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hello

can anyone help me with advice , bought the diablo 600 in january used for first time last month , we had 2 problems - first the bedrooms won't rezip up - no matter how carefully you put the tent up .

and most importantly the sewn in groundsheet leaked , mud and water really badly along the centre seam in the living area, had to mop up all the time , use papers and buy a rug . it was hopeless , yes it was wet , but so was everyone else , many in the same type tent and theirs didn't leak...has anyone had this problem ? , vango have said " it is normal for this to happen , in wet weather"  I do not believe them - even our old cheap tent was water proof - he then said have you tried sealent - and its not covered in our warrenty....arrrrghhh surely they should test before they sell -- any help is appreciated --at war with vango...thank you.

thanks for the info - tried with the zips - all up , unzipp and they won't go back - theres a thread on here about it - but its the leaking thats the problem -- i can't believe vango are saying its normal .

I've just sent them a pic of what it was like -- i didn't expect a fight , the shop are saying they will not refund or exchange as vango are saying the leak is quite normal for the tent.........................................

If you were camped in a hollow with water and mud under the groundsheet, it`s very likely you`ll get water oozing up even through the plain groundsheet. let alone the seams, once you put a lot of pressure on the area. Contrary to belief, groundsheet material is not 100% waterproof. For that you need a sheet of plastic, and that`s not very durable. However a sheet of builders plastic cut into a footprint groundsheet and laid under your tent should solve the problem.

As to the pod zips, well, if the tent is pitched with the doors shut then the zips should meet again once opened. Perhaps you need to tweak the way you`re pitching slightly...try not pulling the ring tensioning straps quite so tight if you normally do them up to the hilt, or the other way round if you normally leave them loose.

We have a simular problem with the door zips on the pod but now we don't tighten the straps onto the ring and pin as much and it's better. and don't tie the ties on the fly to the inner too tight.

As for the leaking- Is it all over the florr or just on the seam of the ground sheet. in very wet weather we had a leak through the seam and Vango sent me some seam sealant free of charge. That was last year..

hi thanks for your help everyone on this - we hadn't even thought the zips was that much of a prob till i started researching on here ..must say its the leaking that i'm worried about. Can't say we pitched in a hollow with mud and water - it was flat grass - muddy grass , but no hollow , no dip , and people moved up around where we were cos it was the driest part of the site. It wasn't horrendous , we were there for 2 weeks , with a 4 yr old. It was very sunny for at least half the time . when we moved on again no hollow - it was the same thing for the second week - but worse cos this time the mud smelt a lot.

I don't want a groundsheet that leaks , its all along the centre seam , comes through the stitching ,a lot of it , very thick - my friend had the same tent next door - if anything they were on a slopey more muddy ground , and were fine. we had to cover the floor with newspapers , and eventually use the waterproof picnic rug to stop it oozing everywhere.

What more can i say , vango didn't offer me sealent , there reply was 'had we thought of it'

trying not to swear , yes-- have you thought of customer service .....if everyone else is more than happy with their vango tents  WHY does mine do this ? - if they had holidayed through this mess i doubt if vango would have such happy customers -- surely its a fault , not the norm -why do i have to fight them on this issue - when i have a brand new tent thats not right

the campsites were warren farm in breen , and brokerswood in wiltshire - well kept well drained sites .- if anyones been.

We have only once had a problem zipping a bedroom pod and it was when my son got in and unzipped as we were pitching on a slight slope. The wind then blew that night and pinged the elastic in the poles so badly we thought that it had broken but no problems when we took it down (cut the stay short coz we really really thought that the pole had gone) Since then we have always checked the  shape and that the inner door is zipped as we pitch and not had a problem!

Camped on quagmire this summer no leaks in groundsheet which I have to say surprised me. I was sure that it would leak!! Though and aiming after this last experience to cut a small footprint for protection! (and make packing it cleaner!)

hi

just to update all you helpful people- I e-mailed vango aftersales this thread , and they have contacted the store..who are now going to refund.

thanks for your help

Well done!

Our leak wasn't anywhere as near as yours and hasn't done it since thank fully.