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Topic: Lone parents camping advice please

Kate1500

22/1/2017 at 8:46pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Gelert Atlantis 4

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I'm planning on taking my kids camping this summer but I'm not sure how helpful my eldest (6) will be in putting our Gelert Atlantis 4 up. I'd rather not buy a new tent but can anyone advise me?
Has anyone tried to put up a Gelert Atlantis 4 on their own?
Is there a 4 man tent that's easy enough to put up alone and is relatively cheap? I'd love an air tent but they look to be expensive.

Post last edited on 22/01/2017 20:50:13

Post last edited on 22/01/2017 20:55:06

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Marshmallowqueen

22/1/2017 at 9:46pm
Location: Nottinghamshire
Outfit: Pennine Countryman 2010

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My niece loves helping me put up my tent or folding camper. She is now 8 but has been camping since 18 months old. She has her own mallet and when we are putting a tent up it is her job to make sure I have a peg when I ask for it. She has also learnt how to untie the guy ropes ready for me to put the pegs in and also ties them up again ( just like skipping ropes! ). She is excellent at clipping the inner tent in . A job I find quite fiddly. She has also learnt how to feed the poles carefully through the sleeve.

If you can, have a practice in your garden before you go showing them want needs to be done. I have put up a tent similar to yours but a Vango. My niece held the poles for me while I sorted out pegs. I keep all the jobs quite short and change them regularly. Sometimes a jelly baby brib or the promise of an ice cream when it's pitched is needed just to encourage her not to let go of the pole until it is stable enough ! Looking at pictures of your tent I don't think there is another design that will be easier, apart from an inflatable . However they may be heavier and more bulky, and more expense.

Now my niece is a bit older, she will help me fill up the water container, I still go with her but she pulls the trolley / turns the tap. She also has the job of taking rubbish to the bins. We always try to have a pitch close to water tap / toilets / rubbish etc just to make things a bit easier.

We make it a game and I don't get too upset if she decides she's not going to help. Sometimes I give the tent pegs a start and then she will also give them a few taps.

I often camp on my own and people do ask if I need any help. I'm grateful for their help ,but not afraid to say if I don't need it. I will also offer help to anyone that looks like they may need it. So your neighbours may be willing to hold a tent pole or two while you bang the pegs in. I don't like asking but have learnt that most people don't mind lending a hand to a fellow camper. Sometimes i have stopped the warden as they are passing my pitch and asked them for help.

I'm sure you will all have a good time.

Kate1500

22/1/2017 at 10:01pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Gelert Atlantis 4

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Thank you #Marshmallowqueen for your reassuring advice. I've debated about a folding camper but am not sure I fancy towing one as they look immense!
I will follow your tips and have a go in the garden when the weather picks up.

Bob61

22/1/2017 at 11:16pm
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This video may be of some help but since you want to erect the tent on your own I would do it slightly differently.

Lay the tent out on the ground as show and peg the two 'rear' corners. Thread all the poles through the sleeves. You will probably find this bit a little time consuming because you will have to keep loosening the sleeves when they get rucked up as you push the poles through.

Once they are all completely through the sleeves pin them at both ends while they lay on the ground so that they all bend in one direction toward the rear. That should leave you with something looking like a folded pram hood.

Grab a tent peg and go to the 'front' of the tent (the opposite end to which you pegged down) and take hold of the guy rope that is attached to the top of the first hoop. Pull on this so it raises the hoop and all the other hoops will follow. Temporarily peg down that guy rope to stop them all falling down again.

Go to the rear of the tent and do the same with the central guy rope of the rear hoop. Now it's not going to fall down.

All you have to do after that is go round pulling the flysheet taut and straight, peg all the pegging points and put out all the guy ropes...job done.

The only tent easier to put up on your own would be a metal poled tent which only have short roof poles and then the 'legs' attach to the outside of the tent with clips.

I think your main problem no matter what tent you have will be keeping the kids amused and out of harms way while you get on and erect it. Perhaps get them to stay inside the car with a toy or something because a 6 year old is likely to be more of a hindrance than a help I would think.

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Kate1500

22/1/2017 at 11:21pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Gelert Atlantis 4

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Excellent, thank you. My eldest us 6 so imagine how much of a hindrance my 4 year old will be!

Bob61

22/1/2017 at 11:51pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Kate1500 on 22/1/2017
Excellent, thank you. My eldest us 6 so imagine how much of a hindrance my 4 year old will be!

Well, that's what the rubber mallet is for!

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