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 Topic: Help on pitching a Vango Anteus 600
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26/6/2016 at 9:09am
Location: None Entered
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Please could I have some advice on pitching the Anteus 600 (aka as Avington 600 / Farnham 600)?
I am a bit of camping beginner, so am not very good or experienced with pitching tents.
My first camping experience as an adult has been pitching an Icarus 500. I ended up using the Cross Camping method, which is essentially pegging the 4 corners, and then putting the poles in one at a time. This worked really good, because having a crazy toddler it is hard to get any help, so meant I could easily do the tent on my own. It couldn't have been much easier, once I had done it once.
Anyway I tried to do the same approach with the Anteus 600, and found it much harder. I don't know if it was because it is taller, or whether it is because there are more poles (4 main + 1 for porch) instead of just 3.
I pegged all 4 corners and then put the poles in, and where as the Icarus would look like pretty much great, the Anteus 600 was looking very instable and the although the poles were in, the tent was falling in on each other, and was a poor representation of how it will look at the end. Is this normal, or an indication that something was wrong. Should I have persevered and let the guy ropes put the tent back in to a better shape?
I ended up giving up and following the instructions provided by Vango, but although the instructions were short I didn't really understand them.
I then ended up giving up completely, as we had to go out and I was at the end of my tether.
Disclaimer: I have since found out that the poles were colour coded, and that there were tiny tabs on the sleeves (I didn't see any) to indicate which poles go where. There were 3 poles the same, and I think 2 poles different (the porch pole which I never go to) and the rear pole. This wasn't mentioned in the instructions, and I assumed the poles slightly different colour was anomaly (pretty dim of me in hindsight). This may have caused a lot of the issues I had earlier, but I am still not sure whether I went about it the wrong way).
I am now a week away from holiday, and may not get to practice putting the tent up before holiday. Feeling slightly panicked.
Please can somebody advice what the best way to pitch the tent is. Whether it be the cross camping method or not. If cross camping, when I peg out the corners, which order should I put the poles in? I did front to back with the Icarus, but with a 4 poles tunnel tent should I do it in different order. Doing the front pole on my own seemed hard, because it didn't seem to want to stay up with the porch bit of tent making it a bit trickier to balance.
Any help greatly received. Feeling a bit silly having to post a big long post, when most people just put these things up simply and without any issues :(
Post last edited on 26/06/2016 09:20:48
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26/6/2016 at 10:11am
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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Without bothering to check the (boring!) instructions (Yes, I'm a bloke!!), but taking the time to check out a photo or two of your tent, as I wasn't familiar with it, I would now say to continue with that Cross-Camping method... obviously taking into account the colour coding of the poles!
I would peg out the 4 corners of the SIG, so completely ignore the very front two at the front of the canopy. The SIG, afterall, gives the shape of the tent footprint.
Counting the very front canopy pole as No1 (which I'd leave until last), I would insert the poles in the following order (Preferably with front door left at least half open from last pack up, to allow air in as it gets lifted)...
Pole 2 (level with front wall/door), followed by poles 3 then 4 (either side of the side door), then pole 5 (rear of bedroom). Square all those feet up to get a nice tight SIG, then finally, insert pole 1, at the front of the canopy.
If it was a bigger/heavier (polycotton?) tent, I may suggest changing the order to poles 3-4-2-5-1, as we did with our Kampa Filey 6 classic (with an open fronted porch, so similar in design to yours), with the theory being that those middle poles will help take and spread the weight of the flysheet better. That may be worth consideration? (As would having the side door partly open, as well as the front door).
As with all tents, ensure each pole is central through the sleeve (same amount exposed either side of the sleeve) and that sleeve ends do not trap/catch any pole joints/ferrules. That will ensure a nice even curve to the tent shape.
Both procedures have come direct from the "Cross Camping guide to happy and relaxed camping", and both work very well indeed.
I have used the first method for both the 3 poled Vango Icarus polyester & Kampa Frinton 4 polycotton, and the second method for the bigger, heavier 5 poled Kampa Filey 6 polycotton. All tunnel tents, and as said, the Filey had the open fronted canopy. I see no reason why it wouldn't work on a 4 poled tent, either.
I reiterate though, where you have an open fronted canopy (usually only guided at the bottom by a long, tent width elastic strap at ground level), leave that pole (and pegs) until last. Peg the 4 corners of the main (SIG) tent.
Other procedures are available from inferior sources!!  
Good luck!
Post last edited on 26/06/2016 10:30:39
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2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
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26/6/2016 at 9:10pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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I think... but stand to be corrected... that that is simply down to the initial 4 pegs before inserting any poles. Pull those 4 pegs out too far (SIG too tight/flat) and you'll struggle to stand a pole up, as the flysheet would be very tight. (Depending on the type of pole, you could, in theory, break/snap/crack/split a pole or rip a sleeve/stitching, so don't get forcing things. If it's too tight, bring those pegged corners in a few inches!)
Close the 4 corners up too much, and any pole you stand up could easily fall over, as the flysheet is too loose.
Get those 4 pegs spaced out just right (for erecting, not the finished position) and the flysheet should be loose enough to stand the pole(s) up, but tight enough for it to remain standing without guys. I guess being slightly loose (which is a realistic outcome, in fairness) the poles could stand, but lean, without guys. I wouldn't say that was a problem.
Once you've done it a few times (with the same tent), you'll have a mental picture of just how far apart you need those initial 4 pegs.
Get all poles in and standing (even if leaning slightly), then you can pull the 4 corner pegs outwards to tighten the SIG to the finished position. This can all be done before needing any guys (unless it's blowing a gale, of course!) Pegging the front and rear guys would then square up all poles, before pegging the side guys.
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2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
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26/6/2016 at 9:53pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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I've got to think back now, as I haven't had a ring and pin for 18 months LOL!...
Those adjuster straps are simply to tighten the pin inside the pole end, so they cannot fall, or be pulled, out again. For this reason, you can "nip up" each strap as and when you have both pins in each pole. Once all up and 4 corners adjusted/tent base is all squared up, I'd suggest one final tighten of the straps, as and when you are there putting a peg through the ring.
I initially had a (bad) habit of over-tightening these straps... no need... just a nice, comfortable pull on them, to take up the slack. I found it easier to simply lift up the pole end/ring & pin (as one) off the ground as I pulled the straps. Just felt more comfortable to me, as the strap wasn't trapped between ring and ground. Hope that makes sense?
I forgot to say, I get the impression that you were pretty much doing it right (cock up with the colour coding notwithstanding, of course!  ). So relax! All you have to perfect now is the initial spacing of the 4 corner pegs, which will come naturally after 2 or 3 pitches with the same tent.
Enjoy!
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2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
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