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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Shortest camping trip ever (boo hoo)

45 replies

Pixel · 26/05/2009 20:49

Feeling sorry for ourselves now. We set off for our half-term camping trip today, arrived at the site to find it quite windy with tents flapping about but nice and bright. Well the wind was a lot stronger than it looked and it broke our trusty Vango so now we are back home . I'm rather glad we decided on a shortish trip along the coast instead of our usual 5 hour trek to Somerset!

OP posts:
Washersaurus · 26/05/2009 20:58

Oh no! On the plus side, you do get to buy a new tent (or just new poles if not feeling extravagant)

oregonianabroad · 26/05/2009 21:07

Poor you!

How old was the tent? COntact them & see about a replacement?

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 26/05/2009 21:48

Oh no! Where did you go? South Wales has been very, very blowy today.

Our Vango is suffering too and we're very impressed with the Outwell range atm

Original poster
Pixel · 26/05/2009 21:57

It was East Wittering and this is our 3rd summer with the Vango. I don't think we'll be able to run to a new tent at the moment so I now need to investigate getting a replacement pole and am wondering if I'll be able to get some fabric to repair the tear myself (goodness knows where I will lay it out though!). Luckily it was only the inner dome that was damaged when the splintered pole went through so it should still be watertight once the flysheet is on.

I'm glad it didn't happen in the night, I think it would have been quite scary as it was a loud crack!

OP posts:
Washersaurus · 26/05/2009 22:09

I have noticed a lot of Vangos are on offer at the mo. Maybe check out Ebay for replacement parts - what model is it?

Original poster
Pixel · 26/05/2009 22:10

Thanks I will check out ebay. It's a Diablo 600.

OP posts:
Washersaurus · 26/05/2009 22:16

There are lots of vango poles listed in different sizes so you can replace that quite cheaply.

Original poster
Pixel · 26/05/2009 22:25

That's a relief. I'll have to find out what size pole it is, I didn't have anything to measure with on the site and we were having enough trouble gathering up the wreckage in the howling gale!

OP posts:
Washersaurus · 26/05/2009 22:27

I would also be cheeky and contact Vango and ask about spares/repairs etc. They are supposedly quite helpful (I woudn't know really though as we are owners of an Outwell tent). It can't hurt to ask....

Washersaurus · 26/05/2009 22:28

Vango repairs etc here

Original poster
Pixel · 26/05/2009 22:50

Thanks, that's really interesting. I'd like to avoid returning the tent for repair if poss as it weighs an absolute ton so I might email them and ask if they supply materials for minor repairs. I should probably get some spare poles in case we lose another one but there are six different types and the bag is so heavy I can barely lift it, so it doesn't seem practical really.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pixel · 26/05/2009 23:10

It was a bit stupid trying to put the tent up in strong wind but you know how it is when the kids are all excited. You can't just turn round and go home without trying can you? Hopefully it won't be too difficult to get fixed up and we will find out we got off quite lightly really, though obviously we are disappointed. As long as we are sorted before the summer hols .

OP posts:
fatzak · 27/05/2009 10:52

Oh poor you! I was just going to post a thread with the same title as you!

Here is a summary of our trip.

Tuesday

2.00pm Set off from home
3.00pm Arrive in Peak District
3.15pm Start to put up tent
3.30pm Realise the answer to the question " What's in this bag" which DH asked whilst getting the gear together was "The inner tent"
3.45 DH sets back off home to get inner tent
7.00 DH returns

All going nicely now. DSes get to bed, we have drink.

1.00am DS1 wakes screaming with pain.
4.00am DS1 vomits
8.00am Fatzak and family return home

However, our tent is still there! It was so wet we just couldn't face packing up the whole lot whilst DS was so unwell. He seems so much better already so there's a chance we might go back down tomorrow - may leave DS1 with my parents!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 27/05/2009 12:01

Oh no fatzak - that sounds awful.

