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Quote: Originally posted by alisondjones on 21/6/2007

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Anyone able to tell us what the 3 grey cup/feet things are for and what about the grey plastic hanging thing with hooks on my picture? [/QOUTE]
The grey cups are ment to place underneath your front- or varioluifel poles. Actually it doesn't matter which you use; the grey or the black ones both work. I personally prefer the black ones though..

The grey hanging plastic thing is ment to be placed on top of one of your front poles inside the tent. My translation says "coat rack"; it is used for hanging towels, jackets, etcetera.

Quote: Originally posted by alisondjones on 21/6/2007

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One of these black feet is what we used instead of the noklapje to secure the main pole to the two poles attatching the front pole.

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The noklapje is very important on the several De Waard models. As n M n T said the 'noklapje' connects the main pole onto the other two cross poles connected to the door. De Waard sells it at their stores, so I guess it wouldn't be a problem to get one. If De Waard it not willing to ship one, let me know and I will ship one over for you.

I hope my post comes in handy and that my writings are understood.. After all my English is not that well...

Hi Al and All,

Don't worry about your 'noklapje' AnMnT! I've sent a spare one; It cost about nothing but it is an essential part of the tent.

btw: nice to read about the Dutch forum here
I like the Dutch one more but your emoticons are nicer

Thanks rolph, thats great news! Do you know if De Waard have any plans to introduce an english language website and/or a UK supplier? I'm sure there would be a pretty big market for these tents in the UK especially since the 'quality' end of the market seems to be growing!

Hi everyone,

have just returned from the Netherlands after buying a used De waard vergroten Zilvermeeuw via marketplatz. Met a great dutch family who sorted us out - can wait for the summer hols. Cost a grand but is well worth it.

I did it - so can you!

Well done norfolkinway, I bought mine last year off marktplaats and met the sellers in the car park at the ferry terminal and dragged it back as hand luggage. Where they surprised to be contacted by an english person ?

martin

Hello Lintrott, We have a Lepolaar, bought last year, it a fabulous tent, we love it. We bought two windscherms and the varioluifel and the inner tent. The windscherms (windshields) now seem to be called zijschermens according to the new information on the De Waarde web site. The varioluifel is a good addition and very adaptable when shade is needed. However, this summer we too are going to Uden, on our way back from a wedding in Poland, to take a look at the Zonneluifel which was not available when we bought our tent. The reason we will probably buy this extra piece of canvas is that on our first outing with the new tent we camped at Clactoll Beach campsite on the north west coast of Scotland. When we pitched the wind was offshore which meant that we could face the sea and have the wind at our back. Unfortunately, on the second evening the wind changed direction completely and increased to about 70 mph. The tent held up better than any other that night but it was a bit worrying as the front of the tent is like an open cave. We were able to use the varioluifel to close up the front as best we could but there was an awful lot of extra canvas flapping around. I just wonder whether the new Zonneluifel is a response to the wind problem. It looks to me as though it could be used (in a down position) to completely seal off the front of the tent if it has zips at the side that could attach to the zip on the windshields. If it has we will definitely get it and would recommend anyone else to do the same. I have e-mailed De Waarde to get some info on this, but no answer just yet. If anyone else has one please let me know, it might save us a big detour if it dosn't fit our existing gear.

Bowerbird

Hi Bowerbird, I think what you are thinking of is the dichteluifel , you sometimes see them on the older Albatros' for sale on Marktplaats - I think they predate the varioluifel. De Waard or Atomatent would probably make one for you but as is usual with these tents nothing is straight forward and you would probably have to take the whole tent to the workshop so they can take measurements, leave it there for a few weeks then go over and pick it up. Re securing the vario in high winds, I would reccomend asking some of the users on the De Waard Forum what they do. I don't have a varioluifel on my Albatros, only a zonneluifel and 3 windscherms but they have offered good protection though I've never tested them at such high winds as you experienced.

martin

Hi Bowerbird, glad you are happy with your Lepelaar! Can I ask did you order your tent without seeing it in the flesh, or visit Uden twice? As I said earlier, we are going to Uden in July and though I would prefer to only go once, i'm not really prepared to order without seeing one first!

