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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.

Original poster

Folding camper or bell tent?

66 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 24/10/2011 22:18

looks like I'm finally selling the vw camper van. Just not using it enough to justify it though feel a bit sick at the thought of letting it go.

But we like camping and still want to be able to get away. As it's just me and dd I need something that's easy to put up. So I was thinking a bell tent at first. Could get an icy tech box to use as a fridge and we'd need one of those clever hook on to the bumper trailer things as I've only got a yaris.

But then I was remembering all the hassle of packing the car for trips away and realistically I thought wed be ulikely to go away for a weekend as it would be hassle getting g everything ready.

Plus the coldness of camping doesn't appeal, though I guess we could go ehu and get some sort of heater?

So now I'm thinking of a folding camper. We could tow a small one with a yaris. Storage space to keep some basic stuff in all the time. Would have a fridge and a cooker and maybe blown air heating.
Fairly easy and quick to put up so maybe more likely to use it for a weekend away.

Any advice on different models or things to look out for. How prone are they to rips, leaks, etc!.?

Can anyone think of a major benefit from one to the other?

OP posts:
SalVadorDavi · 27/10/2011 22:44

Exactly. On top of being the full commitment of actually cutting a hole (it's a great stove anyway, we used it quite a bit outside), one of the main excuses reasons for taking so long was how complicated it all sounded. It wasn't.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 27/10/2011 22:52

Right, now just need to wait to see if the people coming on Sunday buy my van.

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SalVadorDavi · 27/10/2011 22:56

So you're definitely going to sell it? Must be a hard call. You'll love a bell tent - I've never heard of anyone not liking theirs. In retrospect, I wish we'd gone for the 5m one though, so something to consider.

pictish · 27/10/2011 23:01

We kight buy a stove for our bell tent, but in the meanwhikle we've got two camping gas heaters that toast the place up beautifully.
Nothing can match a bell tent for elegance and ambience.

pictish · 27/10/2011 23:02

And yes get a 5m one...our is 5m and it's lovely and big.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 27/10/2011 23:03

It is a hard call but money is getting tighter. I can either work more to keep it on the road and have no time for it. Or idont have enough money to go anywhere in it.

I'm umming and ahhhing between a 4m and a 5m one. Only me and dd and a greyhound. But I like my space. I want to be able to have a couple of moon chairs set up, the beds u p, space for bags, maybe a stove or if not a heater, fridge. Space to mooch about and play games if it's raining.

But also a 5m one will be colder at night. But I could get the inner for it which I hope might help with insulation. My last tent was an outwell Colorado 5 with no SIG, so that was quite chilly. Surely a thick canvas tent can't be worse?

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SalVadorDavi · 27/10/2011 23:16

Ah yes, the time money thing. No point if you can't use it, so makes sense.

Get a 5m one. Seriously. 4m still lovely, but 5m would suit you (and us) better. Trust me. [bossy]

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 28/10/2011 09:06

Right will definitely get the five m one. Thanks.

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SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore · 28/10/2011 12:22

5m Bell tent question - can you sit 4 people around a table inside and still have the bedroom pods in place? This is a make or break point with bells for me.

I hope the van people buy your beloved van and its a good home for it Viva :)

SalVadorDavi · 28/10/2011 20:43

I'm not sure, SeaShells, if no answers on here soon, maybe you can start a new thread specifically attracting 5m owners? Another benefit of 5m is that the area that you can walk around upright in is also bigger. A little difficult to judge, but if you click on the uploaded pics at the bottom, this might give you a rough idea in the meantime: UKCS

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 28/10/2011 21:02

Do you think that stoves are safe for them? If you buy the proper flues and flashing kits and stand them on something is there any risk of burning the tent down? And what do you cover the hole up with if taking the stove one weekend?

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LauraIngallsWilder · 28/10/2011 21:27

Hi Viva
We (two adults and two kids) spent a total of 16 days in a 4m belltent this year. It takes us 10 minutes to put up.
Its true it was cosy but absolutely fine. We played games and ate meals (when raining) sitting on our sleeping spaces or using our Stol chairs. Not cold at all - because we breathed!

Sounds to me like you want to take the kitchen sink with you - so therefore Id go for a camper (because then you can!!)
A bell tent (even a 4m one) takes up a lot of space in your car boot - and if you want to fit in all the other stuff as well............... its going to be tricky!!

To me if you want EHU and all sorts of 'house' gubbins you might as well stay in a house! Camping is much more fun if you actually 'camp' :)

Im quite keen on getting a camper van myself though............

SalVadorDavi · 28/10/2011 21:31

Well, I think it is, if you are very responsible about it. Common sense things: Carbon monoxide alarm (applies to all fuels, incl gas), fire alarm, fire blanket, fire extinguisher, pen knife easily reachable. Sounds over the top, I know, but takes up no packing space and I wouldn't feel comfortable without. It's worth keeping in mind that the tent deaths we heard about this year was a result of instant bbqs (I think) brought in - carbon monoxide poisoning is, in my mind, the biggest danger. I also stand the stove on a wool blanket. Two reasons - 1) if a spark escapes, I'd rather it not melt a hole in my groundsheet, and 2) wool natural fire retardant, so safer anyway.

