Canvas Dome tent problems

[Bru9]

I picked up a Safari Bow 3X3 meter for it's simplicity, durability & wanting it to last me a long time. I did as much research I could before getting it & watched alot of videos showing different brand tents being setup & the Safari bow appealed to me for what I wanted.

What I have found is an overpriced tent which I can't completely setup as the spring steel frame is too tight or slightly wrong size or something, so I can't connect all the hook/ connections of tent to it. Also many really cheap components.
There are also about 5 average pools of water around borders of tent coming from the floor/canvas seam.

I know you are suppoose to weather canvas tents, but I have never seen a traditioinal canvas tent this bad from store.


The poles for awning, guy ropes, pegs are all kmart quality rubbish & will have to be replaced.

The awning is pretty small too & almost useless.


Has anyone got experience with these canvas dome style tents?

Do you know how they go longevity wise? many of my eyelets are under too much tension I think & look like they will eat into the fabric eventually.

Not sure what I should do? ask for a replacement & maybe get the same thing again. There are not alot of good alternatives in Aus stores, I did consider the Blackwold turbo canvas range, but too much setup & guy rops I think, plus reviews about leaks.

In short I have not been able to 100% erect tent as doing so with tear the eylets galore, although it still functions well the whole tent is too tight in various areas. Such a situation would mean these style tents probably won't last long being used alot. And for this much coin its a joke.

[craka]

Can you take it back and have store set up and check that erection is correct? If it is and still unhappy with it damand a refund.

[Dicko1]

Take it back and tell them its rubbiosh. I have a camper trailer for when I do more than 2 nights camping. I also have a 4 person Coleman quick setup tent. $250 and a ripper. Used it for my Cape York trip and also for a cattle station weekend. Mate has the 10 person modeland for him, wife and baby it is a ripper. For what you paid for the tent you could have bought at least 3 Coleman quick setup tents. Like anything else...if looked after they will last a very long time. Too much bullshit advertising sees many buyers disappointed with some of their purchases. Hope you get it sorted.

[Merts]

They seem incredibly expensive for what they are. For that sort of money you can get an Oztent with the extra walls etc.

[Aspey]

imo the best touring tents use real canvas, they are durable and breathable. Oztent use a poly-cotton canvas.
The canvas tents need to be weathered to be waterproof though. I'd contact the store or manufacturer as it may need to be seasoned.
Did you check out Southern Cross & Freedom tents?
Both excellent.

[Scouter1]

I have had a Safari Hennie tent for 8 years & used it for over 100 nights camping. They are a seriously bombproof tent using heavy duty canvas & steel pole system. I have had it up in torrential rain & strong winds when other nylon or lighter poly canvas tents have been impacted by the weather. The tub is leakproof & it has heavy duty flymesh.

They are designed to stretch a little so are initially quite stiff to put hooks on the poles. After this time, I haven't seen any problems with eyelets tearing. Being canvas they will need initial seasoning http://www.gocampingaustralia.com/ho...on-a-tent.html, mine took about three sessions with a hose to get it watertight. After that, it works everytime in the rain.

Campmor has been making this style of tent for Safari camping in South Africa for 20 years, they seem to have stood the test of time. These tents are left up permanently on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour for their "glamping" service, last time I heard they had been up for 3 years in all sorts of weather.

I would contact Kangaroo Tent City to discuss your concerns, have found them very helpful in the past.

Cheers,
Stephen

[ticky]

Being canvas they will need initial seasoning http://www.gocampingaustralia.com/ho...on-a-tent.html, mine took about three sessions with a hose to get it watertight. After that, it works everytime in the rain.


Cheers,
Stephen

When I was a younger bloke, seasoning a new tent was a common practice, but you dont seem to hear much about it these days. Is this advice given when buying a Canvas Tent these days?

I bought a swag earlier this year and when I got it home I set it up on the back lawn and soaked it 3 or for times a day for about 4 or 5 days. Same applied when we bought out Van with Canvas Walls.

another thing we used to do back in the day was to repair tiny holes along the seams etc with wax. This works a treat and you only ever have to do it once.

Steve

[Bru9]

Can you take it back and have store set up and check that erection is correct? If it is and still unhappy with it damand a refund.

I can't. brought online & all stores in NSW.

[Bru9]

Take it back and tell them its rubbiosh. I have a camper trailer for when I do more than 2 nights camping. I also have a 4 person Coleman quick setup tent. $250 and a ripper. Used it for my Cape York trip and also for a cattle station weekend. Mate has the 10 person modeland for him, wife and baby it is a ripper. For what you paid for the tent you could have bought at least 3 Coleman quick setup tents. Like anything else...if looked after they will last a very long time. Too much bullshit advertising sees many buyers disappointed with some of their purchases. Hope you get it sorted.

