Has anyone with a Vango tent fitted with the TBS system noticed a lot of wear on the top of the tent pole sleeves? I have had an Equinnox for about 7 years, maybe used it 8 times a year and I have noticed that along the length of the top of the sleeves is wearing through. I reckon I will only get 1 more season out of it before the poles are actually showing through. The tent has the TBS system (internal bracing) but I never have it piano string tight, the same with the external guys, but I still feel that the system has something to do with the wearing through. Is 7 years about the average life for a tent like this and is it just that I am finding it hard to think about letting go of a tent that has served me really well over the years?
Cant be sure, but I think the problem may be because you havent tightened up the TBS enough - so allowing the tent to flex and the poles to move in the sleeves - if the TBS had been tighter, the tent would have been more rigid therefore less movement etc etc etc.
I know of quite a few DoE groups using Vango tents with TBS systems - including some tents in excess of 10 years old - so the tents are both heavily used and mistreated as a rule - have heard of a general problem like thisand the kids generally draw everything as tight as they can.
Hi Grumps, thanks for that. I must admit my first thought was that I didnt have the TBS tight enough but I changed my mind when I felt it was better if the outer wasnt kept as taught on the poles, increasing the pressure on them so that when the tent did get blown about there would be more of an abrasive action. I have had an Equinnox before, without the system, which I had for about 10 years and the sleeves never showed any sign of wear at all which does narrow it down to the system I suppose. I think I may email Vango and see what they recommend as, when I change the tent, I very probably will go for another one but just forget about using the TBS. Thanks again.
I had an old Ultimate Phazor Dome with this problem and I put it down to perhaps the poles rubbing combined with UV degradation. Nothing to do with TBS.
Yes, you are probably right, Nick. I will probably never get to the bottom of it and I will just have to take it on the chin. I am finding it hard to accept that I will have to ditch the tent when everything else about it is just fine though. Still, nothing lasts forever, especially pole sleeves!
I've a Tempest with TBS - not noticed any wear but I'll be checking it out soon! It's a tent I use for spring to late autumn (bit chilly for winter) so it has been in a few strong blows. I wouldn't take it out into extreme weather though.
I left my F10 Helium Superlite pitched in the back garden for a week once due to persistent rain. I checked the performance of the tent regularly during the week and after three days there was a pool of water in the centre of the groundsheet.
Investigations revealed the water was seeping in through the seam where the tabs for the TBS were stitched to the fly, creeping down the tabs, through the velcro areas of the fly and dripping into the tent.
I was never convinced of the effectivness of the TBS anyway but this made my mind up and I removed it completely and fitted more traditional guy lines to the outside pole sleeve.
Thats interesting Mur. I didsend Vango an email aout my little problem and they were very quick to reply. I knew they were not going to admit that there is anything suspect about their TBS and, like their rep said, he had no idea how the tent had ben packed, stored or generally taken care of (even though I had said that I loved and cherished my tent). But. he did have me on one point and that is --- reproofing! I had never, ever thought of reproofing the tent in all the 7 years I have had it as I only used it in winter and then only on average 5 times a year. I thought it was only strong sunlight that affected the waterproofness of the outer but now I have the feeling that I have been deluded all this time and I will certainly reproof my tents on a regular basis from now on. I couldnt bear to go through this again
