Lone tent-pitchers?

[squidette]

Any lone tent-pitchers out there?

Last year was our first year camping as a 'micro-family' - just me and two boys under 8. We all loved it and are planning more trips this year, but....

We borrowed a tent that was a single layer - it was ok for me to pitch on my own with a bit of help from my eldest son. However, this year i would like to buy a second hand tent that has inside tents for sleeping compartments.

Does anyone have any experience of pitching single-handed, inner or outer first if on own or whether i need to train up eldest son to help more than hammering in the pegs until we are sure they are in Australia.

Please help! I posted this on another thread but thought it may get lost...

Get an outer first or preferably as 'as one' as these are a lot earier to put up on your own.

I have an outwell Colorado (no longer made, but the MOntana is similar re pitching) and I have put it up on my own, with minimal help from rather dippy dd (10)

Thanks!

Yes - I went camping with 3 DD's only few weekends ago. We have a four man tent - large compartment for girls and small one for me.

Not really a technical person so don't know right names for things but hope you understand what I mean.

First of all I put all the poles together. Then I laid out the outer skin and worked out which poles went where. Managed to get is up alright, so then it was just a simple matter of putting in the inner compartments which just simply bottoned into the outer skin. Ground sheet down, job done!

Practice in the garden first.

Message withdrawn

Great idea about practising in the garden. I think i may actually go to one of those tent shows (did i REALLY just say that?) so i can see them in full glory before looking for the type i like second hand.

Thanks for the responses!