In shopping around for a RTT, I came across the Smittybilt and my thoughts were the same as far as the comparisons to some of the other companies. What are your impressions with the one you've been using? Good, bad, somewhere in between? Thanks.
Problems are: Mattress sucked, Stitching on the bungees that pull the fabric together when folding pulled out on a couple of the bungees, velcro used on the closure straps is weak (after a few years use), screws on the tent poles have rattles out, and the poles will sometimes come out o the socket, I just haven't taken the time to deal with that, just needs some threadlock and a new screw. Hinges tear the flaps that cover the opening there a bit. The changing room is not very water tight (im talking crazy thunderstorms here, not light rain) But the tent fabric (canvas, different that changing room) has held up quite well, is still very water resistant. The changing room has torn a bit in one corner where it meets the piping that connected it to the tent base. But my dogs lean on the walls down there, and it hasn't been an issue, works fine still.
We use the crap out of it, camp almost every weekend over the summer, It was one of the first tents CVT imported, I replaced the travel cover this year, the old one had some pinholes. Im still happy to open it up and sleep in it! I would buy another of the chinese tents again if I was in the market, I do like the look of the "ruggedized" Tetupi ones, the extra sized fly would be a bonus in the PNW.
Mine has special meaning and ill use it until its completely done.