Our family tent is a Outwell Hartford L. I think it must be one of the best selling ones on the market as we see them everywhere. We've got the 2007 Hartford model. Beware when buying because accessories are not transferable between the 2007 & 2008 models, but they look very similar.

The Hartford 2007 is a pitch-inner tent (which is a bit annoying as your tent can get wet and it's hard to pitch the outer part in the wind. i think the 2008 model is updated to be pitch in one or pitch outer first. Much better.

it's a really really good size tent for the money and very sturdy in the rain. It has two bedrooms, which fit a double blow up bed. The hall/lounge is big enough to stand up straight in - I'm under six foot but I think a six footer could stand up in it in the middle.

You can get some great accessories. The carpet is a must-buy in our opinion. Well worth the money. We wish we'd bought the front extension as the 2008 Hartford front extension won't fit on our 2007 Hartford. Annoying (does anyone have one for sale!!?)

Like all outwell tents there's some really clever bits - like the electrical hook up entry point, the velcro bits up the side (but rubbish space to hang a light). There are LOADS of little pockets around the tent to help keep things tidy. Lots of windows, and most importantly it is very waterproof.

Overall this is a great tent. We have so much fun using it. In short, we love it.

Hi I am new to the forum and new to camping.
We have just bought a Hartford L 2008 and decided to have a go putting it up today before we go away in 2 weeks.

To be honest we (my wife and I) did struggle can you please give us any top tips to make it easier as the instructions are pretty useless that came with the tent.

I have read somewhere on the t'internet to put the 3 large poles infirst and then put the others in.

Any advice would be great fully accepted.


Many Thanks

Alex

Post edited by: Bigal, at: 2008/08/10 23:00

Hi Alex, welcome to the forum. Hope I can help you. We have the 2007 Hartford L which is quite a bit different - it's a pitch inner first tent, whereas teh 2008 Hartford L is a one pitch tent (and the bedrooms fasten from the inside).

So I'm no expert on the 2008, but most big tents pitch pretty much teh same way. The big dome in the middle is probably made up of three large poles as you say. One of the three is probably Longer than the other two. Try putting the longer one in first, don't secure at both ends first. Then feed the other two poles over the central dome. You can now put the ends in the eyelets - forming the large central dome, or lounge. Not sure how the bedrooms pitch, but I think you have two poles per bedroom - basically once the centre is up though it should be easy. Probably put the longer pole in first, closest to the main dome.

Once pitched go round gradually pegging in, and don't forget the guy ropes - very important if it's windy.

When we bought our tent Outwell had all the instructions as a video on their site - you might do well to have a look - I'm sure they'll have put the new tent's video on there too.

Good luck, and welcome to camping and the forum!

Thank you for the welcome and the help.

I will give it another go this weekend, if we get any good weather that is. lol

When you have the basic shape of the tent, i.e all poles in and located in the pins should the groundsheet be flat on the floor? because our were not on one side, maybe it was the way we put the poles in. Although we had not tried the guy ropes yet.

I have seen the video, again isn't really a step by step guide.

Will deffo try the 3 main poles first this time.

Thanks again

Cheers

Alex

I can't say for sure as mine's a different model but I think when the three main dome poles are in (in the correct colour codes sleeves) the groundsheet in the lounge are will be roughly flat but I wouldn't go inside the tent till all structural poles are in - this forces the tent into shape. Don't forget to peg out the groundsheet once structural poles are in place - this pulls the bottom of the tent into shape

Good luck with it

Thanks

If we ever get the weather, we will give it another go before we go on our hols.

Will let you know how we get on.