Hi,
I have been looking at the Berghaus Freedom model in a sale currently. But i wanted to ask if anyone else has an air tent where replacement parts i.e. Air Beams are not shown anywhere online to buy (should the worst happen).
I have checked on multiple sites and on this sites Tent Reviews page and i see Berghaus seem good on the whole. I just dont know what to think should i need replacement parts.
I am new to Air Tents and dont know whether the air beams simply shouldnt fail or break and is simply down to personal care of the tent.
Has anyone had to ever get replacement Air Beams for a tent which were never advertised anywhere and how did you go about getting those replacements air beams ?
Many thanks
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Hello AirTentNewbie. This is a difficult one to answer. There are plenty of posts on here containing positive comments regarding the rigidity of airbeams and the ease of putting up an airbeam tent. Then there are those who prefer steel pole tents, which I admit to being one of, I can see the pros and cons of both types.
There are numerous accounts of airbeam failures on this forum but I would say that as airbeam technology progresses there seem to be fewer of them, but that's just my general impression. There are more components in an airbeam than a steel pole so on this basis more chance of failure.
If I was buying any type of tent today, I would see if spares were available now. If you can't get them now, then you will have no chance in the future.
Hopefully somebody who has an airbeam tent will post and let you know of their experience.
It's a sad, and rather disgraceful really, fact of life that tent spares/accessories (for any kind of tent!) generally are only available whilst the model is in the current range! Once it's a year or so old, mostly only hope for parts seems to be old left over stock, and then zilch! Poles are the only exception as they tend to be generic and can be adapted by cutting to length, airbeams are unfortunately not that universal.
Berghaus are an in house brand of GoOutdoors/Blacks/Millets group, so I wouldn't be expecting any long term backup from them!
Even the best of the tent manufacturers seem only to offer things like replacement airbeams for a year or two, far short of the normal lifespan of a quality and expensive tent.
Not sure there are many positives to offer, beyond that current generation of airbeams are much more reliable than earlier ones, probably one of those products to definitely avoid as a s/h purchase!
Hi Trip Hazard / Monty15,
Your responses may not outright say, Yes go and grab an Air Tent right away.
But your answers are still really supportive and i appreciate that actually this worry wouldn't just apply to Air Tents, but many others regardless.
If it is genuinely a common thing amongst most suppliers of tents etc, then weirdly it makes me feel better because its a general thing that is happening and not just Berghaus and not just Air Tent.
I do admit, the only other tents i have had years ago was a metal pole tent firstly and then for a brief time a fibre glass pole. But for quickness i do admit the Air Tent grabbed my attention for that purpose.
But i think regardless of type of tent i would always want to keep it maintained well / looked after. So i will just hope that with the right care it works out okay for us.
Some people are telling me they have had Berghaus tents for 3 years so far and still going and no issues. So i keep my fingers crossed that we also will.
Thanks both for the great responses. Appreciated.
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AirTentNewbie I've got a Kampa airbeam awning for my caravan which is now 5 years old, it's not heavily used (I've also got a smaller poled awning which tends to get used more of late), but seems in good order still. A friend had an identical Kampa awning, bought shortly after mine, and that failed 'explosively' last year! To be fair, it was very heavily used multiple times a year, and erected for longer periods (so probably suffered UV degradation!), probably also slightly abused by being packed damp, the actual bladder only failed when the supportive outer tube ripped open when the degraded fabric failed. I suspect closer inspection would have revealed the fabric beginning to fail before it really let go, and a repair effected that would have prolonged life significantly.
I'd certainly consider buying a airbeam tent (I've got a couple of steel poled 5/6 berth tunnel tents of some vintage, which are both still very usable). Think I'd look very closely at how long the spare bladders are available for to influence my brand and model.
Hiya AirTent Newbie
from my perspective
i have had a Berghaus Air4xl for 4 years now used 3 - 4 times a year
from the main 5 airpipes i have had no problem at all.
there is a side air tube, over a porch, that did not last the first year, tried to get a new one not to Hard though, but in the end i put one of the swimming tubes inside, done the Job Perfectly .
Although the tents similar to mine all have the same type / size airtube, are still current although now called Air4.1xl, i guess i would be able to locate a spare fairly easily.
may even try to get a spare now Just in case, will update on my attempt
Good luck with your Choice
Thanks Keith for your kind message. It's reassuring to hear you have had many years without too much issue. Great idea regards the swimming tube.
If you do find repairs, i will defiantly be interested to hear about how you got on. I have emailed many places and only 1 of 5 companies have replied and the one reply was to tell me to contact the place i bought the tent directly. So needless to say, not exactly helpful.
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Topic: Berghaus Freedom
via mobile 17/4/2023 at 9:30pm
