Help! We camped with our 2005 sun valley 8 in north wales this weekend and it (together with every other tent on the site ) was flattened yesterday morning by the wind. We have one snapped pole (which I know we can replace), but also 3 of the clips which hold the tent fabric near to the poles have been ripped off. We have salvaged one, and another is hanging on by a thread, and another is missing. Where these clips have been ripped off there is damage and weakening to the seams, although no holes as such. We also have a major rip inside the tent along the seam of the dividing 'wall' between the main inner & the porch. This rip is about 25 cms long although, again is along the seam and doesn't go through to the outer.
We have loved our SV8 and, apart from a bit of leaking around the seams on the last couple of outings, have been v happy with it. As I said, every other tent was flattened too (incl. Diablo's, Colemans) and also Pennine Pathfinder fc we were with had a pole bent, so think we were just unfortunate with weather. Do you think tent will live, if we invest in medical hep or is it too far gone to be worth the cost of treatment??
Hi im not an expert on these things and im sure someone will be along shortly with better advice. If the problems are around the seam then it does sound possible to me. Im sure replacement clips are available. Also something else i tend to think about is if I can do it myself it's worth a go even if it fails. If I have to pay someone to do it is it worth the money or just buy a new tent instead, as i also worry that certain repairs may cause weakness to the tent and the same thing to happen again.
Im afraid SV's are not very wind resistant ,reason we decided on the Aspen instead ,Diabolicals are also rubbish in high winds, as are the majority of large tent tents that realy solely on carbon poles !
You say it leaked also ? as well as being flattened ? I would take it back ,its not fit for its purpose ! Personally I would ask for a refund and purchase a tent with a steel pole structure ( if you have the space ) or a smaller one if you want tto stick with carbon only ( my personal opinion )
Looking at your tent I see its a somewhat pricy little begger. I would try and repair what I could using a sewing machine and some seam sealent. The pole as you say can be replaced. Contact Sunvalley about the lost clip and see what they suggest.
Hope you manage to sort something out with it. If not then enjoy looking round the sales for a replacement
Our SC Vario took a battering yesterday, the winds were very strong at times, witnessed an awning take off. Although the vario stood up (just) it didn't fill me with confidence, may look at a bear lake next year now that the camping bug has bitten..
Did manage to lose a mud guard off my new caddy trailer though and the other one is hanging off, problem was didn't notice until we got home, very very sorry if you had to avoid a flying mud guard, however the trailer centre where we bought it from were to blame not me.
I agree with skatty about taking it back tents aren't meant to leak.
Hate to tell you all this...but our Monty 12 withstood the gales without so much of a groan. Of course, we had the Delta Ground Anchors on all the guys, so I think that had a lot to do with it!
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
ooh we came back early a day early last night. You know it's time to strike camp when :
Tents are being ripped back and peoples clothes are flying through the air. When caravans have awnings that have flipped back and their tables and chairs are going walkies...and when there is a small river running through the site.
The weather on Angelsey was unbelievable. I felt so sorry for some people (although i have to say -i couldn't believe that some had gone out and left their tents!)....spent most of the day worrying about their tents too...or chasing clothes down the field like a loony
My tent was fine btw....
so sorry to hear about your tent...hope you can sort it out...although if it leaks i'd be inclined to take it back
We have just come back from a very windy week in Scarborough and are pleased to say that our Gelert alaska 8 stood up to the wind although while we were there we did buy some rock pegs which possibly helped. But camperlands which is our local tent supplier does offer tent repairs they are on the internet so maybe worth giving them a ring or seeing if your local tent supplier may offer repairs hope you get it sorted out as it isnt a cheap one to replace good luck
I would investigate the cost of repairs before you make up your mind what to do. I doubt you can take it back and complain about it going down in the wind, not in that weather. You can always get in touch with Outwell about what happened and see what they say though.
just had the same problem with my outfit. it stayed were it was but lost 2 poles on 1 side of the tent . stretched a coupple of the inner linings but no majour rips. problem i have is the poles have just been replaced and they didnt snap on the fiber bit`s ,it was the metal that snapped were you slot the poles together ( just pleased they didnt peirce the outter ) will be going back to supplier of the poles to see what they say, need to replace some of the inners poles and ties but talking about a new outfit ready for next year. will repair this one for whats left of this year.
Maybe worth looking around the carboots for someone selling off an SV8 and you use for spares. I saw one yesterday at Finmere car boot (near Buckingham) and they were after £30 for it. (Helen D's OH).
------------- HelenD
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Topic: Is it fatal
. stretched a coupple of the inner linings but no majour rips. problem i have is the poles have just been replaced and they didnt snap on the fiber bit`s ,it was the metal that snapped 
were you slot the poles together ( just pleased they didnt peirce the outter ) will be going back to supplier of the poles to see what they say, need to replace some of the inners poles and ties but talking about a new outfit ready for next year. will repair this one for whats left of this year.
