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Just interested to know if anybody has experienced any problems with the 700DLX (2006 model)?.

We purchased a standard Aspen 700 in May2005, unfortunately it had to be returned to vango after 2 trips due to pole, seam & fabric failure, the tent was replaced by Vango and we used the replacement tent in 2006 with no structural problems and had a great 2 week holiday in it - but no rain!.  We have just returned from a weeks trip in it where we had some rain (not excessive) and it leaked in several places, so again we had to return it to the store. 

The store understanding our previous complaint and the fact we had already had a replacement offered us an exchange immediately, instead of waiting on a return to vango - however they only had the Deluxe version (2006 model),  for which we had to find extra money, however they offered us a big discount (only ended up paying £18 for the upgrade) and we settled for this instead of waiting on another replacement of the same 2005 model from Vango. 

We have been camping for several years now and have had experience of several different makes & styles of tents, the Aspen was perfect for us offering all the space & stability we wanted and we thought being Vango our choice would last for years, however were we wrong? could it be we were just very unlucky with 2 failures or has anybody else had the same problems with the Aspens?  We were told that some of the 2005 models did have problems so it may have been we got 2 from the same batch!.  I am hoping that it will be 3rd time lucky with this deluxe version! but I am concerned that the 700DLX is going to give us similar problems - would welcome  comments as looking for a bit of reassurance the 700DLX will be okay! Thanks..

Hi Bundys; We have a 2006 Aspen 700DLX and happily spent the last Bank Holiday in it with 40 hours of continuous rain and no leaks! The only water that did get in came up through the 2 rear vents (above the side bedrooms) where the wind (gales/hurricanes) forced it up the vents and through the mesh. Once we closed these we had no problems.

There seemed to be a few problems with 2005 models. We recently bought the poles and outer for a 2005 Aspen 700 where the inner had failed (pole seams came away apparently) but Vango replaced the entire tent. We bought the poles etc for spraes as they are the same as our 2006 model.

The only problem we find is with the groundsheet for the porch - it goes in one way only and makes it into a tub. The OH marked one end with tape so we know what goes where now.

Use the instructions on the Vango website to pitch it rather than what comes with the tent - much easier.

Hi Bundy,s Ive got a 2005 700, Weve been away twice in it, and up to now, weve had no problems at all, Weve only experienced rain once, but no leaks as yet, am i one of the lucky ones, (HOPE SO), going away again in august and im hoping the weather and the luck stays with us.   

                                                                                           Bob.

Hi hrob487, glad to hear that your 2005 700 has been trouble free - wish our's had been the same, although blacks have been really good it was just a pain having to return the tent each time.  We love our aspen so that it why we have stuck with it - I dare say some people would have said enough's enough after 2 failures but I just don't think I would have been happy with anything else after having the aspen so now we are the proud owners of the deluxe!! obviously we will benefit from the larger porch but also there is now internal covers on the bedroom pod windows so that's another good feature that we didn't have on our 2005 model....just can't wait to get to use it!!

hope you have a great summer!

Quote: Originally posted by HelenD on 16/6/2007

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Hi Bundys; a tip for getting the outer over that my OH has perfected. Pull the outer up to the front of the inner, throw a strong cord over from the back (we attach it to the peg puller for a bit of weight), attach it to the rear centre pegging point of the outer (ours is marked with red tape to find it easily), pull the outer gently up and guide up the sides as you go pulling on the cord. When it reaches just over mid way you can pull it over with the cord alone. It lines it up beautifully on the inner and saves a lot of hassle.

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Hi again Helen, placing the outer has been okay for us, the only thing that gets me with the outer is doing those ties up on the frame - not too bad on a cool day but in the heat I sweat buckets!