Hi All, had my first weekend away last weekend in our new trailer tent but found a few issues in my first effort at errecting it. Wondered if anyone could offer any help and advice as it took me 2.5hrs. Only had standard pegs and rubber mallet but was on hard standing ground, if it hadn't been for loaning lump hammer from neighbours would have been longer. Now ordered hardstanding pegs, one lesson learned.
1. Does anyone have any instructions as I did manage but would like to understand correct order to get it up right
2. Noticed I could not get back of tent tight to close to floor near A-frame thus had a few drafts when we were tucked up in bed, any advice ?
3. Does anyone know of a good fit carpet for the awning to make a little bit more snug as a bit cold with just ZIG.
Our suggestions are - take rock pegs and a claw hammer as once they are in, you need to be able to get them out!!
1. May be able to scan and send you some instuctions if you can give me an e-mail address.
2. Sorry no suggestion - yes a bit draughty in the 'cabin', don't open the poles too much until you have pegged the outer canvas down and then extend them to get a taught fit..
3. Look here for details of a carpet - not tried it, but it looks good.
Enjoy your Stratos, we love ours, but it does take a while to get it pitched right, so we only use it on our main 2 week holiday as takes too long for a weekend.
I may be able to send instructions as I'm sure I have them on my PC at work. I have never pitched ours on a hard standing, and to be honest they are more designed for grass, you would find it much easier. As mentioned by Janet, only extend the poles in the cab to the first notch, and when you peg the back, get the canvas close to trailer.
When I get to work tomorrow I will have a look for the instructions and give you some more tips. I'm sending this on my iPhone so it'll take me ages to type!!!
Can you advise how long it takes to pitch your stratos. Pitch just the trailer part and then time to add the awning. Do you find you can use your stratos without the awning and just use the trailer part for 1 night stays ?
I am looking at TT's at the moment and have narrowed my search down to Camplet Concord/Royal or the Cabanon Stratos.
I have a Fiesta so need something lightweight which my car would be okay with both these models unbraked.
My concerns over the camplet are that if I bring home wet I am not sure I can open the full awning in the back garden where the Stratos I could open the trailer part and then dry out the awning seperately. I know you can take the awning off the camplet but would be afraid that I wouldnt put it back correctly.
With a little practice I would say you could get the cabin pitched and pegged down in around 15 minutes. To add the awning usually takes around another 30 - 40 mins.
If you just want to use the trailer, then leave the awning and ground sheet at home, as they are a big lump to have to store if you are not using them.
The first few times you pitch will take you longer, but you will get used to it.
The Stratos is a great TT and there are some real good bargains on eBay.
We are obviously not as well practiced as Andy as I would say the cabin part would take a good half an hour and the awning about an hour on top of that. Perhaps that is because my husband is a perfectionist and repegs everything about 3 tmes!! Both bits go up really quickly, it is the pegging out that takes the time, getting the canvas absolutely right.
It would be possible just to use the cabin part as we have taken the awning down the night before moving sites to save time in the morning. This year we arrived fairly late on site at our second campsite and just put the cabin up as it was raining. We then put the awning up the following morning.
I would say it is too cramped to use for anything longer than just overnight, but then we do like our space - hence the reason we bought the stratos.
I must admit Janet, I am really bad for doing laps of the tent checking the pegging and the guy lines. Don't know about you, but the part I find most difficult to get right is the front porch area. I faff around with the front pole position and I struggle to get the sides looking neat (it has to look neat). I get there in the end, but it's one area I haven't quite mastered yet!!
Andy - Hubby has just said 'me too' when I read out your message! THink we managed to get it right first time this year when we went away, so practice does definitely make perfect.
Sorry for late post to the thread... Have jsut mastered I think getting the front to look right.. I tried to angle the front(s) to make it look good - last time I just took them straight out and it looked bob on!
As for the back, I just try to peg it out with the canvas as close to the bed as I can, it does stop the draughts a little, and then extend the poles after pegging. Try to get the pegging under the A-Frame as neat as possible as this helped us. (Although the storage box that sits on the A-F makes this feat rather tiresome and lengthy).
The Outwell Imagine carpet as mentioned in earlier link has done us proud - expensive but fits well.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Cabanon Stratos Help
