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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

Does anyone know of a family tent that can be put up by one adult?

16 replies

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 20/05/2006 09:24

Just wondering.....

OP posts:
chapsmum · 20/05/2006 09:29

now when you say adult jimjams do you mean yourself or dh.
Men I belive are naturally incapable of tent construction work!
How big a tent are you looking for??

Twiglett · 20/05/2006 09:31

we got the one from Halfords (the family deluxe bargain tent for £100) and DH put it up on his own .. only had 2 sleeping pods though

chapsmum · 20/05/2006 09:34

\link{http://www.outdoorworld.org.uk/acatalog/Khyam_Tourer_400_Tent.html\here} is similar to one I used to use, it has two sleeping pods and a bit in the middle, the poles are easy to get up, the only tricky bit to do on your own is put the pole in the holes of the tent to make the tent erect. It can be done, aand just requires a wee bit of practise.
I actually manged to put mine up in the dark!!!Grin

FillyjonktheSnibbet · 20/05/2006 09:54

if you google khyam seconds you can get them for about £170. apparently they are eay to put up alone, though mrsbadger i think had problems in a gale.

Kathy1972 · 20/05/2006 10:13

DH put ours up by himself last summer without too much trouble (in the rain, while I sat in the car and breastfed). It seems to be something called a Sunncamp Calypso.

peachyClair · 20/05/2006 17:45

The proaction tundra tuneel type ones can be put up by one adult apart from a two minute section, we manage to do it with Sam about! In fact he rather likes camping as the environment might change, but the accomodation stays familiar.

Apparently our new Gelert Tahoma is easy- Ill be able to tell you next week, but the instructions look super simple. So I would say either a tunnel tent, a Khyam or the Gelert Easy Pitch tents.

MommyUpNorth · 20/05/2006 17:56

I put up our Montana 6 by myself a few weeks back. It was just in the garden and a tiny bit windy, but it took a little over an hour which I thought was ok for a first try! :)

Blandmum · 20/05/2006 18:02

dd puts up our outwell colorado 8 on his own.

i can recomend a very sn 'approciable' campsite in france.

Original poster
Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 20/05/2006 19:08

don't worry I've decided its impoossible, but thanks for recommendations. We may try eurocamp next year or the year after.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 20/05/2006 19:10

There is a eurocamp campsite style in the new forest JJ. Quite nice, and not too far for you, has an indoor pool. A disco (yuck) but that was far enough away from the eurocamp tents to be inaudable.

Blu · 20/05/2006 23:40

Sad Jimjams. I presume you mean the whole idea rather than the tent bit?

Original poster
Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 22/05/2006 14:12

Nope the tent bit :)

Plan now is.....

Either this year or next to practice in the UK with a Eurotent short break.

Then next year or the year after try a Eurocamp or keycamp or something in France or Spain (long overnight ferry might be easier than whizzy day ferry but depends). DS2 at least will be able to go to the kids club, and ds3 as well from 2009, leaving us with some time to do something with ds1 (maybe even take it in turns to take him swimming whilst the other one has a break Shock)

However I will need to be able to request end of cul de sac postion away from toilets and I need ds1 to stop wetting the bed on purpose.

DH thinks I am completely mad but is willing to give it a go abroad once ds3 has calmed down and if we can get sorted on the ferries (ferries are a nightmare).

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 22/05/2006 16:44

am a bit late, but would still recommend a Khyam (ours is a \link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MEGADOME-4-BY-KHYAM-GENUINE-CAMPTOWN-TENT-IGLOO-STYLE_W0QQitemZ8814248136QQcategoryZ36119QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\lot smaller and more basic} than the Tourer) but the concept is fab and genuinely possible to pitch alone without too much trouble.

Discovered on our return that it actually was a force 9 gale we had, so the tent did a fine job just staying put rather than taking off completely to fly across the Solent and land us in Southampton...

Original poster
Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 22/05/2006 19:51

Thanks MrsB. I think a tent of our own would be impossoible for all sorts of reasons- I also think ds1 would be better in a rigid frame tent- he looked a bit scared of the lightweight ones in the wind the other day! (we went to an exhibition).

BUt first I need to sort out the weeing :o

OP posts:
peachyClair · 23/05/2006 11:55

If you do decide a tent would work, we can arrange for you to borrow ours for a trial- even if just in the garden- its big but easy to pitch and would save you wasting money of DS doesn't take to it (know that one- fior us its a playstation

Any time, just ask Grin

Pixel · 23/05/2006 21:33

We managed camping with ds last year but we did have to leave him strapped in the car while dh and I both put the tent up. Felt a bit mean at the end of a long journey but it was the only way. We only got a smallish tent as we didn't want to waste a load of money if ds was a complete nightmare but luckily he enjoyed it. The tent immediately became his comfort zone and he was happy in there with his gameboy which was a huge relief as our biggest fear was him escaping into the countryside! The best thing was that he adored the sleeping bag and the fresh air meant that he slept really well, much better than at home so I did actually get some rest and relaxation in the evening (well, bottle of wine and a Dick Francis anyway!).

Don't know if it would be any help re: bedwetting but the site we used had brilliant laundry facilites. It would have been quite easy to wash and dry a lightweight sleeping bag if we'd wanted to, even better with a spare to alternate.

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