I bought my first tent on Monday, a lovely Vango Artemis 400, so that me and my little 'un can 'try our hand' at tenting. Very excited about it all... and have spent the last few days running around buying mattresses, gas stoves, camping chairs and all that...
Anyway, I pitched it in the garden on Friday, and now (Sunday) after a (really heavy) shower lasting about 10 minutes, I noticed a small puddle (about 1 inch in diameter) at the back of the tent. The bottom of the seam (onto which the sleeping pod fastens at the back) was dripping a little. Not fast, but dripping nonetheless...
I think I can easily manage this in the future by putting a small tea-towel there... and maybe its best to do that, than to risk being exchanged with a tent with a worse positioned leak (pessimistic or realistic??).
Should I return the tent? Are teeny weeny leaks in tents to be expected, particularly in cheaper tents? Or should I expect it to be completely leak free? I am new to all this, so have no idea what I should expect?
if i were you i would return it any leak in a tent can cause trouble when away from home especially if that 10 min pour down turns to an all day pour down
I would contact the reailer via email (keep a copy) explain the problem, tell them you are worried that its going to get worse and ask them what they are prepared to do about it
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
You could take a close look at the heat sealed tape on the offending seam. It may not cover properly. If its only a small area, a short length of McNett Tenaceous Tape over the offending area will sort the problem or as suggested you could use seam sealer, which is a standard emergency accessory recommended by manufacturers. If its more than a small area, you may want to take the tent back for a replacement.
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
There is an area of seam where they have stitched twice in the same area, therefore double stitching it, and putting double holes in it. The area is about 2 inches long, and I really feel it would be easy to seal. I like the tent, have no issues with the groundsheet seeping, or the windows leaking, or the zips leaking, so if I can sort this tiny weak point, I would be quite happy.
I spoke to a great bloke at a different camping shop who said it might 'fix itself' by the nylon explanding after its first 'wetting'. It hasn't leaked since, so perhaps this has actually happened......
Taking the tent for a proper trial run tomorrow night. I will see if it bothers us - we are still in the 28 days warranty.
Its actually the other way round the cotton thread expands to fill the hole in the polyester (not nylon)
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
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Topic: Leaking Vango Artemis 400
