Our tents the good bits and the bad.

[2gocampin]

Hi all,

Ok a quick run down of what we have and how we have found them. However, before I start I need to admit that " Yes we are Campaholics " we have tried to seek help but decided that we enjoy it too much.

Right here we go:

Vango Orchy 600

We recently got our Orchy at the beginning of this season as our weekend or last minute getaway tent. Great design, pops up in no time and more than enough space for a small family. The 600 has one of the largest bedroom pods in this sector and can accommodate a pair of double air beds, as for sleeping 6 ..... you would need to be very friendly !!

The all in one design works nicely but it can cause an issue with the ground sheet rising at the edges. However, this can easily be rectified by adding a short length of shock cord to each of the bedroom pod hangers which relives the tension and the ground sheet will then lay flat.

The other point worth making about the Orchy is the saggy front door issue that is quite common. This can be very frustrating but can also be rectified by simply pegging the brow pole guy lines directly forward of the tent which tightens the front panel by raising the brow pole.

We have added the large Vango canopy to the front of ours which extends the living area space considerably and also gives cover if returning to the tent in the rain. If anyone has or is considering getting one of these canopies for their Orchy the only down side is the guy ropes that run either side of the tent. To get the canopy to lay neatly on the main tent the left hand guy line crosses the side door which is a pain. So remove the guy lines from the elasticated back section of the canopy, cut them down to about 18" but include the adjuster and pop a snap hook on the end of each new guy. Now when you pitch the canopy simply clip them onto the looped part, at the sleeve of the 2 front dome pole guy lines and adjust as necessary.

We have been caught in gale force winds and extreme rain in the Orchy and we have never had an issue, a great tent and would recommend it highly.

Vango Diablo 600 XP

Or old faithful as she has become known. We have had a few Diablo's as I just love the design and the look of them. Great big dome with good size bedroom pods and just so flexible with the seperate porch at the front.

The current model is the DLX but sadly its now in its last days before being dropped from the Vango range. If you are considering one go for an XP (Extra Pole, or poles in each bedroom pod) over the standard Diablo as they are the real thing. Vango produced a special in 2008 for Go Outdoors at a greatly reduced price but they where in fact 2005 model Diablo's in 2008 colours and do not compare at all to the XP or DLX.

Big tent, loads of space for the money but the negatives, Inner pitch 1st so if its raining just stay in the car and allow yourself plenty of time to pitch her as they are not the quickest pitch. Saying this I still love the Diablo, it just feels right.

Outwell Norfolk Lake

Well what can I say that Dave hasn't already said, its big but not too big, its beautifully made and very comfy being poly-cotton its warmer when cool outside and cooler when it gets warm compared to polyester. Poly-cotton like cotton canvas breaths so far less condensation if any and the heavy zip in groundsheet finishes it off perfectly.

We got ours in 2008 which has the 2 seperate 3 man pods and one 2 man pod but the later 2009 model now has one large 6 man pod with an internal zip divider plus the seperate 2 man pod. The new layout, for us, seems to work better as its much more flexible but dont get me wrong the original design is excellent.

I cant think of anything I dont like or have a niggle about the Norfolk, its a cracker.

Cabanon Biscaya 440

Well its a Cabanon and they have been around for a long time and the reason is clearly the quality and customer service. Our Biscaya is now 5 years old and has seen action in the scorching south of France to gale force storms in Scotland and she still looks like new. We went for the all season polyester canvas which is a material called Ten-Cate, it breaths like cotton but is lighter and has the same characteristics as poly-cotton.

The Biscaya is a breeze to pitch with the poles being zipped up inside the tent from front to back and only a few guy lines to peg out, 20 minutes and the kettle is on. Its a 6 man tent but like all others 4 is much more comfortable. Like the Norfolk it has a heavy zip in ground sheet to keep out the drafts and a large central living area with 3 large windows.

We added the addition canopy to the front of ours and if the weather is kind there is no better place to sit back with a glass of something cool.

Cant fault the Biscaya apart from the size when packed away, its big even compared to the Norfolk.

And finally the best tent of them all:

Vango Force Ten

Ive had this 3 man ridge now for more years than I can remember and she is still as good as the day I first pitched her. Simple design, double skin ridge tent that has been the saving grace of many an expedition. I'm too old to throw it on my back and head for the hills nowadays but it still gets used when friends come away if we are in the Orchy and on the odd occasion that I do sneak away on my own with the hound its still my 1st choice.

Well I hope I haven't sent you all too sleep but if any of you are still awake and want to pick my brains, not that there was ever a great deal anyway, about any of our tents then feel free.

Regards to all

Gary

[DaveS]

We need to see some pics of them all!

[2gocampin]

Hi Dave,

I will have a rummage and see what I can find. My problem is that im an old fashioned 35mm fan and yet to get into the digital age of photography but the time has come to take the step and get a digital camera I think.

I think we have a scanner somewhere so I will try and find it and get some on asap.

Gary

[erroutdoors]

I'd like to see the pics of Gary's (2gocampin) tents too, especially the one of the CABANON AWAYA 440 he sold to me. I paid him - in £850 cash to his account, stupidly, on 11th March, and since then all I have had is excuses and fob offs, despite traveling from Hull to Oxfordshire, twice, to try and collect.

So far, he's told me the tent has been despatched, but it never arrived.
Has been given to a friend to bring, but the friend never got any jobs up north.
Friend has gone to France with it in his van, so tent unavailable for collection.
Friend stuck in Bristol and not answering his phone, so tent can't be got.
Friend gone on hols, not back until such and such a date.
Friend's flight delayed.
Friend's mobile is turned off so he cannot be contacted.
Friend has gone off to Kent, tent locked in his house.
Got tent back but friend has spilled BRAKE FLUID on the elusive tent.
Given tent back to friend, who is cleaning tent and re-proofing.

Add this to the 3 times I have been told he has refunded the money via bank transfer to my account.
BUT
The bank made an error
Will send scan of bank slip to confirm, only then the ink was too feint so couldn't.
Must have put wrong number on bank slip.

Needless to say, the money never arrived.

Then, I was given a firm date when I'd get my money back, subject to a cheque clearing. It never cleared, obviously.

Yesterday, he told me he would let me have the money back in cash today, AND the tent, which he said I could inspect then we could 'come to some agreement over price / refund etc.'

After 2 and a half months, I now recognise Gary doesn't what most people consider to be the truth, so my O/H made another trip there in person, the police also attended. Gary wasn't in and the tent wasn't there. They spoke to him on the phone and he claims he has SOLD THE TENT TO A THIRD PARTY and is waiting for the cheque to clear (another one??!!).

The moral of this story is, however much you want a tent, do not be persuaded to deposit cash into someone's bank account just because they sound legit and post on a camping forum! Ask to see photos of the actual tent and if possible don't hand over the cash until you can actually take the tent away.

I trusted 2gocampin to send the tent, and that suited me because I had recently had a stroke and could not drive. I thought it would be a positive focus, at a bad time in my life. It has turned into an absolute nightmare.

[DaveS]

Hmmmm sounds like you've had a rough time there, so sorry to hear, I hope it gets sorted out.
Some lessons for us all there I think when buying and selling.

[Mr Custard]

Its a shame all sellers cannot be straight forward and honest. I hope you get your tent.