Off in a few weeks time and so yesterday got some bits out of storage to check everything and found two tent poles snapped. One is snapped almost all the way through and the other has snapped about 5 inches. I don't recall this happening and I'm not sure how this has happened.
I know the one will need replacing but should I repair pole two or replace that too?
Suggestions on the best place for replacement poles too please. There is a camping center in Newport, Stow Hill Camping, it's just that with the elastic I don't know what to do, should I just take the poles there and how much is is roughly?
You've got the right idea, I'm from the 'Port and know that the fella in Gwent Camping, Stow Hill can sort you out. He's very reasonable, offers good advice and won't rip you off.
I've been going there for years.
------------- Everyone has a right to believe in whatever they want.
Replacing poles is easy as threading beads on a necklace, honestly. Replacement sections are only 2 or 3 pounds each, a pack of elastic, if you need it is about £5. Any camping shop can supply you with r eplacements. Its a five minute job to do it your self and you should learn how to in case you ever need to do do it on site anyway. When you buy your new poles get an extra spare or two, just in case.
One of our poles sheared last aug bank holiday in cricceth, fortunately there is a outdoor door shop on the way to porthmadog, so was able to get a replacement pole, although it was the same widthe the length was differentso replaced a section and it got us through the weekend.
back home i e-mailed vango asking where i could get a replacement pole, a week later i had a pole arrive by vango f.o.c.
If a pole is too long its easy to cut it with a junior hacksaw and a bit of masking tape over the cutting line stops it splintering.
I recently replaced a few poles on mine and my sisters tents and was really surprised at how easy and quick it was.
its surprising how many people think they have to have the pole from the manufacturers,and get it done professionally, when spare poles are easy to replace, with any make, as long as you get the same thickness and cut the length to fit. .
My sister even thought she had to scrap the tent , until I told her she could get a new pole, but still she thought she had to replace the whole string of poles about 12 of them , when only one section one had snapped.
On our last trip we noticed a couple of poles which have started to split, the tent hasn't really had that much use and is only about 18 months old is this normal?
It has put us off the tent abit now,getting itchy feet and feel that the steel pole may be abit stronger......or is this just an excuse to look for a new tent in the sales?
This is quite normal to replace poles after a few uses . Sometimes they even break the first time used . People also don't always realise they are fragile and need to be handled with care. I see so often people have the poles in boot of car , everything else dumped on top of them , and then they heave the bag of poles out and drop them on the ground , This is a sure way to weaken the poles and cause splitting .