We also had an issue with our Filey 6 Air on the 2nd time of using it - when we inflated the tent we found that the front lateral pole in the porch had developed a leak.
On close inspection it was actually the grey interconnecting pipe near the isolation valve that had 2 splits in it. Luckily I was able to turn off the isolation valve and the tent was largely unaffected.
Kampa have sent me a complete replacement pole which I'll put in next month when we camp again.
I was worried that this might have been caused by packing away / rolling up the tent or something but I have been assured by Kampa that this is a one off issue.
Thanks for the post brooksuk - that sounds like the same tube that has caused me problems. Mine only starts leaking air when it is pushed down though.
If possible, can you post again when you have replaced the tube as i'm not sure this is down i.e. is it better to do it inflated or deflated, does it just unzip etc.
Joy_Family.....I think its a different tube (yours sounds like one of the main curved air poles that has a deflation valve at the bottom of it?).
Our problem is with the lateral roof pole in the front porch).
I'm intending on inflating the tent and turning off the isolation valves, then unzipping the air pole, un-doing the isolation valves and making the replacement whilst the tent is inflated - as its the lateral pole that's got the problem the tent still stays up. I've not tried this before but it looks reasonably straight forward!!
I'm not sure this would be quite as easy with one of the main curved poles though?
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We have not got one on display now so I cant do a video of how to change the tube but I did have a play with one not long ago.
It is pretty easy but I would suggest for the Joy Family to inflate the tent, with the slightly leaky tube then close all the valves. Then take out the leaky tube taking note how the connecting valves fit (very simple). Then inflate the tent then connect the new tube to the connecting valves and if possible get someone to hold the tube sort of outstretched at the top then open the connecting tube and go outside and start pumping. Once the new tube is semi hard (with the rest of the tent) you will find it easier to get it into the fabric tunnel/holder.
Really hard to explain and much easier to do.
Gary Cross
Quote: Originally posted by Cross Camping on 27/7/2013
Hi Chappers, it is very rare that an inflatable tent has a problem these days. Yes the early ones a few years ago had some issues but if it was a big issue with the 2012/13 tents we would be hearing horror stories all the time on here. Yes you are right re fixing a poled tents but inflatable tents, if you are sceptical are one of those things that you will find hard to get your head around if you have not used one.
I'm not knocking your thoughts though.
Gary Cross
No problem and I am sure you have much more knowledge than me .
It's just that tent fashions and fads come and go, yet the one thing that seams to recur and everyone resorts to, is fabric, stretched over a framework of poles.
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Quote: Originally posted by chappers2341 on 29/7/2013
Quote: Originally posted by Cross Camping on 27/7/2013Hi Chappers, it is very rare that an inflatable tent has a problem these days. Yes the early ones a few years ago had some issues but if it was a big issue with the 2012/13 tents we would be hearing horror stories all the time on here. Yes you are right re fixing a poled tents but inflatable tents, if you are sceptical are one of those things that you will find hard to get your head around if you have not used one.
I'm not knocking your thoughts though.
Gary Cross
No problem and I am sure you have much more knowledge than me .
It's just that tent fashions and fads come and go, yet the one thing that seams to recur and everyone resorts to, is fabric, stretched over a framework of poles.
Chappers. If I can just add my two penny worth. If like me you love camping, but age and health problems may cause you to maybe give it. Then something comes along that may make pitching easier and prolong your camping life. I for one would embrace it. Under normal weather conditions pitching a poled tent is easy. But once the wind gets up it can become quite a physical challenge. From what ive seen of the inflatables they lay flat on the ground, you pump and they go up. There seems to be quite a few people on here with them, and at about a grand a piece we are going to hear all about it on here when they play up. Geoff
Quote: Originally posted by geoffprinter on 27/7/2013
Really sorry to hear of your problems joy family. I know how excited you were when you got it. But thanks for posting the good points and the bad it helps those of us who are contemplating getting one. You are not the 1st to post recently about problems with the inflatables. But providing the makers and outlets play fair and replace or refund without question then I still see these sort of tents although still in their infancy becoming very popular. The pumps do look a bit flimsy and that is something they need to rectify with some urgency IMO. The last thing you want to be worrying about when you go away is will the pump be OK. Seems to me you would have to have a spare one, just to give you peace of mind. Geoff
Just read ado-uk thread. His pump broke on his Vango airbeam as well.
