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Hi There,

I feel a tad aggrieved to have to write this message so soon about my disappointment with our Sprayway Valley 6 we purchased last season after owning a Valley 4 the season before which was a fantastic tent for its price but needed something larger with a baby on the way.

It all started great, pitched the tent in the garden when it arrived, and as with all first time pitches, thought I had done a good job pitching it by myself within the hour but room for improvement when we finally came to use it anger.

We then had a week away early September 2009 in Northumberland at a great site, South Meadows Caravan Park well worth a visit, and tried to improve on my first time pitch. I have to say it was worse!! The whole of the outer tent seemed to be over to one side a lot more than the other and the inner seemed to do the opposite. I tweaked with it constantly over the week, during the constant rain showers, and still couldn't improve the pitch. When I came to take the tent down, I found the ground sheet in the side annex had started to come away from the main ground sheet, I was quite disappointed. I also noticed that there was quite a large puddle in the side annex, but put this down to the heavy rain and maybe being on a sloping pitch.

We then went to Filey two weekends later, Centenary Way (again great quiet site), and I made a real conscious effort to get the tent right!! Again the same problems. Tent leaning to one side and the inner the opposite. How frustrating!!! Then to add to my wows, second day the wind gets up and the matching Sprayway wind break took off and one the poles pierced the front porch making a rip about an inch long. Luckily this did not penetrate the main tent and a quick repair with the supplied kit and this did the job. At the end of the weekend we took the tent down and low and behold the ground sheet in the annex had almost become detected from the main tent and the same puddle of water was in there. Still a coincidence?? I then came to the outer and noticed that one of the white sleeves which carry the ridge pole that the stitching has started to come undone for about half an inch at the end where the pole enters the sleeve. This is slightly worrying and seems that there is too much tension on one side of the tent. I had only put a small amount to tension in the red tensioners on that side.

The tent was then packed away for the winter and then we had our first outing in Shelford, Shelford Nurseries Caravan Park, over the first May bank holiday of this year with our new arrival Isabella and she loved it!! But the same problems with tent, only things got worse with tent and now the front extension. Seams on the inner tent are starting to come undone around the door areas, anchor points for the inner tent snapping and the pegging points on the outside and extension coming undone and plastic rings snapping. It seems that the tent is over tensioned on one side but loose on the other. Also the poles on the extension have started to rust and were very difficult to come apart. I found a technique of tapping then with a rubber mallet, softly, to release seemed to do the trick.

We have now just returned from a full week away in North Wales at Manorafon Farm (again great site and lovely owners) and have to say I am ready for throwing the tent in the bin after spending over £600 for only 4 outings!!! There are now two large holes, can easily pass my fist through one, where the inner tent door to the front goes into the front porch on the right hand side as you look at the door. Also the bedroom door on this side is starting to open up, inner anchors on the right hand side are coming away and the ground sheet to the annex is hanging on by the skin of its teeth!!!! Also on the outside to right as you look at the tent the white sleeve pole carrier is getting marginally worse. Strange how everthing seems to be on the right?? The front extension poles now need more than a gentle tap to get them apart as they have rusted some much and guess what?? On the right hand side as you look at the tent, on the front extension where the middle tensioner is attached, which ties the extension back to the frame of the tent. This has now ripped away from the extension and is hanging on by a thread!!!!!!!!! Everything seems to going wrong on the right hand side.

Now I know it’s not a top of the range tent, but to have only used the tent on four occasions and to have this many problems, is this normal??? We used the Valley 4 a lot more and in more severe weather and had no problems what so ever, we loved it!!!

Apologies for the long winded e-mail but needed to get this off my chest and to see if anyone else has had any problems and if there is any warranty with the tent or any joy with contacting Sprayway direct. I bought the tent package from Yeoman’s in Worksop and as yet have not approached then to discuss.

Ps. I have my eye on the Outwell Bear Lake 6 for our visit to the Isle of Wight in July. I know it’s a lot more expensive than the Sprayway and in a different league but wished I knew what I know now about the valley 6 and would have spent the extra at the time rather than go through this!!

Thanks All 

NK

I have heard that sprayway have had issued like this with the first set of tents they put out in 2007/8. We were very very tempted by a valley 6 in their first year but were put off by some bad reviews and we decided to see what their next year of production brought. Not much of an improvement according to you.

I don't think you should be making excuses for it not being a top of the range tent. It's not small change you are talking about there and you are buying into a respectable (at least with other outdoor products) brand. For that money I would be expecting quality.

Have you contacted your retailer and/or Sprayway. What have they said?

Linny x

Hi All,

Thanks for all the responses. I have just spoken to Yeoman's in Worksop where I bought the tent from originally and they have agreed to exchange the whole package for me, tent and extension without argument which is fantastic!!! I am going to try to see if they will discount me the cost of the exchange for the Outwell Bear Lake 6 which we have now got our hearts set on. If not then I will be putting the Sprayway 6 straight on e-mail as boxed and new.

It's a real shame. As I said in my first post we loved the valley 4 2008 model and the valley 6 looks so good on the site. We have had loads of positive comments about the look and size but I am afraid it can't be backed up with the build quality that you expect from a brand such as Sprayway.

Hi there

Unfortunately I have to agree with you.  Having just forked out for the Sprayway valley 6 - an upgrade in terms of space, after our long and much loved Royal Bordeaux 4.  One weekend in the peak district and we discovered the following:

1. D ring missing at the front.

2. D ring missing from the rear

3. Hole in back right above bedroom

4. Tent pole x 2 metal bent, so unable to push poles together without considerable force

5. Zip on annexe bent so zip wouldn’t go all the way round.

6.  Toggle found hanging from roof of tent when we came to dismantle it.

It's really sad to type this and we had great hopes for this tent!

Yeomans were supberb and exchanged...and we have our fingers crossed it was just a one off....

Just a quick update.

I am currently sat in my brand new Outwell Bear lake 6 in Filey (using mobile broadband from Three, great service) which Yoemans kindly gave me a FULL refund, including extension, carpet and footprint against my beleaguered Sprayway Valley 6 with no question asked. They were very applogetic and have to praise them on their excellent customer service.

It's a real shame about the Sprayway but have to say that as soon as you start pitching the Bear Lake you understand why you pay the extra and the quality shows even before you take the tent out of the bag!!! It packs beautifully, about half the size of the Sprayway, even though the pole bag and groundsheet are very heavy. I pitch the tent in about 40 minutes by myself and then spent another 30 minutes getting to grips with the side extension.

And when inside and done, what a tent!!! Everything fits perfect and looks the part. Window and door configurations are spot one, albeit the front door still seems to have the recurring problem of being tough to open and close, but will hopefully loosen over time. It rained heavily last night and have to say there were no leaks, and the tent held up admirably!!

All in all we are very happy in this tent, and the polycotton is great!!! It works really well in the hot stuff, as we found out yesterday, keeping us fairly cool compared to the polyester tent next to us who had to sleep outside when the sun came up at 4.30am this morning!!!