How to put up a Vango Oregon.

I seem to get asked a lot on UKCS how I put up my Vango Oregon! And I`ve got a bit bored with typing it all out, so thought I`d put it here for easy reference.

I have the 2006 version of the Oregon which has a seperate riser groundsheet. The 2007 version has a SIG but goes up flysheet first. These instructions might help with the 2007 version but as I`ve never seen it close up, I`m not sure how well they apply.

Usual disclaimer: I`m not affilliated with either Vango or UKCS, so the information given here is my own take on putting up these tents. Remember to read the official instructions as well (sewn on inside of bag) and check the Vango website for helpful videos showing both the 2006 and 2007 versions being pitched.



This is my Oregon 600. I was on a camping trip in 2006 to Woolfest in Cockermouth. This was a rare trip without my family...I went with my friend Shona, who you see in the picture. I chose this photograph because it shows the 600 being used as a two-man tent, with just the large pod being hung. The large pod has a central divider and can take two double airbeds or, as in this case, a single airbed in each bedroom with plenty of room for personal possessions. The end door has been rolled up, but can also be polled out as a sun canopy. You might notice that the riser groundsheet has not been put down...I prefer not to use a groundsheet if the ground is good. Grass makes a great fitted carpet!

Okay....instructions.

1) Lay out flysheet on ground with narrow end pointing into the wind. (I have a 600 with an end door, can`t remember if the 800 has an end door. If it does, the other end goes into the wind.) Ensure zips are closed and tension straps open.

2)Assemble poles. You should have two short ones and two (3 for the 800) slightly longer ones. The sleeves on the flysheet have coloured edges to match the poles, but the two short ones go on the outer edges.

3) Thread poles through flysheet sleeves. Push, don`t pull.

4)Starting at the rear end, form each pole into a hoop by fitting the pole end onto the pin at the ring and pin system. It helps to have one person at each end. As you form each hoop, lay it on the ground on top of the previous one, to form a concertina.

5)Look at your pegs. There should be four V-profile ones. Take two of these, go to the rear end of the flysheet and find the two D-rings attached to the base of the flysheet by tensioning straps. Make sure these straps are loosened and peg down the two rings, ensuring that the edge of the canvas between them is smooth and taut. (NB:taut means taut, not drum tight.)

TIP here for solo erectors! Have a wee think here where the other end of your tent is going to be, once you walk the flysheet out. Go and put your mallet, the other two V-profile pegs and a couple of plain pegs at this spot. It`s about 16 feet for the 600, 20 for the 800.

6)Useful to have two people here, but you can do it with one. Stand the pile of pole hoops up on edge and start walking away from the two pegged points. Try to walk out straight, lining the bases of the hoops up to make straight side walls. If the flysheet looks wrinkly then you`re going squint. Try to keep it true. If you alligned the bum end of your tent into the wind then this will help push it upright too.


7)Once you get to the fifth pole, get your helper to hold everything upright untill you get the two corresponding end D-rings pegged with the second two V-profile pegs.

TIP for solos. You need to hold that end hoop up while pegging the two end D-rings. There will be a guyline at the top centre of the last hoop. Undo it and peg it down to support the hoop. Yup, that`s why I suggested leaving your mallet and two spare pegs there!

8)Once you`ve got the four main pegs in, take a moment to fiddle around with the hoops to get them nice and straight. Smooth runs of canvas between them. Then peg them down through the rings.

9) Tighten up the tension straps at the rings and the end points about halfway. Once again, taut not tight. Check the doors will unzip. You might need to tweak the poles an inch or two here.

Peg out the guylines. Yes, ALL the guylines, one peg each. Guylines run out from the tent in line with their pole, meet the ground at an angle of 45` and the peg goes in at an angle of 45` with the point going towards the tent. Bang the pegs in fully. Snug up the sliders...taut guylines.

10) Peg everything else you can see...loops along the flysheet edges etc.

11) Go inside, fit groundsheet, toggle in inners.

HTH. It should take 20-30 minutes once you get the hang of it.