Used it on our edoras 600xl, first time out. Pitched at the edge of a site surrounded by tall trees, after two nights tent was covered in small sticky seed pods !. The skyliner came into its own when removed a good vigorous shake and it was cleared, something we would of struggled to do with the whole tent.
2nd point is condensation, I have been pleasantly surprised by the lack of condensation in such a large polyester tent, I believe to some degree this is because of the use of the skyliner.
Added to that it protects the top of the tent from UV damage
Not sure why it would be particularly troublesome in the wind given the number of attachment points and the buying at each end - assuming your matching it to a bank tent.
All in all highly recommended, if I see one on offer at the end of the season I would consider buying a 2nd spare.
All tarp manufacturer's seem to recommend the same approach. Same for Gazebo's, shelters, and some awnings.
I presume it's the same for umbrella's, pool side parasols, and those roll out canopies over shop fronts?
How many times have you seen caravanner's take down their awnings due to high winds? They're a temporary, recreational structure, when all said and done, not storm shelters. It makes sense to take them down. The awkward bit is deciding when! What constitutes "high winds"?
Why should the manufacturers/retailers take the rap if you guy your gear out poorly, or don't use the right pegs to suit the ground conditions, or don't pitch in a sheltered corner, or go out and leave your tent unattended when Michael Fish clearly states there's a hurricane on the way!
Sometimes, we have to make our own decisions, trust our own instincts, and ultimately hold our own hands up if things go wrong, rather than looking for someone to take to court for compensation!
Due to some folk not accepting responsibility for their own actions, manufacturer's and retailer's like to cover their backsides... and I for one, don't blame them!
We got a skyliner with our edoras 500xl. I wasn't sure about it first whether to believe the marketing hype or not (reduce condensation, prolong life of roof, protect from UV, keep tent cooler in heat and warmer in cold etc) We took a chance anyway and bought it. After a few camps with it, I'm still not sure! The only certain thing is it keeps debris off the roof and helps rain run off. I can see how it would be a problem in strong wind: there are two guy points at the front and two at the rear. Down the sides, there are hooks which catch onto the same loops that the tent guys are attached to. In strong wind I can see how the wind would get under the liner and put considerable stress on the tent attachment points; not a good thing! For now, we've been leaving on when we pack the tent away and haven't yet had any really windy conditions to contend with.
We used one a couple of weeks ago (we have the Edoras 500xl) and we were amazed that there was no condensation on the windows at all.
Normally we would have to wipe the windows but this time we never had to and it seemed a lot warmer at night. Definitly a thumbs up from me
Hi Mucker. I think you have misunderstood me. I too don't blame them for putting this as it covers their backsides. But I don't see how they can market something which you as the tent owner will just be panicking about ALL day if you are out and it seems a bit windy. Again, are Vango trying to make out that you shouldn't leave your £1500 tent's side in case the weather changes while you are away???
Hi Bighed,
I get that you get their point, so to speak! My point is that they are putting the onus on us, the camper, to make the decision as to when it becomes unreliable, and needs to come down.
As I say, I have seen on numerous occasions where caravanner's have made the decision to drop their awnings rather than risk it getting damaged (or causing damage to neighbouring property!). I have even reported such actions in at least one of my previous trip reports (See page 2, here).
My point there is that it seems (I've never bought one) that caravan awnings also appear to be sold with the proviso that they are taken down in windy conditions... and from what I've seen on sites, an awful lot of caravan awnings get sold each year! As do pool-side/garden parasols, and gazebo's and the like!
I'm also tempted to say that if anyone is the type to "be panicking about ALL day if you are out and it seems a bit windy", then maybe this roof liner isn't for them?
I'd also suggest... off the record, as it isn't for me to clarify... that this roof liner would almost certainly be fine when it is "a bit windy". The trouble is, one man's "a bit windy", is another man's "Very gusty"!
Seeing as you've ordered it, I'd suggest giving it a go in calmer conditions first, then seeing what your thoughts are, based on experience, and whether you then place a little more trust in it. Would be good to hear your thoughts when you've had it fitted, how you think it may perform, and when you may need to consider removing it.
we got one for our Rivendale 800,i don't think it will be too much of a problem in the wind as its basically open all the way around. So strong gusts should find their way through to opposite side rather than fill it like a sail
We have a Rivendale 800xl with the skyliner and have just come back from a trip to Anglesey. We experienced very high winds during our stay and the skyliner stayed put all the way through it. I can't see it ever being an issue in wind unless you decide not to use the guy ropes.
We also had a couple of bird attacks and the skyliner is a godsend as the tent would have to come down for us to clean the deposits off the roof, it really does save you a lot of hassle.
Hello, we have the Skyliner for our Illusion 800. Just got back from two weeks in Devon and Cornwall. We had two or three really bad windy nights I thought the tent was going to get blown away. Had the Skyliner fitted and it stayed on no problem. When fitted it also makes the bedrooms and living area darker which I liked. pleased we got it to be honest.
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Topic: Vango skyliner
