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We have been thinking of buying a new tent and looking at the Khyam Ridgipod Excelsior. One supplier has told us, however, that Khyam had problems with the flysheets and we now hear they have been discontinued (yet we have been offered one by a supplier who has one in stock).

Can anyone shed any light on this? Have they been discontinued? Anyone know why? Anyone had any experience of problems with flysheet material?

We have also found a supplier who has new stocks of the old model Frontier (4oz flysheet) but realise this will be quite a bit heavier. What is your advice? Ridgipod or Frontier? Or neither? (!)

Thanks very much.

The change from 4oz to 2 oz  a few years ago was seem by some folks as a backward step, but its the standard most makers go for across most ranges.

The only thing about Khyam flysheets that was extensively reported on here was that in 2003 there was a batch of tents that were sewn with the wrong sized needles, so they leaked around the seams. Khyam were not very forthcoming at the time about which models etc may have been affected, so they did not score very well with some of us in terms of customer advice/service. However, I have a 2003 Conqest 400 and it has been fine.

Other than that bit of Khyam history, I don't really know about the Rigipod models, so I can't advise you about the choice you are working on. I am sure someone will be along who can though!

according to the khyam website the ridgipods have been discontinued, although they still do supply the 'pods'. 

Dont know why theye were knocked out of the range... they seemed such a good idea!!!

We talked to the Khyam man on the Yeoman's stall at the outdoor camping and boat show. He said that the Ridgi pod had been discontinued because it was so expensive to make that it was sold at a high price and people weren't prepared to pay about £900 for the whole thing with all the bedrooms. There seem to be some about left from last year which are about half the price. If you do a search you should be able to find a discussion which came up in the last couple of weeks.I think someone then thought it may have been discontinued because of problems but that certainly isn't what Kyham are saying. We were very interested but mostly put off because the kids hated it, they thought it was very dark and gloomy having only a couple of skylights, we were viewing it inside the NEC of course and plenty of people seem to think it is ok. I think the previous thread also listed some places where you could buy them too. Best of luck.

The Khyam Ridgi Pod was dscontiued becasue it didnt sell as well as Khyam had expected, so they after 2 years they decided to discontinue the model.

There wasn't a manufacturing problem just low sales!

Hi Liddenham,

The Ridgipod excelsior was discontinued due to poor sales and not due to the flysheet. Kyham now use the same grade of flysheet on all their tents. The flysheet still a 3000mm hydrostatic head which is as good as it gets.

If you are still looking for a ridgipod excelsior I have the full package including 3 bedrooms, a porch inner and the ground sheet. We have used it a total of 3 times and is as new condition. Unfortunatly my wife does not share my enthusiasm in camping so we are selling it. You are welcome to come and have a look and I will show it you pitched.

I will sell the whole package for £450. Which is half what I paid for it 18months ago.

Best Regards

Simon

Quote: Originally posted by Liddenham on 05/4/2007

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Crikey! This is an old thread, revived!

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Thank goodness, I thought I was going to have to play 'catchup' again!