Any long term reviews on these tents. im exploring the idea of a RTT in the next year. have some buddies that have CVT's and having seen them in person and getting the skinny on the excellent customer service, the are very appealing in my eye. However, seeing that this tent is less expensive, and sounds like just as excellent customer service, i want to know if i will be just as satisfied with this brand. Most importantly, long term reliability and quality. thanks.
Hey there,
I've had my Tepui RRT for nearly two years and have used it in all weather conditions from rain to extreme heat and wind. It's not quite as well made as some of the other much more expensive makes but frankly mine has held together well with nothing breaking yet. I did do a little upgrading of some of the components, namely the brass rings that hold the canopy poles (I just installed them a little more accurately). I waterproofed all the seams, just to be safe. The Tepui customer service is great, the guys are very friendly and will help you out with anything you need.
You can read the full test of my tent on my website here: http://endless-adventure.com/?p=1
You (coastsider) hint that they aren't as well made as others and I'm curious in specifically what ways its not as well made.
thanks for all the info guys. Having experienced the CVTs first hand, and the only RTT i have experienced, to me they seemed to be high quality. Seeing as this is on par and proably made right along CVTs in the same factory, i feel confident in investing in one of these.They are as well made as any of the lower end RTTs. The cheaper tents are made, well, of less quality material to a lower standard of craftsmanship. The fabric is lighter (check out the weight they use, it is on all of the company's websites) The hardware is also lighter and therefore more fragile; this includes the hinges, brackets, bolts, straps, and ladder. The flooring is also some kind of a plastic/fiber board versus plywood. All of it geared to lower production costs and lower the price point. Not saying this is inherently bad just the components are of a lower quality. The quality is on par with the rest of them such as ARB, Mombasa, and CVT. With proper care I am sure the tents will last many years.
Very cool. I actually read your article last night in my digging around. Besides the brass, are there any other quality issues you have come across at this point? You hint that they aren't as well made as others and I'm curious in specifically what ways its not as well made. Thanks for your rapid response!