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We have just returned from a weeks camping at West Fleet. On the 1st day I had just finished putting my 2006 SV8 up when a chap from the next paddock came and asked me for help putting his new SV8 up as he was having problems. As I expected it was with the front zip on the left if you are looking at the tent.  I told him that it was a known fault and that Outwell had stopped selling them. I advised him to contact the shop where he bought it for a refund.

I also recomended this site, so hi if your reading this.

I am interested in why it is only some SV8's with this problem, and not all. To me it seemed that the front pole is slightly to long.

Also can anyone help with fitting the bathtub groundsheet as I cant get it fit properly.

I have just returned from Malvern in my 2006 SV8. It was my first outing in this tent and I had no problems whatsoever. All of the door opened and closed without problem and the layout and space was just perfect for a family that want their kids sleeping in an adjoining bedroom. The enormous porch provided a great area for cooking, storage of bikes/boots etc

For those thinking of getting an SV8, I suggest you go for it as it is a great tent. Obviously buy from a reputable dealer so that if you are one of the unfortunate ones, then you can be refunded.

so glad to hear it went well, I wonder if any more defects have come to light over the bank holiday and school hols period.

We had our monty 12 out over this period and found a double stich defect in the SIG, which was swapped today no quibbles at ABC...! 

Out of interest, my "Good" SV8-2006 was bought in Feb 06 and was one of the very first to be delivered into the UK. Did others with good SV8's buy early? Perhaps the manufacturing fault happened later in the season?

Anyway, I'll say it again, fantastic tent.

I remove the annoying 3rd bedroom as I don't need/want it and it ruins the generous, well proportioned living area.

"TheGatekeeper" what was the problem with your groundsheet? I didn't really have a problem, although when I first layed it down, I realised that it was upside down. Did you try flipping it over to the other side? I fastened the 4 main clips into the steel Rings (On ring and pin system) and placed all of the toggles through their corresponding plastic rings. Seemed OK to me, although I didn't understand why there was a cutout in the centre where it meets the main living area. what is that for?

PS. Big Brother is doing my head in. OH loves it :-(

Our excellent camping shop (SKCamping) has now written to purchasers of the SV8 to let them know of probs and to advise them to pitch before they pack to check!

Our replacement is fine, but it was defo a diff batch - all wrapped up differently and both OH and I were convinced it is a slightly different shade of blue!

We are very pleased we stuck with the SV8 - OH can even pitch and pack-up by himself now - pitching in about 20mins (although he is a bit lazy about fulling pegging out - usually my job).  It takes us nearly as long to put up our suncamp larder unit!

Although there are only 5 of us the third bedroom has actually proved very useful as we can settle our lively 6 year old by himself.  Plus the weather has been fine - I imagine we would remove it in bad weather to use the space.

Well Tony decided to ring ABC on Monday gone, to see if there was any developments on the SV8. They told him that they had had a new batch in and after the replacements that were put aside, there would be 2 left. Also that if we decided to go ahead with the sale, we were assured that if anything would be to be wrong with the tent, we could have a refund. Tony said he'd ring them back, and spoke to me about it. I wasn't sure about buying from them but eventually agreed. We went down later that day, picked the tent up (ABC couldn't have been any nicer!), brought it home and erected it on Tuesday - NO PROBS WHATSOEVER - YAY!! It was very easy to put up and we tried the zip numerous times and it's great. We're not sure if it has been replaced with a more heavy duty zip too. Also received this email earlier this evening which I thought may be of interest.

Dear Tony

 Thank you for your e-mail, our apologies for the delay in replying.

 Yes, unfortunately we did have an initial problem with one batch of tents which has now been rectified.

 Please feel confident in purchasing a Sun Valley 8 Tent.

 Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information

 Regards

 Angus Lochtie

Business Development Manager

 I'd say if anyone is still interested in this tent, then to go ahead. :)

Thats great news! sounds like Sun Valleys are GOOD again!

Actually I dont know what is going on with ABC but the last 2 times we have been there they have been lovely! so nice infact we would buy from them again

I also had an email from Outwell today stating that I could send back my SV8 for testing at Camperlands. I will not do this as I have already tested it myself and it is fine. However, it does show that Outwell are being honourable and sorting out people who have had a problem. Their email is as follows:

Dear Craig

Thank you for your e-mail, our apologies for the delay in replying

Please can you return your tent to Camperlands in order that it can be checked prior to your holiday.

We would prefer that you had piece of mind and confidence in our product having known that it has been inspected.

If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Angus Lochtie
Business Development Manager

great service, as should be expected at the prices people pay.

good result..!

Just  to let you all know that the new (fixed post zip recall) Sun Valley 8 's have started to be distributed again.  I have just picked one up from Barrons at Coppull, Chorley and they had about 8 in stock.  The guy there said he had just received them in last week.  He mentioned about the zip problem without me even having to prompt and he mentioned they were hit hard by the problem.

Redz,

We bought our Sun Valley 8 from ABC in May too, took it for it's maiden outing this weekend and had same problem as you with zip,  rang ABC who were very good with us - apparently the has been a dodgy batch of Sun Valley 8's and after several complaints they sent all remaining stock back to Outwell who have sorted the problem and are restocking.  ABC are replacing ours, so you want to have a word - On the leaflet they give you it says the zips aren't covered by the warantee - cobblers - under the sale of goods act a product needs to be fit for the prurpose it was sold for - a tent you can't do up properly - or the can't undo is not fit for its purpose especially at that price!, therefore you have every right to complain - your contract is with the supplier - not manufacturer.  Small claims court only costs £40(ish) and If ABC hadn't offered me a replacement or refund (if goods are faulty you are entitled to ask for one - it would break the law to refuse one especially as you can prove that this is a product fault which they are aware of) I would have taken them there.  But I would go back and ask ABC again - they are obviously taking this problem seriously now.

Good luck

Just to say that, if anybody has any doubt about the front porch zip then check for the following:-

At the top of the zip - just before it "goes into hiding"  - you should see a metal cleat that prevents the zipper from going up too far. If the cleats are fitted then you have got a modified tent and so you should be ok.

We spent a week in Dorset with a broken porch on our SV8 - took it back to PJ Camping for a no-quibble replacement and have now got a tent with modified zippers.

Well impressed with PJ Camping and also with the general adaptability (is that a real word? dunno, just looks funny...) of the SV8.