching. Also it's something to put the tent on to sort it out if you pitch ZIG off, as we did/will.
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Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Prague May/Jun 2017
Lake Annecy Aug 2017
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