Message Forums

Hi all

We started camping 2 years ago and have had many a fantastic week/end away, our first tent was the Vango Venture 500 (2005 model), we loved this tent but hated the fact that we always struggeled to get the ground sheet in 'just right' and to be honest we never really managed it...so lasst year we thought we'd upgrade(?) and got a Kyham Yale, now I know lots of people LOVE this tent...I hate it well i don't like it much anyway! i like the size, the groundsheet and the height and the ventilation...I hate the quality, the fact that we struggle to get the poles in the ring pin thing and that the groundsheet isn't level but tight across the diagonal oh and the useless curtain things...now, we've just seen the VV500 2007 and it's basically the same as the old one but with a bathtub style ground sheet and possibly a bit more head room (though I may be mistaken)...one has jus been advtised on tv for £89!

So basically we don't know whether to persevere with the yale, try and sort out the ground sheet on the VV500 we already have or to cut our losses and just get the new VV500...

We are planning a good few weekends away and also 2 weeks in France and a week in the south west.

What would you do?

Tilly x

ps  there are just the 2 of us at the moment

We also had 2005 models and first trip groundsheet was all over place.  Second trip rectified by ensure tent was pitched straight and not pegging down finally until GS in place and allowing us to adjust tent.  Also took additional tarp for under full length of tent.

New bathtub vv500 should cut down on draughts though

Mike J 

I guys,

Sorry, I completely forgot about this thread!!!!

Thanks for all your comments, we've finally decided to give the VV and the yale another go this summer and use the cash to get an electric hook up thingy and a cobi coolbox...for the beer/wine!

Jakks..takes about 20 m ins a bit longer sometimes depends on how straight we get it. but not long at all to put up then just pitching out...hardest bit is the groundsheet (on the 2005 version anyway)

thik we'll put the yale on ebay though, although may wait a few weeks....gives me time to change m mind!

VS....if you don;t bother with a groundsheet...what do you do? I quite fancy the full length tarpaulin idea...less cleaning up!

Wish we had been able to get away over Easter, the weather is so lovely...ah well...gotta wait till Whit week.

thaks for all you rhelp and comment, much appreciated!

Tilly x

Hi Tilly

We have no problem with our Yale now we have the ring and pin figured. Dont do any pegging out before you put the poles in, makes the ring and pin easy. If its blowy just loosely anchor the corners. Then go in the tent and check that the groundsheet  has no diagonal stress and lies flat, then go out and move the poles and pull the corners until you are happy with the lie of the groundsheet, only then do you peg out the inner. Also, ditch the dividers and go far the all in one studio living look, thats what we do. Bed at one end, storage at the other and chairs in the middle. We are 2 people and small dog and think the Yale is the ideal tent for us. I love the SIG and the huge inner without the dividers. Even a bathtub will let in draughts and creepy crawlys. I couldnt be doing with that.

Carol

Carol