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Bought this tent last year and have had problems with the poles either snapping or shearing round the ball hole.  We have been told that we are twisting the poles when putting the tent up, but this is not the case.  Anyone else had any problems?

We think it may be due to it's sheer size and weight that there is a design fault with the poles in that they are just not strong enough to cope with the weight of the canvas when putting it up.  We are both 5ft 8 and have to stand on a box to zip in the front poles, so surely they should be designed to withdtand some level of flexing. 

Your comments would be great

Quote: Originally posted by garyandclaire on 18/7/2007

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Bought this tent last year and have had problems with the poles either snapping or shearing round the ball hole. We have been told that we are twisting the poles when putting the tent up, but this is not the case. Anyone else had any problems?

We think it may be due to it's sheer size and weight that there is a design fault with the poles in that they are just not strong enough to cope with the weight of the canvas when putting it up. We are both 5ft 8 and have to stand on a box to zip in the front poles, so surely they should be designed to withdtand some level of flexing.

Your comments would be great

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Thanks for your comments

The front poles went last year where the two poles joined and split.  Cabanon replaced the poles and repaired the tent which was ripped.  However we don't know whether the damaged sections were replaced or a whole new set of poles were provided i.e. whether we have had a faulty batch of poles which have now gone in another section.

We have been putting it up with the pole feet facing the front lifting towards the front of the tent starting with the bedroom section, but have read that the back two sections the feet should face the back and raise the middle one first....even so we still think the poles should be strong enough to cope with this.  The front poles are the last to be raised and these are the ones we are having the problems with.

The retailer is suggesting we have to pay for new poles...not impressed!

The instructions I got with my Biscaya 500 said to erect the front porch poles first and loosely secure, then go inside, erect bedroom poles, middle poles then entrance. We've always used this method and never had any problems. I would contact Cabanon and see what they have to say about the poles splitting.

Quote: Originally posted by garyandclaire on 18/7/2007

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Thanks for your comments

The front poles went last year where the two poles joined and split.  Cabanon replaced the poles and repaired the tent which was ripped.  However we don't know whether the damaged sections were replaced or a whole new set of poles were provided i.e. whether we have had a faulty batch of poles which have now gone in another section.

We have been putting it up with the pole feet facing the front lifting towards the front of the tent starting with the bedroom section, but have read that the back two sections the feet should face the back and raise the middle one first....even so we still think the poles should be strong enough to cope with this.  The front poles are the last to be raised and these are the ones we are having the problems with.

The retailer is suggesting we have to pay for new poles...not impressed!

 

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I was just reading through some old threads, and wondered if you got this problem sorted okay, garyandclaire?

The frame hoops in the bedroom area should be placed feet facing the back, hoop towards the middle of the tent, so that when you lift the hoop into position you are pushing against the slack in the canvas (a bit like a pram hood).

If you were doing it the other way round, you were surely trying to lift the frame hoop against the weight of the canvas? Wasn't that a real struggle?

Anyway, I hope it is now resolved, and that Cabanon issued you with a new set of poles.

Maybe Cabanon should revise their instructions, which are not the best....

PS

I presume you mean that the pole sheared when you were putting the front one into place? Since all the poles are identical in the Biscayas, so there is no 'front pole', as such. How did you erect the front section? Again, the hoop should be towards the middle of the tent, so that you are pushing against the slack in the canvas, rather than trying to lift it up against the tension / weight.

With all the Biscayas, it is easiest to start by poling out the canopy, so that it holds the canvas up a bit so you can walk inside. With the front entry models (i.e. not the vis a vis) start at the back first, then work forwards - you can place all the hoops in the appropriate direction before zipping the flysheet on.

It wouldn't be difficult for Cabanon to issue more helpful pitching instructions, since once you have used the correct technique the Biscaya is a very easy tent to pitch. Maybe your retailer could have helped clarify pitching technique? Sounds like you have struggled with it, which must have been very frustrating, particularly if i meant the canvas was damaged in the process.

Best of luck with things.

Hi there

We bought a Biscaya 440 cuisine last year - it is a lovely tent, but we had a couple of problems the second time we erected it.  Both problems have now been sorted out.  One of the problems being that we had a pole buckle on our second holiday - the supplier replaced the part of the pole that went.    Hopefully, weather permitting, we will be able to try it out again in a couple of months time. 

We read some advice that Liddenham gave on this site last year re pitching a Biscaya, which we were grateful for, as we found the manufacturers instructions quite vague at first.  I agree that Cabanon could improve on this. 

I feel it could be the weight of the tent that contributes, and wonder if the poles should be stronger to withstand this - we will soon find out.

Fingers crossed all goes well this year, as these Biscaya tents are like home from home, or as close as it can get!  

Kaz