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Quote: Originally posted by u400jb9 on 13/5/2009

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I think it looks cool with the black extension!!

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Thanks again!

Well I tried and tried to get a pink extension but gave up. I'd order it online (they'd say 'in stock') then I'd get an e-mail saying they couldn't get it. I'm not an ebayer so didn't want to get one from there.

The thing with the canopy is the two guy lines that go towards the tent, over the front porch brow pole. When we put ours up it cut across the side door and I kept getting the top of my head caught on it. If you pitched the canopy so that it is flush against the tent, you are going to have more problems with those guys, unless you could get them up and over the top of the tent and beyond the size entrance. We will probably play around with it more when we put it up on Saturday, so I'll let you know what we find.

As for the front porch brow pole, we've not really noticed a problem with that, as long as you keep the front guys tight, it shouldn't sag or anything...

We've only put up the large canopy with the Kura once on a test pitch, but I don't think we got it right then (it was before we got the standard canopy). You'll have to wait for my report in June for that.

And I think a field full of Orchys would be so funny! I think I'd have something stuck in the window though so I'd know my own tent! LOL

The extension has an elasticated segment that is just guyed over the porch brow pole (according to Vango) . However it does slip off. If it is not windy I tend to fasten mine a bit further back. However the open canopy does tend to move in the wind, even if well guyed...I think that the one with doors may be better here.

In the original pitch DH in the photo Dh fastened the end loops of the canopy to the ring and pin at the bottom of the tent pole, cutting the gap down quite substantially, but Vango tell me that there is supposed to be a gap.

I find the canopy really useful for cooking and storing chairs etc as there really is not enough space in the tent if all 4 of us are in it and iot works well in the rain etc.....however I am thinking about a VAngo windbreak as well for when out by myself as the canopy and I always fall out with each other if I can't find someone to help me pitch!

The canpoy does add a huge amount to the size of the tent, probably another 3 metres or so at the front...but it is well worth it fopr keeping the rain out.

HTH Mamee

WARNING!!!!

Regarding the canopy. Be VERY careful! Our tent and canopy have been damaged. OK, not to the extent that they aren't repairable, but it is a bit of a concern.

If you have the canopy over the front brow pole and it happens to be a bit windy, be prepared for WEAR damage! On one side of the tent, the guy rope of the canopy has rubbed against the material where the front criss crossed tent pole is and has frayed the material. On the other side the canopy has frayed slightly (the elasticated part) from rubbing on the tent pole. I've got some tent repair stuff and am going to patch up the damaged parts. It's not major, but something canopy users need to be aware of.

Also noticed a leak... One of the stitched seams on the roof is leaking. What it seems to be is that one of the needle holes of the stitching is a bit too holey... Got some sealant and am going to be going over all suspect areas...

Still had a great time in the Ochy, it withstood some pretty strong wind and rain and I still love it! (no broken tent poles) And every great thing has its faults... ;)

Tenacious tape, over the part of the front tent pole where the canopy guy passes.......preferably BEFORE the damage occurs....

Sorry, I did know this bit of info before, could have saved you the problem Chelz...sorry.

Off in our Orchy tomorrow til Sunday.....forecast looking good.....can`t wait

It's OK u400, hope you have a great time!

Thanks pubgal, we did have a great time, even though we got drenched packing up and having to take the tent down in foggy conditions.

Just wanted to warn everyone, especially those that are thinking of getting the canopy closer to the tent than we had because wear might occur even more to the canopy if the thin material is rubbing against the tent poles. 

Almost repaired the canopy with the spare fabric and seam sealer. It has dried a bit shiny but as long as it's fixed I'm not bothered. I'll get started on the tent soon, think I'll use some of the repair tape for the small hole in the sleeping pod. We've also thought of a good solution for the future. We are thinking of some of that pipe insulator, to slit it down one side lengthways and put it over the points were the canopy guy ropes could rub. We might try this out on the Kura if we use the large canopy.

Hi all, fellow Orchy owner here, I have the 500 model from 2008. Used it last year in Belgium when camping for the F1 at Spa and was impressed with it.

Just been down to Croyde for a long weekend with a load of friends and bought the canopy for it but had some trouble working out how it should be positioned, having just found this thread and a couple of other photos, it would appear as if we went for a rather unusual method of positioning the canopy!:

Spent ages messing about trying to get it to fit and managed to just about get it to work in the above position however it did cause problems with the guy ropes!

The way it is shown in the photos earlier on this thread appear to leave the canopy very exposed at the back/sides?? Can't find any definitive instructions for setting the canopy up! Any ideas?

Hmmm... I can see you've got it pretty flush with the tent - no gaps... Looks OK though and if it works why not! I would be concerned if it was windy though because of my previous experience...

We'll be trying out the large canopy with the Kura from the 8th June Onz, haven't really tried it out yet, so I'll let you now how we get on with pitching it.

Oops! Double post! Sorry!!

If I got a Sumatra (Orchy in polycotton) would I be able to join the club...?

We gave up camping a few years ago and got a caravan after I almost passed out with the heat inside the tent but I was doing an Open Uni assessment and couldn't see the laptop outside so had to stay in!  That was a Vango Diablo 600 which we loved.

Now want to get back into camping whilst keeping the caravan but going for polycotton instead of polyester.  If anyone has any experience with the Sumatra, I'd love to hear about it - if we don't hear anything bad, we'll be ordering it next week..!