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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

What tent (if any) would you recommend for family of 7?

20 replies

Twit · 15/04/2011 09:38

Yep, I thought I'd stop hijacking Duplicitousbitch's thread
I realise we need a trailer for all the shit gear we'd need to take and
a trailer would fit in our garage, therefore be free storage, but just how complicated is the Florida tent to construct? It looks very scary - bearing in mind 'bed pods' mean nothing to me.

Are there any other breeds of tent you'd recommend. At this point we need ideas rather than having a budget per se, ebay might be a good place for us to look in the end, or perhaps any sales - I'm due in July so probably won't be going this summer.
I will be back asking about any shit gear we might need at some point - so please forgive me in advance if my ignorance proves annoying.
Just think of me as your apprentice, eager and willing to be shaped into the ultimate camper

OP posts:

Original poster

Twit · 15/04/2011 11:22

I could it appears use a pup tent or an extra bit added on to the main part?

My oldest 2 are 12 and 9 so a pup tent could be fine?

OP posts:

lostinwales · 15/04/2011 11:32

We have this tent but the XXL version. There are 5 of us 2 grownups and three boys 11,8,4 and it is perfect. It is HUGE, we felt a bit embarrassed last time we pitched as it was a site mostly for surfers and their one man tents or campervans and we looked like the circus had arrived BUT when the weather changed later in the holiday and the boys had a big pod each to play in and an enormous middle 'room' it was the best tent in the world.

It is very easy to pitch as well as the designers have really thought about what would make it easier, DH and I can have it up in under 30 mins without arguing! I could go on and on, I do love my giant tent, I wish the weather would warm up a bit now, I'm desperate to go camping!

Original poster

Twit · 15/04/2011 12:02

I've just watched a video on the XXL on youtube, and wow! You say it takes you about 30 mins to put up, I guess for our first few times we'd be looking at an hour (give or take a couple of arguments) ?
I shall continue investigating it, thanks.

OP posts:

Glitterknickaz · 15/04/2011 12:29

Get a vermont xl like me

Original poster

Twit · 15/04/2011 13:50

I like the 'living area' of that one, but think we'll 'need' the extra bedroom of the outwell XXL.
I like that the vermont looks a bit easier to put up though (?)
Does it come in XXL?

OP posts:

IloveJudgeJudy · 15/04/2011 13:58

The only thing I would say about having the Hartford XXL or any other pod tent is that some campsites won't take them as they take up too much room, or you may be charged for two pitches.

Have you thought about a frame tent? We were 6 when I was young and had plenty of room in a frame tent.

Original poster

Twit · 15/04/2011 14:32

Oh right, so what's a frame tent then?

I need pictures

OP posts:

IloveJudgeJudy · 15/04/2011 16:27

Frame tent is one where the bedrooms are at the back and the living area is in the front, usually a canvas tent. They go for not much money on e-bay as they are quite heavy, but lovely tents. Friends of mine got a lovely one for £60 a couple of years ago.

It was really that configuration that I meant. Bedrooms at the back and living area in front of that. They are usually rectangular.

Batteryhuman · 15/04/2011 18:06

I think I would look for a tunnel tent with 2 (adults in one, 3 kids in the other) bed rooms at the back and a decent size living area at the front and a pup tent for your 2 older kids.

This combination would be much easier to put up and take down and fit on a pitch.

Only have 3 DCs myself but from a family of 7 and this is how we did it though it was many years ago and for Tunnel tent read ancient canvas number.

Glitterknickaz · 15/04/2011 19:53

you can buy extra bed pods for the vermont xl...

Original poster

Twit · 15/04/2011 21:04

IloveJudgeJudy -I have been looking at the outwell florida 8 - is that the sort of thing you mean, or do you have something else in mind? We could either try all sleeping along the back or the kids and DH along the back and me DH and I in the seperate room? here

Glitterknickaz - I still don't know what a bed pod is, is it one of the zip up 'bedrooms'? Does it go inside or outside?

Batteryhuman -So you suggest may be a 6 (or even smaller) person tent plus a 2 person one? My older two might like it or fight more thinking we can't hear them.

I'm taking it that Outwell is the brand to go for?

OP posts:

poppyboo · 16/04/2011 15:40

Have you thought about a 5 metre bell tent? They are pretty big so are great for bigger families... we have one and we love it!
soulpad.co.uk/sanctuary/component/page,shop.browse/category_id,6/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,1/

They pitch in 15 mins, but are quite heavy as they are canvas. They need to be dried carefully too.

poppyboo · 16/04/2011 15:45

mind you I'm not sure a 5m one would be big enough for 7 people....we two adults and 2 children, there is so much room, it is very generous in size..................

3rdnparty · 16/04/2011 19:54

twit - I think you'd find the extra bedroom in the Florida a pita as it chops the living room up.....The Hartford style tents are fab v sturdy but big I think harder to put up than a tunnel style and some sites just wont take them... I would go for this style 'vis a vis' as the older kids could go at one end and you and the younger kids at the other and also have a reasonable space in the middle - easy to put up...
..
www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk/products/tents/7-8-man-tents/vango-tigris-800-tent.aspx

this one looks good has combinatioin of steel and fibreglass would make more robust
www.kampa.co.uk/tents/pendine8.html

heres another- v cheap! and khyams well made
www.khyam.co.uk/detail.asp?p=373

I like outwells but dont think their big enough ! Kampa also do a ten person if you want built in storage too!

IloveJudgeJudy · 17/04/2011 15:00

sorry, twit, only just go back to this thread.

I like the look of the florida. I think you need to go and see it in person.

The only thing I would say, just my personal opinion, is that the tents that 3rdnparty has suggested are all vis-a-vis and if it's raining and you have to spend some time they'll be quite dark inside?

I don't know where you live, OP, but I would definitely recommend seeing friends' tents when they are up or, failing that, go and look at some tents up in situ. where I am we have tent roadshows that come in summer to a garden centre. There are also a couple of camping shops that have quite a few tents up. It's quite different seeing them in the flesh.

JemimaMop · 17/04/2011 15:13

We have this for 5 of us and it is enormous, so I would think that the 8 man version here would be good. It does only have 2 bedrooms though.

LovelyDaffs · 17/04/2011 15:26

www.breakoutdoors.co.uk/Outwell-Wolf-Lake-7-Tent-2011-P481.aspx

we have one of these, it's expensive but fab.

DinosaurRumpus · 18/04/2011 16:18

2 adults, 6 children here and we've got an Outwell Norfolk Lake.
It's fab and very roomy

PeskyPiskie · 18/04/2011 16:27

We have one of these. It does need two people to put up and takes about 45 mins, including pegging out time but each bedroom is more than big enough for a double airbed and there is plenty of space inside for tables and cookers etc. Also if you are camping somewhere prone to rain then there are loads of wet storage areas.

Original poster

Twit · 18/04/2011 17:00

Thanks all for the replies; I looked at the vango one and wondered if it would be too dark... I guess with the lack of windows the answer is yes.
I looked at the wolf tent and rather liked it. And a couple of other outwell ones, I'm more drawn to the vermont than I was as we could shove the kids in one side with the inner bit removed and me and DH could have the ohter?
You're right we do need to go and have a look at some before we buy, will look into that.
I'm now worried though that there is a lack of places to go and pitch our big tent when we get it... where would you suggest, or would you recommend finding somewhere and then phoning to ask them?

So what equipment is
a) absolutely necessary
b) useful - get if you have the space/ £
C) good if you can - but more of an optional extra

OP posts:

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