 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Oztent quality concerns! |
 
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| SGH Member Since: 27 Sep 2010 Location: Hellingly-Sussex Posts: 1527  
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We had an Oztent after having a roof tent as we wanted something easier to put up an leave.
Thought they were over rated and over priced and if you go with all the add on options  a pain to put up. 993 Varioram - Guards Red
Defender 2.5 300TDI 110 HCP - Keswick Green Defender 2.2 TDCI 130 HCP - Orkney Grey - GONE Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Corris Grey/Black Pack - GONE Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Montaciano Red/Black Pack - GONE |
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13th Mar 2012 8:06pm |
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| The Boy Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: East Northants Posts: 1459 
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Had our RV4 for many many years and it has been no trouble at all. BUT mine was one of the earlier ones before they swtiched production to China. Bought some sides for it about threee years ago and the bloody zips had been sewn in upside down. Had to wait ages for a replacement but luckly we were not about to go on a trip and Nene the supplier seem to try very hard to get it sorted. I have had freinds who have had one of the new ones and all seem to had somesort of fualt. One bought a brand new one for the last Eastnor show can't remember which one but it was the year it rained nearly non stop. The tent leaked from new and they ended up sleeping in their RRC. I once had a very small issue with mine so at a show I asked the chap at BOAB his advice ad he was very rude and abrupt (but I think he had just had a row with another chap) and swore quite a lot. All I asked was if I could buy a new plastic clip for the guy rope on ours. We left and now go to Nene for parts. OK all that said my wife loves the tent and I've lost count of how many trips and years we have had it. It was worth every penny we paid. I have been told that the quality issue are now getting better. We also have a 3x3 howling moon tent which is also very good and super robust but quite heavy. Both are buy once items, the rV is easier to use but the Howling moon dome tent is better quality and better matirials. I would recomend either but shop aroud as neither are cheap. Last year the best deal was some on line camping shop called Norfolk Camping or something like that and I know two who ended up buy with out issue from them.
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13th Mar 2012 8:17pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731  
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So why in God's name don't all these idiot companies wake up and realise that moving manufacturing to China makes for crap quality and weakens industry in the rest of the world (okay, I admit I'm really talking about Europe)!
This includes LR and their sh*tty gearbox. When a product is high quality, people will pay for it but when the quality drops (usually greed-related) and they can't sell their overpriced crap, they go under and leave their loyal customers high and dry. Sorry for ranting - recent unrelated incident involving a very expensive lawnmower 
Won't be buying an Oztent then... Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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13th Mar 2012 8:38pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 4990
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Go Honda for lawnmowers ZeDefender
Well until I hear otherwise I won't be saving for an Oztent either and will use my cheapy one which is the only one without incident so far  I have spent quite a bit of money over the years on tents and have to say the general quality is not great, even the pricey mountaineering ones were really never much cop I think it's a case of moving production abroad with them as well has lessened the brand reputation 
If the Oztent stretcher bed thing is anything to go by I definitely won't be buying one  Good job I got it free with an LRO subscription |
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13th Mar 2012 9:44pm |
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| WarPig Member Since: 05 Dec 2009 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1748  
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Would love either an Oz tent or Jet tent for going away with my lad, but they aint cheap are they!
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13th Mar 2012 10:09pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240 
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Sounds like you've already made up your mind, so not really sure what answer you're looking for. We love our RV4 though and plan to buy a Tag-along this year to expand it for the kids. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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13th Mar 2012 10:30pm |
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| yobbie Member Since: 15 Nov 2010 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 711 
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I was looking at a Jet tent as it packs smaller, but will look for some reviews thanks Zag
As for lawn mowers I was told by our local mower dealer/repairer to only by Honda apparently Briggs & Stratton are now made in China.  |
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13th Mar 2012 10:59pm |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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I think the idea behind them is great but my worry has always been how they would fare in very strong wind. Vertical sides and not many guy lines do not a sound nights sleep make.
Someone will be along in a minute to say oh we had it in force 56 for 2 weeks and it was fine. Maybe so, but I can't see them lasting in any serious conditions. |
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14th Mar 2012 12:19am |
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328
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Used one for the last four years they are great
Always treated it properly it gets aired after each outing etc etc I find bad reviews to be taken with a pinch of salt worth reading but how many happy peeps are out there |
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14th Mar 2012 5:32am |
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| JSG Member Since: 12 Jul 2007 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2412 
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I've had two, a RV1 which was perfect with no problems apart from being too small for more than two of us so I sold it to get a RV5.
I've had the RV for four years and it has been used many times - it has had a few problems though; The first one was when I lent to a mate for trip to the alps and it came back with a couple of seams coming apart where the rear tie down points were attached. I took it up with the importers (BOAB) who denied all responsibility and didn't want to know at first. After a bit of a debate they (Chris) agreed to look at it as it was less than a year old. After about six weeks it came back fixed. I've had a couple of poles stick but Nene swopped them out and this can be avoided by popping the end cap off and letting them dry out after use in the rain. Only other problem is a bit of water as noted previously above the main door zip - this is due to the fact it can pool there (BOAB explained that it wasn't a problem as the tents are designed for Australia where it doesn't rain ) but some fabsil fixes that.
I have the sides and front and also bought a tagalong which gives a second large room - great but defeats the object of a 30 second erection  somewhat.
Overall I still think they are hard to beat. John http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk 2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS |
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14th Mar 2012 1:01pm |
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| d j hutton Member Since: 30 Jul 2009 Location: Dorset Posts: 1044
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I've been very happy with my RV2 over the years (used for a number of trips). Goes up easy, good fabric so should last a long time, so far waterproof even in very wet weather.
I did have a couple of problems though which still remain The top plastic hinges at the front when the tent is erected and tensioned correctly bend back on themselves at an alarming angle and I am concerned that one day they will snap off, got in touch with supplier (BOAB) who suggested that I am erecting it wrongly (which I'm not) and that they never had a breakage, so it looks to me like a design fault. Also got in touch with Australian manufacturers and they said that's how its supposed to be (which it clearly isn't) It can be overcome by releasing tension on the cross poles once erected, but that means the tent isn't supported correctly, but it hasn't fallen down yet so I'm sticking with that until I can fabricate a 'sleeve' to hold it straight to avoid it bending back. Also the flysheet I bought to go with it has ripped two corners out, didn't bother getting in touch with BOAB on this one as I guessed the response in advance. I'll be beefing up the corners with some stronger fabric when I get 5 mins. it was the eyelet pulled out of fake leather bit when windy (probably not windy in Aus, but I'll check in October as I'm doing a weeks bush camping there in brothers Oztent (s). Broke a pole and bought replacements from Brendan (ta) as sensible postage compared to original supplier. Apart from that all good, sounds like some people have been unlucky and not been able to get sorted properly under 'warranty', not sure how warranty can be serviced that well (repairs wise) as they are imported, and it's unlikely distributors have repair facilities (some may of course) so they'll end up taking a big hit if it has to be replaced under warranty. Might be interesting to hear how it is supposed to work from a UK distributors point of view. Also don't forget to take awning poles with you, otherwise it's pretty hard to make a decent job of it! Learnt that the hard way this year, had a few 'spare but shorter poles so was able to cobble something together, but looked like a refugee camp 
DJ 1989 200tdi 90 csw 2011 110 usw Orkney grey Buy British 🇬🇧 Defender Clothing Designs available at http://www.rangesports.com/acatalog/Defender-Stuff.html |
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14th Mar 2012 2:07pm |
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