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We have a Cabonon Palace and would never go back to a tunnel or dome tent, the space and build quality is second to none.

Camping International in Gillingham always have at least two Cabonon frame tents setup.

Victor

We've had our Cabanon since 1995 and it is still in A1 condition. I think the wife and myself can put it up in much less than 2 hours from arriving to getting the kettle on.

There are many advantages already covered, but

• we love the light (big windows),
• headroom so we can walk around,
• space so we can eat around a table without being too cramped if it is wet,
• no condensation,
• rigidity,
• doesn't flap in the wind
• it looks the business (I'm trying to avoid being smug)

The biggest downside is the bulk and weight (so we have a trailer, although the tent does take space up in the garage) and the issues about packing up in the wet.

When we were at Holywell Bay last half term we both agreed that we would never have anything other than a frame tent, other than maybe a cabanon trailer tent, but that is another story.

Tony Wild in Woburn (Beds) has a good selection of Cabanons.....

Cheers - Kev

Hi,

This is all really helpful.  The latest update is that we marked out the size of the Cabanon Pacific last night in the garden and think it will be too small. There are 4 of us, plus 2 dogs and although the children are 5 & 4, they will grow!  Having continued to hunt, I've found a special edition called the Sunncamp Retreat which is a very reasonable price.  My husband found the Sunncamp Sprint, but I don't like the boxy look to it and think it's made of nylon.  I go to Attwells from time to time so will have a look there and also keep an eye on the internet sites. I'm delighted to hear that a JK98 can put hers up solo as I do take the smalls away on my own but have bought progessively smaller tunnel tents so that pitching time is at a minimum. We already have a trailer but it's a small one, not too worried about more space being taken up.  Does anyone have one of the above mentioned tents please?

Just had a 'quality' thought - are Cabanon better than Sunncamp or would you say there isn't much in it? 

P.s I don't wish to upset either fans of both makes!

I personally think that Cabanon canvas is better, but don't take my word for it - go and have a feel!

We purchased a dome tent a month ago, and although it looked great, didn't feel quite right, last week we bought a frame tent from e-bay, only bought it because sale included the following:- two ring stove with grill, folding cooker stand, folding washing up stand, gas bottle with regulator, (still has some gas in!) all of these items turned out to be fantastic condition.   Expected the tent to be rubbish, but when my husband put the tent up, (just for a laugh) we couldn't believe what good condition it is in, and as soon as we all walked into it, it felt right!

And we only paid £25 for the whole lot, yes £25 and the seller even threw in 2 single air beds and a gas lantern tons of spare pegs, we really can't believe our luck.

Only little fault with the tent was that sleeping pods needed a bit of  patching up, so I sat in the garden tonight with my trusty sewing machine..problem solved.  We will be reproofing the canvas over the weekend!

I have read in other threads that you should reproof from the inside, I presume that instructions will be somwhere on the container?

Anyway, It's frame tents that get my thumbs up now!  I think more than anything it's the space.  Will now save up for  brand new tent next year.

Heres one to consider .

Cabanon Biscaya

Bought on two weeks ago,440 model 6berth dont no if you would call this a frame tent or dome tent. but only four poles to put it up,Lovely tent in looks and quality. zipped in ground sheet all over, which is heavy pvc, not like your  nylon tents when walking in them you feel if you are in a plastic bag. Very roomy tent. give me canvas anytime, but it does not have to be your traditional frame tent style.Very roomy tent

wulmar, did you manage to start the zips easily, where the canvas fixes to the groundsheet at the rear of the tent? If you did, can you please tell me if there is a gap (however slight) between the start of the two zips?

Thanks very much.

Hi Angie, you posted a message on a topic that i wrote (Frame tents) by Birty, I dont know if you are interested but there is a bloke that has posted a message on there called Alan, he is selling a frame tent for £150.  I am now buying a Sunncamp Grange from another member so feel free to ask him about his offer, it might be just what you are looking for.

Serena

Quote: Originally posted by Liddenham on 14/7/2006

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wulmar, did you manage to start the zips easily, where the canvas fixes to the groundsheet at the rear of the tent? If you did, can you please tell me if there is a gap (however slight) between the start of the two zips?

Thanks very much.

Hi     about 1mm if that very tight

1st time i went to erect tent i could not find the joint, where the zips meet they are that close,  can zip them up ok but when you go to unzip it is quite difficult, it would be better if they had left space 5 to 10mm with overflap to fill space if you no what i meen.

have you had proplems with yours

still very pleased with the tent

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Hi wulmar,

Yes, we had problems with ours; once we had started the first zip at the back of the tent we could not position the second zip to get it started. We tried pegging the groundsheet as instructed, then pegging it just loosely to try and allow some slack. Even with the groundsheet totally unpegged we struggled with starting the zips and finally had to unzip the one we had started and try the other one first. We finally managed it, but it entailed putting a lot of strain on the zips - pushing the bases of both zips inwards until they were both anchored - and hence the groundsheet fabric, to get them started.

Our new Biscaya was returned to the shop where purchased for inspection. They agreed that there was a problem with our zips and offered to repair or modify, but would not replace the canvas and groundsheet (we reckoned that, as so many of these tents are sold, it was likely we had got a 'rogue' one, and that a replacement would probably be okay, so had requested this).

We were not happy at having a brand new tent 'repaired and modified' (a window toggle had also come off on first day and so needed re-stitching) and so had to take the offer of a refund, since a replacement tent was not forthcoming.

We loved everything else about this tent but, as the zip-together flysheet and groundsheet are integral to the design (if not the main feature) of this tent, we felt that the stress necessary to start the zips would affect the longevity of the tent and, at £1,200, we were not prepared to take that risk.

It will be interesting to see if Cabanon modify the zip assembly in forthcoming models, just as they have modified 2006 models to include the metal 'S' fixings to secure the bedroom inners (a huge improvement on the plastic frame clips) and to include the groundsheet modification in the doorway, so that the 'lip' can be toggled upright, or opened to a flat position.

All in all, we were disappointed with Cabanon's stance on the problem we encountered; as they apparently inspected our tent with a manager from Casey's and, though they (quote): 'Totally agreed' there was a problem where the zips joined, they were not magnanimous enough to replace the faulty components. For a tent in this price bracket, one would might perhaps have expected more from such a  major manufacturer.

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Hi Angie, you posted a message on a topic that i wrote (Frame tents) by Birty, I dont know if you are interested but there is a bloke that has posted a message on there called Alan, he is selling a frame tent for £150.  I am now buying a Sunncamp Grange from another member so feel free to ask him about his offer, it might be just what you are looking for.

Serena

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Hi Serena,

I do remember that now you mention it. Will search again to find the thread and see if I can track down how far he lives from us. So far we've been searching on Ebay, but seem to have different opinions on how much space we need! I like the layout with bedrooms at the back and definitly want a sun-canopy, but otherwise I don't think the living area needs to be that big, I would prefer not to spend all my time putting the tent up! Thanks again.