Also, I know that the tents are made to order, but apart from adding zigschermrns, varioluifel etc, to what extent can you personalise your tent? I have noticed that on  photo's the curtain that divides the sleeping area are different patterns/colours, personally I would prefer a plain one in bergundy to match the front!  Do you think this is an option?

I will be contacting the store in Uden to let them know we are coming, and also to see if they may have stock, but don't want to sacrifice being able to specify exactly what I want if there are lots of other options! 

Hello Lentrott

In May 2007 De Waard had an exhibition of their tents at a campsite down the road from their Heerde store. I had in my mind to buy a Stormmeeuw but when I saw it in the flesh I didn't like the large hemispheircal entrance. Both my husband and I prefered the look and the size of the Lepolaar. The drawing on the De Waarde website does not do it justice. The tent came with a dividing curtain to make two bedrooms, the same colour as the main tent (beige), but we have never used it because we bought the inner tent; very necessary if you are camping early in the year. The inner tent is beige but has a red patterned fleecy floor. The varioluifel is also beige and the windscherms are dark green. We managed to get what we wanted at the exhibition, there was not much choice actually available to take away, as it was they had to send runners to both their nearest stores. I am sure there is more choice if you order. I must say their website is a bit hopeless and the price list also seems to have disappeared. Also not such a good time to buy with the price of the Euro against the pound; we were much luckier last year. We took Euros in cash to pay for the tent as we were warned there would be a hefty charge on a card.

Next week from Tuesday 10th to Monday 16th we will be camping with our Lepolaar at Castle Point Caravan site, Rockcliffe, Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway (you can find it on the UK Caravan & Camping Site list). You are very welcome to come and look at the tent. If you are coming from Birmingham it is basically up the M6 and turn left at Carlisle into the south west of Scotland. It might be a bit easier than going to Uden!

Quote: Originally posted by bowerbird on 02/6/2008

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We bought two windscherms and the varioluifel.

 The varioluifel is a good addition and very adaptable when shade is needed. However, this summer we too are going to Uden, to take a look at the Zonneluifel which was not available when we bought our tent. The reason we will probably buy this extra piece of canvas is that when we pitched the wind was offshore which meant that we could face the sea and have the wind at our back. Unfortunately, on the second evening the wind changed direction completely and increased to about 70 mph. The tent held up better than any other that night but it was a bit worrying as the front of the tent is like an open cave. We were able to use the varioluifel to close up the front as best we could but there was an awful lot of extra canvas flapping around. I just wonder whether the new Zonneluifel is a response to the wind problem. It looks to me as though it could be used (in a down position) to completely seal off the front of the tent if it has zips at the side that could attach to the zip on the windshields.

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Hi Bowerbird

Don't know if this will help at all.  You certainly shouldn't have had extra canvas flapping around.  Certainly on my Albatross Junior, the varioluifel is designed to come right down to the ground and has zips on both sides which zip onto the windcherms, you can then use that zip as the door to get in and out.

Are you aware of how you can alter the length of the poles to vary the different ways you can have the varioluifel.  For instance, there is the way shown in the pictures on the website where you have three poles of similar length all with guy ropes, then two extra guy ropes inbetween the central one.

Another way is to zip the varioluifel on both sides to the windcherms, shorten the two outer poles and place them where the two extra guy ropes are shown on the pictures, with a taller pole in the middle.  You can then adjust the angle of all the poles if the weather gets bad so that it brings the roof sloping downwards.

It may be that you need more windcherms, my friends have got the Albatross and I think they have four windcherms to use with the varioluifel.

A good thing to do is when you are erecting your tent, put up the varioluifel with the sides zipped to the windcherms in the first instance.  This way you can make sure all your pegs and tension are right.  Then start altering it for the wind direction.  If you get bad weather later into your holiday it is then easier to make sure the zips do up and everything is in the right place quickly.  It's a bit of extra work at the set up stage, but worth doing.

Hope this helps, if it doesn't make sense, please ask again.