Hello to all,
After a while I can report on the result of my search:
Stassar´s Mountain Creek Tipi 340 LW
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/preview.asp?id=2166
Upon arrival I shortly did pitch with 10 out of 38 pegs only ;-) and found:
Positive
The groundsheet is sewn in: fine!
There is a double door on the inner tent, one in mesh, one in inner tent fabric, both with center and bottom zippers: super!
The fabric of inner and outer tent is ripstop structure: good.
Size and shape is very fine: standing height at center, lots of space.
The steel pole has a rubber bottom plate.
Negative:
The nylon groundsheet is a little fragile. No problem since footprint and carpet will follow.
The top cap was missing!
No mesh cover is installed at the top of the inner tent. Needs to be added indicidually.
No pitching instruction whatsoever included.
So I did call Stassar and received the missing top cap within a few days.
To find it has 12 lines on it. For the use on a 10-sided tent. Without instruction…
My requests for clarification remained unanswered…
Since those 12 lines were loose at the lower end I added some rubber straps with hooks and spanners to allow easy and flexible attaching.
The missing mesh cover on the inner tent top was added by a local tent factory.
This took a while (over no-work season in winter) and was not executed as bespoke.
But it works and my reclamation did result in me receiving some fine pegs for compensation.
Next step was a complete pitch in March with all pegs in place and the carpet (Aerotex) being cut to shape.
All worked fine.
Found a non-sealed part of groundsheet which lacked the second row of stitching. So I glued and sealed with Sealnet.
Easter holiday saw the first use of the tent:
After pitching in Grandma´s garden nearly all family that attended chose to have a midday slumber in there: 5 adults, 2 kids! Gives some idea on the size!
The following 2 nights my son and me did sleep in the tent, the third night just me.
Experienced a real comfortable stay with lots of space.
Found a seam filler band being loose on a small stretch but that is optical defect only.
Especially ingenious is the arrangement of
inner peg (inner tent / groundsheet) – strap with spanner - outer tent – strap with spanner to outer peg
This enables a good positioning and tightening of the fabric.
All in all my modified Mountain Creek 340 LW was a little tinkering (nice winter project though) but I am pleased with the result.
The low price does result in some rectifications required and some unusual arrangements require a little experience but when completed the space / ease of handling / overall cost is as I wished.
I guess there are little competitors for a less than half hour erection by one, 4-5 berths, double walled tent at EUR 440- incl. carpet etc.
regards,
Jan
------------- CAMPdiplING
Outfit and care can replace weather and luck!
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