Pixel - ours is a diablo 600 that's starting to struggle after 3 years too.

I think it's the pitching technique - inner first that is to blame which is one reason that we're going for an Outwell next.

Hope you get it all sorted.

bunnyrabbit · 27/05/2009 12:30

Sorry to hear you both had you expeditions cut short. But at least the weather will be nicer later in the week.

We have a Vango Oregon 800. Chosen cos pitches flysheeet first (in fact I think we struck and pitched all in one last time although I may be getting confused with our Equinox) and takes only 20 mins (supposedly) and has no dome to raise (I'm only 5'2").

It's a tunnel tent so only 5 poles and you're done and has TBS so extra solid in windy conditions.

BR

Original poster
Pixel · 27/05/2009 13:03

Oh Fatzak poor you, at least we didn't have any illness to contend with. In fact we stopped off on the way home for a meal in a nice pub so all was not lost. And I managed to get out of the carpark afterwards without making dh unhitch the trailer .

Well, dh and I have decided that we'll have to get the Vango repaired as we can't afford another one this year but neither of us really want it any more! We've always hated the inner first pitching style of it as our first tent was flysheet first and so much easier. We thought it was worth it because it is actually a very comfy and roomy tent once it is up and to be fair has withstood some pretty bad weather before now.

However, we have been googling (very dangerous to the bank balance!) and have found our absolute ideal tent so we are saving up for next year. here it is, I'm in love.

Oh well, better organise the repairs. I thought I'd just order a pole and am most unimpressed to find I have to just order a section (after working out what diameter we need) and reassemble it myself. What a faff!

OP posts:
Original poster
Pixel · 27/05/2009 13:17

Iwishiwasmoreorganise That's interesting about your Diablo being the same age. I'm wondering how long these tents are designed to last now. After all when I was a child we camped in the same frame tent for years and years, and I expected to be able to do the same with this one as to me it was expensive! We thought it was worth paying for a quality tent rather than an Argos special but maybe not. I realise it's only a pole that's gone and it probably happens with all makes of tent at some point but your comment about your tent showing signs of wear too has got me wondering.

How often to other people expect to have to replace their tents?

OP posts:
bunnyrabbit · 27/05/2009 13:34

Had the Oregon for 2 years and the Equinox for about 13.

As far as poles go, I suppose there is always a chance that one will break in extreme weather and it's pretty unlucky that it ripped your tent in the process.

But I would not be happy if it started to show signs of wear and tear after only 3 years.

On one of the sites I looked at it referrs to a lifetime garauntee www.vangotents.org.uk/vango--tbs-oregon-800-tent.html may be it's worth calling Vango and asking them how long they expect their tents to last?

BR

Original poster
Pixel · 27/05/2009 13:58

Good idea, although I obviously don't want it to last forever as I'm now itching to get a nice new one .

OP posts:
bunnyrabbit · 27/05/2009 14:30

LOL the grass is always greener....

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 27/05/2009 16:10

That looks good Pixel.

I'm eyeing up [[http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/OUTWELL_VERMONT_L_TENT_RANGE__2009_.html this one!!)

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 27/05/2009 16:11

I mean this one!

Original poster
Pixel · 27/05/2009 17:23

That's nice too, lots of lovely windows, the lack of which is the only drawback of my perfect tent.

OP posts:
bunnyrabbit · 28/05/2009 09:26

Looks lovely, and so much space. However, I do like it when the bedrooms are separate, my children are very noisy sleepers!!

BR

Fennel · 28/05/2009 09:29

We have a Vango Diablo, in its 5th summer, it's as good as new. I don't think one broken pole, put up in a strong wind, means the tent is no good. Poles do break sometimes in those conditions.
Most of our tents are still as good as new, whatever their age, we expect them to last 10 or 20 years and so far all of them have. I've been quite impressed with the Vangos lasting well and never showing signs of ageing.

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