The way I fold all tents, and although I don't know the Montana it looks like a pretty straight forward tunnel tent, is to fold it completely in half lengthways to begin with so that all the rings and pins are on one side. I do this so that the pins aren't in the middle of the tent and likely to damage the material. Make sure all the doors are open including the inners.
Then I would place the bag at one end so I can judge it's length and fold the tent lengthways again. I may do this twice depending on how narrow I need to make it but always keeping the pins on one side. You should then have a long thin tent just narrower than the length of the bag.
Then starting from the back so that all the air is being expelled forwards and out the door start rolling the tent up. As you do this tuck in any part of the tent that wants to drop out the side of the roll so that it stays neat and tidy and doesn't start getting wider than the tent bag.
Usually once rolled up, and depending on the style of bag, the bag can be placed on top of the tent and the tent rolled into it, or the bag can be carefully slid along the tent until it is about three quarters of the way and then the tent can be picked up and shaken down into the bag. Don't attempt to pick the roll off the ground and shove it in the bag because it will just fall apart.
On rare occasions if it happens to be one of those days, I may have to open it up and re-roll but the second time will be easier because all the air will have been expelled.
I never try putting the poles back in the bag with the tent as this makes it twice as difficult and twice as heavy. Keep the poles in their own bag separately (but don't forget them on the next trip)
The above advice sounds like the way I ended up doing it after our first time with the tent (after several other attempts! ) I was also very lucky as my wife was 'directing' so as to make sure I managed it in the end!!!
Doing it this way also goes along way in ensuring that any mud / dirt etc on the underside of the groundsheet stays away from the visible parts of the tent.
I must admit, I noticed that the fit was a bit on the snug side before I even got the tent out of the bag for the first time!!
Hi
Most Outwell tents are folded width ways then rolled when they leave the factory have a look at the pitching videos on their website and you will see them unpacking them.
Having said that I always fold length ways to a bit smaller than the width of the bag and then roll towards the front.
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Thanks for this thread. We've been away 4 times with our Montana 6p and the first 3 times got it back in the bag by folding down the width however, the last time we went I couldn't get it back in without a major fight! I will try the lengthways folding and roll towards the front door.
I had toyed with getting some small ratchet straps to help squeeze it back in.....
Another benefit of rolling the tent from the back towards the front door is that when you come to pitch again you know exactly where the front is and can just lay it down in the position you want and unroll it.
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We have a Montana 6 (2011) we fold in half length ways then fold each half in again then fold over, we put the bag at one end to make sure it will fit, then we roll from back to front, fits every time
Hope this helps
Fi
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona58 on 19/7/2014
We have a Montana 6 (2011) we fold in half length ways then fold each half in again then fold over, we put the bag at one end to make sure it will fit, then we roll from back to front, fits every time
Hope this helps
Fi
Thanks, that's how we always did the Monty 6. Doesn't seem to work for us on the new 6 p.
we were experts at the old Monty but the 6p is more difficult. It's still not in the bag though i must admit we haven't had the time to get it out of the boot to try again.
Just opened our new one and I remembered this thread so I took a notebook and pen when we opened it. Worked a treat but we would naturally (him and me) use 3rds for folding uo a tent. In case it helps anyone.
So to fold up
. front to back fold into 3rds (stand along the long side to fold this)
. fold into 3rds along the length ( will look like a sausage shape)
. fold into 3rds (chop sausage into 3)
. roll up tightly (won't be small enough yet)
. Unroll
. roll up again (should be smaller now)
. put into bag