Yeah I have an 80-100 dollar 4P oz trail that has lasted a very long time, all about being carful.

[Bru9]

imo the best touring tents use real canvas, they are durable and breathable. Oztent use a poly-cotton canvas.
The canvas tents need to be weathered to be waterproof though. I'd contact the store or manufacturer as it may need to be seasoned.
Did you check out Southern Cross & Freedom tents?
Both excellent.

By the looks the walls tapper too much not giving much room & have very small awnings. Ill check out Freedom tents

[Bru9]

I have had a Safari Hennie tent for 8 years & used it for over 100 nights camping. They are a seriously bombproof tent using heavy duty canvas & steel pole system. I have had it up in torrential rain & strong winds when other nylon or lighter poly canvas tents have been impacted by the weather. The tub is leakproof & it has heavy duty flymesh.

They are designed to stretch a little so are initially quite stiff to put hooks on the poles. After this time, I haven't seen any problems with eyelets tearing. Being canvas they will need initial seasoning http://www.gocampingaustralia.com/ho...on-a-tent.html, mine took about three sessions with a hose to get it watertight. After that, it works everytime in the rain.

Campmor has been making this style of tent for Safari camping in South Africa for 20 years, they seem to have stood the test of time. These tents are left up permanently on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour for their "glamping" service, last time I heard they had been up for 3 years in all sorts of weather.

I would contact Kangaroo Tent City to discuss your concerns, have found them very helpful in the past.

Cheers,
Stephen

Thanks. That gives me some comfort. I agree these are the toughest tents I have seen material & mesh wise, but I still think mine is a dud or something. Here is a pic of tent as complete as I can get it, showing how the rear right side of spring pole bulges out & I can't possible connect all hooks without damaging fabric. There is nothing obvious I can see that I have done wrong.





As for leaks, there are about 6+ small pools on sides of tent coming from canvas/floor mesh in various areas, still after a 3rd rain period for 20mins. The instructions advise seam sealer, will have to look into it. I found tape water doesn't get into tent as much as rain.

[psproule]

Try one of the originals that all of these are copied off... a Black Wolf Turbo 300. I swear by them having had 15 gruelling years out of ours, and several our friends have owned. Poke around BCF stores and you'll find the odd one left at a heavy discount as BCF are dumping them for their own brand. I saw a 300 canvas for $800 recently.

Pat

[Scouter1]

Thanks. That gives me some comfort. I agree these are the toughest tents I have seen material & mesh wise, but I still think mine is a dud or something. Here is a pic of tent as complete as I can get it, showing how the rear right side of spring pole bulges out & I can't possible connect all hooks without damaging fabric. There is nothing obvious I can see that I have done wrong.

Looking at your photo of gap between hooks & steel poles, I would suggest using the top tie tapes at the apex to initially get the canvas up close to the frame then work your way back down to the bottom. The hooks were pretty stiff to attach the first half a dozen times I used the tent, after that the canvas stretched a little & it became easier to set up.

As for leaks, there are about 6+ small pools on sides of tent coming from canvas/floor mesh in various areas, still after a 3rd rain period for 20mins. The instructions advise seam sealer, will have to look into it. I found tape water doesn't get into tent as much as rain.

In regards to seasoning, I hosed it down three times, and used a little of the supplied wax on one of the seams in one corner that still had a slight leak after that. It has subsequently been up in very heavy rain on a number of occasions with no leaks.

I have found Kangaroo Tent City very helpful in two of their stores, and over the phone. Get in touch, they should be able to assist.

Cheers,
Stephen

[Bru9]

Looking at your photo of gap between hooks & steel poles, I would suggest using the top tie tapes at the apex to initially get the canvas up close to the frame then work your way back down to the bottom. The hooks were pretty stiff to attach the first half a dozen times I used the tent, after that the canvas stretched a little & it became easier to set up.



In regards to seasoning, I hosed it down three times, and used a little of the supplied wax on one of the seams in one corner that still had a slight leak after that. It has subsequently been up in very heavy rain on a number of occasions with no leaks.

I have found Kangaroo Tent City very helpful in two of their stores, and over the phone. Get in touch, they should be able to assist.

Cheers,
Stephen

Thanks but I don't think that will solve my problem. You have to see it in person as its so tight & no way to possible get all hooks on. It has got to be clearly a fault or wrong pole. This much bulging in pole is not normal.

[Bru9]

Try one of the originals that all of these are copied off... a Black Wolf Turbo 300. I swear by them having had 15 gruelling years out of ours, and several our friends have owned. Poke around BCF stores and you'll find the odd one left at a heavy discount as BCF are dumping them for their own brand. I saw a 300 canvas for $800 recently.

Pat

I did consider those tents, Problem is the aluminium poles probably won't hold up over time. Too much guy ropes. But better awning & window flaps.