Just returned from second trip with Filey Air 6 and first trip with Gary Cross electric pump. As promised how we got on with the pump (it pump was a resounding success). We basically connected pump to battery, plugged tube from pump into air valve. Set pump to 10psi. Started car (left it ticking over), turned on pump and watched as it inflated the Filey to the correct pressure then turned itself off. We did push the poles upward to help inflation but that was all, brilliant. The pump wasn't too noisy, just like a small compressor (which it is). Yes we are very impressed.
------------- May, Bridge House Marina Garstang
May Willowbank Southport
June Ashes Kendal
July Laverick Hall Halton
July Bridge House Marina
Aug Solway View, Borgue
Sept Willowbank Southport
Oct Wagtail Farm York
Oct Fisherpool Delamere.
I would be interested to know how you go on installing the new tube.
Keano
------------- May, Bridge House Marina Garstang
May Willowbank Southport
June Ashes Kendal
July Laverick Hall Halton
July Bridge House Marina
Aug Solway View, Borgue
Sept Willowbank Southport
Oct Wagtail Farm York
Oct Fisherpool Delamere.
Quote: Originally posted by geoffprinter on 29/7/2013
Quote: Originally posted by chappers2341 on 29/7/2013
Quote: Originally posted by Cross Camping on 27/7/2013Hi Chappers, it is very rare that an inflatable tent has a problem these days. Yes the early ones a few years ago had some issues but if it was a big issue with the 2012/13 tents we would be hearing horror stories all the time on here. Yes you are right re fixing a poled tents but inflatable tents, if you are sceptical are one of those things that you will find hard to get your head around if you have not used one. I'm not knocking your thoughts though.
Gary Cross
No problem and I am sure you have much more knowledge than me .
It's just that tent fashions and fads come and go, yet the one thing that seams to recur and everyone resorts to, is fabric, stretched over a framework of poles.
Chappers. If I can just add my two penny worth. If like me you love camping, but age and health problems may cause you to maybe give it. Then something comes along that may make pitching easier and prolong your camping life. I for one would embrace it. Under normal weather conditions pitching a poled tent is easy. But once the wind gets up it can become quite a physical challenge. From what ive seen of the inflatables they lay flat on the ground, you pump and they go up. There seems to be quite a few people on here with them, and at about a grand a piece we are going to hear all about it on here when they play up. Geoff
Couldn't agree more, but it's the mass market that will decide the viability. Not us old codgers who can't get it up anymore.
When the time comes I suppose I will just have to bring the butler with me to pitch the tent.
While on holiday in Newquay this month and only the third time using our filey air 5 we found five grey tubes that connect the inflatable sections had splits in them. It seems to me the plastic used isn't up to the job and kampa need to use a different plastic or find a way to replace the grey plastic tubes seperately. In my opinion this is a design and material selection issue.
Kampa say they will replace everything under warranty but have they changed the plastic or will the same thing happen next season when the tent is out of warranty?
I'm worried.
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Weavers
I have had the same problem with the air 6 (our first tent)pitching for the second time front tubes leaking two outside pipe work valves leaking, After 4 days 6 rolls of insulation tape and the wife waking me up in the night to pump the tent we came home. Straight back to camping world and wanted my money back and was told they would need to inspect it. Steam out ears the wife calmed me down. Two days later camping world phoned a full refund but we needed another tent for a September holiday and so would have to conker my fear of putting up poles .On returning to camping world we were given a very good service and was told that 3 more had came back and Kampa had admitted a problem to them the chemical mix of the plastic on the early batches was wrong and can perish