If not taking the stove, we'll unscrew the disks, remove the silicone part and screw a plate over on the outside to cover the hole. The holes are in the canvas already, so it's just a case of bolting a flat plate on. We haven't done that part yet though (just put tent away with flashing in place) as we're planning on doing a winter camp, but will probably do it next summer.

chipmonkey · 29/10/2011 00:22

Where are you doing the winter camp, Sal?

SalVadorDavi · 29/10/2011 12:54

Not sure yet, Chipmonkey. Favourite campsites are Blackberry Wood and Frank's spot on Wowo's Tipi trail, but both of these are probably a bit too shady for winter camping. (Not even sure if winter sun would make a difference - I'm clearly mad a novice.) So I've been toying with the idea of camping somewhere that allows fires, but have a pub either on site or nearby should we chicken out need some warmth. Will be somewhere in the South East for a night or two only. Actually, what I should do is look at that Song of the Paddle forum again - those guys are hardcore, so good for tips.

SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore · 29/10/2011 14:32

Sal-check out Red Shoot on the west edge of the new forest :)

SalVadorDavi · 29/10/2011 14:47

Ooh cool, thanks SeaShells, off to search. :)

SalVadorDavi · 29/10/2011 14:55

That looks fab, but the no-fire rule makes it a no-go for winter, unfortunately. Good find nonetheless, am adding to my camping list for summer. Thanks!

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 29/10/2011 16:24

I've been reading another forum, think it was the Bushcraft one. Their take on stoves in tents is that if a site allows BBQs then there shouldn't be any problem with a stove. People there have been using them on sites that don't allow fires with no problems. Which makes sense really, its no worse than a BBQ, possibly better as its enclosed.

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SalVadorDavi · 29/10/2011 16:43

That's good to hear. It's worth a try, thanks, will call ahead if unclear.

Every time I'm typing something about my stove, I am aware that it might come across as if I'm saying "aww, it's fine, nothing will ever happen" etc, but it's not that really. It's just that I've seen people sit happily around a campfire with wind blowing, yet would never dream of a stove. With a stove, you don't have the risk of sparks flying through the air, and, if it's a good one, it won't get knocked over like a heater can. For example, not only does the tripod design make the Frontier very stable, but the tight fit of the silicone ring to the flue makes it very, very, very unlikely to be knocked over. Maybe if you use considerable force and run tackle it, but then... bursting into flames is probably the least of your troubles. Wink

The first time I've ever stayed in a canvas type structure with a wood stove was in a yurt in York at it made the "camping" experience lovely even if it was cold outside. That was actually my introduction into camping. (Very!) baby steps, you see. Then this, and now we're the scraggly looking family huddling around a campfire in a piece of woodland! Probably odd way to approach it, but it helped get my head clear on what I like most - quiet (so no formal entertainment sites), open space inside (hence need for bell tent - I hate our Orchy), warm and comfortable when hanging around tent (Fat Airics & inflatable mattras combo, proper duvet, stove).

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 29/10/2011 16:50

I've always been a bit scared of stoves and camping, mainly as I have no common sense.

DH is very blase about such stuff and has been happily cooking inside tents for 30 years. I thought this was fine. He did melt a hole in the groundsheet of an Outwell tent once. It was only through MN that I realised that cooking in a tent, not even with a block of wood underneath was slightly crazy batshit behaviour.

So I started cooking outside, then set the grass on fire at one campsite one hot summer as I still didn't have enough common sense to put something under it.

I have used gas stoves to heat tents up before and have now read of people dieing through similar.

I will be the person who doesn't connect the flue up properly or something. and burns my bell tent to the ground.

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SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore · 29/10/2011 16:55

Sorry, had missed the no fire thing, I can just vouch for the pub Wink

SalVadorDavi · 29/10/2011 17:01

Grin (not at you burning your bell, though!)

Well, benefit of stove set-up in tent is that there isn't really the option to set it up wrongly, as the important thing (flashing) is semi-permanent. You bolt it on, it's there. If the silicone isn't there to protect the tent, even you might notice the gap. Wink The flue set-up is a slot-in system (one into the other), so can't go wrong without you noticing. Legs don't get hot at the bottom, so not actually necessary to remember wool blanket (I just loved the excuse to buy one - TK Maxx has nice 100% wool ones at the moment).

The one thing I think it essential though is carbon monoxide alarm, as you can't see things going wrong there.

SalVadorDavi · 29/10/2011 17:03

Haha SeaShells. But do they have gin, hey?? That is the question. Wink Looks fab anyway, would be great for a summer camp.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 30/10/2011 10:41

Right I've been looking at different stoves and bell tents.

I want the stove from camping solutions. I want a tent from Soulpad.

But I like the way that the stoves from Canvas and Cast go out the side of the tent rather than the roof. It seems to make more sense if its raining? But no way can I afford one of their stoves.

Also the stoves at Soulpad say that there is a baffler in the stove so there is no need for a spark arrester in the flue. The cheap stove from camping solutions doesn't mention either a spark arrester or a baffler - is it important to have one of these?

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