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Dear all,

Interesting topic to have 3 pages of comments. We have a Biscaya 320 canvas with zipped in groundsheet. The first respondent was asking was the 370 easy to pitch. Although the 320 is smaller the principle is the same and yes it is easy to pitch. A couple of pointers which may help

1) Definitely pitch before you go in earnest as our zig was very difficult first time and required a bit of filing on the zip to start (Cabanon also recommend weathering the tent first before use).

2) We use a silicon spray on the zip (good ironmongers should stock) which helps a lot.

3) The zips for the tent poles are quite small and difficult to fasten. We were given a tip, use a sheolace through the end of the zip. Its much easier.

4) Another tip we had. If you are moving from site to site leave the groudsheet zipped to the tent, its much easier and quicker to re pitch.

5) We bought a cover for garden furniture for Lidl for about £6 which acts as an excellent under groundsheet and keeps the zig perfectly clean.

Hope some of these tips help.

Hi folks, I bought a second hand biscaya 370 just after christmas and tried today to pitch it, previous owner had lost the instructions so I had a look here and did various searches on google without any real sucess.

Got there after 40 odd mins with just common sense, but wanted to know the proper way as intended by cabanon lol... Pegged zig out them unfolded canvas and rolled back to insert poles, then started to zip the zig on and put the oles up as i went - but wasn't happy with the strain on the zip like this.

Ended up leaving the zig attatched when I took it down again as this seemed the best option for errection again at the weekend with the kids etc in tow, and the weather for friday is dubious.

I've camped for 30 odd years now  -scouts and campsite warden etc. so know tents, going back to proper camping after various attempts at caravans and trailer tents / folding campers over the years. Growing family means a family tent.

Beatiful tent - well thought out, and excellent quality.  Mines only been used a few times, and is now 2 years old. Pity it isn't the canvas one, but the all wether version seems strong and up to the irish climate. 

I'd be dlighted if somebody to either explain the method or point me in the right direction.

Cheers. Steve

Hi Steve.

            Sounds like you have been having fun, the easist way to pitch the 370, is peg out the ZiG, then lay the hoops out, then zip on the Canvas, then zip in the front hoop, not the one with the spikes, once that first hoop is zipped in, lightly teather it, this will make zipping in the remainining hoops a doddle, then go back to the first hoop, and pull taught, fact is with the Biscaya design, you will have to scrumble around under the Canvas to get things going, a solo pitch is possible, but an extra pair of hands makes all the difference. hope that helps.

Andy.

Cheers - I did it a bit backwards today then lol...

I'll try it this way at the weekend then.

Thanks. Steve

Hi Steve.

            This will make you laugh, fact is when we got to our site in Southern France last year, it was so hot you would not believe, so Mrs Francais went of to check the site out, and left me to pitch the tent, then two Dutch blokes came over and gave me a beer, by the time I had finished the beer, my tent was up, Mrs Francais then returned and was mightely impressed, of course I had to fess up, that I had not actualy pitched the tent, arn't folk wonderfull especialy fellow campers, one of my Dutch helpers was leaving the next day, he and his family were in a tent, the other fellow was in a static with his family, and we made good friends during our stay, and are hoping to meet up with them again this year, even though he supported Liverpool. lol!.

Andy.

Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 28/4/2010

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Hi Steve.

            This will make you laugh, fact is when we got to our site in Southern France last year, it was so hot you would not believe, so Mrs Francais went of to check the site out, and left me to pitch the tent, then two Dutch blokes came over and gave me a beer, by the time I had finished the beer, my tent was up, Mrs Francais then returned and was mightely impressed, of course I had to fess up, that I had not actualy pitched the tent, arn't folk wonderfull especialy fellow campers, one of my Dutch helpers was leaving the next day, he and his family were in a tent, the other fellow was in a static with his family, and we made good friends during our stay, and are hoping to meet up with them again this year, even though he supported Liverpool. lol!.

Andy.

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None of the irish campers would be that friendly lol, most are now caravaners or in motorhomes (been there done that) so probably wouldn't know where to start with the cabanon - definatley offer a guiness though!

We get lots of dutch and french overhere in the summer - though funny enough I was in the Landy a few weeks ago and got a wave from a dutch copule on the road in a landy - bit like driving the old vw, similar sort of 'culture'.

Steve

We also have the biscaya 370 cotton., The bit we find the hardest is re folding the canvas after use. We seem to do it differently every time!

Hi emma.

             Did you ever get sorted with a Sun-Canopy for your 370, I remember you were on the look out one.

Andy.